Rough idle after first service

[R1100Sse]

I have a 2001 R1100S,my first BMW.After the first service my bike has an erratic idle that the dealer tells me is normal.The bike before the service idled very smooth.It had the normal twin vibration but the RPMS didnt surge up and down.Also Ive noticed a "carbon"like deposit on my tail pipe outlets that never showed before.Took it back and explained the problem.They kept the bike for two weeks.Picked up the bike ....no change at all.The service Mgr. told me their shop computer showed no problems at all and the settings were perfect.I myself think he is blowing smoke up my (__!__)...After cooling off I ordered a factory CD manual to fix the problem myself.Well the CD is useless for fuel paremeter adjustments unless you have the factory computer analyzer at your disposal.The only problem with that is at approx 16000.00 I dont think I could justify that kind of expense for personal use The only other dealer close by is two hundred miles away.Ive heard of other people having this problem after their first service.Maybe its a glitch in the program on the computer at the dealer and BMW doesnt know they have a problem...I dont know.Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this.I really love the bike and it was a big let down to find out that the dealer here wasnt up to the standard I expected from BMW.

[Mrmerlin]

Hi Bro, go out and get some carb stix, fix em to the bottoms of each intake after the engine is warmed up and see if the throttles are doing the same thing, to make each side the same use the brass screws, also open the throttle and see if they open at the same time if not adjust the right side cable only, to balance the throttle opening.
That said if this doesnt do any good then I would remove the valve covers and check the valve clearances use 2 feeler gauges for the intake and the exhaust..... IE dont just put the gauge under one valve and then go to the other, do them at the same time this will give a more accurate reading.........
If that looks good then repeat the carb six proceedure, after installing the valve covers.....also take a compression test and see if the cyls are balanced.
If your idle is too hi then use the brass screws on the throttle bodies to reduce or increase the idle should be about 1150 + or - about 100 rpm... the normal brass screw opening for a stock bike is about 1 and a half turns open if you have a Staintune then you will need about 3/4 open for a normal idle... hope this helps.....Stan

[doberman]

This is the typical BMW mechanics "The computer says everything is OK".
Well, I had the same problem after my first service. Living allmost a year with all kinds of BMW BS.
Took it to another shop (non-BMW) and they synchronized the
throttlebodies.
No more problems.

[cliff j randall]

Hi guys.......Note of interest. I have owned, raced and built modified bikes for some 30 yrs now, I love BMW's, don't get me wrong. However, it never ceases to amaze me at how little knowledge and more importantly, enthusiasm many dealership services reps have when it comes to the "RIGHT SET-UP", fine tuning anything for that matter, especially BMW's!!
Don't get upset by this revelation now, yes, I agree there are exceptions to my thread, John Parker of Budd's BMW in Oakville, Ontario Canada is one of the best I've ever meet. He is quite rare, he loves his work.
My humble advice, use the power of the internet by asking the guys who have pioneered the set-up, (like the simple TPS adjustment to remove the backfire, intrinsic with most aftermarket pipes.....that by the way everyone fought as being impossible and too simple, until they tried it), we know how to get it right. Why, cause we learned from our pioneering, on our own bikes......Why re-invent the wheel or ride a bike that is not performing at it's peak? Just ask.
There are many, but one of the most important procedures ever S owner must learn, and it is so simple, is to balance the TB's at the warmed up idle rpm, that they prefer. These bikes are very simple to work on, don't get smoked by all this factory Motronics only crap.
Cheers,
Cliff

[Rapt]

I have to say I mostly agree that the "BMW comupter thing is only good within "acceptatble limits" and that if you really want it "smooth" then you need to have it balanced via some other means... Twinmax/carbstix...

[levert]

20 years ago when I wasn't comfortable doing my own work I remember bringing my 750supersport in for a tuneup to reputable( so they said) dealer in Toronto.
They set my valve clearance to 1/2 of factory, tightened the chain so when I sat on the bike the suspension barely moved and the idle was really off. Being pissed and and rather violent in my youth I communicated with them in what I thought was an appropriate manner( they phoned the police and threw me out).
Find a new dealer, quick! I have several horror stories of bad mechanics and dealers, when you find a good one follow them around for life , buy them coffee and always be really nice to them.
If any one wants to start a new thread on bad dealers I will be happy to give a great(horrible) story about My KTM.
KTM=Kick till Monday,Kant take Much=parts aren't expensive there disgusting!( i feel better now)

[motoman]

Originally posted by levert
.
when you find a good one follow them around for life , buy them coffee and always be really nice to them.

Hell, if you find a good one, buy him a Fifth of Scotch and invite him home for dinner!!

[roger albert]

Hi,

Despite being a quasi-computer-geek, I'll be the first to say the computer won't help you here. Nothing wrong with the computer, it's just that it only has so much input to work with. It's very likely that it 'knows' when a major sensor (lambda, pressure, tps...) is open or shorted or otherwise vastly out of spec. It's great for that kind of stuff.

However, it has NO idea where the brass screws are, where the cable (Left/right balance) is adjusted, if the tps is adjusted correctly, or if a rodent has taken a large dump in your airbox.

The mistake here is a mechanic relying on the computer and not trusting yours or his own eyes.
My diagnosis is a faulty mech.

As people have said, get the screws and cable synch'd, perhaps after verifying valve clearance.
I bet you can set if up better than your mech has. Plus, this sort of fix will never cost you a dime, much less two weeks down time, ever again.

good luck
roger

[Rapt]

My bike has run much more smoothly since getting the Vanderlinde...

My suspicion is that this is because they no longer use the Motronic for balancing... It has lines for attaching to the nipples on the bottoms of the throttle bodies. However I'm pretty sure it just gives a go/no-go readout for balance that may or may not "right-on". Thus a computer (as twin max shows) has the ability, but it requires being used in an appropriate manner.

