GS-911 Diagnostic tool
 

I've made a search on this section, but can't find any postings, so here goes:-

I want to buy a GS-911 Emergency diagnostic tool for my BMW, but the price differences range from £500 + (touratech) down to about £150 ( or equivalent) from what is obviously a far eastern source. I don't want to do anything fancy with it,( mainly service date adjustments) so an enthusiasts version with a USB connection will do, ( i don't need blue tooth).

Has anyone bought or had any experience of the cheaper far eastern versions of this useful looking product?? has anyone got one lurking in a cupboard they want to sell?

All useful info gratefully received.

contact Brendan::. UKGSer.com .:: here Pongo
good luck :thumbup1:

Thanks for that Bertrand. I withdrew my membership from UKGSer nearly a year ago so the link doesn't work for me.

Paying some £15 sub to get a discounted gs911 seems cheap !
He is asking €260 euros plus postage
Is the usb bluetooth enthusiast model
Pongo I have just pm'ed you his email and email you too- I'd hurry, these second hand units are quite rare.

Thanks for that Bertrand. Have mailed him.

and the result is............................? do tell!

And the result is! I have exchanged mails, but I have not bought it. €260 Euros is the retail price of the one I want, which I can get here. I was hoping ( long shot) to pick up one up a bit less expensive. Having just had to spend €300 on a new headlamp unit I can't justify the expense at the moment for something which will only rarely be used. Thanks anyway Bertrand for your help

This is the list of all the Hexcode GS-911 dealers.

Distribution — Hex Code

GS-911 Belgium Dealer
 

I have owned a GS-911 for 4 years: excellent bit of kit.
It frees you from the dealer almost completely, and means if you have a funny electrical breakdown on the road the odds are you can diagnose what is wrong and get just the part you need sent by courier to you from someone.
You can even change km to miles and back with it now.

Plus the forum for it is GREAT too: very supportive people.

I was in Holland and bought mine from Belgium thru Jos Palmaers. I'd compare his prices to the UK ones.

Jos Palmaers <jos@xantip.com>
GS-911 Benelux
Nachtegaallaan 10
B-2321 Meer
Belgium
Tel. +32 495 24 19 19
E-mail info@gs-911.be
GS-911 BMW diagnosetool - Home

In general I've found UK prices very high for any motorbike parts. Touratech especially.

Do NOT buy a Far East copy: they are not supported anymore and from what I hear do not work as well.

You can try one out from someone else who has one too: the amateur one lets you use it on other bikes too: up to a certain max number.

The GS-911 is a South African bit of kit and works really well.
Alan

GS 911 diagnostic tool
 

Somewhere on this forum is a comment by Grant Johnson where he strongly supports them. Grant and others are way ahead of me in regard to their knowledge of them. I am a real novice (emphasis on real) regarding my 2010 1200 GS. Is this tool able to help me and if so how? I can do an oil change but that's it so far. Thanks in anticipation.

It will read the diagnostics for the bike: via the CANbus system built into the machine.
They can also cancel fault signals kept in the "computer brain" of the bike.
Whether you value this, or not, is a value judgement to be made by you.
For instance:
BMW nowadays keep all of their service records on a centralised computer database (some say kept in Berlin).
Many car manufs are doing the same - you don't get a paper based service handbook with new vehicles, just a computer printout of the centralised records, if you ask for it.

Anyway, this may be a contributory reason why independent service centres for BMW bikes in particular have come into being here in the UK. There is virtually one per county/regional area in the UK nowadays to cater for those who don't feel the need to be on a central database (there again, perhaps the work carried out by the independents ends up on the BMW central records?).
A lot of the independents - perhaps all of them - have computer based diagnostics and there are adverts here in the UK for people who will read the diagnostics of a Beemer for the price of a few beer tokens.

It's an EXCELLENT tool for your tool box if you want to move away from virtual complete dependency on a mechanic. And is useful even if you are (initially) a novice but want to learn.

I've got an HP2 Enduro and I do all my own maintenance: complete to strip down to engine to re-coat frame when I changed clutch.

So maybe I'm at the extreme end, but if you have at least a critical set of tools, and can read, you can do a lot of your own preventative maintenance. BMW has a very good CD-based maintenance manual for all the later model GS's. It's based on what the dealer uses. You can use common senses and tools like the GS-911 to trouble shoot issues and decide if you feel comfortable fixing them, or need more expert help.

If your bike is off the warranty, there's no real down side to doing your own services, as long as you use your head to read what's in the manual and take your time.

Don't buy a GS-911 from the Far-East: it's going to be a clone. The real benefit of the GS-911 is the support you get from the developers and the very active forum they run. It doesn't make sense to have a bike that's worth more than some people's houses, and try to save £100-£200 on a really useful tool with good support.

How much does your helmet cost? Or your sunglasses? Do you buy brand name oil, or the cheapest that you can get on eBay?

