Just been at the dealer today and spoke directly to the mechanic that I go along with very well. He showed me the bulletin in written form but said could not make me a copy because he's not allowed to. But he let me read it.
It explains very well what it was all of this about. It is traction control software update. So if you go offroad and have traction control off and rear wheel loose the contact with the ground, it will accelerate a lot if you're on accelerator. Then when the wheel makes a contact with a ground, the speed of the wheel is abruptly changed and it put a lot of stress on the drive shaft, U-joints, final drive and even a gear box. In that ocasion, one of those parts may brake.
The software update is to the last version that came out last November. That (November) update makes sure if the wheel lose contact with the ground, it will not accelerate.
The bikes that already had the November update are not included in this recall.
My bike was already booked for mid February for its annual service, so he said not to worry about anything and the update will be done at the service. While we were talking, he showed me one 2019 1250 GSA that was performing the update as it came in today for its annual service. He said it will take 4 hours to update as that particular bike had the firmware version from 2019. The older the version, the longer it takes to update. The bikes with newer versions can take less then one hour. While the bike is updating the software, the mechanics are not supposed to perform any other service on the bike. So they will make the annual service first and after they're done, they will connect the bike to update the software version.
Also, he said, all the 1250 engines on GS/GSA need this update, no metter the production date, except (as I said) the ones with software from November 2022 (that is the latest version). He said, the software updates come out twice a year, November and May every year.
So, our bikes will take this update either in scheduled service or will be called by letter. Because of that, I suggest that owners with second-hand bikes purchased privately and do their own service, call the dealer and check for the recall and book the bike. That is in case the BMW dealers don't have your name and phone number.
Finally, we can look at the bright side of this recall: all 1250 GS/GSA bikes will get the latest software version for free.
