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Recall? On all models with Reverse

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Witsend said:
I installed the bt-moto upgrade. Now I have to overwrite that with the orig. stock version, in order to take it in the the reverse fix. So was the original stock version stored in the handheld, (as well well as the upgrade?)

Then pay bt-moto AGAIN $200. if I understand correctly) to remap the NEW stock version.
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If the reverse fix modifies the ECU, then yes, your Bren map will need to be updated at Bren Tuning’s $200 price.
Once you get your bike back, try and reapply the modified tune again. If it fails, you then need the new map done.
 
Witsend said:
I installed the bt-moto upgrade. Now I have to overwrite that with the orig. stock version, in order to take it in the the reverse fix. So was the original stock version stored in the handheld, (as well well as the upgrade?)

Then pay bt-moto AGAIN $200. if I understand correctly) to remap the NEW stock version.
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Correct - you flash back to stock with the version saved on the handheld. BMW will update the ECU as part of the recall fix and then, yes, BT will need $200 to modify that update. Once you have the bike back, you'll need to go through BT's site to "buy" the update option. I believe the unit will give a code that BT needs to do the rest of the work.

After selling my B and knowing that BT makes a tune for my new bike, I think I'm just gonna sit stock. $200 every time there's an update is a lot. I get they gotta pay their guys, but it's tough to keep up.
 
BigJimSlim said:
Correct - you flash back to stock with the version saved on the handheld. BMW will update the ECU as part of the recall fix and then, yes, BT will need $200 to modify that update. Once you have the bike back, you'll need to go through BT's site to "buy" the update option. I believe the unit will give a code that BT needs to do the rest of the work.

After selling my B and knowing that BT makes a tune for my new bike, I think I'm just gonna sit stock. $200 every time there's an update is a lot. I get they gotta pay their guys, but it's tough to keep up.
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Yea.. I get that they have to pay their guy to do the remap, again. But it does make me wonder --when the first initial Bren tune remap came back to me in just over an hour. How difficult can it be? The reply to that would be... I guess one's paying for the expertise --for what's nice to have, but very little by way of "upgrade" in performance.

Come to think of it --I may just wait now to have the reverse fix done until I hit the 6K miles big service update. Have it all done at the same time. Otherwise I'll be dinking around this process twice.
 
Witsend said:
Yea.. I get that they have to pay their guy to do the remap, again. But it does make me wonder --when the first initial Bren tune remap came back to me in just over an hour. How difficult can it be? The reply to that would be... I guess one's paying for the expertise --for what's nice to have, but very little by way of "upgrade" in performance.

Come to think of it --I may just wait now to have the reverse fix done until I hit the 6K miles big service update. Have it all done at the same time. Otherwise I'll be dinking around this process twice.
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Probably a smart move there. I was about to remap mine after getting it back after the recall fix. Good thing I didn't cuz the transmission gave up and I'd have been $200 poorer for nothin.
 
BigJimSlim said:
Probably a smart move there. I was about to remap mine after getting it back after the recall fix. Good thing I didn't cuz the transmission gave up and I'd have been $200 poorer for nothin.
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What THAT sucks. How does a transmission "give up" on a nearly brand new bike? 😖 I hope that's not a new recall in the making.
 
Witsend said:
What THAT sucks. How does a transmission "give up" on a nearly brand new bike? 😖 I hope that's not a new recall in the making.
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Sucks so bad that I sold the bike. Just can’t trust it after that. I’d hope it’s a fluke issue and nothing to worry about widely.
 
I'm in Northern California and I just dropped off my 2023 R18 B at the dealer around 2:30 PM for the reverser recall work. I never had the reverser disabled. I called the dealer about 3 or 4 weeks ago to get my name on the list for parts. The parts arrived today. All the work could have been completed today. I told them they can do it tomorrow and I will likely pick up the bike on Saturday anyway.

Here's a copy of the paper work for those who are curious. I redacted some info for privacy. Total due for me is zero dollars. Not sure who pays the fees on the paper but it's not me.


Screenshot 2025-04-08 164322.png
 
I just got my R18 TC back from getting the reverse gear fixed. The fix included a ECU update, and there was also a TFT software update which put me at version 014_015_020.

The ECU update did not allow me to restore my existing Bren Tune. However I talked to my dealer and they’ll reimburse me the cost of having the tune re-done because it occurred as a result of the reverse fix. I’ve bought 5 bikes from them and am friends of the owners and the service manager, so that could’ve also played a part.
 
Rambler358 said:
I just got my R18 TC back from getting the reverse gear fixed. The fix included a ECU update, and there was also a TFT software update which put me at version 014_015_020.

The ECU update did not allow me to restore my existing Bren Tune. However I talked to my dealer and they’ll reimburse me the cost of having the tune re-done because it occurred as a result of the reverse fix. I’ve bought 5 bikes from them and am friends of the owners and the service manager, so that could’ve also played a part.
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Now, that is what I call customer care and support. 👍
 
Rambler358 said:
I just got my R18 TC back from getting the reverse gear fixed. The fix included a ECU update, and there was also a TFT software update which put me at version 014_015_020.

