iABS problem, appreciate suggestions

[cele0001]

I will be buying a 2004 r1200CL in a couple of weeks with a bad iABS unit. Current owner will draft some "release of liability" and I will sign it. Maybe that will become the official documentation.
However, in your case you right now, if we are going to play the legal game, even if you "fix" your iABS unit and it fails at a later time, it is still on you, right?
You have clearly stated that you experienced the failure, and you really have no idea what would fix it, other than new iABS unit replaced at the official BMW dealership. That way it is on them.
Even worse you are not "authorized" to be working on that brake system anyway, it is clearly stated in the owner manual, so there is that.
You can remove iABS module, leave the ABS light on, and tell the next guy that ABS does not work. That is fair enough for me. Everybody is free to make their own decisions. Chances are you will love the new brake and keep the bike (and take the bulb out, or cut the wire).

 

[jeff488]

Small piece of electrical tape will cover that light up just fine.
Friend of mine has a 2000 GS with the flashing light that he's been
there for the last 50k miles or so.

 

[happy wanderer]

Small piece of electrical tape will cover that light up just fine.
Friend of mine has a 2000 GS with the flashing light that he's been
there for the last 50k miles or so.

Is it an 1100 or an 1150?

The 2000 1100 has ABSII not iABS. Different animal altogether and eminently repairable. There is a place called module master that will fix them. A lot of ABS problems are due to bad rubber brake hoses and crud in the fluid from lack of maintenance especially in the older oilheads.

 

[jeff488]

2000 GS is an 1150.
Single plug.

 

[happy wanderer]

2000 GS is an 1150.
Single plug.

You are correct, my mistake. I was confusing the RT and GS. The last 1100RT was supposedly 2000 but you do see 2001 1100RTs out there due to late 2000 production runs.

 

[gsaddict]

2000 GS is an 1150.
Single plug.

ABSII for that model year

 

[m_stock10506]

RealOEM parts shows ABSII for 1150GS "Up To 09/2002".

 

[PETDOC]

Contributor to a related thread on Advrider.com suggested I may have defective pressure sensor in the control unit. When I ran a GS911 last year It indicated 3 faults that were no longer present- low pressure in front and rear brakes and fault in front brake switch. I erased the codes and ran through all the other available tests for the ABS. Everything checked out. I then rechecked for faults and there were none recorded. I assumed the recorded low pressure faults that were no longer present resulted when I had changed the brake fluid, but now think perhaps I may have drawn the wrong conclusion.
Apparently the new beta version of the software for the GS-911 has a more thorough interrogation of the iABS. I'll download it and see what I can determine. I emailed Tyler at Module Master and they have not yet been able to source parts for the pressure sensor for the iABS module.
The suggestion of a short in the wiring harness has merit, but I have as yet not been able to find one.
If I determine that the rear servo is functional when the lights are flashing it seems like the recommended piece of tape may be the best fix.

 

[happy wanderer]

RealOEM parts shows ABSII for 1150GS "Up To 09/2002".

Well there ya go. So Jeff488 and I were both off the mark. Since BMW overlaps on model years it gets a bit confusing. Anyway, point is that a 2000 model oilhead with ABSII can be repaired. No need to tape over the annoying flashing light and ignore it. Hopefully Module Master will soon have access to critical rebuild parts for iABS as well. These guys are a great alternative to very expensive OEM replacements.

 

[dagear]

I will second cele0001 comments, and have experienced the failure first hand. When mine failed I was surprised at how inadequate the residual braking was at braking.

I spent weeks trying to fix the ABS unit, went so far as disassembling the iabs contacting companies to see if they would repair. In the end removed the unit and rewired for $0 cost and 2 hours labor.

Yes, I have no ABS but neither did any of my other bikes. I may lock the wheels up but at least I stop.

 

[happy wanderer]

For those who choose to disable their ABS make sure your insurance company knows you have done so. If not your insurance may be invalid in case of a claim because you modified safety equipment on your bike.

