Tyres, Brakes and Suspension » ESA faults

On the "old" R1200RS forum there was a thread dedicated to ESA faults.. I had posted issues with my 2016 RS as had a few others owners.
Returned to dealer on 2 occasions and fobbed-off both times.... "... we road tested and cant fault it..." "....we've performed a software upgrade..."
I did mention that others had reported the identical issue, but was informed that the forums were not authoritative sources of information!!!!

The errors have now recurred and are only resolved with an engine restart - so is a major issue. Not to mention the suspension defaults to rock hard!
Had 4 faults in a 5 hour ride - mix of freeway & B roads and no jarring potholes. System faults thru a rough patch - seemingly at random as it doesn't need a huge bump/hole to trip.
Settings are: 2x helmets & either Road or Dynamic. Riding with a pillion or solo.

As it hasn't been mentioned on this (new) forum, just wondering if I'm alone with this now! (Thanks to those who had posted previously.)

My next dealer engagement in a few days will be heated......

I was with a Customer on Friday evening who claims his bike often sits low and he has to recycle the ignition got get it to the correct ride height. He too has been fobbed off by his dealer 4 times but it seems the ESA doesn't have the greatest of lifespans

Zitat von IWB im Beitrag #1

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On the "old" R1200RS forum there was a thread dedicated to ESA faults.. I had posted issues with my 2016 RS as had a few others owners.
Returned to dealer on 2 occasions and fobbed-off both times.... "... we road tested and cant fault it..." "....we've performed a software upgrade..."
I did mention that others had reported the identical issue, but was informed that the forums were not authoritative sources of information!!!!

The errors have now recurred and are only resolved with an engine restart - so is a major issue. Not to mention the suspension defaults to rock hard!
Had 4 faults in a 5 hour ride - mix of freeway & B roads and no jarring potholes. System faults thru a rough patch - seemingly at random as it doesn't need a huge bump/hole to trip.
Settings are: 2x helmets & either Road or Dynamic. Riding with a pillion or solo.

As it hasn't been mentioned on this (new) forum, just wondering if I'm alone with this now! (Thanks to those who had posted previously.)

My next dealer engagement in a few days will be heated......

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Last year I had a problem with my ESA. It would not change pre-load settings. When I took it into my dealer they performed (at my cost) a re-flash of the ESA firmware, which seems to have solved that problem. However, my ESA suspension has never worked very well in my opinion. It rides quite harshly over small bumps and there is very little difference between the "road" and "dynamic" settings. However I have always assumed that has something to do with the Sachs suspension components valving on my April 2015-build RS as it works just fine when the bike is heavily loaded - which I am not. However, it appears that the later components are an improvement and I have heard that BMW has moved on to another manufacturer for their ESA components.

The dumb ESA system on my 2007 R1200R worked a lot better than the "semi-active" ESA of my 2016 RS.

I (touch wood) have not yet had esa issues, either 2013 r1200r, 2015 R1200RS or this 2017 RS.
I have usually run road/road setting and with rider plus luggage setting, although all 4 long trips through Europe to Norway have been 'fully loaded, two helmets.
I do run the settings through solo/solo plus/ two helmets probably once a month, as per the manual.
Same with dynamic, not usually fast enough to need either engine or esa in dynamic (probably also rain setting unless on holiday - it can rain when I am on holiday but why leave home in the rain when I can wait for it to stop) but I do run through the settings.
Not sure I really needed all this kit and don't even ask how little I use the gasp - having the r1200ST as well my muscle memory that can't adapt with enough mechanical sympathy to use it enough.

My bike is late 2015. I had a 'rear strut' replaced under the 2 year warranty after a bit of a tussle. It was the damping adjustment. It wouldn't change and they replaced the control unit first. The fault persisted and even resulted in the shock locking up so the complete rear strut was changed. The parts cost was about £1300 if I remember correctly.

If it failed again I'd be looking at getting it replaced with a non ESA item but that might prove anything but easy. I've seen a website for a German company that refurbish ESA shocks but don't have a link.

Peter

Zitat von Bravo im Beitrag Leaking ESA shocks can be repaired.....

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https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/504259-rear-shock-fefurbishment

For members in Dear Old Blighty......
This guy Luke has got a good reputation on UKGSer.
I messaged him and he's working on some upgrades for the rear shock.


MCT Suspension in Stowmarket Suffolk too.
They reckon they can service ESA shocks,they performed their magic on my SV 1000 sometime ago.

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MCT are a VERY well respected suspension specialist and have service the suspension units (front and rear) on all my bikes, they are an authorised Ohlins service centre and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them. In terms of servicing they can I am sure dismantle, refresh fluids, gases and seals etc on the ESA components but doubt outside of a spring change will be able to enhance the units. I may be wrong on this.

I saw an advert for a Dutch company I believe that has ESA connectors that eliminate the ESA whilst allowing the ECU to think it's still there and fit bespoke suspension (i.e. Wilbers). Whilst this might sound like a backwards step, if a new shock is going to cost £2K then it might not be so daft. Plus there are also some companies offering ESA compatible alternative suspension but I have no idea if it is any good.

MCT worked real magic with my ST1300 Pan European.

Nowt wrong with a spring change if its going in for a rebuild is there now.

Hello,

D-ESA problem also for me on my RS1200 from 2017.
Randomly and only when I am driving with a passenger, a yellow warning triangle for a suspension problem appears. The suspensions become extremely hard (safe mode). Just turn off and turn on the ignition to make the problem go away. Reading the GS911 error codes gives "480BC6: Rear damping circuit current measurement, improbable power regulation". The PWM control signal current of the EDC valve, which should be about 1A, drops to 0.25A. I suppose that the monitoring of the pilot current makes it possible to detect, an open circuit, a problem on the power output stage of the computer, a problem on the EDC valve. The problem being random, it is difficult to go further in the diagnosis, except to wait until the failure becomes permanent. Difficult to determine what could be the precise root cause by reading the previous posts on this topic. If you have any comments or suggestions I am interested. Thank you in advance and have a good trip.
Patrick France

Thank you for the feedback. Indeed, that seems a good lead. I very much hope that this is the good root cause and will prevent me from replacing expensive parts. Serious doubts, however, that this will be the end of the problem. I ride almost every day, alone, without a problem. I have driven twice in the last few months on the same roads with a passenger. The problem appeared twice. I do not understand why a connector problem would correlate with the presence of a passenger. Either way, I'll check the connectors. Thank you.

I will not be surprised if the connectors are OK. When was your last software upgrade?

Hi Mr. 36654,
XSAF : Fabrication date and software last update (YY / MM / DD) : 16/09/06.