steve.foote Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 I have been following the various engine / clutch / transmission / drive shaft / rear drive failure threads and have become interested in what kind of correlation there may be within the manufacturing lineage. My specific intent is to collect information that may become useful. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BECOME A DISCUSSION THREAD. If you want to discuss this thread, please start another one. As this thread fills out, I'll compile the info gathered for better analysis. Please respond only if you have had a major powertrain failure related to the engine, clutch, transmission, drive shaft or rear drive with the following info: Model Year: Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): Last 5 digits of SN: Mileage at time of failure: Date of failure: Description of failure: Thanks for your participation. With roughly 7,500 members, we may be able to zero in on some batch issues regarding the various failures experienced here. Link to comment
Batsquatch Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 Model Year: 2002 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): RT Last 5 digits of SN: 86201 Mileage at time of failure: 43757 Date of failure: 27 Dec 04 Description of failure: input shaft spline failure Link to comment
SageRider Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 Model Year: 1999 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1100-RT Last 5 digits of SN: 65298 Mileage at time of failure: 49000 Date of failure: May 2004 Description of failure: Transmission failure. Input shaft rear bearing destroyed by rear gear on shaft. Resulting friction caused meltdown of pushrod bearing and failure of pushrod resulting in no clutch disengagement and gear oil leak/burned plastic odor. Link to comment
Joe Frickin' Friday Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Model Year: 1999 Model: R1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: 65566 Mileage at time of failure: 84,000 Date of failure: May 30, 2004 Description of failure: Large bearing in final drive became severely pitted/noisy/rough, necessitating final drive unit replacement. Link to comment
cgdR Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Model Year: 2002 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1150R Last 5 digits of SN: 45211 Mileage at time of failure: 40313 Date of failure: 17 Nov 04 Description of failure: transmision rear input shaft seal leak caused contamination of clutch. Splines were dry, but in good shape. Link to comment
ShovelStrokeEd Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Model Year: 2004 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1150 GS Adventure Last 5 digits of SN: Unknown - its downstairs Mileage at time of failure: 39600 Date of failure: A couple of months ago Description of failure: Large final drive bearing failed = cause undetermined but I would tend to blame spralling due to impact loading from rough roads. Link to comment
lhilsa Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Model year: 2004 Model: R1150RT Last 5 digits of SN: 92333 Mileage at time of failure: 7506 Date of failure: 5/18/2004 Description of failure: Engine knock. Upon teardown crank had a gouge in it. Apparently it was damaged when assembed. The engine was replaced under warranty. ---------------------- Lee '04 R1150RT '01 R1150GS Reno, NV Link to comment
lhilsa Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Model Year: 2001 Model: R1150GS Last 5 digits of SN: 52220 Mileage at time of failure: 36887 Date of failure: 10/30/2003 Description of failure: Engine knocking at idle. Small end/wristpin clearance excessive. Replaced con rods/bearings/wristpins/piston rings. Repaired under warranty. -------------------- Lee R1150RT R1150GS Reno, NV Link to comment
Tub Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Model Year: 2003 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1150RT Last 5 digits of SN: 90012 Mileage at time of failure: 18,000 Date of failure: May 2004 Description of failure: Large bearing in rear drive failed. This bike has a permanently attached sidecar. The bearing loss was attributed to the lateral load of the sidecar. However, many other BMW's with sidecars have not had any major drive failures. No warranty. Link to comment
Lester V Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 Model Year: 1999 Model: R1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: 18043 Mileage at time of failure: 80,000 Date of failure: May 30, 2004 Description of failure: Large bearing in final drive became severely pitted/noisy/rough, necessitating total transmission replacement. Well out of warranty. Rebuilt tranny sent from germany at request of John Valk BMW. I paid labour to install. Link to comment
