Don_F Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 I've had this problem since I purchased the bike (at 2k miles 05 x-demo model). It's had an intermittent fault which has stopped the engine firing. Usually it has always started from cold. It would then be a pain to start when warm, and would sometimes require the clutch engaged to fire. At the 6k service, last week, they replaced a handlebar switch? but now the engine will not fire at all. It kicks over fine but will not fire up. Within one hr I had a BMW technician here. he stripped the bike. He could not hear the fuel pump prime when the ignition was turned, Thought it may be the fuel pump rectifier part 16147676324 which fails on GS's as it is in a position that collects water. he says it rarely gives problems on rt's as it is better protected by the fairing (and the fact that we don't take our bikes swimming with us) it had a heatsink made of aluminium which had furred due to corrosion but below it was bone dry, replaced it to no effect. It had collected a load of grit so it does seem to be a dirt/water trap. It sits on the top of the fuel tank on the left hand side just under the fairing, above the fuel pump. He still reckoned the fuel pump was not priming when switched on. he removed it and tested it and it worked. refitted it and it did not work. His conclusion is a cam or crank rocker sensor in the engine is not telling the computer it is rotating and the computer is turning the fuel pump off? it's a big job so an hr later a tow truck arrived and my pride and joy has left for my local BMW dealer at Saltare Yorkshire UK. Will keep you all informed. Link to comment
Ricoshay Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 House calls! A mechanic actually came to your house to try and get you back on the road. I am impressed.:o) Trouble-shooting one of these bikes on the road without the aide of computerized test equipment is a challenging proposition. Thanks for sharing and keeping us up to date. Link to comment
Boffin Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 House calls! A mechanic actually came to your house to try and get you back on the road. I am impressed.:o) Trouble-shooting one of these bikes on the road without the aide of computerized test equipment is a challenging proposition. Thanks for sharing and keeping us up to date. In the UK, BMW Roadside Assistance rocks. You get two years free membership as part of the warranty package. No towing limits, free overnight accomodation if needed. If your bike fails far from home, say in another European country and can't be fixed in a short time, they will fly you home club-class whilst the bike follows in slower time. After the warranty expires (2 years unlimited mileage) it costs about £120 per year. Andy Link to comment
JayW Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 Very succinct description of a long ordeal. I hope they definitively fix it so you can go back to riding with confidence. I'll have to look at my own pump the next time I have the panels off. Jay Link to comment
Don_F Posted August 19, 2006 Author Share Posted August 19, 2006 In the UK, BMW Roadside Assistance rocks. You get two years free membership as part of the warranty package. No towing limits, free overnight accomodation if needed. If your bike fails far from home, say in another European country and can't be fixed in a short time, they will fly you home club-class whilst the bike follows in slower time. thanks for that. i didn't know it was for 2 yrs. The bloke who came said he usually worked on cars. He had all the knowledge, arrived in a silver 320 tourer liveried up as a BMW technitian, I was very impressed with the whole thing. I'm not that keen on BMW cars they have a sales man rep image in the UK but I've owned a BMW mini Cooper for 3 yrs now and I just love the service. He did say that if I live less than 50 miles from a bmw dealer I would after collect the bike once fixed! I only live 10-15 miles a way and it would only require a short bus and train ride. In a way I'm glad it happened as now they will fix it and I can go back to riding it. Hope the parts required take less time than the handlebar switch.. it took a month. Link to comment
Don_F Posted August 19, 2006 Author Share Posted August 19, 2006 Very succinct description of a long ordeal. I hope they definitively fix it so you can go back to riding with confidence. I'll have to look at my own pump the next time I have the panels off. Jay force of habit, I'm an illustrator by profession. I draw the exploded views you see in parts / repair catalogs. some of the technical authors words (they write the text) must have rubbed off on me, at school I got my highest grades for art - tech drawing and the lowest for english my english teacher would be proud. don Link to comment
Don_F Posted August 25, 2006 Author Share Posted August 25, 2006 Up date. one week on and still not fixed. garage says that they have got it started but it runs very rough and will not idle. It also smells funny? so they have emptied / refilled tank but it has not made a difference. Bike was 1/4 full when it wouldn't start and ran fine before it failed.. I took it in for a 6k service just before this happened and when I collected it they said the screen was not working. They had just replaced the indicator lens's with clear ones and thought they may have upset something. It now seems that the screen failure was a computer hitch? they have reset the computer which has fixed the screen but not everything else. Mechanic says it is something deep.. I still think it is a cam or crank sensor. Link to comment
black99S Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 Up date. one week on and still not fixed. garage says that they have got it started but it runs very rough and will not idle. It also smells funny? so they have emptied / refilled tank but it has not made a difference. Bike was 1/4 full when it wouldn't start and ran fine before it failed.. I took it in for a 6k service just before this happened and when I collected it they said the screen was not working. They had just replaced the indicator lens's with clear ones and thought they may have upset something. It now seems that the screen failure was a computer hitch? they have reset the computer which has fixed the screen but not everything else. Mechanic says it is something deep.. I still think it is a cam or crank sensor. local shop here had and RT from Alabama that was running rough. Fuel injection. Final fix was to replace the BMS-K computer thingy, which did not happen until after every other avenue of trouble shooting was exhausted. Even had the BMW guys on-line interfacing with the bike computer whilst running. 7 weeks later he was on his way.... Link to comment