I was having a problem on a trip, and in the middle of Kenya a guy in Argentina on the GS-911 forum told me he thought the reason my bike was sounding like a Harley with a stutter was because one of my throttle cables was caught up. He said he'd had same issue, and found a pebble stuck in the linkage.... hmmmm I thought. Well let me try....pink!!!! Dang. Problem solved.

Buy it. And remember, if all else fails RTFM (Read The %u%%ing Manual). But seriously RTFM.

BMW Motorrad is based in Munich and not Berlin. Anyways, why does it matter where BMW keeps its service records? Things are indeed pretty tightly controlled by BMW Munich: but that's OK, it keeps the cowboys out.

What does happen is that the main electronic parts like the ECU's and the Instrument module are keyed to your serial number and you cannot swap parts from bike to bike yourself: you have to buy through the dealer/BMW. So that means if those fail it's a lot of $$$$. But that's the same for most modern cars now anyways. And you don't get these components failing very much, and if so, will likely fail whilst on warranty if it's on warranty if it's a manufacturing defect. If you have a big crash, then it's not that expensive to cover the bike with insurance.

But you can do about 99% of everything else yourself with a reasonable set of tools: and that includes a GS-911 and a multi-meter.

A GS-911 is not for just "resetting fault codes". You can read just about all the sensors on the bike, and record it real-time while the bike is running. So you can see if it's running OK. Do preventative maintenance. I have an HP2 Enduro, so my ABS faults are minimal (I don't have ABS...:-} but ABS is a very common issue on GS-s, and the GS-911 helps you trouble shoot these. Even if you don't pick up a wrench, you can see what's causing a problem and save the mechanic a few hours trying to find the issue (and save you $$$).

A BMW is a pretty simple bike: even the more recent ones. If you read the manual, have some tools and use common sense you can solve many issues yourself. The really complex stuff is too much hassle for the dealer to fix in any case: they'll just pull the part and put a new one in.

Yep, Munich Bavaria, but the 1200GS used to be put together, by gastarbeiten staff, in Berlin - I guess they are to this day (many an individual has made a visit to that factory, but not I as it happens).

No matter, the computer records will be backed up on servers all over the place in accord with the corporations' policies.

I don't know enough about logging parts to specific bikes but there are certainly a boat load of individuals in the UK offering BMW servicing, often as ex-technicians of the main dealers from the days when they were "released" (to employ a euphemism) and replaced with youths straight out of school at a quarter of the hourly pay rate - a sensible business decision for any main dealer accountant.

As for the GS-911 capability, I readily agree that I gave up typing far too early with my earlier description if only on the basis that there are earlier posts in here which extol the virtues.
Your last sentence is of passing interest: it is why I went to night school years ago to learn the innards of computer hardware - from there I learnt to build my own desktops which is, nowadays, a declining knowledge and interest with the rise and rise of tablets, mobile phones etc etc. That was in the days when there were computer "fairs" all over the country for purchasing components and a decent specification desktop cost north of 1000 UK pounds.
"chuck it and buy another, why bother repairing" is the mantra now with labour rates at around 50/hour.

Wow thats great NOT. Great would be to buy a bike that does not break down, need expensive diagnostic gear and shiped parts via courier! A good travel bike has to be able to be repaird after an accedent in a african workshop with standart tools etc.

Importing courierd parts at Customs can take up to a few months. By this time your visa will have cicked you out of most of the countrys on this planet long ago. Not talking about the import Tax more then 100% in many countrys...

service records by BMW
 

I get the impression that you think that BMW München (or elsewhere ) stocks all the service information on their own system. I do have another experience!
My bike did have some problems in West Africa. It stopped all of a sudden and the engine stopped. After starting again it didn't have any power and turned but very very weird. After several attempts, it did run again and got back his power (!). This happened several times so I needed to go to the nearest dealer because I didn't have a GS911 tool with me. Anyways I recognized the problem: it was the 'papillon' (a French term - I don't know the English term- for an air valve in the ignition system, the part formerly called carburettor). I did have an issue with my GS of 2015 and this happened with my 2016 GSA.
The dealer in Marrakech made all the day along with many, many tests. Finally, it seemed to be the same problem I described above and I diagnosed already (without any special knowledge, only experience!).They lanced a warranty claim and the BMW warranty office in Germany agreed to change the parts. So the Marrakech dealer ordered the spare part and I had to wait four (4) weeks for it! Meanwhile, my bike did run without any problem full power, I even participated a rally in Marocco. So I came back after that period and as expected: the parts didn't arrive! I cancelled the order and had to reclaim my warranty in France as they said, and because all records were automatically transmitted to BMW Germany there didn't seem to be any problem. Just go to your French dealer, they will connect and see, find or get the records!
Several weeks later I arrived in France and visited my dealer. They connected my bike and could found a record that my bike was serviced in Marrakech (20.000 km service) and that there was later another contact concerning my bike. And that was it! So none of the information was available for my dealer!!!! All the communication with BMW Germany didn't help, there wasn't any information available! They had to do all the tests again. Luckily it seems to me that our actual GS motorbikes are delivered not only with auto diagnostics but also with auto repair qualities! So the problem didn't reappear.
From my experience, I learned that not all data will automatically be saved by BMW München.
I'm very curious about your experience concerning this subject.

