russell_bynum Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 One option would be to ride a bike that isn't prone to expensive failures, but still hang out with the BMW rider community anyway. That sucks man...I'm sorry to hear about this. Link to comment
tallman Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Ken, Under 36k, close to warranty date, I'd keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. I agree with you, there is familial aspect that exists here. Link to comment
Lawman Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 One option would be to ride a bike that isn't prone to expensive failures, but still hang out with the BMW rider community anyway. Ditto... Pretty sad commentary huh? Link to comment
Mike O Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 One option would be to ride a bike that isn't prone to expensive failures, but still hang out with the BMW rider community anyway. That sucks man...I'm sorry to hear about this. Now if everybody did that, we would no longer be a "BMW rider community", would we? (and I'm not sure that's a bad thing) Mike O Link to comment
David Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I noticed some dirt collecting near the hub after following Mitch at El Paseo X (maybe that’s the problem)... I don't think that's it--when I have been following Mitch for a bit, I usually have problems with my brakes. Link to comment
Mr_Ed Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Major Bummer. Like someone already said... cross your fingers.. maybe BMW NA will do the right thing. Link to comment
lawnchairboy Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 that really sucks ken, sorry to hear it. Link to comment
WURTY Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 One option would be to ride a bike that isn't prone to expensive failures, but still hang out with the BMW rider community anyway. That sucks man...I'm sorry to hear about this. I admit I bought a Suzuki Vstrom 1000 so I didn't have to worry about this failure and that failure. I also admit it doesn't handle like a Bmw. It is not very stable at high speed sweepers. It wiggles all over at anything over 100 even on a straight line. BMW does have some serious mechanical issues but I really wish I could afford one just for the way they handle when they are running properly. Link to comment
steveknapp Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Sorry to hear about that. I hope they do the right thing, at least eat part of the cost. One option would be to ride a bike that isn't prone to expensive failures, but still hang out with the BMW rider community anyway. But then he wouldn't need to write full page posts about how to check the oil..oh, wait, that was you. Link to comment
BigAL Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 cross your fingers.. maybe BMW NA will do the right thing. FWIW, BMW NA just bought me a new ABS pump ! - NOT a cheap part -- and it's a few months out of warrantee. Maintenance was always done and documented, and my service guys checked the book. I was happy as a clam. I'll be using the local dealer more as a result of his extra effort (he could have just shrugged his shoulders and said 'oh well' !). That's South Sound BMW, in case anyone's interested... Good Luck ! Link to comment
Joe Frickin' Friday Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I noticed some dirt collecting near the hub after following Mitch at El Paseo X (maybe that’s the problem)... I don't think that's it--when I have been following Mitch for a bit, I usually have problems with my brakes. Maybe you should replace your brake fluid with nitrogen. Link to comment
Matts_12GS Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 One option would be to ride a bike that isn't prone to expensive failures, but still hang out with the BMW rider community anyway. That sucks man...I'm sorry to hear about this. I admit I bought a Suzuki Vstrom 1000 so I didn't have to worry about this failure and that failure. I also admit it doesn't handle like a Bmw. It is not very stable at high speed sweepers. It wiggles all over at anything over 100 even on a straight line. BMW does have some serious mechanical issues but I really wish I could afford one just for the way they handle when they are running properly. Wurty, Lower your fork tubes about 15mm in the triple clamps and it will fix that wobble. Link to comment
Chris K Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Ken, I heard about this from Joel last night. Hopefully BMW will step up and do the right thing. I would talk directly to Bob on this. Link to comment
Marty Hill Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Ken, Good luck with BMW. Now I understand why I wasn't the lucky buyer. Link to comment
John in VA Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 My frustration with BMW is tempered somewhat because I know the community would not be the same elsewhere, but my eyes would be on other brands if I only thought about the troubles I’ve had. Masochists R Us. Link to comment
questrider Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 What a bummer, Ken. I don't want to sound like an alarmist like some members of these type of discussion boards, but this is the number-one worry in the back of my head with my 12GS. Still, it's an intermittent worry that only gets brought to the forefront when I read of a fellow rider suffering a failure such as this, especially with the added bit of "the-warranty-just-expired" information. Hopefully BMW will do you right and help you with this all-too-frequent, it seems, incidental failure. Instead of worrying and getting into a frothy panic, I think I'll just keep riding and deal with things as they occur. Be where you are, not where you want to be or where you could be. Existential to be sure, but it keeps me sane. (Relatively. ) Link to comment