Peter T Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Model Year: 1984 Model: R80RT Last 5 digits of SN: 73360 Mileage at time of failure: 44,016 Date of failure: Sept 1987 Description of failure: No notice, transmission input shaft failed. Current mileage 59,487 (my brother is the current owner) Link to comment
Kurt Snyder Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Year 1995 Model R1100RSL Last 5# 11872 Mileage 69000 Date Dec 04 Failure Input shaft/ Clutch splines. The unit had been making noise at idle for 40000 miles. When the noise started to quiet dowwn I figures the splines were worn to the point they were starting to slip and wedge. I pulled the transmission and found the splines just about gone. Link to comment
BULLman Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Model Year: 1999 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1100RT-P Last 5 digits of SN: 64580 Mileage at time of failure: 25K Date of failure: N. Ga Tech Day Description of failure: Bad 2nd gear. Me and dealer spilt the cost. Not very long after had a thumping in driveling, after dealer replaced tranny fluid to see if there were any bits of metal in pan. Dealer is now replacing transmission. Dealer had bike since beg of Nov and still waiting for a decent tranny. Maybe 3rd time is a charm. Link to comment
AviP Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 Model Year: 2000 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1100RT-S Last 5 digits of SN: 68145 Mileage at time of failure: 10 miles Date of failure: 06/05/2000 Description of failure: Hole in final drive housing (manufacturing defect) causing fluid leak. Repaired under warranty. Link to comment
beemerman2k Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: (VIN) 68770 Mileage at time of failure: 35,000 Date of failure: Fall 2002 Description of failure: NO FAILURE! I had difficulty downshifting to 3rd and 2nd. Something had to be lubed which entailed significant work by dealer. BMWNA and my dealer ate all the costs. Link to comment
WestTX RT Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 '02 1150RT Sn #87197 Mileage 18285 Date of failure 6/6/04 Crown bearing failure, replaced rear drive under warranty Link to comment
steveg Posted January 9, 2005 Share Posted January 9, 2005 year:2000 model:R100RT last 5:67851 mileage:90,000 and 119,000 dates:9/03 and trans started making noise 9/04 description:final drive unit- transmition rebuild,driveshaft Link to comment
DaveCinNO Posted January 16, 2005 Share Posted January 16, 2005 Model Year: Model: 1997 1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: Mileage at time of failure: 60,400 Date of failure: 4/2004 Description of failure: Transmission input shaft rear bearing/spur gear failure. At first I found cloudy transmission fluid at one fluid change and ran for around 5,000 miles before hearing a loud whining noise from the transmission and decided to change the tranny out for a used one. Disassembly revealed the problem; I have since rebuilt it as a spare. So my failure did not leave me stranded. Link to comment
beemerphile1 Posted January 16, 2005 Share Posted January 16, 2005 Model Year: 1996 Model: R1100GS Last 5 digits of SN: 0487T Mileage at time of failure: 27,000 Date of failure: September 2002 Description of failure: Intermediate shaft of transmission snapped when disengaging clutch to downshift at highway spped Link to comment
aussie Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 2001 R1150RT 81971 39460KM Mid 2004 Loud noise,loss of drive, plenty of screeching etc. Neutral no noise, engage clutch plenty of noise. Input shaft & clutch centre stripped. BMW supplied parts & I supplied labour costs. Link to comment
steve.foote Posted February 2, 2005 Author Share Posted February 2, 2005 Ok, so far we have 17 major powertrain failures documented. I'm not counting seal failures even if they cause something else to fail (such as a clutch). I'm sure there are more, so let's have them. Once we have a significant sample, I'll graph each model serial number timeline to see if any clumps develop. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BECOME A DISCUSSION THREAD. If you want to discuss this thread, please start another one. Please respond only if you have had a major powertrain failure related to the engine, clutch, transmission, drive shaft or rear drive with the following info: Model Year: Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): Last 5 digits of SN: Mileage at time of failure: Date of failure: Description of failure: Thanks for your participation. With roughly 7,500 members, we may be able to zero in on some batch issues regarding the various failures experienced here. Here are the stats so far: By year model 1984 - 1 1995 - 1 1996 - 1 1997 - 1 1999 - 4 2000 - 2 2001 - 2 2002 - 2 2003 - 1 2004 - 2 By model R1100GS - 1 R1100RS - 1 R1100RT - 7 R1150GS - 2 R1150RT - 5 R80RT - 1 By failure Clutch splines - 4 Engine - 2 Final drive - 6 Transmission - 5 By mileage 0 to 20k - 3 20k to 40k - 5 40k to 60k - 3 60k to 80k - 2 80k to 100k - 3 >100k - 1 Link to comment
