£400 for gearbox seal

[parabiker]

I phoned Pidcoks yesterday about a grey line that kept appearing between the gearbox and engine seal (06 R1200GS), and mentioned a noticable odour of gear oil when stationary. "Ah yes" they replied, "That will be your gearbox output shaft oil seal, they have improved them now, just under £400 to change the seal, but the seal is only £20 mind you, no urgency but if it contaminates your clutch it will cost £800"

BMW are shit bikes, its offical I have decided.

This is my first bike having past my test last Sept:

06 Gs1200 =

Corroded engine cover
Fucker to start in the cold (unless kept hooked up to an optimate)
Corroded other bits all over the engine
Frame bungs optional extra (what)
Brake/clutch gaurds- are forever moving south
Panniers, look good, shit capacity, 10kg + 5kg for the top box. (Get more in a ruck sack)
Screen = shit. But GSA one more fucking money
Oil seals leak and cost a fortrune to replace
Rocker end float cant keep still (esp right cylinder)
Exhaust look shit unless you opt for Chrome pipes
Drink engine oil
Fuel cap paintwork blisters
Heated grips drain the battey
Engine bolts/brake fixings corrode like there is no tomorrow
In fact search this forum and find one reason to buy a heap of German Sh1t.

Right then, who knows the cheapest place to get me gearbox seal changed. need to beat pidcocks at £400.

Simon

 

[Slowdown]

If it's that shit why don't you sell it?

 

[parabiker]

Because under the consumer goods act a BMW R1200GS aint fit for purpose. Corrodes, leaks oil, electric faults, etc, etc, etc (Google find that)

Simon

 

[Dahoum]

Because under the consumer goods act a BMW R1200GS aint fit for purpose.

Well if thats true you should be eligible to a refund then - Get that and buy a bike they you think isnt shit - simples

 

[parabiker]

Well if thats true you should be eligible to a refund then - Get that and buy a bike they you think isnt shit - simples

Yep.

Many people are under the misconception that because its out of the "warranty period" it aint covered be that a bike or tv or whatever. Any product should be free from defects and have a working life free from defects. The longer the product is in service the less the SELLER is liable. So if a TV/bike packs up after 24 months the seller is still liable for a substantial proportion of the repair bill even though it is over 12 months old. (It has to be fit for purpose) The test is would the every day person on a Clapum Omnibus expect tv to last for more than 12 months before it packed up?

Nothing to do with BMW, they just make the pile of Sh1t. The dispute (well my dispute) will be with Midland Superbikes. They supplied the bike, they are partlty liable. They say it's not part of their warranty scheme, I say bollocks, statutory consumer rights say it is. The defect is deemed to have been present at the time the contract (sale) took place unless proven otherwise. BMW say "They have improved them now" That is a part admission if ever I heard one.

So yes, BMW R1200GS are sh1T IMHO, no I wont (can't) sell it because I will then become the seller and liable, small claims court I will ago, Midland Superbikes sold it to me so will be the respondent. They say because I didn't get them to change the engine oil last month (2k miles or 6 months before it is due) at a cost of £120 the warranty is void, I say bollocks. Watch this space.

Simon

 

[autogs]

cant wait,this has been done to death here,use the search button and sit back and read for a bit.tbh i reckon you will get nowhere

 

[The Sea Dog]

well if it's that shit, has that much corrosion, the panniers are that crap, doesn't have things you think should be standard, does have things you think look shit, then how fecking silly are you for buying it then

Sell it and go buy a honda and then you'll be happy

 

[jpooch00]

I phoned Pidcoks yesterday about a grey line that kept appearing between the gearbox and engine seal (06 R1200GS), and mentioned a noticable odour of gear oil when stationary. "Ah yes" they replied, "That will be your gearbox output shaft oil seal, they have improved them now, just under £400 to change the seal, but the seal is only £20 mind you, no urgency but if it contaminates your clutch it will cost £800"

BMW are shit bikes, its offical I have decided.

This is my first bike having past my test last Sept:

06 Gs1200 =

Corroded engine cover
Fucker to start in the cold (unless kept hooked up to an optimate)
Corroded other bits all over the engine
Frame bungs optional extra (what)
Brake/clutch gaurds- are forever moving south
Panniers, look good, shit capacity, 10kg + 5kg for the top box. (Get more in a ruck sack)
Screen = shit. But GSA one more fucking money
Oil seals leak and cost a fortrune to replace
Rocker end float cant keep still (esp right cylinder)
Exhaust look shit unless you opt for Chrome pipes
Drink engine oil
Fuel cap paintwork blisters
Heated grips drain the battey
Engine bolts/brake fixings corrode like there is no tomorrow
In fact search this forum and find one reason to buy a heap of German Sh1t.

