Author Topic: BMW R1200 GSA LC RIGHT SIDE HEAT ISSUE ?? (Read 14979 times)

Sommer Ek · « **Reply #140 on:** November 23, 2018, 03:34:16 am »

The short and the tall of the story is that BMW exported these bikes being within the EU4 specifications. They can only reach it with the improved Cat. The Cat restrict the flow of exhaust gasses and then it heat up to a point where it is working excellent but it is also extremely hot.

You, and that matter BMW, can only get it colder by changing/removing the Cat and then it does not comply with EU4. If BMW change it they might just find themself in a simmilar situation as Volkswagen a few years ago.

Possible solution: Remove the Cat and stand a chance to loose your guarantee. OR Change the headers for an earlier model's headers (2013 or 2014) and forget about EU4.

What piss me of is all the bulldust: Actually I see it as Fraud.
1. It is suppose to be tested by professionals before being exported. And they did not pick up that the heat is unbearable for a pillion.
2. It is marketed as 'n bike for long distance riding/touring. Less than 100km from start and it start to heat up.
3. They pride them self on German engineering.
4. They pride them self on customer service. Every customer get good service from the dealers but F..all answers from above.
5. While we have paid just about a quarter of a million for a bike the engineers and marketing people just sit back and pull up their shoulders.

I can go on and on but I would love to see their reaction when buying a car with seats that heat up to such an extend that you can not sit on it. Or an exhaust pipe that burn the numberplate of their BMW.

In Afrikaans: Ek HAAT dit as mense openlik bedonner word deur 'n Boelie wat nie verantwoordelikheid vir sy optrede wil aanvaar nie.

Imran · « **Reply #141 on:** November 26, 2018, 08:09:48 am »

The bike is on 1700km, rode on Saturday from Vanderbijlpark to Centurion, at highway speed with the "road" mode selected. The heat was extreme. Since the bike is new, the discolouration of the exhaust neat the Cat is an indication of the amount of heat that area produces as compared to the exhaust headers near the cylinders. Booked the biked in with the dealer after complaining. Dealer says they're received other complaints, but will log a report with BMW SA. Waiting to hear the outcome.

gee · « **Reply #142 on:** November 26, 2018, 09:30:52 am »

@Imran you have more chance in falling pregnant than getting them to sort it out. I have a logged call for nearly 2 years now and when i follow it up i get told BMW SA are looking into it

TheBear · « **Reply #143 on:** November 26, 2018, 01:40:56 pm »

What can be done, apart from removing the cat, to resolve this? Does anyone have any ideas?

OomD · « **Reply #144 on:** November 26, 2018, 02:16:09 pm »

I wonder if one would have a (legal) case in returning the bike to the dealer for a refund? I mean, the bike is essentially not fit for purpose?

BuRP · « **Reply #145 on:** November 26, 2018, 04:34:11 pm »

Yes you can return it, however you must do this during the Cooling-Off period!

Ian Bean · « **Reply #146 on:** November 26, 2018, 05:33:17 pm »

Quote from: Imran on November 26, 2018, 08:09:48 am

The bike is on 1700km, rode on Saturday from Vanderbijlpark to Centurion, at highway speed with the "road" mode selected. The heat was extreme. Since the bike is new, the discolouration of the exhaust neat the Cat is an indication of the amount of heat that area produces as compared to the exhaust headers near the cylinders. Booked the biked in with the dealer after complaining. Dealer says they're received other complaints, but will log a report with BMW SA. Waiting to hear the outcome.

Do you have standard slip on I have Akrapovic and so far no heat issues and on 2600km.

OomD · « **Reply #147 on:** November 26, 2018, 08:45:12 pm »

Quote from: BuRP on November 26, 2018, 04:34:11 pm

Yes you can return it, however you must do this during the Cooling-Off period!

Skerp!

