$2000 spent at BMW dealer, bike still not running

[def]

Originally Posted by ebohnet1

not counting. They have been told they can not work on it for money anymore. Anything they do now is free of charge.

Hmmmmmm....who told them that the rest is free? I'm always skeptical when someone says Free.....to me that means poor quality, I may get around to it one day next week or, I'm through with it regardless of whether it's fixed or not.

I'll be interested to hear the outcome. I hope it's a good one.

[JPSpen]

Troubleshooting a problem can be difficult for some mechanics who haven't really learned how to do it properly..

You have to start at one end of the system and work your way to the end...

Simply replacing parts, (Shotgunning) rarely leads to the solution you're looking for...

It might be time to get BMWNA involved and one of their tech specialists on the line...

John

[Rinty]

Good luck with this, Eric; hope they can figure out what it is.

[def]

Originally Posted by JPSpen

Troubleshooting a problem can be difficult for some mechanics who haven't really learned how to do it properly..

You have to start at one end of the system and work your way to the end...

Simply replacing parts, (Shotgunning) rarely leads to the solution you're looking for...

It might be time to get BMWNA involved and one of their tech specialists on the line...

John

Agreed. Today, many young mechanics lack the experience that comes with age, time in the foxholes, etc. Diagnosis is almost an art when it comes to determining a mechanical malady on a car or motorcycle. Today's vehicles have sophisticated OBD capability that will lead to a failed sensor or an adjustment out of specification. But, something like a loose wire? That takes experience and skill to track down. Beginning a troubleshoot by throwing parts at the problem is a sign that the technician really has little or no idea.

I recall several years ago, I had stopped at a local ice house in Texas. One of the H-D fellas came riding in with his newly restored shovel-head or knuckle-head (I don't know my Harleys too well).

It had some home brew up-swept straight pipes, a raspy exhaust note and was dripping oil everywhere. He got off the bike in the middle of the joint (it was an shed-like building with large open doors front and back where riders would merely announce their presence by riding straight through the place and parking their bike after much throttle blipping and other antics....you get the idea) and was surrounded by his fellow H-D guys who were ooooohing and aaaaahing over this...this collection of Harley parts that stopped running with a whimper and a woosh. After chugging a couple of beers, his followers convinced him to fire up the poor little Harley beast again for a possible burn out or some other demonstration of internal combustion.

So, he jumped onto the bike and began romping on the kick starter (this was not an electric start motorcycle) but to no avail.

Others took turns attempting to kick the engine into life without success.

I had little experience with Harleys of that vintage but I have extensive experience with kick start motorcycles. So, I asked if I could give it a go. The H-D boys looked at me like I was some Neanderthal BMW rider (which I am). Finally, the owner nodded, OK.

I slowly stroked the engine through one revolution of the kick lever. Adequate compression and I could smell fuel. The problem was immediately apparent. I reached down to the clutch cable and introduced some cable slack (there was no lock nut on the adjuster ferrule).

I turned on the ignition and gave the kick lever one stab. That little Harley burst into life with a nice flame from the up-swept exhaust pipes that were full of fuel. The owner came over quickly and rudely demanded to know what I had done.

"I spoke German to it", I declared in a loud voice over the engine racket. I turned the key off and handed it to him and dismounted. As I did so, I surreptitiously returned the clutch cable to its original setting.

Sometimes a little experience can be very rewarding. The Harley owner bought me two beers to learn my secret to starting the poor little Harley. Oh, BTW, I was drinking German brand beers that afternoon.

It wasn't long after that that the Harley fellow was injured (not severely but he did require hospitalization) in a motorcycle crash on the Harley in question. The brakes had failed and he ran off into a field full of livestock and hit a steer.

Moral? Don't attempt to start a motorcycle unless you know what you're doing.

[Hennepinboy]

What is the RID (Riders Information Display) doing when you turn on the key? Does it look normal or is it completely off?

[ebohnet1]

Originally Posted by def

Hmmmmmm....who told them that the rest is free? I'm always skeptical when someone says Free.....to me that means poor quality, I may get around to it one day next week or, I'm through with it regardless of whether it's fixed or not.

I'll be interested to hear the outcome. I hope it's a good one.

I instructed them to stop working on the bike and i will be bringing it back to the states

[def]

^^^ Sad.

[fishwich]

Originally Posted by def

^^^ Sad.

You've spent time and money on a failed repair and now you've got to spend more time and money to pick your bike up.
The definition of frustration.
I would write out a well thought out email and send it to every BMW mgr and exec in North America you can find including other dealers.
Shame these half wits for their lack of competence and dedication.
Good luck.

[ebohnet1]

Originally Posted by Hennepinboy

What is the RID (Riders Information Display) doing when you turn on the key? Does it look normal or is it completely off?

Last I looked, it was fine. When you turn the key on, everything looks as it should. lights work and everything. To start it, throttle needs to be given.

[vintagerider]

Motronic has a power input and a ground. Can you isolate these pins and hot wire to the battery?

[Hennepinboy]

Originally Posted by ebohnet1

Last I looked, it was fine. When you turn the key on, everything looks as it should. lights work and everything. To start it, throttle needs to be given.

That rules out the Hall Sensor as part of the problem.

[Hikertrash]

Originally Posted by fishwich

You've spent time and money on a failed repair and now you've got to spend more time and money to pick your bike up.
The definition of frustration.
I would write out a well thought out email and send it to every BMW mgr and exec in North America you can find including other dealers.
Shame these half wits for their lack of competence and dedication.
Good luck.

Not sure what good that would do. Look how bad Victory BMW service guys are and they're still in business. They use the same method of replace everything until the problem is fixed.

[Rinty]

...I will be bringing it back to the States...ebohnet1

So now are you sending it to the best diagnostician in New England?

Your situation reminds me of one we had with a Volvo 740 that we used to own. It took 18 months to diagnose.

[Clay Spinner]

Mate if I was home I'd collect it and have a look for you...these bikes are never that difficult to sort out... well mostly anyway. Good luck with the transport back to the US.

[ebohnet1]

I got the bike back yesterday. Total cost was 1856.60 and the bike was the same as when i dropped it off. The bike will not start at all, cant turn over.

So now the fun begins....