BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

This came to me this AM while riding into work.. and I posted it originally to the BMW-MOA Hexhead tech forum.. but thought it might be worth discussing here also, in the hopes that (1) someone knows someone inside BMW-Motorrad or (2) we can generate enough interest in the idea to get BMW-AG's attention..

The discussion on the MOA website was about EWS failures - and the potential they have for stranding people.

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One possible answer I can think of - would require some software coding by BMW - but it should still qualify as anti-theft under whatever requirements are driving BMW to install EWS - is a PIN-Code override for the EWS.

The scenario would be:

1 - On delivery of the bike, the new owner would select a PIN-Code, that is stored in the EWS system. It's programmed in by the dealer when they prep the bike. It can only be changed IF the old PIN code is known - and only changed using the dealer GT1.

2 - If the system throws an EWS error - there would be an option for the operator to override the error by entering the PIN code. The code would be entered using the same technique/button used for setting the clock. Once the code is successfully entered - the EWS would be overridden and the bike could be started. There would be a 3-5 minute timeout if you enter the wrong PIN-Code before it could be re-entered.

To me - this seems workable - and should satisfy the "Passive" anti-theft requirements most insurance companies have.

Now - how to get BMW to think THEY came up with the idea? Anyone have any contacts in BMW-Motorrad?

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Any thoughts or comments welcome. Or contacts within BMW-Motorrad.. (I have one I might try although he isn't in the customer-service department anymore..)

this is a GREAT idea......I beleive some Ducati's and some other bikes already have this kind or similar override.....but from what I heard in other forums, BMW is refusing to even acknowledge the problem........

Ahem, what's EWS?

WildBlue wrote:Ahem, what's EWS?

Search is your friend..

http://www.r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=13708

deilenberger wrote:

WildBlue wrote:Ahem, what's EWS?

Search is your friend..

http://www.r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=13708

Thanks, most forums search features are limited to 4 characters minimum to have a valid search string... so I just assumed it was the same here...

I don't know if BMW are completely ignoring the problem, but I do know that the German bike mags have picked up on it and gave BMW a bit of a bashing which they will certainly listen to. They also suggested a work-around to the problem but it involves carrying a spare EWS module with you and jury-rigging it to your bike should the in-built one fail.

I've personally seen a R1200R (not mine) stranded and it does make me nervous about going on a long trip with one. Personally, I think BMW should pull their finger out and fix the problem (read: recall) on all the bikes in the field. They should also have an override key as you have suggested. What a decent idea.

Someone explained to me why it usually appears BMW is ignoring problems. It's due to kindness on their part. If some engineer screws the pooch (tech-term) on a design, they feel it would be unkind to fix/change the design while the engineer is still at BMW, so they often have to wait until the engineer retires so they can make the necessary changes.

It's not stubborness- it's kindness..

.......fire the engineer......show kindness to a customer

Not a bad idea, Don, but why make it so only the dealer can change the PIN? If I can change my own ATM PIN, why shouldn't I be able to change my motorcycle's PIN?

NeilS wrote:Not a bad idea, Don, but why make it so only the dealer can change the PIN? If I can change my own ATM PIN, why shouldn't I be able to change my motorcycle's PIN?

I just figured that might make it more appealing to BMW (recurrent service visits), and there may be some EU restriction on the anti-theft systems that would make this legal. No other real reason..

This seems like a good idea. A buddy of mine just suffered an EWS problem on an '07 K12GT. He sat the hour and a half waiting for roadside assistance to arrive...whereupon it started right up.

hoonu wrote:This seems like a good idea. A buddy of mine just suffered an EWS problem on an '07 K12GT. He sat the hour and a half waiting for roadside assistance to arrive...whereupon it started right up.

There was a UK-GS Forum thread someone had a link to on the MOA forums. Interesting thread. A number of people found if they moved the bike - it started. Their theory was electrical interference causing a problem. There was also a technique some people tried: turn key off - turn kill switch off - turn key on and wait for initialization to complete, then turn kill switch on and try starting it. All these theories could be BS - and the fault was intermittent.. or not. Dunno. If someone has the problem, might be worth trying it. I could see the electrical interference being a possibility IF the ground shield on the wiring from the antenna ring was a problem.

But - I still like my idea. Now we all just have to suggest it to BMW..

Here's a thought. How can we disable EWS totally? I'm not sure if it can be done but that would take care of the problem. Of course it makes the bike easier to become someone else's bike. This is the first bike I've ever had that has this feature. I always use a heavy duty lock and chain plus a disk lock. These are obvious measures and I know if some dirtbag wants my bike he will take it anyhow but the visual and physical deterents these locks provide have worked so far (knock on wood).

hoonu wrote:This seems like a good idea. A buddy of mine just suffered an EWS problem on an '07 K12GT. He sat the hour and a half waiting for roadside assistance to arrive...whereupon it started right up.

Distant mists of the past, really, but didn't I read somewhere that an EWS lockout has a timer on it? Something like twenty minutes?

I'll answer two questions:

1 - You can't disable EWS. The software doesn't allow for it, and I don't think BMW will change that since the bike qualifies for a Passive AntiTheft insurance discount, and I believe EU rules require it.

2 - I believe the EWS has a 5 or 10 minute lockout on it. If it detects an EWS problem, it takes some period of time for it to work even if everything is working perfectly. Idea being keeping someone with a code-jumper from flooding it with codes until one works. So - if it faults, move it from where the aliens are beaming rays at you, and wait 10 minutes before trying it again. Let us know what happens..

I know this has nothing to do with the BMW EWS, but it shows that Germans don't always anticipate everything. A few years ago I had a Mercedes SUV. It's remote key sender was a radio instead of the more common infrared. One morning I couldn't get the lock to work--then I turned around and saw the problem. I worked on a Naval base and an aircraft carrier was going by.

stogiepuffer wrote:Here's a thought. How can we disable EWS totally? I'm not sure if it can be done but that would take care of the problem. Of course it makes the bike easier to become someone else's bike. This is the first bike I've ever had that has this feature. I always use a heavy duty lock and chain plus a disk lock. These are obvious measures and I know if some dirtbag wants my bike he will take it anyhow but the visual and physical deterents these locks provide have worked so far (knock on wood).

This is the best idea I've heard so far.
Mark