ABS Troubles

[moto-m]

I know how you all love your R1200R bikes on here - I did too - until following a “Brake Failure” warning light I had dealer diagnostics tell me that the ABS modulator pump had thrown in the towel and I could no longer expect the safe braking that I’ve become accustomed to. Strangely enough, the brakes are great – more feel than before - which is nice.

The brake fluid has been changed every year and the bike hasn’t been abused in any way, in fact it hasn’t really had such a hard life at all.

I suppose that I shouldn’t be too bitter, after all it is 5 years old and done 33,000 miles – these things don’t last forever. Good old BMW quality eh!

[websterize]

How much would it have been to replace the ABS pump?

[dewi sant]

That's why I bought a non - abs bike. Apart from the fact I'm not keen on ABS on bikes, it can be horrendously expensive when it goes jumblies up. If it's any consolation it's not just BMW that are having ABS probs. Mazda and a couple of other car makers have had lots of problems the last few year s with dodgy (cheap imported) ABS units

Dewi

[mogu83]

Here you go: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-I-ABS-ABS-M ... es&vxp=mtr only $1,2000

[moto-m]

How much would it have been to replace the ABS pump?

Here in the Uk - main dealer quote for supply and fit is £1200

[dbrick]

...it can be horrendously expensive when it goes ---- up.

I think "when" is a bit strong. I agree that it's a mechanical bit, and it can break. However, many of us have ridden ABS bikes (and driven ABS cars) for decades with no faults, much less faults that can't be repaired. I'm not surprised that a BMW dealer would try and sell a new ABS unit, rather than being aggressive or creative about the possibility of repair.

Most units don't die; of those that do, I believe many are repairable. A number of firms repair car and bike ABS modules, and I have read at least one thread on how to clean the bike module's internal screens, which clog and prevent proper operation. If you're looking for an excuse to de-ABS the bike, then it's easy to do that; if you wanted to retain ABS, replacement at $$$ may not be the only option.

[moto-m]

...it can be horrendously expensive when it goes ---- up.

..... many of us have ridden ABS bikes (and driven ABS cars) for decades with no faults.....

I agree.

Luckily I still have a R1100R with working ABS – in fact everything still works just as it did when I purchased it new in 1999 even though it has now exceeded 63,000 miles.

[Tominer]

My ABS also just went out. 2007 R12R with 11,000 miles. Dealer says new pump required, $1400 for the part and 3 hours to put it in. Does that sound right???

BMW has 20+ years with m/c ABS experience. I'm disappointed at the number of failures I'm reading about.

I too contacted BMW for any assistance, they offering nothing.

Tom Miner

[uncle BS]

yep that 1400 qnd labor sounds bout right. bmw reinstated thier more expensive price about 90 days ago, meaning bmw IF YOU CAN GET THEM TO ASSIST -is now offerring less assistence than before. its a very narrow range that qualifys a person for bmw goodwill money.

i'd known more and ive known less cost to the customer and the fact is-- theres a high failure rate of abs pumps on 07 08 rt's and r's. one more tip- if you get a used one before 2010 --DON'T. 2010 PUMPS ARE THE START OF THE REPLACEMENT MODELS. then theres always module masters 5 yr warranty lower cost to customer- but not all pumps can be re built.

[deilenberger]

Tom,

ModuleMaster is redoing them for $175.. don't let the horror stories above scare you. It can also be DIY if you're clever. R&R isn't all that tedious, a friend is taking photos of doing it on his and I'll post a link when he's done.

So far - all reports on ones MM has redone have been positive, and they do offer a warranty (5 years I think.. but I could be wrong.)

[Dr. Strangelove]

yep...module masters
The servo on my 1150 went south...nearly 3k to replace incl labor and tax. That prompted me to get my 12.
I will have modulemasters redo my 1150's servo, but they will not be working on that iteration of abs until the first of the year. My impression is that they are working on all 1200 s though. Give them a call. In Moscow, Idaho.
John

[Tominer]

Thanks, guys, you're a great resource!

I'm not sure if I can remove the component, and replace it when MM sends it back. But I'm going to research it before I give $1700 to BMW!

Tom Miner

[deilenberger]

Thanks, guys, you're a great resource!

I'm not sure if I can remove the component, and replace it when MM sends it back. But I'm going to research it before I give $1700 to BMW!

Tom Miner

Since your user profile has no info on where you're located (hint!) it's hard to recommend a good independent to R&R the ABS unit.. but that's the route I'd go if I wasn't feeling competent to do the job.

[Caroanbill]

yep that 1400 qnd labor sounds bout right. bmw reinstated thier more expensive price about 90 days ago, meaning bmw IF YOU CAN GET THEM TO ASSIST -is now offerring less assistence than before. its a very narrow range that qualifys a person for bmw goodwill money.

i'd known more and ive known less cost to the customer and the fact is-- theres a high failure rate of abs pumps on 07 08 rt's and r's. one more tip- if you get a used one before 2010 --DON'T. 2010 PUMPS ARE THE START OF THE REPLACEMENT MODELS. then theres always module masters 5 yr warranty lower cost to customer- but not all pumps can be re built.

Is it worth a re-post?

Hello, Gilbert!
Everyone, meet Gilbert.
Gilbert, meet everyone.