Sommer Ek · « **Reply #148 on:** November 27, 2018, 01:07:15 am »

Oom D if you do take it back for a refund the dealer will take the financial loss. If you keep it you will take the financial loss. I can tell you the dealers/Technicians of the dealers had many meetings about this problem. All of them are waiting for the outcome. I am waiting for an outcome since April 2017.
In my opinion the solution is not complicated, it is just a matter of taking responsibility. BMW Motorrad in Germany can just say "sorry we did not test the bike as we advertised, the engineer did not do his job which he was paid for, the quality controllers were substandard. To try and set this right we will do a recall and fit your bike with a new 2013 or 2014 header and Cat and refund you for not having a Euro 4 bike as we advertised, but a 2 or 3, as well as for the distance you travelled while we (BMW Motorrad) tried to duck and dive". That is it, end of the story. Neither me nor the dealer is responsible for this problem, why should we at the end of the line pay for it, while the people making the mistakes are running free ?

This thread is actually very good for my health. Every time my blood pressure drop I just open this thread and immediately it is above normal.

OomD · « **Reply #149 on:** November 27, 2018, 06:33:35 am »

Quote from: Sommer Ek on November 27, 2018, 01:07:15 am

Oom D if you do take it back for a refund the dealer will take the financial loss. If you keep it you will take the financial loss. I can tell you the dealers/Technicians of the dealers had many meetings about this problem. All of them are waiting for the outcome. I am waiting for an outcome since April 2017.
In my opinion the solution is not complicated, it is just a matter of taking responsibility. BMW Motorrad in Germany can just say "sorry we did not test the bike as we advertised, the engineer did not do his job which he was paid for, the quality controllers were substandard. To try and set this right we will do a recall and fit your bike with a new 2013 or 2014 header and Cat and refund you for not having a Euro 4 bike as we advertised, but a 2 or 3, as well as for the distance you travelled while we (BMW Motorrad) tried to duck and dive". That is it, end of the story. Neither me nor the dealer is responsible for this problem, why should we at the end of the line pay for it, while the people making the mistakes are running free ?

This thread is actually very good for my health. Every time my blood pressure drop I just open this thread and immediately it is above normal.

Yes, I agree it is BMW Motorrad's problem.

But you did not buy the bike from them, you bought it from the dealer. I would have no problem returning such a bike (if the law allows), and let the dealer sort the kak out with BMW. After all, they have a much closer relationship with BMW than I do. And if they can't get it sorted out - well then it's their problem. When customers keep returning their bikes it will get sorted out, that much can be believed.

Imran · « **Reply #150 on:** November 27, 2018, 09:29:12 am »

Tried to contact 2 other dealers to get some insight into their way of dealing with the issue. Not to mention names, the dealer around the 'west' of JHB, did not even respond, while the dealer in the 'north' responded by saying that the 'Adventure' offers better wind protection, hence the collection of warm air around the rider's legs! Do you believe this? Then, goes on to say, "Nothing" can be done about this!
I'm running the standard exhaust and silencer, thought about doing the full Akra system, headers and silencer, but was promptly told this would void the warranty (3 Year Warranty by the way). The workshop manager says the silencer change still leaves the CAT in place, so the heat issue still likely. Then jokes about how it benefits the riders up north in the colder climates!

Maybe, OomDee is correct, lets's return the bikes and ask for a full refund. I'm going to send an email to the Customer Relations Manager and ask for a refund! Will give feedback.

K-9 · « **Reply #151 on:** November 27, 2018, 09:58:34 am »

I am on my 3rd GSA LC since 2014 and still have not had a heat problem. 2014, 16 and 18 models. I have not had a standard GS.

Sunday it was 32degs my leg felt slightly warm, but only because I was looking for it and moving my leg around.

I have had the same acrophobic slip on, on all three bikes. My son has had two of the three bikes without the slip on and he has never mentioned the heat.

So are some bikes hotter than others. GSA vs GS and same vs same? (My GS800 gave me more heat.)

Bravofox · « **Reply #152 on:** November 27, 2018, 10:39:59 am »

One thing I do notice here, is that the 2 members on the last posts (K-9 and Ian Bean) that say they do not have a heat issue, are from Kwazulu Natal. Those complaining seems to be from Gauteng and only complains above a certain ambient temperature range. The denser air and higher humidity from Natal can do a better job from extracting and carrying heat away from hot exhaust components. When the air gets thinner, dryer and hotter, the CAT my very well "keep" the heat better and radiate it all over your leg. I live in the dry Karoo, and on my normal GS on temperatures above 35 the heat does become quite noticeable, but not really unbearable...

