my new engine is at the dealership!!!!

**Karlb** · 10-19-2011, 05:57 PM

went down today to see the old engine first hand and talk to the dealership (the prev pics had been emailed to me)

out with the old

in with new

and boy am I happy BMW covered this under warranty

with out them stepping up to the plate I most likely would have parted her out and bought another bike.
The issue of engine warranty for a bike with a power commander/bazaz or other aftermarket tuner is a bone of contention with BMW and from what I understand the reason if. BMW makes and sells their own "Race ECU" this is very much like have a PCV/ Bazaz or other aftermarkket tuning box only it is very much more programable and will adjust the function of more than just fueling (DTC/ABS).

But when you buy the Race ECU kit BMW requires you sign a release for your warranty, this puts them in the odd postion of warranting engines with aftermarket tuners but not their own.

RansomT · 10-19-2011, 07:29 PM

BMW needs to review the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 before getting huffy about a PC or Bazzaz. Unless they can Prove the PC caused the engine failure, they must replace the engine unless of course they want the Attorney General on their butt.

**Karlb** · 10-19-2011, 07:59 PM

let me be clear, No one got huffy or said they werent going to cover this, the dealership stated they didnt know wether it would be covered or not as the decision had to come from BMWNA.

But it is interesting that BMW is in the position of not covering their own tuning module (Race ECU) by way of requiring the purchaser to sign a warranty release, but have to cover aftermarket tuners unless the failure can be proven to have been caused by such.

If it were not for this warranty issue I for one would think about springing for the Race ECU and dumping the PCV/Auto tune (not unhappy just think the BMW kit would be nice to have) but not to the tune of 10k worst case scenario.

BSR-1 · 10-24-2011, 02:12 AM

Damn glad they covered that!

On a side note (thread jack), what's your impression of the autotune?
I usually change a lot of stuff on my motors but I'm considering just doing a pipe and a PC on this one.
I was thinking I'd just get a custom map but the autotune is cheaper and has the potential to do a better job.

Any thoughts?

Also do you have any closer pics of the damage on your old motor?

**Karlb** · 10-24-2011, 07:39 AM

here is the thread with close up pics of the damage

bike is DOA

as to the autotune, cant really say as I only had the bike for about 250 miles and 3 rides prior to it munching itself. it did run fantastic right up until this happened, dont recall any dead spots in the throttle response, very linear and strong every where, the bike really just put a very large

on my face right up until it didnt

skapan · 10-24-2011, 08:26 AM

My understanding of the BMW unit is that it allows changes to far more parameters than the PC - timing for example - and that in the wrong hands could very quickly damage the engine. Much harder (although not impossible) to do this with a PC. At least that's my understanding. Also that the BMW unit is completely unnecessary unless you are changing cams, adding nitrous, etc. Perhaps that explains their willingness to warranty the PC but not their own unit.

**Karlb** · 10-24-2011, 08:31 AM

pretty sure you are correct about the range of changes and the possibility for the owner to really screw things up, but if that occured I would think they would be able to tell what the parameters were set to and therefore if it were the cause, but guess you cant blame them for not wanting to get involved with that as if they didnt cover it the owner would walk away pissed, if they could get away with it they would prob deal with a PC or Bazazz the same way, they just cant legally

I am supposed to get my bike back this week

russianvr4 · 10-24-2011, 10:59 AM

Very nice Karl! im gonna try to set up a meet for all the dallas folks in a week or so weather permitting, think you could make it?

BSR-1 · 10-24-2011, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karlb

here is the thread with close up pics of the damage

bike is DOA

as to the autotune, cant really say as I only had the bike for about 250 miles and 3 rides prior to it munching itself. it did run fantastic right up until this happened, dont recall any dead spots in the throttle response, very linear and strong every where, the bike really just put a very large

on my face right up until it didnt

I musta been drinking and posting in that thread!
As soon as I saw the pics I remembered.