Right then, who knows the cheapest place to get me gearbox seal changed. need to beat pidcocks at £400.

Simon

Don't hold back. Say what you really think!

 

[MacFarlane]

£20 for a seal, so thats £380 labour then

I think I'd be doing it myself marra

 

[NAB]

I phoned Pidcoks yesterday about a grey line that kept appearing between the gearbox and engine seal (06 R1200GS), and mentioned a noticable odour of gear oil when stationary. "Ah yes" they replied, "That will be your gearbox output shaft oil seal, they have improved them now, just under £400 to change the seal, but the seal is only £20 mind you, no urgency but if it contaminates your clutch it will cost £800"

BMW are shit bikes, its offical I have decided.

This is my first bike having past my test last Sept:

06 Gs1200 =

Corroded engine cover
Fucker to start in the cold (unless kept hooked up to an optimate)
Corroded other bits all over the engine
Frame bungs optional extra (what)
Brake/clutch gaurds- are forever moving south
Panniers, look good, shit capacity, 10kg + 5kg for the top box. (Get more in a ruck sack)
Screen = shit. But GSA one more fucking money
Oil seals leak and cost a fortrune to replace
Rocker end float cant keep still (esp right cylinder)
Exhaust look shit unless you opt for Chrome pipes
Drink engine oil
Fuel cap paintwork blisters
Heated grips drain the battey
Engine bolts/brake fixings corrode like there is no tomorrow
In fact search this forum and find one reason to buy a heap of German Sh1t.

Right then, who knows the cheapest place to get me gearbox seal changed. need to beat pidcocks at £400.

Simon

Your first bike since you passed your test last Sept, fuck man you know what your talking about then, for fuck,s sake, you cant even spell

 

[jpooch00]

£20 for a seal, so thats £380 labour then

I think I'd be doing it myself marra

Replacing that seal involves splitting the bike in two, including all the wiring. It's a really major job. I'm kinda surprised that they'll do it for "just" 380. I've seen pics of what's involved & it's pretty scary.

It's possible that BMW might help you out with the bill, depending on the mileage, since this is a known and well-documented problem.

The fact that they have an "improved" seal essentially shows that the originals were either defective or poorly designed. At least it seems like that to me.

Good luck.

 

[MacFarlane]

Replacing that seal involves splitting the bike in two, including all the wiring. It's a really major job. I'm kinda surprised that they'll do it for "just" 380. I've seen pics of what's involved & it's pretty scary.

It's possible that BMW might help you out with the bill, depending on the mileage, since this is a known and well-documented problem.

The fact that they have an "improved" seal essentially shows that the originals were either defective or poorly designed. At least it seems like that to me.

Good luck.

I'm an Engineer by trade and I've not money to burn (not that I'm tight mind).

So If it was me I'd do it myself, getting the bike on the road

 

[Cornwallis]

"BMW are shit bikes, its offical I have decided"'

I was wondering what position or qualification gives you the authority to make 'official' statements on the quality of BMW bikes? Do you represent VOSA, Trading Standards, Anne Robinson?

Most of the contributors and readers of this thread are enthusiastic owners of a 1200GS. Mine's an '06 bike and I've been recovered four times due to mechanical breakdown but I'd never consider bad mouthing it and then ask members for advice. Despite the problems, I think mine's a fantastic bike (that's unofficial!).

And as you're asking for advice, whilst waiting for your seal to be sorted at Pidcocks or an outfit in a railway arch, try reading "How to win friends and influence people".

 

[Monty]

I am very much a DIY mechanic with a basic selection of tools, but I completed the same task on my K1200RS a few years ago. It was a bit scary, but I took my time and learned a lot. It also fired up first stab of the starter and ran perfectly.

I just could not handle the huge labour bill at the time as money was tight. Having done it once, I would happily get out the spanners again if I had to.

Whether it should happen or not is another matter, of course. I fitted the "improved" version of the oil seal for the K12 too, and it did smart a bit to feel like I may be fixing a design weakness / flaw. One of the main causes on that bike was apparently that it had sat for an extended period (over a year) without running, and the seal had deteriorated. Not sure if your GS has had an extended lay-up and if this is a likely contributor?