Kenny2 Posted February 3, 2005 Share Posted February 3, 2005 Please respond only if you have had a major powertrain failure related to the engine, clutch, transmission, drive shaft or rear drive with the following info: Model Year: Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): Last 5 digits of SN: Mileage at time of failure: Date of failure: Description of failure: Thanks for your participation. On January 28, 2005 my 2002 R1150RT Vin:87237 with Mileage: 28965 died of (Spline failure) "Missed shift" feeling, then grinding of a 'rock crusher' while riding to DVD. (Still waiting dealer diagnosis) Oh you didn't ask, 'the color?' Broken down Blue Link to comment
Cali Kid Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 Model Year:2002 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.):1150RT Last 5 digits of SN:86567 Mileage at time of failure:36141 Date of failure: Imminent Description of failure: Clutch and spline on input shaft Link to comment
Melty Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 1999 R1100RT 66705 24,826 05/27/03 Final drive bearing replaced, felt rough and would suddenly move sideways periodically. BMW paid 80% of the total bill. Link to comment
Mike_A Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 Model Year: 1999 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): 1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: 66626 Mileage at time of failure: 27,889 Date of failure: October 2000 Description of failure: Final crown wheel bearing. Mechanic showed me the disentegrated bearing cage. Bearing, seal, and o-ring were replaced under warranty. No further problems at about 84,000, when bike was totalled. Link to comment
Limecreek Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 Model Year: 2004 Model: K1200GT Last 5 digits of SN: 02698 Mileage at time of failure: 5,274 Date of failure: 12/19/04 Description of failure: Engine Failure. Rod came through the side of the case. BMW did not report back on the cause of the failure. Complete engine replaced under warranty. Link to comment
Sean Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Model Year: 2000 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: Mileage at time of failure: 82,000 miles Date of failure: 9/03 Description of failure: Transmission input shaft spline failure. Resolution: Swapped in a used transmission (60K miles on used unit). Link to comment
Sean Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Model Year: 2000 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: Mileage at time of failure: 91,000 miles Date of failure: 1/04 Description of failure: Transmission (replacement unit) input shaft rear bearing failure. Resolution: Rebuilt original transmission, using input shaft from replacement transmission; replaced bearings and seals. Link to comment
Passinthru Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 1996R1100RT Vin 1521 26.738 when I took it in for repair, but I began noticing the clutch slipping at about 18k. bought the bike used in June 2000 with just under 10k on odometer Date of failure: 11/5 2001 Nature of failure: failed seal caused oil to contaminate clutch. The work order says the drive shaft was also replaced. but I was under the impression that it was the input shaft which had been nicked upon assembly at the factory, a nick which allowed the oil to leak past the seal and onto the clutch. Link to comment
Laney Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 Model Year: 1996 Model: R1100RT Mileage: Aprox. 20K Date of Failure: 1-01 VIN: Unknown, I traded it in five months later. Description: Transmission seal failure with clutch failure from oil contamination. Three months out of warranty and I had to pay the full $1250 to get it back on the road again. Link to comment
Laney Posted February 17, 2005 Share Posted February 17, 2005 But wait, there's more! Model Year: 2001 Model: R1100RT Last 5: 69720 Mileage of Failure: Aprox. 18,000 Date: 4-02 Description: Tranmission seal failure, plus reportedly bent shifting forks. Repaired under warranty. But Wait -- There's MORE! Same year, model, VIN -- Mileage: Aprox. 21,000 Date: 06 - 02 (Six weeks after the first failure) Description: Tranmission seal failure with clutch failure from oil contamination. After initially paying the $1,300 ransom to get my RT out of Maryland, BMW eventually agreed to cover it under warranty. This RT shifted roughly and had strange downshift troubles from the start. It went 17,000 miles without any further clutch or trans problems. Now I have one of the few KRS engines that ever broke down. Link to comment
