ANTENNA KEY RING MALFUNCTION

[celticus]

Ah, since 2007.
Mark

[WILDPIG]

NOTHER UPDATE-- CHECK IT OUT-- I HAVE 1ST HAND INFOR OF AN R1200 SOLD YESTERDAY,, DUDE DROVE IT HOME,, PARKED IT,, AN IT WOULDNT FIRE BACK UP,,,,, SAME DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY R1200,,, IM STILL WAITIN ON THE NEW ANTENNA RING AN INFOR FROM BMW -NA AS TO WHTHER I CAN GET BIKE STARTED WITH NEW ANTENNA RING WITHOUT HAVIN ACCESS TO COMPUTER REBOOT-- ANY BODY HAVE AN KNOWLEDGEABLE COMMENTS IN THIS AREA..... BTW-- I LIKE MY CAPS,,,, PEACE OUT

[deilenberger]

Don, Did you mention that this problem was not found in the earlist model releases for the R1200R? Is there any list of which serial numbers are and are not affected?
Mark

According to BMW in Australia, the antenna ring problem potentially affects all BMW models except 650s built since 2007.

Cheers
Radar

Interesting - at a local club meeting tonight - the club president mentioned his went EWS-absent on his new 2008 RT - with 800 miles on it. It's getting a new one tomorrow. I suggested he purchase a spare, and make sure they use regular screws to install the new one rather than the security screws.

He'll be riding along with me to the Square Route Rally this weekend - so I'll have a spare antenna along just in case

[deilenberger]

NOTHER UPDATE-- CHECK IT OUT-- I HAVE 1ST HAND INFOR OF AN R1200 SOLD YESTERDAY,, DUDE DROVE IT HOME,, PARKED IT,, AN IT WOULDNT FIRE BACK UP,,,,, SAME DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY R1200,,, IM STILL WAITIN ON THE NEW ANTENNA RING AN INFOR FROM BMW -NA AS TO WHTHER I CAN GET BIKE STARTED WITH NEW ANTENNA RING WITHOUT HAVIN ACCESS TO COMPUTER REBOOT-- ANY BODY HAVE AN KNOWLEDGEABLE COMMENTS IN THIS AREA..... BTW-- I LIKE MY CAPS,,,, PEACE OUT

i like lower case, so if you can use caps, i can use all lowercase..

the antenna just needs to be plugged in. no programming or coding of it is needed. that also makes it possible to carry a spare around with you.

sounds as if a lot of 2008's are going ews-absent all of a sudden. sorta makes me think the problem got worse not better.

[celticus]

How much do the antena rings cost? Where can you get them and how hard are they to t replace?
Mark

[deilenberger]

How much do the antena rings cost? Where can you get them and how hard are they to t replace?
Mark

Mark, thought this was covered.. but mebbe it was another forum.

A spare costs around $50 from Chicago BMW (20% off) - BMW recently dropped the price on them.

They require some effort to replace - but it doesn't have to be replaced to get the bike running again. The good antenna ring has to be in proximity to a good key. What that means is you could unplug the harness from the ring mounted to the top triple-tree clamp and plug it into one you hold around the key while you're starting the engine.

Once the engine IS started - the antenna is ignored, so the spare could be tie-wrapped out of the way, or disconnected and put away until the next time you have to start the engine.

It looks to me as if initially getting to the antenna connector might require dropping the headlight pod - which doesn't look like a big deal (one connector and two screws..)

[Graf]

NOTHER UPDATE-- CHECK IT OUT-- I HAVE 1ST HAND INFOR OF AN R1200 SOLD YESTERDAY,, DUDE DROVE IT HOME,, PARKED IT,, AN IT WOULDNT FIRE BACK UP,,,,, SAME DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY R1200,,, IM STILL WAITIN ON THE NEW ANTENNA RING AN INFOR FROM BMW -NA AS TO WHTHER I CAN GET BIKE STARTED WITH NEW ANTENNA RING WITHOUT HAVIN ACCESS TO COMPUTER REBOOT-- ANY BODY HAVE AN KNOWLEDGEABLE COMMENTS IN THIS AREA..... BTW-- I LIKE MY CAPS,,,, PEACE OUT

you'll be waiting for a part for at least a week.....the warehouse sends it the slowest possible way (the dealer wants to save as much as possible on warranty repairs):-)......i have paid $14 for overnight shipping. so, if you want your bike back faster ask them if they can overnight it.....they can always send the other one back to the warehouse.

I learned this (didn't even think about overnight) the hard way.....had to wait for over a week just to be told that they have no idea where the part is......so i asked them to overnight it and had the bike ready the nxt evening.

[WILDPIG]

FOR THE RECORD-- PER THE DEALER-- JOB SUCESSFULLY COMPLETED 10 MINUTES AGO: YOU WILL I REPEAT --YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE COMPUTER DO THE RE PROGRAM AN DIAGNOTICS WHEN COMPLETEING THE ANTENNA RING CHANGE OUT... END OF STORY........... THAT AINT ME TALKING--- THATS STRAIGHT OUTTA BMW DEALER.

[deilenberger]

FOR THE RECORD-- PER THE DEALER-- JOB SUCESSFULLY COMPLETED 10 MINUTES AGO: YOU WILL I REPEAT --YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE COMPUTER DO THE RE PROGRAM AN DIAGNOTICS WHEN COMPLETEING THE ANTENNA RING CHANGE OUT... END OF STORY........... THAT AINT ME TALKING--- THATS STRAIGHT OUTTA BMW DEALER.

i will repeat - the computer is not needed. i'll repeat - the computer is not needed. the computer can be used to read out and clear the stored ews fault code, but the bike will start just fine once a good antenna is connected. and that is me talking.

