BMW charger on R1200GS adv

[coalpines]

Does any one know why my battery charger goes to the error mode after it has been plugged in for an hour or so?

[gfspencer]

Does any one know why my battery charger goes to the error mode after it has been plugged in for an hour or so?

There is probably nothing wrong with the battery or the charger. I'll bet that it is a firmware problem. (It happened to me on my R1200GS.) If the Adventure is using the same firmware as the standard R1200GS (v7) its because the battery is charged and the CANbus is shutting things down . . . and not allowing the charger to maintain a trickle charge.

The solution – for now – is to get these BMW alligator clips - http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=43421. (You can get these from your local BMW dealer.) This bypasses the CANbus system and charges the battery directly. With this setup the battery charger will maintain a trickle charge and you should not get an error.

There are other solutions out there but this was the least expensive and easiest for me.

[SHAG]

Does any one know why my battery charger goes to the error mode after it has been plugged in for an hour or so?

Are you following the correct procedure for hooking it up? :wave

[rbremiller]

R1200GS 2007
I followed the instructions that came with the trickle charger and it never reports anything but the lowest charge on the battery yet the bike starts in sub freezing temps. I purchased the battery terminal clamps to see if it makes a difference bypassing the CamBus.
Is'nt the trickle charger supposed to maintain battery health for those long nights ( weeks) in the garage by switching on and off automatically so we don't get the dead battery syndrome? Does the direct terminal clamps assure that the life cycle of the battery is realized by bypassing the CamBus? What is it about the CamBus that screws up the auto charger?

[Plainsscout]

When I bought my GSA I was specifically told my old battery tender brand would not work. I would have to use the BMW OME charger. I also understand there is a specific sequence to plug in and charge.

[Wallowa]

On the '07 GSA with AGM battery there is a specific BMW charger that plugs into the oulet under left rear of seat...this charger is expensive as hell, but it works.

Owner's Manual lists part number...don't let them sell you anything else, ask why I know that!

#1 Turn on ignition and let it intialize

#2 Plug in charger to stock CanBus outlet on bike

#3 Plug in charger to AC power

#4 Turn off ignition


Two rows of lights...green/red and green/yellow/red

After doing #1-#4 see if green power light is on...

The charger will continuously cycle through the green/yellow/red as it floats the correct charge in the AGM battery...

Sooooo, if you see a red, don't panic, come back in a few minutes and you should see yellow then green...

----Non-BMW charger? Then hard wire directly to battery...