SOS system failure

Victor c

Registered user
Joined
Jun 29, 2013
Messages
1,360
Reaction score
295
Location
North Wales
I’m away on a Euro tour currently, and my R1250GSA is constantly reporting SOS reduced functionality and yellow warning triangle.
Contacted the local dealer to book it in for investigation for when I get back and they have told me this is quite an issue currently, affecting a large number of bikes (including three of their demo bikes).
Apparently it is a faulty switch unit and BMW are working on a fix, which is expected by mid July.
 
I’m away on a Euro tour currently, and my R1250GSA is constantly reporting SOS reduced functionality and yellow warning triangle.
Contacted the local dealer to book it in for investigation for when I get back and they have told me this is quite an issue currently, affecting a large number of bikes (including three of their demo bikes).
Apparently it is a faulty switch unit and BMW are working on a fix, which is expected by mid July.
Same on mine. 2024 RS. It's been in to be sorted but it's still the same.
 
Mine failed ages ago. Connected it to my GS911 and it came up with two faults. One was open circuit to speaker and the other I can't remember.

2 years past warranty.
 
my R1250GSA is reporting SOS reduced functionality and yellow warning triangle.

Edited your comment but my '20 version did this once to me on Friday......cleared in less than a minute but I'll keep an eye out for repeated issues on my bike and if any others see it more frequently.
 
I’m away on a Euro tour currently, and my R1250GSA is constantly reporting SOS reduced functionality and yellow warning triangle.
Contacted the local dealer to book it in for investigation for when I get back and they have told me this is quite an issue currently, affecting a large number of bikes (including three of their demo bikes).
Apparently it is a faulty switch unit and BMW are working on a fix, which is expected by mid July.
Thanks for info on the 'fix' .. my '23 GSA has had failures on and off since new and has the fault notification showing right now which I am ignoring .. when I was speccing up another bike this was one of the items I decided not to option as it seems to be BMW weak spot
 
On a more positive note, I dropped my '22 1250GS on a single track hairpin in the middle of nowhere, central Norway, last year. As I was picking it up my bike started talking to me! Once I realised it was the SOS system I was able to reassure the guy at the other end that I was OK and didn't need any emergency services.
 
Software update needed on my 2023RS for the SOS issue. Kept it in overnight at the dealership because they didn’t know how long it would take to update.
Seems to be cured.

Also added the software to show the Sport screen on the TFT. Should have been added at the factory but wasn’t for some reason.
 
I’m another one…9 months old and started a month ago now.

Seems this is the best official line as that is almost to a tee what I was told regarding the issue.
One of three things-
Software
Faulty switch
Or faulty speaker.

Happened a week before I went away and was advertised see to just use it and see about it when I get back, it’s booked in 2 weeks Tuesday to hopefully be sorted.
 
Just in time for my service on 8th August.
 
Same issue on my R1250 GSA (2024 plate). Rang the dealer and software fix is expected to be available at the end of July 2024.
 
Mine went FUBA too, told it was the parameters not set correctly and the update will sort it out in July. They will contact me when it is time.
 
Mine's been playing up for about 3 weeks now, strangely since just a few days after it had a software update at its two year service. Disconnecting the battery for a few minutes has made no difference, so I popped in to the dealer yesterday. Apparently, there's a lot of it about!
The plan is to go in for a diagnostics check a week on Monday and that'll determine whether it's hardware or software and thereafter, if it's software, then they know BMW is aware of the issue, but the dealer has no indication of when revised software will become available. It sounds to me as if something's got out into the field without quite enough testing.
 
Last edited:
Caused by a low voltage battery too. If in doubt, it’s easy to charge the battery to see if it goes away.

I had loads of issues with my 2020 TE,
 
Caused by a low voltage battery too. If in doubt, it’s easy to charge the battery to see if it goes away.

I had loads of issues with my 2020 TE,
I bought a new 1250GS at the end of Jan. Everything was ok initially. I sent it back to Vines to have a factory alarm fitted. I was told it is a plug and play job that will take approx 1 hour. So I opted to wait with the bike whilst it was installed. 5 hours later I got the bike back. Apparently loading the software caused the delay? The alarm all works ok, but ever since it was fitted the SOS warning message keeps coming on. It can be cleared using the wheel but invariably returns. I have seen the comment abount battery voltage, but this often occure during a ride when the battery voltage is reading 14 volts or so, so not low. It appears there is a software issue that apparently there is now an update for that will sort it out. It is getting its first service in a couple of weeks, so we will see.. I also got a suspension warning the other day that said it was ok to ride, but to take it to a specialists asap. I have cycled through all the different suspension settings and everything seems to be working..
 
I also have the same fault on my 1250GSA that I purchased in April this year.
Although a fix is (as per other posts) supposedly arriving late July, the warning triangle has now become familiar feature. I don't always get the fully notification on the screen when I start the bike, but the triangle is there...and could it be masking an additional and not obvious problem? I am not certain I would pick up on this without scrolling through to the fault display.
 
When the yellow box comes on, how do I get it off ?

Mine keeps saying my key needs a new battery, which I've changed twice.
 


Back
Top Bottom