Repair service for ABS modules (incl. servo type) available

[jogo]

I’m posting this in parallel in the 1150 and 1200 hexhead section as owners of both types might be interested, I trust that is ok.
On a recent journey I had some waiting time on the airport in Munich and bought a MC magazine, something I do very rarely. Anyway, in that case it was a special edition of a German magazine dealing only with BMW bikes.

In that magazine I found information about a German company that offers repair for ABS modules for BMW bikes (but also other brand and for cars).
According to their homepage they have been for 20 years in the business of repairing electronic systems for motor vehicles. They offer beside many other things:

• Repair of ABS modules at fixed prices with fixed turnaround times
• They buy used units
• They have overhauled units available for sale
• For those who want to remove the servo ABS they offer from spring 2017 a module that connects the hydraulics straight through but has an electronic module that plugs straight into the bikes socket and maintains functions like speedo etc.

For more details, please check their homepage (only in German as it seems…):
https://rhelectronics.de/

Just to avoid misunderstandings:
I have no connection to that company, no financial or whatever interests but if my ABS would fail, I’d give them a call to see what the options are.

 

[sproggy]

There are plenty of companies doing that in the UK too

 

[Bendy toy]

I recently took the front bumper off my Renault Espace MkIV (2005) to find the ABS module sitting under the LHS front corner on a VERY rusty support box. The ABS is fine but I made a new box as it really was like Swiss cheese. Anyway's the ABS module looks like a carbon copy of the one fitted to the 1200. I didn't have the petrol tank off the bike to compare directly but it was stunningly similar.

Something for the motor experts to check out.

 

[jogo]

There are plenty of companies doing that in the UK too

That is interesting. I was always under the impression that at least for the servo ABS there is no repair service available.

Would you be kind enough to list some of the companies in the UK which offer that service?

 

[wessexmike]

I'd also be interested in possible repairs to rear servo as my brake fail light is still flashing...

 

[Michal Fonts]

I'd also be interested in possible repairs to rear servo as my brake fail light is still flashing...

That may not be your servo, if the fault is rear brake driven it's worth checking the rear brake light micro switch at the back of the lever. Mine was fubard due to corrosion.
Motorworks stock them.

 

[sproggy]

That is interesting. I was always under the impression that at least for the servo ABS there is no repair service available.

Would you be kind enough to list some of the companies in the UK which offer that service?

Not so sure about the servo ABS - mine is the later ABS (no servo) which was rebuilt by Motoscot near Luton. There are plenty of people doing it by mail order too. Reportedly there's a company in the US who can rebuild the servo ABS unit - https://modulemaster.com/rebuilds/. But that's just the result of a quick Google which you can spend more time doing yourself.

 

[jogo]

Not so sure about the servo ABS - mine is the later ABS (no servo) which was rebuilt by Motoscot near Luton. There are plenty of people doing it by mail order too. Reportedly there's a company in the US who can rebuild the servo ABS unit - https://modulemaster.com/rebuilds/. But that's just the result of a quick Google which you can spend more time doing yourself.

Well, that is not quite right. Modulemaster have stated for ages on their website that the repair for the servo-ABS is "under development": https://modulemaster.com/rebuilds/w...duct_filter.php?make=87&model=1092&syear=8117

 

[wessexmike]

That may not be your servo, if the fault is rear brake driven it's worth checking the rear brake light micro switch at the back of the lever. Mine was fubard due to corrosion.
Motorworks stock them.

Thanks. I did look at that, and also checked the rear wheel sensor and that brake lever not fouling handguards, plus replaced the battery. The fact that the rear brake feels even weaker than before suggests it is the servo. Front servo works fine. Am going to have a diagnostic test which should hopefully id the issue. As I can't afford, or justify the spend on a new servo (which I'm told is one unit for front and back) on a 2005 GS. Looking online, it appears that there are companies out there stating they can repair, which seems a whole lot cheaper, if I am looking at the right part and whether the unit is simple to remove and replace, or pay someone else to. Is this the likely part and solution?: http://www.ecutesting.com/catalogue/product/bmw_r1200_abs_pump__ecumodule_combined_amc108473.html

 

[mark.keeling]

I've recently sent my 2006 1200rt servo pump to ecutesting and they couldn't do anything with it! I now have a very nice pump sitting in my front room and the rest of my bike at the local garage and I have no idea what to do next !!!

Anyone managed to get a servo ABS repaired anywhere in the UK?

 

[sproggy]

I've recently sent my 2006 1200rt servo pump to ecutesting and they couldn't do anything with it! I now have a very nice pump sitting in my front room and the rest of my bike at the local garage and I have no idea what to do next !!!

Anyone managed to get a servo ABS repaired anywhere in the UK?

Nobody will rebuild the servo ABS pump. You have two options - either buy a new pump from BMW (cost - about half what your bike is worth) or have a servoectomy - remove the servo system altogether and revert to a conventional braking system. You lose the ABS by doing that but it's better than having a bike in bits!

There are plenty of people who'll do a servoectomy for you or you can do it yourself with a kit.

