R1200GS Switchgear

[Charlie]

Seems like a bit of a downer to start a thread on but am really disappointed.

Had two (totally trouble free) Pan Europeans before becoming a convert to the gs which I have to say I absolutely love riding. Bought the 1200gs from new and have done 16000 (mostly) carefree miles. Two major problems, one with the fuel pump, that left me stranded in North Yorkshire (could have been worse - a week before I had been somewhere in the middle of France), and then leaking gear box seals were sorted under warranty. Questions of corrosion were not. Warranty now expired.

Thursday everything running fine and even did a post-ride check. Friday morning and both front and rear right hand indicators not working. Have booked it in this Tuesday to have it looked at and have been told that if switch gear needs replacing it will be £124 plus labour plus vat!

Am I being naive or what - if the switch gear costs that much surely I should be able to expect it to last a bit longer than this? Why isn't BMW able to provide OE that is robust, reliable and fit for purpose? It, is after all, prompted as a bike with go anywhere capability (I suppose they don't promise to get you back...)

The car I drive is a nissan X-Trail that's done almost 50,000 miles without so much as a windscreen wiper being replaced yet the mighty (and bloody expensive) BMW has left me feeling less than confident in taking it too far from home - just in case.

And you know the worst thing - when you raise any issue at all, BMW don't seem to care a jot...

 

[Paul Wakefield]

I'd wait and see what they actually say when they have had a look at it. If the bike is not that old, there is a good chance of it being done under goodwill if the switches do need replacing (seems odd that they would both fail at the same time?).

I have always found BM preety responsive in the past if not very communicative but I do have an excellent dealer which helps a lot.

 

[Doofus]

Hi

I have no personal experience, but I recall seeing a post a while back (maybe in the last year?) about how you can just replace the actual switch inside the switchgear. If I remember you can get a switch that fits from Maplin for a couple of pounds - you keep all the same outside parts / button etc.

Have a search and I'm sure you'll find it.

regards
Darren

 

[Doofus]

ps - as a quick diagnostic, press the switch and give it a "wiggle" with your thumb while it is still pressed in - i.e. pushing kind of inwards and upwards, then inwards downwards. If the indicator turns on, you have a dirty switch (this helped me diagnise some switchgear trouble I had on my Yamaha yesterday - the starter). I fixed mine with liberal wd40 (not really a permenant fix I know, but it might last a couple of months).

 

[Charlie]

Thank you gentlemen.

Have to say a bit of egg on face here. Dealer was good enough to ask BMW to go the goodwill route and they agreed - good for them and reputation restored. Well, almost. On getting bike out of garage noticed the brake warning light stayed on and speedo wasn't working. Made getting to dealership interesting when trying to do hand signals at right turn junctions with no rear brake! This has happened before but rectified itself. Dearlership did a diagnostic but came up with nothing. Said it might be battery at end of life. Any thoughts?

Anyway, ended up coming the long way home and have to say I can't think of any other bike I'd rather be riding right now. Just makes me feel good, when it's going...