 

[jeff488]

I doubt this issue would come up after an accident.
The bike gets towed to where you want it.
If it gets totaled, the insurance company owns it unless you buy it back.
They don't want it and will dispose of it.
How is anyone going to prove that you altered it? Why would anyone look?
What about using different brake pads from official BMW ones? Or brake lines? Or mirrors?
Or, or, or?
They are all modifications.
I don't see it as an issue, but one can "what if" it till the cows come home.
I don't worry about it.
Just my opinion and worth what you paid for it.
YMMV.

 

[happy wanderer]

I doubt this issue would come up after an accident.
The bike gets towed to where you want it.
If it gets totaled, the insurance company owns it unless you buy it back.
They don't want it and will dispose of it.
How is anyone going to prove that you altered it? Why would anyone look?
What about using different brake pads from official BMW ones? Or brake lines? Or mirrors?
Or, or, or?
They are all modifications.
I don't see it as an issue, but one can "what if" it till the cows come home.
I don't worry about it.
Just my opinion and worth what you paid for it.
YMMV.

Have you read all the fine print of a standard automotive insurance policy? You would be amazed at all the weasel words in there.

A very smart CFO I used to work with told me insurance companies are not in the business of helping people like the ads say. They are in the business of collecting premiums and denying claims. Just give them a reason or watch them find one!

 

[jeff488]

I agree with your apparent opinion of insurance companies, but stand by what I wrote.

 

[PETDOC]

FWIW. Went for 64 mile ride yesterday. After 4 miles my lower warning light was illuminated, steady. I rode for 4 miles, stopped and restarted the bike. No warning lights. Rode for 54 miles with 1 stop for lunch. Intentionally hit brakes easy and hard, front, rear and both together, no lights and normal function. Four miles from home lower warning light came on again, steady. I didn't run GS911, but the steady illumination of lower light is associated with defective brake or rear running light. I removed the aftermarket rear LED for brake/running light. I pulled it, checked the wiring and re-inserted the OEM 1157 dual filament bulb. Looks like it may be a while before problem lights reappear. So goes my quandary.
TODAY did a 75 mile ride with dual filament 1157 tail light bulb, normal brakes and no warning lights. Too soon to celebrate, but one can hope.
I would like to know if anyone has experienced or knows of someone who has experienced an aftermarket electrical accessory tripping the ABS module warning lights? It seems logical that despite being fully functional the LED light must have developed increased resistance and tripped the brake/running light warning light on the dash. What I find difficult to explain is how it might have also tripped the ABS module warning light. Only time will tell if I have identified the problem. One aspect that might fit the LED being causal is when I noticed the sequence of warning lights, the lower one always illuminated prior to the upper light.

 

[kioolt]

Are you sure the stock bulb is a dual filament 1157? I though it was a single filament bulb.

 

[PETDOC]

Are you sure the stock bulb is a dual filament 1157? I though it was a single filament bulb.

It is a dual filament 1157.

 

[kioolt]

I thought that all R1150's used the same rear light bulbs. I found out something new. My R1150RT has a separate bulb for the brake light and tail light. My other two beemers (82 R100RT and 91K100LT) also are this way so I just assumed they all were.

 

[PETDOC]

Found this post from Feb 2014 by Zoef Zoef in a thread on Advrider.com regarding aftermarket LED rear brake/running lights

"Sir, if you have servo-ABS, this ABS is quite sensitive to the resistance of the brake light bulb. If incorrect, the ABS / Motronic will give an error"

I've now ridden 150 miles with the original 1157 dual filament bulb without illuminating any warning lights. I'll exhale after I hit 500 miles without incident.

 

[cele0001]

Found this post from Feb 2014 by Zoef Zoef in a thread on Advrider.com regarding aftermarket LED rear brake/running lights

"Sir, if you have servo-ABS, this ABS is quite sensitive to the resistance of the brake light bulb. If incorrect, the ABS / Motronic will give an error"

I've now ridden 150 miles with the original 1157 dual filament bulb without illuminating any warning lights. I'll exhale after I hit 500 miles without incident.

Motronic could care less about the light bulb. It is a completely separate control unit, that has no clue you have light bulbs at all.
High resistance in the light bulb circuit could (and should) trigger the general warning light from iABS unit, but I seriously doubt that it would put the system (front or rear) in residual mode.
My main complaint about iABS is that it makes you think about brakes, which is really not a good thing to do while riding.
Keep us updated.