Twin-max is also electronic, but lets you decide how precise you want to be rather than making the decision for you.

[cliff j randall]

Hey Roger, do you still have that El Camino? If so, you could get all drunked up with me and the boys' on Saturday night, (when we are all at the Rally this summer), get the guys in the trunk, buck naked and drunk of course......and chase me thru the streets of Trenton screamin and yelling till the bastards finally cut us off, drag us in and arrest us!
Cheers,
Cliff

[Rapt]

Cliff you're a crazy one. There's only one thing I'd ride buck naked... and it AINT my motorcycle!

Just the thought of a bumblebee at 90 mph making contact in the unprotected nether regions would be more than enough to prevent me from such antics...

I only ride without protective gear when the speeds are slow and any impact is going to be well cushioned and soft.

[cliff j randall]

I can see it all now......Headline, Trenton Times July '02.
"Naked biker goes crazy, ruins wonderful weekend for nice quiet BMW riders, (from all corners of the Nation), and rides thru town with a car/truck looking thing, chasing him. It was also full of naked screaming idiots...All were subdued and later arrested!"
Cheers,
Cliff

[tvrla]

R1100se,

Here's the data you need. Go to the main bmw site on the internet at: www.ibmwr.org

Under the heading 'Tech' is a section for the R1100.

In there is all the data you need. It was written for the '95 (or thereabouts) R11RS. Don't worry, it works just the same on our bikes. Print it out, study it a little, and get back to us if you have any questions.

I think the only thing that isn't totally explained is where the wire is that you have to connect to on the TPS (throttle position sensor). I don't recall at the moment, but it's not hard to figure out. You've got four choices, but it's not a big thing sorting it out as to which one it is.

Chances are, though, that your bike just needs to by synched.

Something you can do first, is to make sure the cable isn't hung up somewhere. It's possible that one side is getting stretched a little by something in it's way. I've had that happen. It'll throw your synch all off.

Take your time studying that stuff, but it's not difficult. Good luck!

[Bill Vining]

I had a similar problem @ my 6K tune-up. At completion of the inspection, the bike idled terribly. The throttle bodies were out of sync. The mechanic had improperly adjusted the "jumper" throttle cable that runs from the left tb to the right tb. The main cable, from the throttle to the left tb was spot on. After he noticed (actually, was shown his error), both cables were re-adjusted and everything was kosher.

[R1100Sse]

All I can say is thanks everyone for such a quick response.Like I said before this was my first BMW and not being familar with the system,I didnt want to screw it up.My mechanical skills come from a time when twin SU carbs resided under MGA hoods etc.The dealer gave the indication(of course) that the throttle bodys could only be adjusted via their computer.After buying the CD I figured they must be on the up&up.Well,you guys "showed me the light" Im just really glad that this is something I can do myself.Thanks again....I know what I will be doing early Sat morning

[716MP]

I'm of the frame of mind to find a good mechanic and follow him around....
same goes with good doctors.....have found one that has taken care of my
bikes since 1984......as someone else suggested.....fifths of good single malt
Scotch/dinners, and timely exchanges of notes with President Franklin on the face...
if you like your scooter......
Wish I had spent a shameless youth in learning all that, but I wasted my time on
women and riding, instead.....
Now I pay.....dearly.....but it's worth it....
Roger will be reading this......and it'll cost me plenty....
You always have to tread lightly about those who can take things apart.....

PS: I don't want to know anything about the El Camino!!!!!

[roger albert]

Hi,

Sorry, now you're going to have to here about the El Camino (sidebar, I _am_ a scotch fan)

The El Camino I have for two reasons.

1) I don't like trucks, but occasionally need a hauling bed

2) It was my grandfather's He's the guy, despite having NO education himself, that always asked how I was doing in college and provided a lot of support (mostly mentally, the man had no money and spent what he did have driving the El Camino around doing house repairs for the elderly with even less cash than he)

Anyway, he died the week before I graduate and never got to see me finish college. My car died (conrod) that same week. Didn't do so well on my finals with the sadness and knowing I had no way to get to my new job in Austin due to start two weeks after graduation. My grandmother decided to give me Grandpa's 'truck' It seemed like a godsend. Two days later I realized the truck was much better than my car, but had a motor with not too much compression. A family friend did an emergency overhaul for half price as a sort of unplanned graduation present. I drove the beast on mostly backroads and frontage roads from IL to TX the next week, not wanting to break a motor in on the interstate.

The truck isn't much, but it was my Grandpa's
Touching story, no? (but a true one) The El Camino and I have been through a lot and we've 'bonded' I like bikes a lot more, but none of the have the old Camino's background.

This doesn't preclude me hauling naked drunks around in it, but I we'll have to adhere to a strict seating arrangement. Naked guys in the bed/cargo area, naked women in the cab.

My grandfather would no doubt prefer it that way too.



take care all,
I've delayed going out to my freezing (by TX standards) garage long enough.

later
roger

[cliff j randall]

Great story Roger. I look forward to meeting you and sharing a few more next summer in Trenton......Pass the bottle brother!
Cheers,
Cliff

[roger albert]

Thanks Cliff,

I hope I can make it up there. It's a long haul, but if the work schedule works out, it's not out of the question.

The old Camino has another nice defensive benefit.
When any of my more vintage bike oriented and slacker friends accuse me of being a yuppie due to having a corporate day job and a fuel injected beemer, I point out that they're the ones driving late 90s trucks and I'm the one with a 22 year old Camino. How many actual yuppies drive one of those? (much less a very unkempt one complete with cracked dashboard and ripped cheap aftermarket seatcovers?)



roger