Ride on .........

Edwin

May I chirp in here. As an EX-BMW full time tech and now as a contract part time BMW dealer tech.

The GS911's are a great bit of kit. They really are. But they do not free you from your dealer. They don't do anywhere near 99% of what a dealer systems can do. The amount of diagnostic tools your local BMW dealer has with probes, sensors and meters will fill 12 pannier boxes.

As far as I'm aware of from the last one I used in anger, they are fairly limited to reading codes, deleting fault memories, setting service dates, reading a limited amount of sensor data and the better ones can activate your ABS pump to bleed it etc.

Most of these things can be done using old school methods though. With some knowledge (Youtube etc)

A great deal of components that you change out on BMW's need to be calibrated or coded into the bike's vehicle order too. You can't do this on a GS911. You will need your dealer for this !

And information is NOTHING unless you know what to do with it.

BMW's bring up ghost faults all the time. And one fault can lead to another. The codes are sometimes completely misleading. Without experience and understanding of the systems, codes can really send you on a very expensive wild goose chase. You need to know which faults to ignore and which ones to take note of.

The GSS911 won't tell you WHY there is a fault. Just that there is one. And that the fault is in that circuit. Can-bus systems are not so simple !! There could be a number of components in that circuit that will give you the same fault. Faults can tell you that your £10000 ECU dead when you just have a poor earth. Unless you're going to spend hundreds of pounds changing everything, then you're still going to need a proper diagnosis.

I'm self employed now and obviously I've considered buying the expensive professional edition of the GS911. It's a great aid. But as a BMW tech, I can often know what's wrong with it before needing to plug one in. And I'd need to delete a lot of service reminders to get my money back.

I'm old school. I learnt the hard way. I see the new 'Master techs' spend hours diagnosing bikes that won't start using the computers and probes to see if it's ignition, fuelling, compression, timing etc. And I'll just give it 15 mins of old school checks and get to the same result.

Engines still work the same as they always did.

Pull your plug out and see if it sparks - No spark = Bag ignition circuit

Pull you injector out and crank the engine - No spray = Bad pump etc


I once witnessed a senior tech spend half a day diagnosing why a K1600 wouldn't start. The customer was charged £400 for his time.

I walked up to the bike, swapped the starter relay and it fired right up.

£50,000 of diagnostics didn't help him. Because he doesn't know how to work without it.


My point is...

I think you're better off having one on a long trip than not. But they are expensive, a bit bulky and what's the point in knowing fault codes if you're in no position to obtain the part you 'THINK' you might need.

It 'might' help you. It might not. It's by no means a cure for all your diagnostic woes. It's a tool that will help you get some of the answers to your questions if a problem occurs, but you will still need to know what to do with that information.

If you're a complete technical novice then I wouldn't bother with one at all. Spend your money on a tow truck to take the bike somewhere that can do it for you.

2007 BMW Dakar and potential water pump problems?
 

I am quite a newbie and about to embark on a 25,000km journey on my BMW Dakar 650 (2007). I have heard that these have water pump problems and am wondering if it is worth me carrying a spare with me. And if i do so how difficult is it to change them?
Any comments gratefully accepted...

100% yes. Along with a spare regulator/rectifier.

BMW sell the kit.

It's not the hardest DIY job but may challenge a complete DIY novice.

There are YouTube videos how to do it. Also there is a step by step with pictures on f650.com.

My walk in the desert due to this awful bit of Austrian cheese-metal was 15 years ago. My advice:

1. Set fire to the bike, claim on the insurance and buy a Yamaha and a few cush drive rubbers.

2. If 1 doesn't work for you buy 2 kits and some instant gasket. Fit the first kit and get 500 miles in before your trip.

3. Pack the second kit, new instant gasket and a tool suitable for preparing a sealing surface that has porosity and has been warped by heat due to being cheap and nasty.

When you fit the kit at home pay real attention to detail, it took me days to stop in leaking.

On the road, as soon as the oil turns chocolate brown, stop and fit the kit. I had the walk in the desert, recovery from Spain after BMW Malaga kept losing the bike and having a general manyana attitude, days trying to get the kits to seal and then found running with oil and water mixing wrecked the head. I scrapped the bike.

Andy

Hi Ted,

Happen to know if the regulator/rectifier is known for failing on an XChallenge? I've not heard of failures of this component on the X series.

Thanks,

Ian.

It's such a rare bike that is hard to know. I don't know, sorry.

Thanks anyway. Maybe worth carrying a spare anyway. I doubt it's the same part on the X as on the F650GS singles and G650GS.

You never know. Cross check the part numbers.

That reminds me:-

BMW Parts Catalog