Are BMWs really that unreliable?

[Boris]

I've had one GS 1200 and three GSA 1200. My average is mileage is 24,000 miles per year. The reason that have I owned four is that BMW kept bringout "must have changes" for the first ones i.e. removing the servos on the ABS system from '07. My current one is the '08 model and this saw many improvements, the gearox being one example. Sure I've had recalls (Antenna Ring) but no faults. The Antenna Ring problem is now yesterday's news - as may well be the fuel pump controller. The fuel pump controller was a failure point. I carry a spare as I do on my Afric Twin.

Good to know it's not all bad news. There are a couple of 08 bikes on the market up here that look interesting. Would you say the 08 is a better buy than the earlier ones then? Price wise there isn't a lot in it.

The bit about having to carry £70 fuel pump controller spares does concern me though. I've never felt obliged to carry such spares for previous bikes as you don't expect common failures not to be fixed at the next service (especially on new bikes) but it seems BMW are quite happy to just let them keep failing and leaving the biker stranded.

That's what worries me most. There aren't many BMW dealers in my usual hunting zones and I may well be miles away from a phone with no cellular coverage.

[Warthog]

I must say, I hadn't realised there were so many 12s on here. Still nice to see that people have had and are having nice experiences.

Just goes to show the only unsolicited opinions tend to be negative, but when asked then the positives do come out. Not at all what BM bashers on the HUBB would have you or want you to believe....

Glad you're all enjoying yourselves!!

[Pussyhorse]

I've chatted to a few 1200 owners and I wouldn't touch one with a barge-pole TBH. Many have had loads of problems. Not saying they all break, but I wouldn't take the risk.

You can't home service them either, which is a BIG factor too. BMW service costs are an eye-opener.

I'll stick with my non ABS late 1150 GSA. OK, the 1150s have weak spots too, but not as bad or as complicated as the 12 IMO.

[Warthog]

You can't home service them either, which is a BIG factor too. BMW service costs are an eye-opener.

Most definitely agreed!!

[raymo]

Agree with most of the above.. folk tend to expect too much from a bike without even the basic TLC , but I do get the impression BMW use there owners as Beta testers.... 1200 owner I know has had numerous electrical problems put down to the bike being outside in the summer rain....... ( it is mothballed for winter in a cossey shed ) he has a good point often stating to the dealer that surely the bike sould be rain proof

you can get paranoid reading the internet moans.. ( it is good back ground but you get 11 whines to 1 ok and that's from the folk that can be bothered to complain)

I read all the horrors of the unreliability of the OLD XLV 750R that I have and as a result have full spare rear final drive complete with wheel.. and went through it with a fine tooth comb.. only problem was a duff cdi/excitercoil ( and I think I suffed that checking it ) replaced with a modern programable unit.. alls well......

Bottom line if you want one get it

and if you are a fu*ckwh1t that cant/ wont spanner and does not even clean the bike off dont comment on reliability , stay in your Audi

I am warming to the 1200 but keep it very quite

[Mabels Old Man]

say in your Audi :

Got one of them as well

[Stella Bob]

Good to know it's not all bad news. There are a couple of 08 bikes on the market up here that look interesting. Would you say the 08 is a better buy than the earlier ones then? Price wise there isn't a lot in it.

Most definately. The 08/09 model years are the same bike with stronger gearbox using bigger bearings and the option of a reduced first gear (only 10% but worth having).

As for servicing it yourself - why not? Oil change - easy, air filter change - easy, valve clearances - easy, brakes - easy (unless servos).

A device called a GS911 is made by a south African company. This allows access to read (past and present) fault codes and reset past ones.
You can do this with a mobile phone as I did with a friend's bike in Morocco.

The latest Fuel Pump controllers (Black) seem to be ok. There is field fix for this if you don't wish to carry a spare. This involves patching the controller output to the battery as it takes about 7A which is too much for the 5A limit of the ZFE contolled socket.

[phil w]

If I thought they were unreliable I wouldn't be on my fourth.

Oh thats just cos your loaded... simples

[Mabels Old Man]

Oh thats just cos your loaded... simples

or stoopid

[Lord Vader]

As for servicing it yourself - why not? Oil change - easy, air filter change - easy, valve clearances - easy, brakes - easy (unless servos).

.

Got to agree.Chad serviced the bike for me and the parts all came to £112 or so.That included the "gadgetthingymajit"for the valve clearances