Sudden Death Battery & Headlight Lens

[Carol]

On Friday morning I pulled the bike out of the garage, put on all my gear, turned on the key and hit the starter. Phoof! There went the battery. I had tried to avoid the sudden death of the battery by being anal about rotating it to the charger during the winter months. So I called the dealer to see how they wanted me to handle this. Also to ask if this was part of the warranty. The service manager sort of indicated that it might be but that most people don't maintain their batteries over the winter. We had the required talk about the numerious bikes I need to deal with over the winter and how I do that. I asked him about jump starting it and just riding it in. No problem. Well, that would not work. Seems that battery was sucking the life out of everything around it.

Pulled the battery and drove the 45 miles to the dealer. I have learned from Don not to mention anything about hearing of problems on the internet so I just waited while they checked it and said they would get me another one. I asked if it would be made by the same manufacturer. "No, too many problems." Finally a correct answer.

I had called the service manager in January to see if my headlight lens was covered under warranty. I had not learned from Don at that point not to mention the internet. The service manager could understand why BMW should replace my cracked cover. He had not heard of any issues. So I told him when we had some warm weather I would bring the bike so he could look at the cover. As I was leaving the shop with my new battery, he ask when I would be in to have my lens cover changed since he had been holding one for me for 2 months. Seems there is now a notice on those.

So, I would like to thank everyone of the members of this forum who send their issues into the forum so that the rest of us are somewhat prepared when these things strike. And as soon as I finish this note I will be sending $ to further enhance my enjoyment of this forum.

Thanks again,

[bobw]

Glad it all worked out. How old is your bike?

TIA

Cheers

Bob

[deilenberger]

Carol,

Glad to hear the stuff got covered. Battery has a 2 year warranty. The headlight lens policy (usually called a "SIB" or "Service Information Bulletin") info will be quite useful probably to some people. If possible - see if you can weedle the SIB number out of the dealer (they usually are numbered year/bulletin, ie 2002/01 or something similar.) Then when other people have a questioning dealer - they can just pop up with the SIB number.. (works wonders.)

[Carol]

I have a 2008 R12R with 9,000 miles on it.

Don, I will try and get the SIB number and post it here.

Thanks,
Carol

[lewellen]

I have a 2008 R12R with 9,000 miles on it.

Don, I will try and get the SIB number and post it here.

Thanks,
Carol

Hi, Carol,

I also have a 2008 R12R, 7.8k miles ... and a cracked headlight cover. :-/

So, I'd be interested in the number also.... might it be on the paperwork you got from the dealer when the lens was replaced?

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[crazyhorse]

did anyone ever get the SIB number for the cracked headlight lense? mine now has two big cracks in it...

wes

[mvk]

Just read this and though I had seen the previous posts re cracked lenses had never realised this could be covered by warranty. Any further information on this - and has anyone in Australia had success in getting a warranty replacement?

Two large cracks in mine...

[jamesgall3par]

You indicated the BMW dealer installed a different battery. I would like to install a better battery now instead of waiting for a battery failure to strand me. Do you have the part number, model ETC for the new battery.
Thanks.

[Carol]

Sorry, I just got back in town and somehow missed this message the last time anything was posted.

The old battery was an Exide. New one is not. The new battery also does not have a manufacturer's name on it.

The headlight lense was replaced but I could not get a SB from the lead mechanic. He indicated that there is really no SB for the lense. BMW is just taking care of the problem. This dealership is very closed mouth about anything that might put a negative spin on BMW. I do not have the gift of gab to pry some info from some lips.

If your headlight lense is cracked and you cannot find a point of impact, take it to the dealer. Mine lense had 2 cracks about 1 1/2" long about 3 inches from each other at approxamently a 45 degree angle on the upper half of the lense. The dealer ordered the lense without saying anything so they are aware.

Carol