Kinsley Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 Instead of worrying and getting into a frothy panic, I think I'll just keep riding and deal with things as they occur. Be where you are, not where you want to be or where you could be. Existential to be sure, but it keeps me sane. (Relatively. ) Hi Magnuson, I missed you at El Paseo X, hopefully I'll see you again in the spring. Yes, I guess my "change the oil in the final drive while you're at it" was a way of easing my worry of the failure once the warranty was over, but as you can see that didn't prevent anything. This tale is looking like it will have a happy ending, though it's not a done deal yet. I may come out of it with a "newer design" final drive and a 2 year warranty on an 05 GS with 35K on it for little or no money . I'll keep the thread updated as it unfolds. Link to comment
KDeline Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Remember you need to worry about the immobilizer ring to...... Link to comment
questrider Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Remember you need to worry about the immobilizer ring to...... Oh, great. You mean to tell me that BMW doesn't make the most reliable piece of equipment on the planet? I've made such a terrible mistake... Link to comment
Lone_RT_rider Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I noticed some dirt collecting near the hub after following Mitch at El Paseo X (maybe that’s the problem)... I don't think that's it--when I have been following Mitch for a bit, I usually have problems with my brakes. Maybe you should replace your brake fluid with nitrogen. What you really need to look out for are the sticks he kicks up in Deals gap.... Long story Shawn Link to comment
Alan D Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Well, if it makes you feel a little better... My son and have a trip planned for this weekend, but, we may not be going because his 2006 fjr (14,000 miles) is leaking final drive oil on his rear tire. He ordered parts (2 seals) from a dealer about 700 miles away because he could not find any at local dealers. If the parts arrive tomorrow we will be able to go. One of his buddies had a st1300 and traded it in after two year on a triumph because he was tire of expensive repairs. It's not just BMWs. Good luck. Link to comment
Matts_12GS Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Well, if it makes you feel a little better... My son and have a trip planned for this weekend, but, we may not be going because his 2006 fjr (14,000 miles) is leaking final drive oil on his rear tire. He ordered parts (2 seals) from a dealer about 700 miles away because he could not find any at local dealers. If the parts arrive tomorrow we will be able to go. One of his buddies had a st1300 and traded it in after two year on a triumph because he was tire of expensive repairs. It's not just BMWs. Good luck. that's true about expensive repairs... My 02 Vulcan Mean streak had an issue with the cooling fans overloading the fusible link. The fuse would go without people noticing and water cooled motors don't do so well when the water's not cooling. I got a letter from Kaw. notifying me of the condition and offering me the option to fix it myself and get some swag or have the dealer do it. I think it cost me about nothing..... Link to comment
questrider Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 I missed you at El Paseo X, hopefully I'll see you again in the spring. I was hoping to make the pilgrimage down for the final one, if even just for some of that fine ale that was passed around, but opted to go to Toronto the weekend before instead. Hopefully I'll be making it down that way again, perhaps for the newly christened gathering in the spring, but probably just to visit family and ride the roads of that area then. Yes, I guess my "change the oil in the final drive while you're at it" was a way of easing my worry of the failure once the warranty was over, but as you can see that didn't prevent anything. I'm wanting to change my final drive oil soon now that I've reached nearly the 13k mark on my 06 for the same reason. Perhaps it's not that important because apparently it has nothing to do with the failure rate or preventive maintenance. This tale is looking like it will have a happy ending, though it's not a done deal yet. I may come out of it with a "newer design" final drive and a 2 year warranty on an 05 GS with 35K on it for little or no money . I'll keep the thread updated as it unfolds. That is great to hear. Please keep us updated. Link to comment
Kinsley Posted October 13, 2007 Author Share Posted October 13, 2007 Here's an update. I didn't ask how, but I ended up riding out with a new final drive without it costing me a dime I have no idea how my dealer handled it with BMW of NA, but they came through for me, so the loyalty continues both ways I understood there was a new design which has a drain plug, but it turns out the ABS sensors on my 2005 model don't match up with the new finals, so my new one still has no drain plug. I was advised to come in after 600 miles or so for an oil change. Link to comment
questrider Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Here's an update. I didn't ask how, but I ended up riding out with a new final drive without it costing me a dime I have no idea how my dealer handled it with BMW of NA, but they came through for me, so the loyalty continues both ways I understood there was a new design which has a drain plug, but it turns out the ABS sensors on my 2005 model don't match up with the new finals, so my new one still has no drain plug. I was advised to come in after 600 miles or so for an oil change. Rock and roll, my friend. Nothing more to say than rock and roll. And ride! Link to comment
JayW Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 That's heartening news. It sounds like BMW is covering some of these post-warranty FD failures on a case by case basis. Jay Link to comment
SteveHebert Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Great news Ken. I guess I missed this thread. I had very good service when my RT had the spline issue. I paid 50% and then 5 months later when the shaft and tranny went, I got all new parts and 2 years warranty. There are good stories. It helps to be nice and reasonable. Link to comment
Mr_Ed Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Here's an update. I didn't ask how, but I ended up riding out with a new final drive without it costing me a dime I have no idea how my dealer handled it with BMW of NA, but they came through for me, so the loyalty continues both ways fan-freakin-tastic! Link to comment
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