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« on: April 10, 2015, 08:05:12 pm »
Well, my 2010 K13GT has always started when the proverbial red t*t has been pressed.....until yesterday that is! Mrs F and I tootled off down to Lyme Regis on our respective bikes on what was a delightful day with good weather and reasonably light traffic. Anyway, we arrived safely and took a walk along the prom to the Cobb. Got back to the bikes about four hours later after a lovely relaxing day at the seaside. Put ignition key in lock and went to push the t*t, and then......nothing. Just an angry alarm wailing as the key hadn't disarmed the BMW alarm as per normal. Also, the OBC display refused to display fuel contents but did display all other parameters, plus there were no warning lights, eg ABS flashing whilst stationary. Indicators worked but with no green repeater arrows on console. Used the key fob to shut the 'erfin alarm up. Tried umpteen key insertions nd removals all to no avail over an approx 2 hr period.....just in case......but no. Nowt! Ein schalter scheisse!!
So, time to put BMW Assist to the test (for the first time). I eventually got through on their London BT number. A recovery truck was then allotted from Crewkerne. However, no specialist BMW trained mechanic, just a ordinary roadside assistance guy who checked the battery voltage (all good with the Odyssey), scratched his noggin, and then called base to arrange a bike recovery vehicle to assist! So slick! So, it's now three hours since it all went pear shaped. Several phone calls from a frustrated Steve F having now been made to BMW Assist. A meaningful and helpful dialogue then ensued with one of the Assist staff, who very wisely advised me to go and have a bite to eat (and to be reimbursed by Assist) while a specialist bike recovery outfit was sourced. So, I duly went off to grab a bite and a glorious pint of Doombar, when, from the pub window, the cavalry suddenly arrive! Legged it outside to flag down the tow truck (Doombar consumed first mind you!). Bike loaded onto the bike trailer and we wobbled back to Bristol, with the alarm howling away until it finally shut up!
We finally get back home six hours later at10pm, with my poorly steed stashed in the garage for safe keeping. So, recovery up to Lovetts today gets underway nice and early with a bespoke van and friendly scouse driver who got on with it professionally and carted the bike off to Lovetts. The dealer phoned this afternoon to say that they suspected faulty start switch!
On a very positive note, Enterprise car rental have given me a lovely BMW 320d to tide me over until the bike is fixed!
On the notorious switchgear saga, I see that Canada and the US appear to have a recall on these wretched switchgear clusters. Does anybody here reliably know what stance the UK dealers are taking on this subject?
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