SURVEY of FAULTS

ADMIN will start a survey soon: Let's call it a SURVEY OF FAULTS.
You can post problems/repairs experienced after 'n' kilometers, model specific, and what was the procedure/cost to rectify.
In time the survey can help every owner to know when to be on the look-out for possible problems, and to know what to expect of his/her bike.

For example: my 650GS started with steering head problems at about 35000kms. Steering head bearings were replaced ±R450

The webmaster will host a spreadsheet on the website and with your inputs we can populate all the fields?

Excellent Idea. Another survey you could include is the cost of services amongst competitive models

Admin, I'm waiting to buy my new bike.
I would love to know what experiences BMW bike owners have had.
A survey of this nature would assist me in my next purchase decision.
I'm at a loss for words. I thought there would be more interest?
Or does BMW have no faults?

On tour last week - bike started jerking so I moved over the the LH lane of the freeway while trying to determine what was wrong. Eventually cut out completely. After a process of elimination found that the side stand switch had packed up - got BMW on call to explain how to bridge it and carried on. Will have to take the bike in to get it fixed.

Also - last service an upgrade was done on the immobiliser apparently. Since then, if the bike has been in the rain I can switch it off, take out the key and the engine still runs!!

ps - also had side stand switch problems on the R1200S a few months ago and had it replaced.

Lets hope Bavaria reeds this thread.

Rejuvenated DaveS wrote:Also - last service an upgrade was done on the immobiliser ...

Het so 3 weke terug, een middag gou 'n draai gaan ry.
Toe ek die GS wil start om terug te gaan huistoe, wou hy nie start nie.
Op die display het die "EWS" error opgekom.
Ek het die fiets try aan en af skakel, battery ontkopel vir paar minute, maar niks het gewerk nie.

BMW on Call het vir Bavarian gestuur om my te kom haal.

Ek is toe vertel dat daar 'n probleem met die "immobelisers" van sekere 2008 modelle is en dat hulle vervang word.

other models than GS's are also affected and 07 models as well. There is an official BMW recall out on the EWS which by the way stands for -

Elektronische Wegfahr Sperre (direrectly translated....Elektroniese Wegneem Versperring)

@ Admin........

are we good to go on this thread or do you want to have it done in table format (or for that matter any other way)

Please go ahead!
In order to have it summarised in table format, please provide as much information as possible.

Admin wrote:... You can post problems/repairs experienced after 'n' kilometers, model specific, and what was the procedure/cost to rectify.
For example: my 650GS started with steering head problems at about 35000kms. Steering head bearings were replaced ±R450...

The spreadsheet may look like this:


and will be posted on the website as soon as we have 5 cases (to start with).

Seems that the spreadsheet covers all aspects one would like to record. Although it would be better should there not be enough stats to populate said spreadsheet. ??????

I don't see or read anything on the RT... yet. Still riding and looking for that.


PS do anybody have electronic DOOm to kill that ruddy insect on MadnohB's ID? Every time I want to destroy my screen getting at the thing!

and you will not be the first either........we had an "incident" in our house as well with my bug.......won't mention any names

ok, ok.........I'll take him to his box

I’m a die hart BMW fan who will buy another BM in a flash. Why?........just love what the famous roundel offers in terms of riding capabilities, after sales service, fit and finishing. Before entering into the brand, I was led to believe that it is one of the most reliable brands if not the best. Because sentiments are such a big part of bike ownership, I will refer only to personal experiences. By doing so, I’m not sure that I like what I see and sadly I have to admit the “one of the most reliable brands” tag, is a myth in my book.

All bikes in the analysis were bought new therefore “previous owner mistreatment” and or potential hidden defects are not in play.

In 4 years we have done a total of approximately 110 000km thus far on Beemers with 14 unscheduled visits between 6 bikes, 4 of those for big problems and 2 for huge problems. On the negative side imo the said problems could have been minimized to 4 if all the recalls had been eliminated by proper R & D before the bikes were released. On the positive side, all repairs/work were done under guarantee in other words without any cost to us and executed without lifting an eyebrow and with minimum inconvenience to us……that included flying in a gearbox from Germany at a cost of R35k.. To be fair to the K1200S, it was a completely new model with a “never used before” 167 bhp power plant namely the 55 degree inline 4. It is also clear – although it took them 2 years – the bulk if not all of the initial problems have been sorted on later models. However, given that they are currently on version 12.1 of the engine management system (in less than 4 years), to me it very much look like a trial and error method with us, the customer as guinea-pigs

To compare, allow me to reflect - again personal experience - with another brand

A combined 124 000km in 4 years on 8 Hondas with no unscheduled visits to the workshop. Now if this is not reliability par excellence, I don’t know what is.

Makes one think doesn’t

Ps. I do have the complete analysis available of exactly what went wrong with each bike

The spreadsheet is on its way to you. Be so kind and complete.. ?

Admin thinks said spreadsheet (blank) will be attached to the next RRR?

Obviously with the high number of Km's travelled - Jamie will probably have the best experience here. We have done roughly 70 000kms on LT's since Sept 2004 - and can safely say that i have had a few small issues that had to be sorted out on the 1999 model LT - but one could rather ascribe it to normal wear and tear. The 2007 model - hoewever - no problems thus far.

But the model has been tried and tested over the last 10 years - in overview i tend to agree with Jamie - more R&D should be done and the annual haste to launch new bikes should be slowed down.

Hi MadnohB

Please head through the green room unless you have something to declare.

to the man with the sense of humour..............

no problem........is there enough room for all 5 of us?

WYSInaWYG

And a bit to spare.