EWS Ring Now Has a Service Bulletin

[BigEasy]

Stopped by the new Indianapolis BMW dealer yesterday (after 4 hours watching the Moto GP guys test at IMS ) to see about the brake line recall and yes my bike is included. I asked about software mapping and the bike is included in that service bulletin and the service manager (Jeff) also mentioned the EWS bulletin and caught me off guard as I had not heard of this. I have been on the fence about buying a spare to keep on the bike just in case after reading about the experiences of others, and reports of BMW ignoring a known issue, but had not pulled the trigger. I asked Jeff about the bulletin not haveing heard of it/read about it on the forums until that point and he indicated that it was issued last Friday.

Soo, I now have a service appointment for next Thursday for the big 3-brakes, software and EWS ring. I'm thinking that those who have yet to make a decision on the EWS issue may want to contact their respective dealers about it. Best Regards

[Dan-A]

Is the software update for the pinging thing (mine doesn't ping)?

[deilenberger]

Is the software update for the pinging thing (mine doesn't ping)?

There is a posting here someplace that has the entire SIB for the software update. It applies a lot more to RT's.. besides pinging, it corrects their MPG readout and a number of other things.

[famousperson]

I did a search on "software update" and didn't some up with that info. Does anybody know all what that it is supposed to correct?

[NeilS]

So what does the EWS Ring bulletin say? Are all owners entitled to a new part or does there have to be some kind of documentation of a malfunction?

[deilenberger]

So what does the EWS Ring bulletin say? Are all owners entitled to a new part or does there have to be some kind of documentation of a malfunction?

All owners within a certain VIN range are entitled to a new part.. basically - any R1200R made before March '08 gets one. And most of us are also due for the brake-line recall, and it wouldn't hurt to have the computer reprogramming done.

I have all 3 scheduled for the 19th..

[Rolando33]

OK, I'm not big on posting, but this is important. I work for BMW part-time, and have access to the DCS bulletins.
1.) Get the brake line replaced. I guess the GSes are more prone to it, but due to couplings between the line and the new ABS system, some of the lines are loosening themselves up over time. Basicly a time related leak, possibly leading to failure, BUT this would take some serious ignorance for not noticing the leak.
2.) the software update does not specify, but I am assuming it is dealing with the pinging issue and other software glitches.
3.)the antenna ring is failing on all bikes built with certain VINs, but basicly it starts with all the new 2007 to even new 2008 models (I should know, I just got a 2008 R12R, and it FAILED the 3rd day I owned it). And it even includes my R12S, built in the end of 2006. So, just get it done; BMW is paying the bill.

[Caroanbill]

All three getting done down under - brakes had a recall notice, and software + EWS is done as you book in.

In my case it added time to a late-start 10,000km service so I didn't get my bike back the same day. As I'd already caught the train out to the shop, the dealer provided BOTH a free loaner to get me home, and then had a staffer ride my R12R out to my house and swap them while I was at work. THANK YOU to Anthony Katter (owner) at Procycles - you certainly turned a minor mess-up into a very positive experience!

[BigEasy]

Well, got all three items taken care of yesterday at the new Indianapolis BMW dealer. The guys I dealt with were pretty squared away and the bike was done in the time frame they gave me so those things are a positive. One negative that occurred I am chocking up to new dealer-itus: the day that I dropped in to schedule the service my gas gauge started acting wierd then finally just quit. I called the shop foreman and told him I would need for that to be looked at as well. When I called to check on the pick up time he told me that they had diagnosed it as far as they could but they were unable to fix the problem. He was confident that the problem was the film strip guage within the tank but to pin it to that he needed a computer cable that they did not have in the shop. Evidently BMW will not warranty the repair until the requisite procedure has been done. So, I'm waiting on them to get this mystery cable

Even though this will require at least one more trip to the dealer the good thing is they are only 5 minutes from my office and an hour and 15 miuntes from home, not 4 hours away like the dealer I bought it from

[parkec]

I was at the dealer this morning getting a silencer/bag adjustment...My official fugly BMW bag was sitting/touching my silencer. I had purchased the Remus exhaust first, and the bags a ltaer date.. didn't notice the one bag was touching the silencer till I noticed a rub mark... fast forward..............................

yup...I asked my dealer about a recall they checked, the brakes, and the ring popped up....nothing about software though.


