NHSTA Opens Investigation into BMW Final Drive Failures

[Wallowa]

Originally Posted by rdcyclist

. Specify if gear oil leaked

Well, this thread indeed generates wry smiles....same old, same old..."no problem, they all do that" and "you should have bought"...reminds me of Monty's "A mere flesh wound!".

At the end of the day I agree with GB...lots of hope and promise but BMW is Teflon coated and this too will fade.

The above request to specify if your FD has a gear oil leak does make for a pause...since many failed FDs did not leak any lubricant...Hmmmmm.

Will any of us ever know for certain why the FDs have failed? For example does anyone out there know for certain why the ignition antennae [multi versions] failed and generated the dreaded EWS? The weaknesses in these components will go to the grave with some BMW engineer...assuming that even they have a clue.

What BMW does know is the true percentage of FDs that have failed; not surprisingly that is a corporate secret. Nothing but WAGs for now and probably forever from the rest of us.

Oh yes, I dearly love my '07 GSA and when, not if, it breaks I will fix it and dirt ravage another set of TKCs!
An old western phrase: "Ride for the Brand" doesn't apply to BMW for me, I ride because the bike is so damn much fun and inspite of BMW's marketing mentality.

[JimVonBaden]

And MANY leaked but never failed!

Amazing how many think a seal leak is a FD failure!

Jim

[SocalRob]

Sounds like the government concern is leaking oil on the rear tire leading to a loss of control issue. Is that commonly a factor in failures? I've had a seal failure that was limited to some seepage on the hub, but no gushing oil. I have not had a FD failure in 75,000 miles on BMW shafts.

Does a failure ever lead to the rear wheel locking up and control loss?

Out riding once I did meet a guy on a BMW with oil all over his wheel and some on the tire.

[tagesk]

Originally Posted by SocalRob

Out riding once I did meet a guy on a BMW with oil all over his wheel and some on the tire.

Oil in the tyre?

[TaSK]

[dcstrom]

Originally Posted by BobbySands

It would cost considerable more to swap a Suzuki clutch basket at the dealer than it would to rebuild a final drive at BMW.

You're kidding right? For one thing, "chudder" wouldn't strand you by the side of the road. IF your DL clutch parts weren't covered under warranty, baskets are cheap and could be fixed by any moderately skilled shade-tree mechanic, with no special tools.

[scottie boy]

Originally Posted by Willie B

If you are cash strapped, this isn't something to be ashamed of, but accept it, grow from it and go to the Tenere forum and stroke yourself with the rest of your comrades.
Personally, I'm not here to drink your cool aid, so move on!!
BTW, 93K on 1150 GS with no problems. 12K on '09 1200GS with no problems. The only problem I have at the moment is a desire to get a new GS when they hit the floor.

Personally, I think you need to shut the fuck up noob.
BTW, 36K on an '04 1150RT with too many problems to mention.

[Willie B]

What's a noob? Is it something accidentally brewed by a Home Master Brewer?

[GrahamD]

Originally Posted by Makalu

Is there an industry standard on number of failures of a mechanical part vs number produced that makes it a bad design?

Zero is a number often cited. 1% manufacturing defects WAS considered a realistic target. Zero is pretty much impossible.

I think there are a percentage of problems due to unrealistic expectations about the durability of any system in nasty conditions as well.

So many kool aid drinkers I have read going on like BMW have invented some magic metal unknown to the rest of the world. They didn't, and service must be done just like any other bike and probably more so than the recommended intervals if the environment is tough.. I don't think the basic design, lends itself to tough conditions though. For most road only users, properly serviced it SHOULD be OK, but OK is all it is.

See how the Triumph and Honda go. At least that will give an idea about how other SS swing arm shaft systems go in the real world.

Originally Posted by Makalu

On the other hand, I don't think Ewan or Charlie had any FD failures on there long ways round and down and they abused those bikes quite a bit.

No that was a sub frame failure.