Let me introduce Gilbert. Gilbert is a short, rotund chap with slip-on shoes. He lives in a quiet house, none too tidy, and the yard is shorn rather than mowed since Gilbert spends his time inside. Still, it's in a mostly-quiet street in a mostly-quiet suburb. Gilbert doesn't really have a girlfriend, or a boyfriend. Gilbert has Gilbert, if you know what I mean.

Gilbert has never been tough, not really in the way he dreams on idle evenings. But his colleagues in the insurance office talk tough so he thinks he knows how tough sounds. Gilbert is to shy to disparage aloud, but his boss, Ivan, has an echoing way of putting other men down and Gilbert practices this at home in front of the mirror. Gilbert has noticed that Ivan channels backwood-come-southern-redneck when he really wants to be carelessly tough. Gilbert write these words down, just in case.

Gilbert doesn't actually ride a motorcycle. Or even own one. His loud, happy brother Ken does - and so does his neighbour Bruce who talks rather too much across the fence. So Gilbert knows the lingo. And since Bruce rides a BMW and hates Harleys, and Ken rides a Harley and hates BMWs, Gilbert knows the trash-talk for both brands.

So, late in the evening - that's 7:30 after the price is right - Gilbert logs into his home PC. Sometimes he practices being Ivan in the bathroom mirror first.

Hunched over his table, softdrink in hand, Gilbert's quietly misplaced hopelessness morphs into his characters. Oh, see him become a wild pig, all stringy hair (well, at least that matches) and greasy tatts. See him lean back, belly-scratching-uncle of the bs kind ... his cola becomes Jim B or Jack ...

... and out into the keyboard he pours his scorn at all those bikers who seem to sail through their lives, happy and ordinary and buying that blue-white roundel bike. It's not always safe, he knows (oh, that terrible time on Jo Momma when the advriders seemed to see right into his small-city-suburban desperation) but sometimes he manages a fine "you, sir, have no clue" in almost the right voice. He drops a "yall", even a both of yall" - oh, almost too much! Gilbert only dares one or two more, and then it's time for the other joys of the internet.

It's not a lot, but it's a small strike back at those happy chaps with wives and lives ...

For the uninitiated, uncle bs, aka wildpig, haunts these and other boards with purported "inside information" and negative post on BMWs in general. He has a particular beef about ABS (maybe his mother was bitten by one). I've searched his posts and cannot find a poistive one - so let's just call a troll, a troll ...

[Caroanbill]

Content post.

Great to the ABS being remanufactured! Mine failed at 5 years, long after warranty and was replaced at no cost by BMW Australia. I'm a happy customer, but I got the impression that the probme was only that the ABS unit it wasn't powering up .. it seemed over-kill to throw the whole thing out. I wonder if teh 'fix" can be done by anyone else or if module masters would grant a licence for the antipodes ...

I had to use mine in anger a couple of weeks ago, at the end of a long but happy riding day - my tyres were a bit off (they're old, a bit vulcanised, so I need to change them) byt the ABS was perfect nonetheless. Wish I could have it on my Vespa!

[Tominer]

Thanks, guys, you're a great resource!

I'm not sure if I can remove the component, and replace it when MM sends it back. But I'm going to research it before I give $1700 to BMW!

Tom Miner

Since your user profile has no info on where you're located (hint!) it's hard to recommend a good independent to R&R the ABS unit.. but that's the route I'd go if I wasn't feeling competent to do the job.

Thanks, I'm in Rockville, MD so if anyone has a good recomendations for ABS repair near me, thank you! BMW continues to did in thier heels and will not help with the repair. I wonder if the BMW Shop (Battley in Gaithersburg, MD) will install a rebuildt ABS pump if I get it from Module Masters. Any thoughts?

[Dr. Strangelove]

ON my 1150, BMW Motorcycles of Baton Rouge will take mine out, send it to ModuleMasters and reinstall. That service is probably shop specific though.

John

[Tominer]

ON my 1150, BMW Motorcycles of Baton Rouge will take mine out, send it to ModuleMasters and reinstall. That service is probably shop specific though.

John

John, thanks. I'll certainly ask my shop here in MD.
On a side note, my 1976 R90s (bought in '76) was bought from the BMW shop in Baton Rouge. I ws living in Lafayette at the time, was 19 years old and a had a wad of money from working offshore. Such a great feeling driving that bike home.

Thanks again,
Tom Miner

[Tominer]

Just an update, BMW has refused twice to offer ANY assistance on the ABS replacement on my 2007 R12R, 11,000 miles. The dealer quoted $1700 to replace ($1400 for the pump and 3 hours labor).

Thanks to this board and you guys , I learned of Module Masters. The dealer is pulling off the ABS now, I'll ship to MM, estimated turn-around is 5 days, have the dealer reinstall and I'll be up and riding with ABS that works. My estimated savings will be $1,150.

Also, MM rebuilds are warrantied for 5 years, the BMW dealer told me the $1400 pump from BMW was warrantied for only 6 months. How is BMW getting away with this?

Info: Module Masters, http://www.modulemaster.com, 888-892-0764

Thanks again for the help!

[deilenberger]

I believe the dealer is lying to you. ALL BMW parts are warrantied for 24 months (no mileage limitation..) There are no exceptions except for "wear" parts (shocks, batteries, tires.)