The ECU update did not allow me to restore my existing Bren Tune. However I talked to my dealer and they’ll reimburse me the cost of having the tune re-done because it occurred as a result of the reverse fix. I’ve bought 5 bikes from them and am friends of the owners and the service manager, so that could’ve also played a part.
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Oh wow, that’s a nice perk. Seems like a lot of us feel like we have to hide the fact that we tuned should something with the engine go wrong.
 
So in December I took my bike in for the headlight recall and they disconnect my reverse without my consent and then tell me I have a $1000 credit towards accessories applied to my account and can use at any time. I get a call from the dealer today telling me that the reverse fix is available now. I then tell them to order up the bagger handle bars with my credit and they tell me that bmw pulled the credit so if you didn't use it you lost it..... wtf?!?! How can you give a credit for disabling a feature and then take it away? That's so fucked up.... they told me yep, if you didn't use in within the month that we disabled your reverse it expired.... fucking jack wagons.
 
My guess is BMW disconnected the reverse to avoid a fire liability, although the data indicates only a handful of cases worldwide.
 
seattleswimboy said:
So in December I took my bike in for the headlight recall and they disconnect my reverse without my consent and then tell me I have a $1000 credit towards accessories applied to my account and can use at any time. I get a call from the dealer today telling me that the reverse fix is available now. I then tell them to order up the bagger handle bars with my credit and they tell me that bmw pulled the credit so if you didn't use it you lost it..... wtf?!?! How can you give a credit for disabling a feature and then take it away? That's so fucked up.... they told me yep, if you didn't use in within the month that we disabled your reverse it expired.... fucking jack wagons.
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Edited to add: My apologies to seattleswimboy (criminy, am I turning into Black Dog??🫨) It appears you got some poor treatment. The dealer should have offered you the compensation AT THE TIME they conducted the unauthorized disabling of the reverse function.

WIth all the bad stories I'm reading on here, it makes me wonder if some dealerships have been claiming the compensation, using customer VINs, and then using the compensation themselves. Maybe I'm paranoid but seeing the different compensation offerings across the world (parts, service plans, what have you), it seems very unlikely those dealerships were not aware of their region's compensation packages.


My original text: Jeebus, this has been a known situation for at least a year. They announced in Dec 2024 that the $1k credit would expire, I think, Jan 31 2025. Hasn't been any secret.
I would, however, have a serious issue with the dealership disconnecting it without checking with me. My dealership gave me the option, and explained the warranty risk.
I started discussing this with my dealership in Nov 2024, disconnected in Dec 2024 or Jan 2025, recall fix installed April 2025... no drama at all.
Now, then, the compensation parts I've ordered in November 2024 are still on back order. I'm not pissed though as I'm not out anything, not one red cent.
 
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If there is any consolation, I never got the chance to get my credit because my reverse gear was not discontinued immediately to get it right at a later date. This gap in time was the inconvenience time where the compensation played its part if you follow my drift. Mine was done when I took the bike for the headlamp replacement and the bike spent 2 days at the dealership, only because I was not able to pick it up the following day due to work commitments. They gave me a loaner so that I could still go about my business. As you can see, I did not suffer the inconvenience of not having a reverse gear disabled and therefore no compensation. Not upset about it, and of course I could have done with a freebie from BMW but I am cool about it.
 
I can add my experience from Europe. I found out that something was going on only thanks to this forum and started to dig deeper. That was in January 2025. Everyone acted like they were hearing it for the first time, including the CZ BMW dealership.
It was only through a BMW mechanic I knew that I managed to arrange a service visit for March. To my surprise, I was told that nothing will be disconnected, but they will install an additional relay under the petrol tank.
Instead of 24 hours the bike was in the workshop for a week, because it was ''not so simple''.
On my inquiry about compensation, again all responded that they didn't know and had to ask and blah blah.
Only after 14 days I was told that yes, but I had to choose from accessories with part numbers starting with ''7''.
I chose the bobber fender, which was close to price at 1000 euros, because otherwise I have everything I wanted on my bike and bought it a long time ago. This was the only one i can think about and I can sell it in the worst case.
Again, it took 2 weeks to get approval from BMW for the FOC order and the part arrived.
Instead of just the fender with the holder, the whole bobber kit including the solo saddle...Nobody wanted to pay extra...
So at the end it went well and it's small compensation for my burned main harness which i have to pay year ago.
 
Petr, good summation of your experience, thank you. It's beyond frustrating that you were not contacted. On the other hand, I'm not surprised that they did not have to disconnect anything as the fix was out by that time. However, to take a week to complete the work!??!! Seems more than odd.
Here in the U.S., I received a recall letter around October of 2024. Indeed, I had been reading about this on the forums for months prior to that. Again, I'm feeling pretty fortunate.
 
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After first hearing about the reverse recall, I contacted the dealer, asked about the compensation, then had the recall disconnected and got 3 years free servicing on both my R18's. The repair has now been done. Approx. 1 month ago, I received the official recall letter. So, had I not contacted BMW and waited for the recall letter, then I would not have been able to get the compensation. This is in Australia.
 
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