My '07 model certainly had a recall for FPC and EWS, they were changed by the dealer even though neither of them had failed or shown any signs of trouble, but if I remember correctly the recall was restricted to a certain limited production time and I was told when mine qualified for the changes..................and these are the only occasions it's ever seen the inside of a BMW dealership!
Any High Mileage FD's out there?
- Thread starter Rasher
- Start date
My '07 model certainly had a recall for FPC and EWS, they were changed by the dealer even though neither of them had failed or shown any signs of trouble, but if I remember correctly the recall was restricted to a certain limited production time and I was told when mine qualified for the changes..................and these are the only occasions it's ever seen the inside of a BMW dealership!
The final drives have certainly been the subject of a number of pinion bearing failures since the smaller quantity of oil in the final drive was recommended, but there have been a large number of sealed crownwheel bearing failures, hence the reason for the redesign I presume, I don't think there's anything more fundamental to the redesign but we'll know when one comes to pieces!
Stretchamus
Registered user
Why don't BMW tell us, about how much improved the new bearings are and from what model year/batch No. by VIN the improvement was made
Why don't BMW tell us, about how much improved the new bearings are and from what model year/batch No. by VIN the improvement was made
I guess because you have never asked
Anyway, leaving idleness aside for one moment, no doubt it all comes under the, 'Blah, blah, blah, we reserve the right to alter individual specifications without notice blah, blah, blah, working towards blah, blah, blah product improvement and blah, blah, blah customer satisfaction'.
54k miles on one bike, 60k on the second. I had one drive shaft joint go, but not a FD.
Stretchamus
Registered user
Good answer, however would it not be good PR for BM to state that a modified FD fitted to, for example, 2008 models onwards, have an Improved version of bearings installed.
This would go along way to alleviate customer anxiety (Think Rasher)
Or is it that BMW do not recognise there is a problem
Best regards Stretch
Which customers are anxious, exactly?
If they are those that own a pre-improved model, their anxiety will grow. Whilst those that have the tiptop version will become smug and self-satisfied.
Those that want to believe (or simply want to tell everyone that they believe) that it WIlLL probably fail will not take any notice either way.
If they are those that own a pre-improved model, their anxiety will grow. Whilst those that have the tiptop version will become smug and self-satisfied.
Those that want to believe (or simply want to tell everyone that they believe) that it WIlLL probably fail will not take any notice either way.
Stretchamus
Registered user
All the ones that complain on here, them customers.
That's the problem, nobody knows (cept BM) if there is such a thing as a pre-improved model, it all appears to be conjecture and hear say about previous bad batches of bearings and now this life saving breather that the 2010's are fitted with.
Not all of them, BMW used up existing stocks on the early 2010's.
I would finish by saying that customers bikes that failed subsequently could take solace in the fact that they would be getting the improved products installed and that would be an end to their troubles, however I have come to the point were I realise I am talking as much sh!t as the dealers and their probably are no improvements and the saga will continue.
Best regards Stretch
Probably why Ford never modified the Pinto's that burst into flame, it would have upset those whp bought earlier models (assuming they had not burned to death) by lowering the value of their inferior death trap editions.
Far less anxious now quite a few people have reported 50k or more without major problems.
Would be interesting to know what they changed when and why, but doubt BMW will ever say.
Am I right in thinking the latest ones are now almost identical to the 1150 type units?
I see the guy in charge of FD development at this time has been promoted to the top in BMW, not sure if this is because he kisses a lot of arse, or they decided it would be better to move him into a more senior role before he "develops" anything else.
Stretchamus
Registered user
I think you will find the sealed crown wheel bearings were changed for open sided so that they could run in FD lubricant because the sealed ones fail sometimes and the breather was added so that a proper amount of lubricant can be used, thus preventing the pinion bearings running short of oil and the outer oil seal not weeping when it gets hot due to the internal pressure. And yes, similar to 1150 and earlier FD's!
(RIP) Mark H
Formerly known as Easyrider5258 (Mark)
I wonder if this " life saving breather that the 2010's are fitted with" will let in water for those gs's that are forded and open a whole new can of worms if the oil is'nt changed after fording
So, Rasher, failing any news from BuMW and your apparent lack of asking them as to the changes made, have you:
(a) Approached your mate (or was it a mate's mate, I forget) to rebuild your final drive? If so, have you had the work done and are you happy?
(b) If not, are you going to do so?
Most importantly, do you intend to change your holiday plans?
(a) Approached your mate (or was it a mate's mate, I forget) to rebuild your final drive? If so, have you had the work done and are you happy?
(b) If not, are you going to do so?
Most importantly, do you intend to change your holiday plans?
Maybe the open sided bearing is the "newer version" thats supposed to be in my '08's FD now? Who knows. I don't know if the extra 40ml of oil would make a difference to the lubrication, but I do know when I changed my FD oil at about 16K miles to check it only 150ml came out which did surprise me. Other than leaks, its not going to burn any oil is it?
TeaPig
Registered user
isn't this oil volume/air pressure idea a red herring? It's been far to long since I was at skewl so with luck a more recently educated tosser will put me right. However, until then.. The volume of air in the FD will try to expand as it gets hot and so the pressure will rise. So far so good. However if we put more oil in, the air space decreases and by the above logic the pressure should increase even more. But as there's less air in the first place there's less to expand. It's Boyle's law isnt it so the resulting pressure is the same and only driven by temperature and not volume?
You've all gone to sleep haven't you?
I also maintain the pressure in the FD is tiny and not enough to blow seals, maybe just enough to make them wear a tad faster
Finally, is the volume of oil in a breathered 2010 FD actually greater than the pre-breather model or is that conjecture? I'd be really interested to know as I've got a pre-breather FD
Way outside my intelligence quota. Anyone?
None of which drivel in any way answered Rasher's much simpler question: Are there any 100,000 mile plus 1200GS's out there, with no hisory of FD problems?
Come on fella's, a bod's 2,000 mile holiday happiness hangs on the answer. Internal pressures are worthy of a thread of their own, albeit the Pub has a nice one just starting to bubble along: 'What's the fartiest you have ever been?'.
A gas can be comprimated, a fluid not. That is why the oil volume was reduced, later then a breather hole added. Also there is a refiller hole know, because they found the lifetime oil filling is not lifetime.
The volume ist still at 180 ml.
TeaPig
Registered user
Probably, but only owned by frail nuns with velociphobia. Oops, more drivel
Probably the most accurate reflection of reality, just the same.
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