What electrical additions/mods will void my warranty?

[Clearandlock]

Hi All,

Getting my first service today, asked to have my garmin 660 wired in (i had the BMW canbus connector part). They agreed to do this as it is the same as the NAV IV. (it did feel like they are doing me a favour though)

I also wanted to to have a USB plug installed (the one here http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228414). They would not do this as it can void the warranty. (?)

I asked if they could wire it to the socket under the seat (i have the mini 12v plug from BWM).

They would not do this as it is not a BWM part (the usb socket that is) and he said that it could cause a draw on the canbus when bike is off and the canbus might not shut down properly?

When I queried him re the canbus being on the ignition he said that the canbus stayed live for 1min after ignition turned off and could be left live by an untested part.

Is there any truth to what he said? I am sure the halfords tyre pump is non standard BWM, I mean what the point of the 12v tap if not to power stuff from it.

So what will void my warranty?, and what have been your experiences with BMW when something goes wrong with a non approved part?

I am sure removing it before you turn up will work fine, what do they accept as a standard electrical addition?

thanks all.

 

[Bem]

Doubtless someone else will be along soon but here is my 50p worth.

Having an accessory such as your USB fitted into the socket might, just might, be enough of a current draw to cause the circuit to stay open and not close down after however many minutes (mine was about 3 mins, but who is counting??)

Wiring direct from the battery (suitable fused of course) overcomes many problems associated with running accessories from the socket eg your halfords pump is most likely to trip out the circuit breaker as the socket is limited to under 5 amps.

I ran both my additional sockets on the beak direct.

There should be no warranty issues.

 

[Duchess]

What bike have you got Clearandlock?

I'll hazard a guess we're talking 1200 GS here so I'll move your thread over. Its better placed than the 'newbie section'.

 

[Macfie]

I know from experience that the tiny current draw from a Garmin Quest QPAC does keep the socket live if left plugged in. I left mine pluged in while parked up for 10 days (thinking the can bus would shut down the socket) and ended up with the battery down to 7.5 volts. It did take a charge though and has been fine since. Your dealer is right.

 

[freeloader]

I know from experience that the tiny current draw from a Garmin Quest QPAC does keep the socket live if left plugged in. I left mine pluged in while parked up for 10 days (thinking the can bus would shut down the socket) and ended up with the battery down to 7.5 volts. It did take a charge though and has been fine since. Your dealer is right.

You're lucky, it flattened my battery.

Althoughin my case it was a Zumo 550 I'd wired up to the dedicated GPS socket.

 

[ghiribizzo]

I have a Zumo 660 plugged into the socket in the loom. It's never flattened the battery.

 

[freeloader]

I have a Zumo 660 plugged into the socket in the loom. It's never flattened the battery.

My bike's an F800GS, the trigger current might be different, or the 660 might be drawing more or less current than the 550.

I got around it by wiring it in via a relay powered from the GPS socket, which always switches off after the 1 minute or so. Could have made it cheaper by just putting a switch, or external plug and socket, into the circuit but laziness won over parsimoniousness.

 

[Toad]

If something is plugged in to an accessory socket then it can't invalidate your warranty.

AFAIK the only "approved" way of connecting in to the electrics is to take a feed from the back of the underseat acccessory socket.

This if course is in addition to anything you connect to the GPS socket at the front.