Don_F Posted August 26, 2006 Author Share Posted August 26, 2006 7 weeks.. it'll be winter by then! I wonder if it's just a plug in part. maybe they could plug in a new computer and see if it makes a difference. The problem is that they are trying to fit my repair around other bikes that are booked in for work. I'll give em another week before I start to push. I'm getting withdrawl symptoms. I don't want to ask for a loaner as I'll be wanting to through it around to get my fix. Link to comment
George Posted August 26, 2006 Share Posted August 26, 2006 7 weeks.. it'll be winter by then! I wonder if it's just a plug in part. maybe they could plug in a new computer and see if it makes a difference. The problem is that they are trying to fit my repair around other bikes that are booked in for work. I'll give em another week before I start to push. I'm getting withdrawl symptoms. I don't want to ask for a loaner as I'll be wanting to through it around to get my fix. Working around your bike, fitting in booked in work.... Well you are VERY understanding indeed. I would be on their case all the time, you have paid your money and now you are missing the good riding weather. As for not riding their loaner, well you need to ride it as you would ride yours,as if you try to ride differently, things will be harder and the chances are you will not be at ease on the bike, and we all know where that leads.... Get on to them and get that fine bike on the road Link to comment
BMT Posted August 27, 2006 Share Posted August 27, 2006 I don't want to ask for a loaner ... If you've got one of their demo fleet, it keeps them focussed on a timely repair. Especially when you call them to book it in for a service! Link to comment
Don_F Posted August 28, 2006 Author Share Posted August 28, 2006 well I'm on Holiday in 2 weeks. So I guess I'll keep all the good will for then. Hopefully it'll be fixed by then. I'm stacked with work so far this week so i couldn't ride even if I get it back. No1 priority is get it fixed propper.. , and that, I'd rather not rush. Link to comment
Don_F Posted September 2, 2006 Author Share Posted September 2, 2006 Update report. Still not fixed. (three weeks) they say that they are tracking the problem bit by bit but as they change things it makes no fifference. They say it's a control unit that's failing so maybe it's Byte by Byte? Called me on Friday to say they have a loan bike for me (1200rt) It's only one week to my autumn holiday so at least that's covered. Seemed optomistic that I'd have mine back by then? will, as ever, keep you all informed. don Link to comment
NoHeat Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Do they have a Lemon Law in the UK? Most states over here have laws that allow you to return a vehicle that's still under warranty for a replacement or refund -- after surpassing a certain level of unsuccessful dealer efforts to fix. Link to comment
Boffin Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Do they have a Lemon Law in the UK? Most states over here have laws that allow you to return a vehicle that's still under warranty for a replacement or refund -- after surpassing a certain level of unsuccessful dealer efforts to fix. No Lemon Law. We do have the Sales of Goods act, that states goods or sevices must be of a merchantable quality but with vehicles it is a little different. It is possible to reject a vehicle within the first 28 days if it has significant faults. Once you accept an attempt to repair within that period you limit your rights. If the vehicle is not repairable you can get a replacement but I have never heard of this happening Andy Link to comment
Don_F Posted September 9, 2006 Author Share Posted September 9, 2006 Still not fixed. They now say it's not the computer/senders at all... Now they say it's the compression, it's too high? I was asked if i had topped the oil up with anything? Told them, after they serviced it 6k, I rode it home 15 miles and put it to bed. 4 days later when I wanted to take it for a ride It wouldn't start! I asked them to reset the valve timing just incase it was done wrong, and they say they'll check but he's really sure it's already been checked. I now have a courtesy 1200rt for the next week to cover my holiday! But It's not the same. I'm off this week so i'm going to drop in 2 or 5 times and be a pain in the but. Link to comment
Don_F Posted September 14, 2006 Author Share Posted September 14, 2006 Still not fixed. Week 4 I've now got a courtesy bike for the duration.. maybe it'll speed things up. A system specialist is visiting from BMW UK on Tuesday, he's going to have a look and report back? Link to comment
Don_F Posted September 23, 2006 Author Share Posted September 23, 2006 local shop here had and RT from Alabama that was running rough. Fuel injection. Final fix was to replace the BMS-K computer thingy, which did not happen until after every other avenue of trouble shooting was exhausted. Even had the BMW guys on-line interfacing with the bike computer whilst running. 7 weeks later he was on his way.... de ja vue Progress report Week 5 Still not fixed. Seems it is the computer after all. If they disconnect the secondary spark plugs the bike runs fine. re-connect and it's rough. No BMS-K in the country (UK) and it takes a week to get one from Germany (due to arrive Tuesday 26 Sept) then they need to program it to the bike. With a bit of luck I may have it back next week. Will call them on Friday to push. Can't say I'm happy with it all. Over the five weeks I have not received one phone call giving a progress report. Very Poor. Link to comment
Don_F Posted September 26, 2006 Author Share Posted September 26, 2006 FIXED.. 38 Days in total. Just received a call to say that the computer transplant has been a complete success. The engine is now running as sweet as a nut. Should be in a position to collect the bike On Thursday-Friday morning. cannot wait. Link to comment
Boffin Posted September 26, 2006 Share Posted September 26, 2006 FIXED.. 38 Days in total. Just received a call to say that the computer transplant has been a complete success. The engine is now running as sweet as a nut. Should be in a position to collect the bike On Thursday-Friday morning. cannot wait. Andy Link to comment
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