EWS message - bike will not start

[PhilSB]

I recently had a problem with the bike not starting. After visiting a bikers cafe (Hartside Top, Cumbria , lovely biking roads) the EWS message came up on the dash. The handbook said that it was because I was using the wrong key (?). Anyway, it wouldn't start and had to be rescued by the BMW rescue, which was efficient using a local recovery service. It was 5.30pm on a Sunday evening. When I had put it in the garage when I eventually got home it would start. Hmm!
I took it to the dealer and they fitted a new loop aerial ,or something like that. They said to keep the masterkey with the bike as it would start with that.
Anyone else had any problems?
Phil

[deilenberger]

While not "common" - it does appear to happen on occasion. Some people make a big deal out of it.. but since it doesn't cause the bike to stop running while it is running - IMHO - not a big deal - more a PITA. It can be fixed, and if needed - if I had the antenna, it can be rigged to run without major disassembly of the bike (the connector is up front - have to drop the headlight to get to it - 2 screws..) Then hang the spare antenna over the key in the ignition, and start the bike.

I've heard of less than a dozen cases on all the hexheads since 2004 - which is probably many thousands of bikes. Replacing the ring antenna seems to cure it.

One thing - if it gives the EWS message. Remove your key, walk away from the bike and contemplate life for 5-10 minutes before trying again. The system has a lockout time (I believe 5 minutes) where it won't respond after 3 incorrect codes are read.. that's to keep people with code generators from being able to deluge the ECU with them in an attempt to get around the EWS system. That's why it started later in your garage.. transient fault - turned to 5 minute fault by repeated tries.

[CharlieO]

Phil,
Please see my post on this same matter located on page (2). To cut to the chase you will have to replace the ring antennae. Your bike will start a few times more but it will eventually fail as mine did. I was able to get the bike home after a few tries but once I got it home I played around seeing if the problem would dissappear but to no avail. I trailered the bike to the shop. The antennae ring failure has been a fairly common occurrence so don't feel alone. I don't know what the root cause of the problem is but there is some sort of problem. Please see the comments made on my earlier EWS post.
Charlie "O"

[Dan-A]

I was just at the River City Beemers Manchester CA weekend campout, and one K1200S had the problem there, and my friend Tom had to have his K1200GT towed home due to the same problem a week or so ago.

I am getting a bad feeling about this.

[Mr. Average]

I guess the question of the problem being common or not depends on how one views statistics. There certainly seem to be frequent reports on the different BMW boards about this problem. No matter how often it happens, it is happening too often when riders with $15,000 to $22,000 motorcycles that are new off the showroom floor are stranded and helpless on the side of the road. I also think that BMWNAs response to this problem has been less than supportive. My dealer took very good care of me when this happened, but I think that was the dealer's time and money and not BMWNA. I cannot see myself ever buying another new BMW....and I love my R1200R.

[Dan-A]

I cannot see myself ever buying another new BMW....and I love my R1200R.

I am hearing that alot too. Many final drive failures lately also. WTF is going on?

Another poor example of BMWNA; The early E46 M3's were launching rods through the block and BMW blamed the owners for over revving the engines, till the SMG trannsmissions came out, which will not allow a premature downshift, which was what the 6 speed owners were being blamed for.

Only then (even though over revving will usually cause top end problems, not rod bearings to fail) did BMW finally issue a recall.

So they stepped up, but only once the word got out, and they were forced to.

BMW, are you listening? If you're going to be more expensive, you have to be better. Many of us are willing to pay more to get more, but we are not willing to be fools.

I really like my R1200R also, and am hoping they come out with a F800GS based on the new twin, but I too am also wondering if this is my last BMW.

[hass]

I cannot see myself ever buying another new BMW....and I love my R1200R.

Me neither - but that's because I wont have to; the R1200R is almost perfect!

[celticus]

"walk away from the bike and contemplate life for 5-10 minutes before trying again. The system has a lockout time (I believe 5 minutes) where it won't respond after 3 incorrect codes are read.. that's to keep people with code generators from being able to deluge the ECU with them in an attempt to get around the EWS system. That's why it started later in your garage.. transient fault - turned to 5 minute fault by repeated tries."

Good usable information Don. Keep it up.

Mark

[PhilSB]

Thanks to everyone for the info. I've had a few trips out and so far all is well.
Phil

[murphy1292]

My wife recently sold her F650GS and bought a used, but nearly new, R1200R. She has put about 2000 miles on the bike and is really enjoying it. She had the dreaded ews fault occur a few times, had the ring antenna replaced at Engle's in KC last week, so far no more ews faults.
She put 40k miles on her F650 in 3 years, hopefully she will enjoy the R1200R as much or more as the F650.


Ken Kroack
'02 R1150GS - mine
'07 R1200R - hers


They told me I was gonna have to work for a living, but all I wanna
do is ride............ Jackson Browne