So your R1150 / R1100 stopped and has no spark...

[spacey1]

Hi Beemers,

This sad story is about the R1150 / R1100 Ignition Trigger/Hall Effect/Crank Angle Sensor and the ABS system.

It highly likely that this same diagnostic technique will be useful on other modern computer controlled engines, because they all require crank angle position sensing.

The ol' 1150 stopped on us over east around Berry south of Wollongong in that big storm front that went through on Easter Tuesday. Driving rain, sideways, several inches of water on the highway. The engine simply cut and refused to go. Pushed it across the highway (read: river) that was choked up in both directions with very little visibility onto some flat ground. No shelter of course.

OK, enough of that... what happened.

Cranked the battery flat... of course. This further compounds the problem. The NRMA finally arrived after 5 hours to further crank the engine with jumper leads... zip, nilch, nyat...

Point 1: Why was there not gallons of fuel drifting out of the exhaust? It should be properly flooded by now????

Point 2: No spark. Therefore engine should be flooded big time... but no????

Diagnostic routine for this problem.

Point 3: Check spark via any effective method.

Point 4: Feel one or both of your fuel injectors whilst cranking the engine. Go outside to your bike now and check what this feels like when your engine is running correctly.

Observation: No spark and No injector pulse.

Ergo, it must be the Ignition Trigger / Hall Effect Sensor / Crank Angle Sensor under the front pulley of the crankshaft.

This sensor gives the computer the TDC / Timing pulse, which then tells the computer to provide spark AND a fuel injector pulse.

It's not a difficult job to replace these units. BMW is on it's 3rd iteration of component to boost the robustness of this part. But tools, time, accurate setup, and knowledge is required.

Note: If spark exists and no injector pulse is observed, that is a different issue.
Note: If fuel injector pulse exists and no spark is observed, that is a different issue.
Note: If neither spark nor fuel injector pulse is observed, it will 99.99% be the Ignition Trigger / hall effect sensor. If it isn't, the technicians will replace the hall effect sensor in the first instance anyway.

Make sure you are sitting down when you ask the price. If you are broken down in a strange land and have no bargaining power, and time is not on your side, be prepared for a replacement price somewhere between Au$550 and Au$600 for the unit and about Au$200 to fit it.
Add a vehicle pickup fee and accommodation, it starts adding up. I now have road-side assist...

The BMW dealer in Wollongong was unable to assist with mechanical expertise.
However, the BMW dealer in Wollongong was able to order the part overnight from Sydney via VOR priority (Vehicle off the road) which includes no freight/service charge.
The cost for the unit was Au$555.

Please note: There are 2 different types of connectors that join the Ignition Trigger / Hall Affect Sensor to the bike loom:

A wide straight connector with a single row of plugs.
A rectangular connector with 2 rows of plugs.

Order the correct one! Mine was the later double row rectangular connector.

The BMW dealer in Wollongong was able to refer me to external mechanical expertise at BikeTeck.

I can now personally recommend BikeTeck.

Miguel ran the Wollongong BMW workshop for many years. He is a BMW genius and exceedingly generous with his time and advice, all spot-on.
He also sells bikes on consignment.

If you are broken down any where near Wollongong, contact Mig
Contact: Miguel and Karen Rodrigues
Email: mig.biketeck@live.com.au
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Biketeck/145426292143884
Phone: (02) 4274 2072
Address:
45 Kemblawarra Road,
Warrawong, New South Wales

Location map from Here.com: https://www.here.com/directions/drive// ... affic&x=ep

Miguel has a friend, Bosh, who runs a motorcyle pickup business. He uses a ute, not a tilt tray truck designed to transport cars.
His fees are also exceedingly generous. 'I tipped' him 60% for his assistance: delivering the bike to BikeTeck; advice about where to stay at a reasonable price; pickup of our gear from the previous nights' expensive hotel; taxi-ing my Wife to said reasonably priced accommodation; and lugging her luggage around for her.

I had to follow them on my GSA and found his driving to be maddeningly slow and cautious. And that was without a bike in the tray. Then I re-thought about that and decided that this was exactly the sort of driver I wanted couriering my precious BMW motorcycle around.

Bosh told me that he had traveled as far south as Ulladulla previously to rescue stranded motorcyclists.

Contact Bosh at Bosh Motorcycle Courier/Pickup for emergency break downs or pick-ups
Mobile: 0455 794 991
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bosh-Mot ... 67?fref=nf

Notes on ABS system failing to reset on startup.

Mig also discussed the R1150 starter motor/battery issues and ABS failing to re-set at start-up.

If the bike's ABS fails to set itself on start up from cold, it could be the battery is starting to fail. The ECU/engine computer is very voltage sensitive.
If the battery is getting tired, the computer will have a low voltage to deal with initially after start and may fail to set the ABS system. eg. the ABS lights will not go out.
If the starter motor is getting tired, ditto.
If after a couple of minutes, when the engine is warmer and easier to start, and the battery has had a serious boot from the alternator, the ignition key is turned off and the bike is re-started, the ABS re-sets correctly, start looking at the battery and starter motor.

That's all for now, spacey out...