A crack in my top case

[Chris iow]

Thanks for that Dave - just had a look and my new topbox was manufactured in June 2005 - the original must have been made before March 2005 (when I brought it). So looks promising.

Off to the Alps in 10 days time - so will report back after then if cracks appear!

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

Just got a call from my BVVM dealer to say that they've got a new topbox in stock for me. Only too 2 and a half weeks. Is that good / bad for a know problem like this?

Kai

 

[VAL. H.]

I had a thought (but I'm better now)? Befor you found the crack, did any of you put your crash helmet in the box? 'in the extended position of course' and did it fit ok or did you have to squeeze the last centimeater of the lid down?? I wonder if the boxes might have been stressed slightly. What do you think?

Val.H.

 

[Geordie Steve]

Just had a look at mine and it's cracked as well. I've only had the case for 6 weeks, and used for one 1300 mile trip (not overloaded or stressed, either.)

I've had a good luck at it though, and I don't reckon it's going to cause any problem. It doesn't seem to affect the locking mechanism at all, apart from maybe helping to keep muck out of the workings, and it's obviously too thin to have anything to do with the strength or rigidity of the box as a whole.

So just call me reckless (or bone idle- I really can't be @rsed to take it back...), but I'm going to ignore it. The box works fine and it's really secure on the mounting plate.

If it ever does drop off though, I'll let you know!

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

Befor you found the crack, did any of you put your crash helmet in the box? 'in the extended position of course' and did it fit ok or did you have to squeeze the last centimeater of the lid down?? I wonder if the boxes might have been stressed slightly. What do you think?

Yes and possibly.

However, I did find that if you ensure that the crown of your lid faces to the rear of the bike (i.e. handle of box) then it fits in without the extra 'encouragement'.

I'd be surprised if that was the reason for the cracking though. Surely, they'd have checked that out in product testing? One of the more obvious requirements for a topbox.

Kai

 

[ballistic]

Update:

No problem regarding the replacement box and the guy told me thet the part number for the new box was a different part number. "They've probably reinforced the area concerned." he said. "Really?" say I, but on inspection I couldn't detect any differenence whatso ever, same moulded bumbs and undulations.

Oh well, time will tell but I'm not convinced.

My topbox was ejected 3 weeks ago in Romania... not surprising, given the state of their roads! There appeared to be no perceivable cracking or damage to the box or mounting plate whatsoever, but I decided not to trust it and used a strap for the rest of the trip. As an aside, the box remained absolutely intact and waterproof etc. even after it's excursion down the road.
I had a word with my BMW dealer, Pidcock, and they offered to get in touch with BMW and see what they could do. A few days later, I got a call to bring in my box and they would replace it with a new one... what service! When we compared my topbox with one that they had held in stock for several months and the new one that had just been delivered, it transpired that they all had the same part number... 7 665 831. Pidcock said that if the topbox design had been changed, then the part number would have been changed also... to reflect the fact that it was different.
In light of this, I'm hanging-on to my existing scratched-up, battered, street-cred, Long Way Round topbox until an upgraded one is introduced, and then get it swapped-out.
Anyone got a different part number to 7 665 831 on the base? I'd be interested to know.

 

[kiwiAdventure]

My topbox was ejected 3 weeks ago in Romania... not surprising, given the state of their roads! There appeared to be no perceivable cracking or damage to the box or mounting plate whatsoever, but I decided not to trust it and used a strap for the rest of the trip. As an aside, the box remained absolutely intact and waterproof etc. even after it's excursion down the road.
I had a word with my BMW dealer, Pidcock, and they offered to get in touch with BMW and see what they could do. A few days later, I got a call to bring in my box and they would replace it with a new one... what service! When we compared my topbox with one that they had held in stock for several months and the new one that had just been delivered, it transpired that they all had the same part number... 7 665 831. Pidcock said that if the topbox design had been changed, then the part number would have been changed also... to reflect the fact that it was different.
In light of this, I'm hanging-on to my existing scratched-up, battered, street-cred, Long Way Round topbox until an upgraded one is introduced, and then get it swapped-out.
Anyone got a different part number to 7 665 831 on the base? I'd be interested to know.

Mine came off some 10 months ago and I believe BMW is not going to do a thing to fix the problem. They replaced mine with new but all the screws inside have come lose and some have come out.

 

[Mouse]

Anyone got a different part number to 7 665 831 on the base? I'd be interested to know.

I had mine replaces a couple of months ago under warranty, as the old one had started to wobble on the mountings a bit. It had never fallen off though. The new one I got has the same part number as yours (7665831). Don't know what the old part number was, but the dealer said they thought it had been updated.