BMW bike wreckers or parts in Germany

I have been having a problem with the ABS computer on the K100RS-16v
for a fair while (years on and off) which has temperarily been solved
by removing the bulb in the dash...
Since a new one is incredibly expensive, and second hand ones are
non-existant, I was wondering if anyone knows some good wreckers in
Germany that carry BMW spares. Shoud be more common over there. The
usual suspects in the US and UK (Motobins, Sherwoods, etc) have
nothing.
Geoff

 

Geoff,

Sorry to hear that your computer didn't work out (or maybe you have
TWO K100RS's with bad computers?).

I saw one come across Ebay a while ago and bid on it, though I wasn't
there at the end of the auction and got outbid (it went for under
$160). I suspect that was probably a very good price.

Did the new computer do anything at all for you, or did it act just
the same as the old one? I can't help but wonder if my problem (maybe
yours too) is something other than the main ABS computer... I've been
toying with the idea of tearing my computer apart and seeing if I can
find something wrong with it - I'm an electronic tech by training, so
perhaps I could find something obvious.

Mark "flash, flash, flash" Hickey
Mesa, AZ

 

No, I didn't get the replacement computer - when I got hold of
Sherlocks to get it, it had goen already :-(

I am sure it is something simple. Unfortunatley, with this black box
technology, you can't easily trace faults.
One problem I have is that many Ebay sellers won't ship overseas,
for understandable reasons. There are a pile of BMW parts on
www.ebay.de and some reasonable prices, although no computers yet. I
am hoping if something comes up, that I can get it sent to my
grandparents-in-law in Hamburg. Hardest part is understanding the ads
and knowing what to look for. Must get a new German dictionary...
I have temporarily solved the problem by removing the bulb, and
unplugging the computer. I really need to find a better solution,
especially if the warrent of fitness inspector is on the ball next
month...
Geoff

 

One theme that occurs over and over on the mailing lists though
is computer glitches due to low battery voltage.

No personal experience with ABS units, but I recall reading that
even a brand new battery of the wrong type can show momentary low
voltage low enough to glitch the ABS unit. If you've been through
two units, that seems like one possible problem source worth
checking.

Some issues mentioned I think with gel batteries as well as aging
lead acid units.

 

Had the same problem with new and old batteries. If I get the dealer
to reset it, it is ok for a while - 250km last time, and then faults.
I was riding along last time when the unit faulted - not stopping or
anything.
I have heard of the battery problem. Seems very poor design of BMW to
fault because of a low battery - and then not clear automatically if
the voltage is restored.

No only the one unit as the second hand one I found was sold before I
could get my paws on it. A new one is $US2000 locally, or $US1250 from
Germany ( +12.5% tax + freight =$US1450ish)- both rather morre than I
wanted to spend at present...
Rather, I would spring the money, if I could be 100% sure that was
the problem.

The new battery is a bloody expensive Yuasa about the size of the one
in my car! Mind you, the old one was in the bike before I got it, and
I got 3-4 years before it started not holding a charge.
Geoff

 

Besides low voltage, computer problems can also occur as a result
of spikes (as in an igntion problem) or heat buildup. Don't really
know if either of those might be applicable to your ABS. Airhead
ignition problems for example are occasionally cured by rebonding
the ignition control to it's heat sink.

At the prices you quoted for the ABS computer, I think I'll get
along without ABS for a while longer.

 

My only concern is the Warrant of Fitness vehicle inspection. if it
has ABS fitted from the factory, it has to be there and working. Thus
far, no one has realized the bike has ABS, and/or worried about the
(lack of) a check light for it. This happy state of events is unlikely
to continue forever

Does anyone know the differences between the ABS versions? My black
box is ABS2.5 on it, and the earlier ones are ABS1.5. - different part
numbers, and the later (2.5) version was supposed to work better. The
1.5 ones are around, my version seems to be the only one in the
world...
Can a 1.5 fit plug into a 2.5 loom (plugs look the same, box looks
the same) and work? There are 1 or 2 of the ver 1.5 boxes around
(except none of the Ebay sellers will send overseas)
The ABSII on the K1100 models is a completely different beast
altogether, and ironically, I could have had several of them - but not
my one.

Geoff
New Zealand