[roarin calhoun]

Originally Posted by darrendeep6

Why do these Tenere guys keep coming over to Gspot? It's like they're looking for approval from us. Yes, yes you bought a motorcycle that is trying to compete with the GS. Good on Yamaha. Yes the BMW is the benchmark. Now go ride and post somewhere else stupid.

hay there darrendep, same to ya. You're a hoot."Benchmark" you say? So is the Yugo. I was advised by a good lawyer to file complaints(plural) with NHSTA about my GS's multiple problems but like a lot of folks nowadays I just figured it was a waste of time,what with hordes of pension seeking govt bureacrats running the place. How many MORE didn't file legit complaints for the same & other reasons? Or never heard of NHSTA??? To folks who have these busted beemers, it's not very funny. Carry on ,beemerphiles. Gawd bless Yamaha.

[mcstark]

Originally Posted by GrahamD

Zero is a number often cited. 1% manufacturing defects WAS considered a realistic target. Zero is pretty much impossible.




No that was a sub frame failure. That's the next investigation after this one..:

And two Ohlins went poof. Yes the bikes were over-loaded, but the OEM "replacement" lasted the rest of the trip.

[GrahamD]

Originally Posted by mcstark

And two Ohlins went poof. Yes the bikes were over-loaded, but the OEM "replacement" lasted the rest of the trip.

There should be an investigation into why an expensive item like Ohlins went poof, seeing it's such a popular and expensive replacement for the standard shocks.

People seem to like to pay a lot of money for fragile things with nice coatings.

[rdcyclist]

Originally Posted by marty hill

rdcyclist, I'll be back in norcal in late july/hang out just north of the GG Bridge. We should meet for coffee somewhere!
Bovine Bakery or any place you like. Your right about my next bike...it will be a 12GS till I get too old to climb aboard.

Hey Marty sounds good! As long as it's before I head out to Georgia for the ButtLite Rally in August...

[rdcyclist]

Originally Posted by Wallowa

Well, this thread indeed generates wry smiles...

What BMW does know is the true percentage of FDs that have failed; not surprisingly that is a corporate secret. Nothing but WAGs for now and probably forever from the rest of us.

An old western phrase: "Ride for the Brand" doesn't apply to BMW for me, I ride because the bike is so damn much fun and inspite of BMW's marketing mentality.

Actually, I'm not sure BMW really does know the true number of failures. I don't think dealers send a failure report for every repair they do. A personal valid data point is the number of true failures I know about. There do seem to be an inordinate number of them within the community I ride with. That being said, there isn't another bike that does it for me like the GS and when put up against the possibility of FD failure I'm willing to take the risk.

[roarin calhoun]

Originally Posted by rdcyclist

Actually, I'm not sure BMW really does know the true number of failures. I don't think dealers send a failure report for every repair they do. A personal valid data point is the number of true failures I know about. There do seem to be an inordinate number of them within the community I ride with. That being said, there isn't another bike that does it for me like the GS and when put up against the possibility of FD failure I'm willing to take the risk.

Well put,rdcyclist. Best of luck to you,truely. I got tired of the potential risks you mention becoming realities & went Tenere's way since I ride some fairly desolate areas,often with my wife on the back. Am much relieved. Different strokes for different folks.Good luck. I know & ride with a couple GS & GSA guys who have few problems( a couple tho).I wasn't that lucky.

[Wallowa]

Originally Posted by rdcyclist

Actually, I'm not sure BMW really does know the true number of failures. I don't think dealers send a failure report for every repair they do. A personal valid data point is the number of true failures I know about. There do seem to be an inordinate number of them within the community I ride with. That being said, there isn't another bike that does it for me like the GS and when put up against the possibility of FD failure I'm willing to take the risk.

I bought my '07 in Feb of '07 and since then I have read of several replaced FDs being sent back to BMW Motorrad.

Then and perhaps now, the failed FDs were not rebuilt by BMW dealers but were replaced and the failed FDs were shipped back to BMW.

Independent of that, BMW dealers know of the FD issue and most certainly get some type of support from BMW for FDs replaced under a warranty.

I could be wrong, but BMW counts beans and FDs are big beans!

All that aside I would love to eventually find out why they are failing...no guess work but actual engineering reports.