'Brake failure' warning light on.... Causes?

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steadysteve

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Project bike again.... 2007. 57 plate 1200GS.
"Brake failure" warning light is on on the dash. It's the one that normally goes out after travelling a few yards( at least it used to only 2005 RT, I assume it does on the GS but never had one of this age before to know any better).

It's on all the time, the brakes are fine from a normal braking point of view. I haven't tried triggering the ABS to determine if its affected.

PO said it's passed MOT like this for the last few years.

Can anyone advise what might give this warning please?

BMW specialist serviced it 3k miles ago and suggested it may be a wheel sensor but I thought I would ask on here before swapping bits for the sake of it.

I would RTFM but I don't have the FM to refer to..

Thanks.
 
Could be a number of things

GS911 will tell you whats causing the lamp to light

In no particular order

ABS sensors

ABS servo unit

Wiring fault

Airgap on sensors


If its the pump, your looking at £1200 or so to have a dealer replace it


i think the unit is £800 and the rest labour..

A servoectomy would prolly be your best bet
 
If it was manufactured after sept '06 it should have the newer ABS and can be repaired much cheaper , maybe £300 ?
 
Mine has the same (2007 57 plate gs) and the cause of mine is the abs motor not working (confirmed by gs911).
I've ignored this for about 4 years now and never even had it mentioned at MOT
 
I had the same problem, same year of bike, take a look at this thread:
http://ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/488653-Intermittent-ABS-Fault

Post No7 is where I describe how I put it right.

As the others say, it'll pass its MOT with the light flashing as the tester won't normally ride it far enough for it to calibrate and go out anyway.

The test is done on a brake roller, i cant recall ever seeing a tester going out with a taplow meter to check brake efficiency on a bike, in my car it's the norm ;)
 
It's the abs motor brushes, they've got stuck in their holders.

Fairly common problem on the early 2007 bikes with the then new ABS only modulator.
 
Thanks Steptoe.
Is it a stripdown job or can I just tap it gently:D with a calibrated hammer..?
 
I had the same problem, same year of bike, take a look at this thread:
http://ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/488653-Intermittent-ABS-Fault

Post No7 is where I describe how I put it right.

As the others say, it'll pass its MOT with the light flashing as the tester won't normally ride it far enough for it to calibrate and go out anyway.

Thanks for the link watty-- very informative, cheers.
I'll put my calibrated hammer away for now.. I haven't got round to it yet, just doing my homework before dealing with it next week hopefully.
 
I had the same problem, same year of bike, take a look at this thread:
http://ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/488653-Intermittent-ABS-Fault

Post No7 is where I describe how I put it right.

As the others say, it'll pass its MOT with the light flashing as the tester won't normally ride it far enough for it to calibrate and go out anyway.

The `brake failure` warning is on all the time, not flashing. Anybody know if the warning had a dual purpose whereby flashing perhaps means it could be a sensor, and permanently on points to the abs motor brushes?.
Not sure as I only have experience of an RT with servo brakes. It flashed for a few yards then went out.
 
The `brake failure` warning is on all the time, not flashing. Anybody know if the warning had a dual purpose whereby flashing perhaps means it could be a sensor, and permanently on points to the abs motor brushes?.
Not sure as I only have experience of an RT with servo brakes. It flashed for a few yards then went out.

I believe flashing is when its not yet calibrated itself before you ride off, on permanently means a fault is detected. I really would suggest you find someone with a GS911 to read the fault codes. It will save money in the long run as the bike's ECU will be telling you what it thinks is wrong, and unless you fix that, the warning light will not be going out.
Mine showed up something like " Fault on ABS pump. Power supply interupted to ABS pump-fault not now present", as the fault was intermittent.
Good luck in fixing it, it can be done and needn't cost a fortune.
 
Had the same problem with my 2007 gs couple of weeks ago. Took abs unit out and had motor replaced with a refurbed unit. £185+vat. 5 year guarantee. Used www.controlunits.co.uk. Now works a treat.
 
Thanks Stevebsw. Could be tempted at that price.

Anybody know if it's possible to just get rid of ABS unit ( a bit like doing a servo-ectomy on a servo equipped bike) and run with normal brakes?
I suspect there will be issues with the electronics throwing a hissy fit, unable to get rid of warning lights etc etc.
 
Thanks Stevebsw. Could be tempted at that price.

Anybody know if it's possible to just get rid of ABS unit ( a bit like doing a servo-ectomy on a servo equipped bike) and run with normal brakes?
I suspect there will be issues with the electronics throwing a hissy fit, unable to get rid of warning lights etc etc.


Dont know if you can servoectomise the later ABS units

But £222 is small change is the scheme of things -
 
Vids on You Tube show how to remove and replace the ABS motor and change the brushes. The ABS unit is visually the same as Ford and Fiat use on their small cars.
 
Thanks for the input chaps--just exploring the options at the moment. Was supposed to be blitzing this last week but 3 days trail riding and two extra 12 hour shifts got in the way...:blast:D
 
It's the abs motor brushes, they've got stuck in their holders.

Fairly common problem on the early 2007 bikes with the then new ABS only modulator.

its a designed to fail part still dropping like flies on later bikes, same fault blights most cars. There are two faults you can get, the designed to fail wire from the multiplug to the circuit board, and as pointed out earlier the stuck brushes. One could drill a hole and squirt contact cleaner in there a few times... will have much the same effect. The fault codes will be • 5DF0-Hydraulic unit pump motor and 5DF1-Hydraulic unit pump motor connector faulty, the same as you get on the cars.

ECU testing have repaired a few of mine, nice bunch and good customer service. http://www.ecutesting.com/catalogue/bmw_eculist.html?category=4047&model=937

Its a nightmare to get off the GS a small 10mm headed nut, holding it to the mounting bracket on the bottom of the unit means a one and half hour job is much longer.

As for passing an MOT, he probably didn't notice in the past.... as of end last year (2018) its now compulsory they check and see the self test diagnostics return a good result and all dash lights go off. I fully expect they don't bother to check.
 
I replaced the brush assembly with a fiesta one. Been fine for a few years now. (fingers crossed) I wonder why the fiesta unit is so much better?
 
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