 

[mark.keeling]

There are plenty of people who'll do a servoectomy for you or you can do it yourself with a kit.

Any idea where I can get a kit from?

 

[wessexmike]

I've recently sent my 2006 1200rt servo pump to ecutesting and they couldn't do anything with it! I now have a very nice pump sitting in my front room and the rest of my bike at the local garage and I have no idea what to do next !!!

Anyone managed to get a servo ABS repaired anywhere in the UK?

Shit, you're further up shit creek than me! Many more of these incidents and no one is going to be buying an old ABS servo BMW! Hope someone lets you know where to get a kit. I will head to Luton unless there is anyone much closer to Stroud doing a servoectomy...

 

[Slipperyeel]

Nobody will rebuild the servo ABS pump. You have two options - either buy a new pump from BMW (cost - about half what your bike is worth) or have a servoectomy - remove the servo system altogether and revert to a conventional braking system. You lose the ABS by doing that but it's better than having a bike in bits!

There are plenty of people who'll do a servoectomy for you or you can do it yourself with a kit.

I'm reading this post with interest. But now I'm confused.

The op said he'd bumped into the German outfit who CAN repair the servos. But you're saying NO ONE can repair them.

Who's right?

 

[motoscot]

servo repair

rh electronics do repair servo units

you send the unit to them , it takes 4 - 6 weeks and the cost is £1000

I have had one done for a customer and they do a good job , but not cheap

Steve www.motoscot.co.uk

 

[Slipperyeel]

Blimey. It's it worth that? I mean, really, what's involved? A grand?

 

[jwpzx9r]

Blimey. It's it worth that? I mean, really, what's involved? A grand?

I think that when it comes to the ABS/servo issues we have to accept the BMW, not for the first time , have got things badly wrong. To be fair to BMW they never made the units and therefore could not know what shoite they were actually buying to put into their motorcycles. The BMW concept of ABS is a very good one but they and their design partners have not really done a good job on perfecting the components system, a system that is prone to components failing. Now if these components were reasonably priced an owner might accept the failings but to be honest £ 1500 for a single unit which is absolutely essential to the function of the motorcycle is just plain stupid or have I/we got it wrong and should it just be expected to happen as a bike ages some of the bikes are ten plus years old... but may only have done 25-40k . My last car was 12years old had done 195k and never had a problem with ABS and it never had the brake fluid changed in that time. My present car has done 80k and never a problem, other than a wheel sensor, and again never had the brake fluid changed.
I would be very interested though to know just how well the longevity of BMW motorcycle ABS units compares to the ones they fit into their cars, or indeed how the ABS units on cars in general compares to that fitted to motorcycles, or even how ABS units fitted to BMW motorcycles compare to those fitted to other ABS equipped motorcycles. It may be we just have to expect as I suggested earlier that these things can go pop and the cost is just something that has to be accepted.

 

[sproggy]

To be fair to BMW they never made the units and therefore could not know what shoite they were actually buying to put into their motorcycles.

Rubbish! It doesn't matter that they didn't make the servo themselves - they agreed a specification with the supplier, would have stripped and assessed a number of units prior to accepting them and would also have carried out extensive testing of the units both on the bench and fitted to test bikes. Their poor quality/reliability is absolutely BMW's responsibility.

 

[jwpzx9r]

Rubbish! It doesn't matter that they didn't make the servo themselves - they agreed a specification with the supplier, would have stripped and assessed a number of units prior to accepting them and would also have carried out extensive testing of the units both on the bench and fitted to test bikes. Their poor quality/reliability is absolutely BMW's responsibility.

I am not saying that BMW are not responsible for the reliability of their bikes but they probably did not know that the units they ordered would be subject to failures at relatively low mileages. They asked the suppliers to make something for them and gave them their specs... but have the suppliers actually met their brief? Another thing is in reality have there been an unacceptably high number of failures? Their have been large numbers of bikes produced with ABS fitted have the number of failures of these ABS units been OTT as a percentage of the numbers produced ? The way I see it we only ever hear of the ones that have failed on here and to be honest it is a tiny proportion of the number of bikes out there.
The other thing I hear is my bike is a right off because it is going to cost £1500 to have the ABS unit replaced and the bike is only worth £4000 ... really? Surely that is only the case if you are going to sell the bike post repair. I was recently quoted €800 for a service and a new set of boots for my 2005 GS does that suddenly mean the bike is in someway not worth the candle? ... Of course not the bike is worth spending that money on but if I am selling it after having the work done it is a bitter but perhaps necessary pill to swallow. My bike is immaculate but none the less only worth what the market will pay and for a 2005 bike that is not much BUT if I want to keep and use what is in every other respect a great bike it is worth spending a grand on it any day... people have become far to disposable minded today a bike like a BMW GS will go on for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper maintenance and the correct mind-set.

 

[UturnTony]

The ABS units (non servo) IIRC are the same (or very similar) to the ones fitted to some Ford Fiestas and other models and they suffer exactly the same problems.