[deilenberger]

you'll be waiting for a part for at least a week.....the warehouse sends it the slowest possible way (the dealer wants to save as much as possible on warranty repairs):-)......i have paid $14 for overnight shipping. so, if you want your bike back faster ask them if they can overnight it.....they can always send the other one back to the warehouse.

I learned this (didn't even think about overnight) the hard way.....had to wait for over a week just to be told that they have no idea where the part is......so i asked them to overnight it and had the bike ready the nxt evening.

Alex - this is a sign of a dealer who doesn't give a poo for his customers. A part like this can be ordered through the VOR program BMW offers. VOR = Vehicle Off Road. If the part is in the US, the dealer will have it within 24 hours. If not - and the part is available in Germany - 48 hours. There is a small charge - no where near $14 - for this service from BMW since some dealers abused it and ordered everything VOR. Some dealers do wait for what's called a "stock" order before ordering any parts. Stock orders are for those parts they normally carry in stock (filters, oil, etc.) and there is some sort of discount of a few percent for "stock orders"..

Next time this happens - start tapping your foot and mention VOR to the person telling you it will take a week or more for the part. Once they know you're on to them - they usually just go and order it like they should have to begin with.

Oh - a FWIW - on my long trip last year at the very beginning, I got a stone through my headlight. That was on the way to the Square Route Rally in MD. I contacted Morton's BMW in VA to see if they had one. They didn't - but the very smart parts guy there did a VOR to the parts warehouse in CA - this was at 7PM on a Friday night. He was smart enough to know the warehouse in CA would still be open and could overnight ship it to them. I was called the next morning at 11AM by Mortons and told my headlight had arrived. There was no extra charge for the VOR shipment. That's what a dealer who cares about their customers can do. You might want to talk to the owner of the dealership you're dealing with and explain how penny pinching isn't going to be winning repeat business from you.

[celticus]

Sorry about recovering that Don. If it were up to me I would perminently defete my antenna.
Mark

[Graf]

you'll be waiting for a part for at least a week.....the warehouse sends it the slowest possible way (the dealer wants to save as much as possible on warranty repairs):-)......i have paid $14 for overnight shipping. so, if you want your bike back faster ask them if they can overnight it.....they can always send the other one back to the warehouse.

I learned this (didn't even think about overnight) the hard way.....had to wait for over a week just to be told that they have no idea where the part is......so i asked them to overnight it and had the bike ready the nxt evening.

Alex - this is a sign of a dealer who doesn't give a ----- for his customers. A part like this can be ordered through the VOR program BMW offers. VOR = Vehicle Off Road. If the part is in the US, the dealer will have it within 24 hours. If not - and the part is available in Germany - 48 hours. There is a small charge - no where near $14 - for this service from BMW since some dealers abused it and ordered everything VOR. Some dealers do wait for what's called a "stock" order before ordering any parts. Stock orders are for those parts they normally carry in stock (filters, oil, etc.) and there is some sort of discount of a few percent for "stock orders"..

Next time this happens - start tapping your foot and mention VOR to the person telling you it will take a week or more for the part. Once they know you're on to them - they usually just go and order it like they should have to begin with.

yes Don.....i agree with you......they did not give a s----- about the customer (me) since I did not buy the bike from them...or this is just how they do business....in my case i did not have a choice since BMW road service will only tow to the nearest dealer....and as luck shows it...they were it. i know you saw my write up about what and how the EWS error happened and my conversations with the dealer.
thanx to people like you, I now know what to say and what to do should anything (hope not) happen in the future.....the advice that i find here is much appreciated.

[Radar in oz]

Don, Did you mention that this problem was not found in the earlist model releases for the R1200R? Is there any list of which serial numbers are and are not affected?
Mark

According to BMW in Australia, the antenna ring problem potentially affects all BMW models except 650s built since 2007.

Cheers
Radar

My confidence was shattered on the weekend.

Mine failed on a bike built in September 2006 and after 13000 Km. At least BMW roadside assistance worked and they offered a few alternatives to suit me the best way they could.

Previously my dealer had told me mine was not one of those included in the Service Bulletin for replacement.

Here's hoping the fix is reliable. Has anyone heard of any replacements also failing?

Cheers
Radar

[gibbo111]

My bike was delivered in jan 08 plated 01/07 manufactured 12/06

[MJB]

My bike was delivered in jan 08 plated 01/07 manufactured 12/06

Your Dealer will know if it is on the recall list.
As per another post by you, you said you bought your bike privately.

Best call a dealer anyway, and they will look up, plus any other recall items.
I think they will still fix it free....

[WILDPIG]

PER BMW/NA ANTENNA RING REPLACEMENT AS OF MARCH OF 2008 IS BMW'S LATEST EFFORT TO SOLVE ISSUE. BMW/NA WOULD NOT GIVE AN ANSWER WHEN I ASKED EM HAD THERE BEEN ANY FAILURE OF THE REPLACEMENT ANT. RING -- REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER IS ....... 247,,, THATS THE CURRENT ONE MANUFACTORED MARCH 08 AN IS WHAT ALL DEALERS ARE CURRENTLY USING.... LETS HOPE IT HOLDS UP,, TWEEN BATTERY FAILURE WHICH IS VERY HIGH ON R12'S AN ANT RING FAILURE-- IM THINKING AT LEAST 35% OF ALL R12'S MADE-- IT'S PAST TIME THIS DAWG WAS LAID TO REST.