Now the dilema go local (12 miles away)...Make and appointmet and leave the bike for a day or two, or drive 55 miles one way have it done while I wait and be headed home by noon. hmm gotta love my local service.

[deilenberger]

I was at the dealer this morning getting a silencer/bag adjustment...My official fugly BMW bag was sitting/touching my silencer. I had purchased the Remus exhaust first, and the bags a ltaer date.. didn't notice the one bag was touching the silencer till I noticed a rub mark... fast forward..............................

yup...I asked my dealer about a recall they checked, the brakes, and the ring popped up....nothing about software though.


Now the dilema go local (12 miles away)...Make and appointmet and leave the bike for a day or two, or drive 55 miles one way have it done while I wait and be headed home by noon. hmm gotta love my local service.

There is a problem with riding 55 miles on an R12R? Seems to me to be a good excuse to get a ride in.. (and the software DOES apply, it's not a "recall" - it's a service campaign.)

EDIT - for the software, tell him "My bike pings under load.." since that's the big issue the software addressed (and apparently it was a real problem with the RT's and GS's.)

[Graf]

Well, got all three items taken care of yesterday at the new Indianapolis BMW dealer. The guys I dealt with were pretty squared away and the bike was done in the time frame they gave me so those things are a positive. One negative that occurred I am chocking up to new dealer-itus: the day that I dropped in to schedule the service my gas gauge started acting wierd then finally just quit. I called the shop foreman and told him I would need for that to be looked at as well. When I called to check on the pick up time he told me that they had diagnosed it as far as they could but they were unable to fix the problem. He was confident that the problem was the film strip guage within the tank but to pin it to that he needed a computer cable that they did not have in the shop. Evidently BMW will not warranty the repair until the requisite procedure has been done. So, I'm waiting on them to get this mystery cable

Even though this will require at least one more trip to the dealer the good thing is they are only 5 minutes from my office and an hour and 15 miuntes from home, not 4 hours away like the dealer I bought it from

I have a problem with gas gauge also.....as I ride more miles the gas bar displays full all the time and the miles left is actually going up instead of down..........

[Bob41459]

Got my brake recall done and they also did the EWS ring but no mention of a software dealio but no worries as my bike runs great and as I'm just 50 miles or so away from 2000 miles it seems the engine has run in great and I've got no issues or complaints.Idles and runs smooth as butter and I've not had to add any oil at all.
Mine is an '07 R12R that I picked up toward the end of April.

[deilenberger]

Got the brakes, EWS and computer upgrade done today.

Plan on 5 hours at the dealership.. perhaps 4 if the mechanic just did one the same week. The front end gets torn down quite a bit, as does the brake system.

The EWS was a non-issue since I have 17k on the bike on the original one, but since there was a service campaign.. it got done.

The brake job fixed a very tiny annoyance I had with the bike.. namely a soft initial application of the front brake. I have small hands, so I keep the lever adjusted almost all the way "in".. and I tend to 2 finger brake, so my other two fingers are around the grip. Before - I could feel the back of the lever just touch my fingers on the grip on an initial brake application. Repeated applications (quickly in succession) would pump the brake up a bit - moving the lever about 1/4" further out (no longer hitting my fingers.) With the new lines this behavior is gone completely. Braking point doesn't change.. and feels firmer. I suspect some hose stretch was taking place with the old brake lines. Not happening now. Nice improvement.

I do recommend getting the 11.2 software update (tell them it "pings under load sometimes".. it does right?) Hard as it is to believe - the engine feels smoother below 4k RPM, and throttle response is improved at lower RPMs. My idle quality also improved. No downside to it I can see so far. Recommended! (and it no longer pings..)

Got there at 8:30AM, left at 3:30PM (they did take a break for lunch..) I had breakfast with some friends, then lunch with more friends, managed to get out of the showroom with only an air-filter and oil for my next oil change (total damages around $75) - despite my best effort to buy perf'd gear and new boots. Nothing quite fit me right. Doggoneit..