Cheers,

Matt

 

[elefantman]

I must be f##king old because i remember a time when you just got on with it and fixed your own,its like all the prats you pass on the motorway sitting for hours under a bridge or standing half way up the bank because the can not or will not change a flat tyre.I could understand it if it was a new bike but buy an old clanker and it will break,buyer beware if your daft enough to buy another mans cast offs then you better get used to fixing them

 

[ebbo]

I’ve just recently changed the gearbox oil seal under the clutch slave (it was weeping) It is a big job. You might get it done in one day if you start early and are fully equipped and in particular have access to a hydraulic work bench. Splitting and rejoining the bike can be done single handed (I did) but would be MUCH easier with two people.

Take LOTS of detailed pictures as you take it to bits, it really helps

 

[Micky]

Let's see ... you bought the bike after September last year, so you've only had it at the most a few months?

It's an '06 bike and so would be four or five years old when you bought it?

Has all this corrosion stuff started since you bought it?

Have the panniers diminished in size since you bought the 'bike?

Frame bungs weren't on the 'bike when you bought it I guess?

Exhaust looked good when you bought the 'bike?

Fuel cap blisters appeared in the last three or four months did they? Not evident, like the crap exhaust and pannier capacity when you bought the 'bike?

 

[patzx12]

Its an easy unbolt and bolt up job but very intimidating when you look at all the wiring and gubbins.
An experienced BMW mechcanic would drop the gearbox in half an hour.
-Take loads of pictures of everything you disconnect.
-You need a really good cradle suporting the bike under the engine.
-The drive shaft can be fiddly to reconnect, not a lot of finger room.
I used 4 long bungee cords to hold the 2 halfs of the bike together while i was engaging the drive shaft.
The good thing is when the bike is split everything is there in front of you and east to work on.

 

[littleredrooster]

........
BMW are shit bikes, its offical I have decided.

This is my first bike having past my test last Sept:

06 Gs1200 =

Corroded engine cover

Then buy a Suzuki/Yamaha/Kawasaki/Aprilia/KTM/Ducati/Guzzi/Benelli/Triumph etc. and watch it dissolve even quicker under the same conditions.

Fucker to start in the cold (unless kept hooked up to an optimate)

It's probably the original battery. Buy a new one - it's 4 years ols, FFS

Corroded other bits all over the engine

See earlier reply

Frame bungs optional extra (what)

Cosmetic. A Versys is as ugly as fook. Are you gonna redesign them, too?

Brake/clutch gaurds- are forever moving south

Tighten the bastards up, then! Three bikes - 80-odd thousand miles, never had this problem.

Panniers, look good, shit capacity, 10kg + 5kg for the top box. (Get more in a ruck sack)

Well go and buy a Triumph then and watch your clothes get wet in every downpour. Or any of the cheap nasty stuff from Givi. BTW - I'm not aware of any pannier system which will licence large loads in them. Litigation is a horrible word.....

Screen = shit. But GSA one more fucking money

Conceded - lotsa complaints, only works if you're a two-thirds scale model (like me).

Oil seals leak and cost a fortrune to replace

Shit happens. Never had a problem with mine (and many others like me).

Rocker end float cant keep still (esp right cylinder)

You're doing summat wrong, then. Set mine on the last bike and did not have to touch it for 30,000 miles.

Exhaust look shit unless you opt for Chrome pipes

Cosmetic. You looked at Suzuki/Yamaha/Kawasaki/Aprilia/KTM/Ducati/Guzzi/Benelli/Triumph? Double shit and probably rot away in a few years.

Drink engine oil

Run it in properly and it uses none at all.

Fuel cap paintwork blisters

Never seen it. Can't comment.

Heated grips drain the battey

Absolute Bollox. The alternator is more than capable of running these and loads of other extras. I can't think of another bike with so much reserve charging capacity.

Engine bolts/brake fixings corrode like there is no tomorrow

Then buy a Suzuki/Yamaha/Kawasaki/Aprilia/KTM/Ducati/Guzzi/Benelli/Triumph etc. and watch it dissolve even quicker under the same conditions.

In fact search this forum and find one reason to buy a heap of German Sh1t.

Search the travel section and find hundreds of reasons to buy another one.

Right then, who knows the cheapest place to get me gearbox seal changed. need to beat pidcocks at £400

Try Phil at Euroclassics, Northampton.

 

[Big Nick]

Sell it, it sounds a heap of shite

Alternatively address the issues you mention and stop whining like a little girl