Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Mike Werner]

Funny, or strange. Just a week or two after signing for the new "Long Range" BMW C-Evolution lease, my current C-evolution is acting up.

I had ridden the scoot to some good friends at the local Honda dealer, and 5 minutes after arriving a major hail storm struck. After a cup of coffee and after the storm passed, I decided to go home (before any future storm would strike). Contact on, but nothing happened except every serious warning lights were on and in RED; battery, drive and general warning were all red and blinking and the scoot would not start.

So I want back to the Honda dealer for yet another cup of coffee and to study the manual. According to the docs, if any of the above warning icons appear you need to stop and contact BMW. After an hour, I tried again. And it worked (must have been short or a freeze).... the bike started, except for one thing: the odometer was blinking. But throwing warning in wind, I drove home.

The following day I tried again, and it still works, but the odometer is still blinking. So this time I contacted my local BMW dealer. Their response was curt and simple; we don't know what the blinking means, you will need to bring the scooter here for us to find out. Which of course is difficult since it's outside the range of the scooter and since I need to bring it back in 2 months to receive the new one, I wasn't planning to bring it back.

I just thought it was strange that my manual does not mention the blinking odometer. I know that the bike is more than one year past its annual service, but why suddenly blink now.

Anyway, not happy with BMW that even the most basic diagnostic was not even considered....

[Justin Andrews]

Hmm the hail storm might be the clue.
Sounds like a possible isolation issue?

[Mike Werner]

Hmm the hail storm might be the clue.
Sounds like a possible isolation issue?

That's what I thought, and of course, that's pretty bad. But why would the odometer keep flashing now that it's dry.

[MajorMajor]

Could still be damp on the inside. Tiny current leakage

[Mike Werner]

Could still be damp on the inside. Tiny current leakage

Don't think so;.. a few days in a reasonably warm garage. But then you never know..

[Richard230]

BMW's are known for having instrument displays that sometimes get wet inside and start malfunctioning.  That started back in the K100 days and has continued off and on up to even the latest 2016 RS model. BMW has tried a number of solutions in the past to prevent this from happening, including putting drain holes ( ) in the bottom of the display module and using vent holes covered with Gortex to control humidity in the device. It doesn't happen very often, but it has happened.

One thing is for sure.  BMW really doesn't like their customers to complain about anything.  You are supposed to smile, bend over, and take it like a man.  Any problems and you are to take your bike to your dealer who will tell you: "They all do that sir.  Nothing to worry about. BMW is making the perfect motorcycle."  

At least it is nice to read for once about a BMW having problems. I have been getting tired of hearing about all of the Zero issues.   

As a long time buyer of BMW motorcycles, (30 years and 8 bikes) it has been my observation that you never want to buy the first year of any BMW model as they always have issues that will be corrected the following year, or whenever the next new version is marketed.

Anyway Mike.  Good luck and my other recommendation is to not look at the instrument display.  That is the way I handle problems.  I just close my eyes, hope for the best and keep turning that throttle.

Getting back to your current issue.  I would get out the old hair dryer (you do still have one, don't you?) and blow dry the instrument cluster. That might work, as long as you don't get it too hot and melt the clear lens material.   

[Mike Werner]

Anyway Mike.  Good luck and my other recommendation is to not look at the instrument display.  That is the way I handle problems.  I just close my eyes, hope for the best and keep turning that throttle.

Getting back to your current issue.  I would get out the old hair dryer (you do still have one, don't you?) and blow dry the instrument cluster. That might work, as long as you don't get it too hot and melt the clear lens material.   

Exactly what I was planning to do. Just open the throttle and pray (I actually have an airbag jacket so that may help if the thing blows up...).

Hair dryer..... you need hair for that..   

[Burton]

Men, real men, without a hair dryer are expected to still have a variable temperature heat gun

[Mike Werner]

Men, real men, without a hair dryer are expected to still have a variable temperature heat gun

 

[hubert]

have a variable temperature heat gun

Effective to shrink the complete instrument cluster as if it was a tube for electric wires. 

[Burton]

Effective to shrink the complete instrument cluster as if it was a tube for electric wires. 

While that would certainly keep the moisture out I would recommend using the "variable" part of the heat gun and lowering it down to 100F

[MostlyBonkers]

So that's what those hand dispensers in BMW stealerships are for... Lube! They are known for their smooth customer service, after all! [emoji6]

Good luck with your dash Mike. You'll be glad to get the next gen model. I hope!

A guy at my bike group has been given an offer to extend his warranty for a year. £400! It's one of those big 1600cc bikes they sell. I forget the model. A little like a Goldwing.

[Richard230]

So that's what those hand dispensers in BMW stealerships are for... Lube! They are known for their smooth customer service, after all! [emoji6]

Good luck with your dash Mike. You'll be glad to get the next gen model. I hope!

A guy at my bike group has been given an offer to extend his warranty for a year. £400! It's one of those big 1600cc bikes they sell. I forget the model. A little like a Goldwing.

That would be the K1600GT.  You enjoy the BMW lube?  Try getting one of those serviced.  $1600 before they return it to you.  And you had better hope that they don't tell you that you need new tires.   

[Mike Werner]

Now for the good news... I drove up (on the Africa Twin since the C-Evolution doesn't have the range) to my local BMW dealer. I had ordered the new C-Evolution to arrive around August/September (when the current lease expires) so I dropped off some documents. Told the salesguy the issue I had. His reply was quite incredible...

He stated that a brand new C-Evolution LR had arrived the previous day. If I wanted, I could take that one immediately, and if so, he'd square away with BMW Leasing. Since there is a auto/moto expo show in my city next weekend and they would be there, they would bring the new scoot there, and all I have to do is ride up my old scoot for 2 kilometres and trade it in on the spot..... how cool is that.

Thank you Moto-technic for looking after your customers!

[Richard230]

Now for the good news... I drove up (on the Africa Twin since the C-Evolution doesn't have the range) to my local BMW dealer. I had ordered the new C-Evolution to arrive around August/September (when the current lease expires) so I dropped off some documents. Told the salesguy the issue I had. His reply was quite incredible...

He stated that a brand new C-Evolution LR had arrived the previous day. If I wanted, I could take that one immediately, and if so, he'd square away with BMW Leasing. Since there is a auto/moto expo show in my city next weekend and they would be there, they would bring the new scoot there, and all I have to do is ride up my old scoot for 2 kilometres and trade it in on the spot..... how cool is that.

Thank you Moto-technic for looking after your customers!

That is great news, Mike.  BMW may not make the most reliable vehicles, but they really stand behind their products (at least while they are still under warranty) and their dealers' customer service is the best. Enjoy your new ride and let us know what you think after you get a few km under your wheels.

Oh yes.  Have fun with your election tomorrow.