pawel Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Model Year: 2002 Model: R1150RT Last 5 digits of SN: 87330 Mileage at time of failure: 18,000 Date of failure: September, 2004 Description of failure: Rear wheel bearing failure. Dealer fixed problem under warranty without queston Link to comment
espresso Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Model year: 2002 Model (R1150RT) Last 5 digits of SN: 88155 Mileage at time of failure: 39850 Date of failure: Oct 22, 2004 Description of failure: Rear drive failure while on long distance trip. Bearings and seals replaced under "extended" warranty. Link to comment
Kenny2 Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 On January 28, 2005 my 2002 R1150RT Vin:87237 with Mileage: 28965 died of (Spline failure) "Missed shift" feeling, then grinding of a 'rock crusher' while riding to DVD. (Still waiting dealer diagnosis) Oh you didn't ask, 'the color?' Broken down Blue This is an update, The dealer fixed under warranty, Input shaft and its related bushings/shims, and etc, the clutch, (also found the Slave cylinder leaking), and the Transmission cover, Service Mgr said it may hae been mis-milled. The Hole for the shaft was oval, which may have been the culprit. (Rides better than the day it left the dealer....) Link to comment
cat0020 Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Dec 18th 2004. 2002 R1150RS VIN# 2ZG70107 28,9xx miles on odometer. Clutch spline failure Transmission input shaft spline failure. clutch plate, tansmission replaced under warranty. Thinking about selling the bike.. Link to comment
Knappy Posted February 19, 2005 Share Posted February 19, 2005 Model Year:2001 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.):R1100RTA Last 5 digits of SN:69909 Mileage at time of failure:28364 Date of failure: September 2004 Description of failure:Clutch/Input Splines Hope this helps someone! Link to comment
Max Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 1998 R1100RT 14912 58000m Jan 05 Failure Input shaft/ Clutch splines. Link to comment
Kitsap Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Model Year: 1999 Model: R1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: 66917 Mileage at time of failure: 16,468 Date of failure: 10/1/01 Description of failure: Final drive bevel bearing went at cruising speed. Fully repaired under warranty. Link to comment
jimmyz1234 Posted March 6, 2005 Share Posted March 6, 2005 Model Year: 2002 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1150RT Last 5 digits of SN: 86263 Mileage at time of failure: 55,000. Date of failure: 3-4-05 Description of failure: Transmission shaft input splines worn out- discovered during clutch job. Teeth down to 1/2 normal thickness. Clutch disk splines similarly worn. All teeth dry and rusty. Repair cost $650 after I pulled the transmission and handed it to the dealer. Link to comment
georgem Posted March 7, 2005 Share Posted March 7, 2005 Model Year: 1998 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: 64099 Mileage at time of failure: 29000. Date of failure: 3-4-05 Description of failure: No Failure !!! Preventative! Bought the bike used and wanted to know what I had. Link to comment
Dances_With_Wiener_Dogs Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 1999 R1100RT 65479 ~77,000 miles 3/8/05 Bearings failed that support rear wheel. Stopped riding before failure resulted in entire final drive failure. Link to comment
Juaninamillion Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Please respond only if you have had a major powertrain failure related to the engine, clutch, transmission, drive shaft or rear drive with the following info: Model Year: 1996 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R-1100-RT Last 5 digits of SN: 40073 Mileage at time of failure:26000 Date of failure: 09/2003 Description of failure: I don't know if this qualifies as a major powertrain failure but, around the time and mileage stated, my bike's clutch started slipping. After disassembly, the friction plate was at the limit of its usable thickness 4.2 mm. BMW dealer told me, and sent internal service bulletins to me, that I needed to replaced the whole assembly since, at the beginning of 1997, BMW had reengineered (basically resized) all clutch components in the RT. Thanks for your participation. With roughly 7,500 members, we may be able to zero in on some batch issues regarding the various failures experienced here. Thanks Juan Antonio Link to comment