BuRP · « **Reply #153 on:** November 27, 2018, 10:46:30 am »

Anyone waiting for BMW to actually do something about this are going to get old, very old......

They may opt to supply some kind of additional heatshield which you will have to buy - yes, buy! - as they have dodged and will keep dodging this flaw, "but if it reallyreallyreally bothers you you can buy this".
Anyone should know the reason why a cat becomes glowing hot is that it effects an exothermic reaction of already hot gases... hence it becomes the hottest point of the entire exhaust system, all quite normal and as per plan.
They just forgot to design an airflow over it in, shit happens lol

Brucet · « **Reply #154 on:** November 27, 2018, 11:36:46 am »

The cat was changed for 2017. Its much bigger and has finer holes. I would be keen to see if they changed back for the 2018 models.

Best option I can find is either change to pre 2017 headers or remove the cat/drill it out.

Im not waiting in the hope that BMW fix the issue and because of this issue I have decided not to put my name down and get the 1250. This bike must last me until 100k kms (after a year it has 14500kms now so should be another 5 years at least).
After that I will decide what I will get if I do get another bike. Problem is nothing else on the market appeals to me at the moment.

FJR · « **Reply #155 on:** December 03, 2018, 02:41:37 pm »

Gents,
I have started this thread back in 2017 when I bought my GSA. I have then locked many complains to BMW and to date they have never come back to me wrt this issue.
The only way to get rid of the heat is to get rid of the CAT. I have replaced my OME header and can with Akra and Remus and did not have any more heat problems on my bike.

Now, I just put my name on the list for a new 1250 GS mainly for two reasons, I just love the colors on the HP model and want to go back to a normal GS that is a bit lighter than the GSA.
I will most properly put my Remus headers and Akra can on the market, they are ceramic coated and still looks like new.
Please PM me if you are interested, R18k for both. The were close to R30k with the ceramic coating.

Brucet · « **Reply #156 on:** December 03, 2018, 04:21:35 pm »

Wow is that what they cost? I was asked by one of the sales guys weather I wanted to put my name down for one also. Told them based on the way the heat issue has been handled I won’t be doing so.

This morning I just emailed a guy on eBay for a second hand set of ackropovic (sp?) headers and silencer. Does anyone know if it has a catalytic converter on it?

Imran · « **Reply #157 on:** December 05, 2018, 09:57:25 am »

@FJR
Will the headers and silencer void the warranty? Did you have the headers and pipes fitted by a specialist? Can it be done at home with basic tools? Will remapping or software upgrades be necessary? Did you change the air filter?
Was really contemplating going this route. The pipes have dis-coloured a great deal. Only 1500km, the header pipes are golden with black burnt patches and near the CAT, a kaleidoscope of colour!

FJR · « **Reply #158 on:** December 05, 2018, 11:09:08 am »

Quote from: Imran on December 05, 2018, 09:57:25 am

@FJR
Will the headers and silencer void the warranty? Did you have the headers and pipes fitted by a specialist? Can it be done at home with basic tools? Will remapping or software upgrades be necessary? Did you change the air filter?
Was really contemplating going this route. The pipes have dis-coloured a great deal. Only 1500km, the header pipes are golden with black burnt patches and near the CAT, a kaleidoscope of colour!

@Imran

Hi, our PE dealer told me that they will help where they can if something goes wrong because they know about the head-issue. So wrt the warranty, it will be between you and your dealer. Nothing went wrong on my bike while it was under it's two year warranty. I fitted everything myself as it is very straight forward and can be done with home tools. I did not do any remapping or software upgrades after the fitment. I did swap the air filter out with a BMC filter but put the BMW one back because I feel the bike was running to lean with the BMC filter in. My bike really pulls like a train and have lots of low down torque.

Imran · « **Reply #159 on:** December 05, 2018, 12:33:20 pm »

@FJR
Thanks for the information.
I will contact the dealer to get a feel of their position. Finances are a little strained, otherwise would have taken the headers from you!