1150 gearbox splines

[shoei]

Hi,
The splines in my 2003 1150RT 33,000 miles have worn out, squared off, damaged, not to sure as I have not seen it. No drive to the back wheel just a god awful noise. It is the splines as it is now at Bluebell Crewe for repair, quoted £1300 to fix, ouch. To top it off my mates have just set of to Lake Garda without me, gutted. Now my question is how common is this? I know it is not a GS but the engine and gearbox are the same. The bike is 4 and a half years old and this should not have happen to a supposed ultimate touring bike/engine gearbox. What are you views? Do you know of any similar? Any help will be most welcome as I am about take on BMW with the fact that this is not on and should not have happened, O by the way the bike has had full BMW service history all work has been done by them even the MOT`s the bike was serviced by Bluebell Crewe less than 300 miles ago. Is this a problem that will come to light in a lot of 1150 engined bikes once the miles roll above 30000? I love my bike and I want here back now so I can catch my mates up and at least have a few days in europe this year. Any ideas how long it should take to complete the repair? Thankyou

 

[davegs]

Gear box

This has happend to 1150 gs's, possibly through heavy traffic work with the high bottom gear on the same. Never heard of it on RT's but it does happen My 1150GS has now done 72000 with no probs (shouldent have said that!).
have a go and see what happens they can only say no.

 

[Colban]

If it is the gearbox input shaft that has stripped its splines,and those in the clutch friction plate,it is not an unknown problem.
There is a thread on ADVrider about it with various theories and it has happened to my Y2K GS.
The consensus there was a failure of the case hardening if i remember correctly and maybe the fact that the gearbox shaft doesn't fully engage the clutch centre by about 6mm.The fix is a new clutch assembly and a new gearbox input shaft.
I know BWM charge about £800 just to supply and fit the clutch,so an additional £500 to supply and fit new shaft to the gearbox is quite feasible.
I think there's a couple of independents in the NW area that may give you a better price and i doubt BWM would cover a bike that much out of warranty.Good luck.

 

[shoei]

After throughly researching the subject I see it is a problem mainly with 2002-2004 1150 engined bikes between 10k & 40k miles but the most common is 30k, like mine.This comment was taken from a web site regarding the issue "On splines: The one aspect of this issue to which BMW AG responded was that for a period of time, at assembly in Germany, the proper lube was not applied. This was apparently sometime between late 2002 and mid 2003 (which could involve models from 2002-2004 based on actual production runs). BUT, as Al is investigating, the wear and tear of operation that causes many splines to fail somewhere as early as 40,000 miles, is an item that bears much more examination and to which BMW AG have not issued any formal bulletin"

Also, if it was not an issue why would someone go to the trouble of designing a replacement part to only sell a couple?

Link to replacement part.............
http://www.sunshinecoast.ca/bmw/InputShaft.pdf

 

[shoei]

BMW have paid to repair so I am over the moon.

 

[davegs]

BMW

Well done good result!.
dave gs

 

[nunesaf]

BMW have paid to repair so I am over the moon.

I am utterly impressed... well done you, well done BMW. This is by far the best possible marketing they can do.

Congratulations