JonathanE Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 '99 R1100RT, SN 66542: Final drive failure due to final drive input bearing damage, caused by rear fixed pivot backing out, due to no thread lock installed during assembly. I don't recall the mileage. It happened the day of the first Xmas party at Shortcut's, in 2001, I think. Replaced under warranty. No other drivetrain failures. When the splines were inspected and greased in the winter of 2003/2004, they appeared as good as new. 57K on her to date. Link to comment
Mike_F Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Model Year: 1999 Model R-1100-RT Last 5 digits of SN: 65325 Mileage at time of failure:24000 Date of failure: 05/2004 Description of failure: Final drive crown bearing. Replaced entire drive under extended warrantee. Link to comment
cycdude6 Posted March 18, 2005 Share Posted March 18, 2005 My 1998 R1100RT had the pivot bearings in the final drive fail at 44K miles. I replaced them myself. Link to comment
artig Posted March 18, 2005 Share Posted March 18, 2005 Model Year: 1996 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: 26086 Mileage at time of failure: 60,000 kms (~ 38,000 mi) Date of failure: July 2003 Description of failure: 3rd gear dogs worn, unreliable engagment. Clutch plates cracked. Bent selector fork. Replacement parts not available for M94 gearbox. Second-hand gearbox raided for parts to replace, mainly the intermediate shaft. Link to comment
steve.foote Posted March 21, 2005 Author Share Posted March 21, 2005 Ok, just a quick reminder. Please only report major powertrain failures. Specifically, we are after hard-part failures of the clutch splines, transmission, driveshaft and rear drive. Even though failures of clutches, seals, swingarm bearings, etc. cause obvious grief, they are not what we're collecting data on. Also, when reporting a failure, make sure we get the following info: Model Year: Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): Last 5 digits of SN: Mileage at time of failure: Date of failure: Description of failure: And finally, please continue to keep discussion out of this thread. If you need to discuss something, either PM me or start a new thread. Thanks for all the responses so far! As we continue to collect data, the picture will continue to become sharper. Link to comment
jviss Posted April 15, 2005 Share Posted April 15, 2005 Well, I got bitten by the powertrain failure bug on Sunday, 4/10 while riding in Rhode Island. Model Year: 2001 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1100RT Last 5 digits of SN: 70030 Mileage at time of failure: 25,800 Date of failure: 4/10/2005 Description of failure: sudden loss of all power transmission to rear wheel accompanied by a loud noise "bang" and subsequent grinding/chattering noise (my son was following on his bike and heard the bang). The engine runs fine, but intermittently makes a screeching noise when idling in neutral, and more so when the clutch lever is pulled. With the motor off the rear wheel is easily turned with the transmission in any gear, with a rough grinding kind of feel. No power is transmitted to the rear wheel in any gear with the engine running. I have not yet had the bike torn down to learn the root cause (estimated 6 hours of labor), but I suspect an input shaft spline failure, or perhaps a broken transmission shaft (given the loud "bang"). I had it towed to Razee's in R.I. - left it there in the night. Nice folks, they are letting me store it there indoors for free. Not so nice was Rhode Island Towing's "Ray," who immediately refused to tow it unless I assumed any liability for damage he might cause, asked me to sign so he could get paid anyway, and told my roadside service provider that I had refused the tow. He was extremely rude, borderline violent. I think he may have been drinking. The next tow operator took more than 2 more hours to arrive. Link to comment
lostcanuck Posted May 4, 2005 Share Posted May 4, 2005 Hi I just got through a spline failure on my '02 RT. Here are the details. Model Year: 2002 Model (R1150RT, R1100GS, etc.): R1150RT Last 5 digits of SN: 87874 Mileage at time of failure: 26,500 Date of failure: April 10, 2005 (about 3 weeks past warranty) Description of failure: Clutch and tranny input shaft splines. A&S Cycle in Roseville, CA did the repair and BMWNA covered 50% of the costs. They replaced the clutch and complete transmission so hopefully I may get more than 26000 miles before it happens again. It shifts better than it has since I bought it used in December of 2003. Warranty is 2 years unlimited miles on the repair, so I'll either sell the bike or get an extended warranty before then. If there are any lawyers on this forum, maybe we could get a class action suit going against BMWNA. Jim Link to comment
SnowDog Posted May 4, 2005 Share Posted May 4, 2005 Deleted: as it was asked that this is not a disscusion thread Link to comment
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