BMW Build Quality. Is it me...?

[DING-DONG]

Mine is the same but my holes are slightly neater, probably something to do with crash testing and the 1st thing to snap and your engine fall.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Must be a low load area not sure why those holes are there in the first place, looks like a shit piece of engineering but obviously does the job !

Bend over, grab your ankles and stop worrying about it

Fixed

 

[Hammam]

Well I've been down to the dealers and spoke with the manager who deals with warranties and the like.

He was surprised to see this - never noticed anything like it before. Then we checked one of their demo models - exactly the same. Then checked two brand new machines in the showroom - again the same! Having said that, they were much neater than mine but they did have the two holes - one on the side and the other on the rear.

It is odd that they were all on the right hand side of the bike - the left looks fine.

He has taken some pictures and will be sending to BMW for comment. We will see what they say.

So I'd like to ask all other WC 'drivers' out there to have a look at their machines and tell me what they have....

Thanks

Think I need a now!

I have looked at my WC, both right and left, and didn't see anything remotely looking like this. I'm not talking about the holes, I'm talking about this whole metallic arrangement. I have no idea where to find this metal tubing ending in that open cylinder-like piece (though there a few on the bike, but not at the bottom of anything, rather at the top, near the seat), welded to this brushed metal... Do you have any photo taken from further away so I can seee exactly where to look? Ot at least explain where this is precisely? Thank you.

 

[Wrinkly]

Which part of the bike is the picture of exactly ?

looked all over mine and can see nothing like that.

Steve

 

[Elvisto]

I remember years ago this guy stick welding some tubes up for me, he asked me to drill a small hole in each tube to let the gasses out, could this be the reason for the holes ???????

I made some frame bungs awhile ago, and some of the large holes were so distorted from the welding ,they were up to 2 mm oval in places,

I do think the frame welding looks a mess BUT I can't see it when i'm riding so I don't think about it anymore

I just ride it, I'ts an amazing bike IMO

 

[cug]

Which part of the bike is the picture of exactly ?

It looks a lot like the engine mount front and above the cylinder heads on both sides. But it's hard to say with this photo.

 

[Wapping]

They let water out, that would otherwise collect in the frame and rust through.

If the welding troubles you so much as to remove or reduce significantly the awesomeness of the entire GS package and ownership experience, vote with your wallet. Plenty of alternative manufacturers can weld reasonably well and spray paint on a mass production basis, producing bikes that are the measure of BMW's 1200 range. Nobody is forced to buy one.

 

[GC6269]

What surprises me with the picture is that the welding appears to be done (badly) by hand.

You'd have thought these days that this process would be done by machine. I guess that explains the variance in quality on different bikes. Mine doesn't look brilliant but it's ten times better than the OP's bike.

 

[Nutty]

I have looked at my WC, both right and left, and didn't see anything remotely looking like this. I'm not talking about the holes, I'm talking about this whole metallic arrangement. I have no idea where to find this metal tubing ending in that open cylinder-like piece (though there a few on the bike, but not at the bottom of anything, rather at the top, near the seat), welded to this brushed metal... Do you have any photo taken from further away so I can seee exactly where to look? Ot at least explain where this is precisely? Thank you.

Which part of the bike is the picture of exactly ?

looked all over mine and can see nothing like that.

Steve

This is on the right side of the bike above and to the right of the cylinder head.

 

[Nutty]

If the welding troubles you so much as to remove or reduce significantly the awesomeness of the entire GS package and ownership experience, vote with your wallet. Plenty of alternative manufacturers can weld reasonably well and spray paint on a mass production basis, producing bikes that are the measure of BMW's 1200 range. Nobody is forced to buy one.

One of the Italian manufacturers (MV Agusta, IIRC) employ women to do all their welding, as their attention to detail is more precise than any man or machine.

I don't know what's more frightening, a bike welded by a machine with a few holes, or a bike that's been made by a woman.

 

[Wapping]

This is getting great.

Bods hunting around their bikes, looking for things to (maybe) get upset about.... But unsure where to look.

If they never find it, will the concern pass? Or will it linger, gnawing at their insides? Answers on a postcard, please.

 

[David Nimrod]

If they never find it, will the concern pass? Or will it linger, gnawing at their insides?

Things like this, once seen, can never be forgotten...

 

[doctorsmudge]

Are You surprised

This is really poor, a premium brand selling its wares on that basis. But its not as if BMW quality control issues are anything new. I'm not wealthy enough to buy a new WC, not so sure I would if I could, but how many people on a two year old BMW with low mileage have had issues with ESA, Exhaust Valve, Fuel Strips etc etc?
It simply isn't good enough from supposedly an industry leader. I'd go so far to say that under the sale of goods act whatever year is is, they cant punt out machinery like this with known faults and do nothing to fix them.
I think that the motorcucle industry changes models every two years roughly so nothing gets tested that much, cars change around five years so the R&D is more thorough. Mind you, Jap bikes dont have the issues that BMW seem to?

 

[Nutty]

This is really poor, a premium brand selling its wares on that basis. But its not as if BMW quality control issues are anything new. I'm not wealthy enough to buy a new WC, not so sure I would if I could, but how many people on a two year old BMW with low mileage have had issues with ESA, Exhaust Valve, Fuel Strips etc etc?
It simply isn't good enough from supposedly an industry leader. I'd go so far to say that under the sale of goods act whatever year is is, they cant punt out machinery like this with known faults and do nothing to fix them.
I think that the motorcucle industry changes models every two years roughly so nothing gets tested that much, cars change around five years so the R&D is more thorough. Mind you, Jap bikes dont have the issues that BMW seem to?

It's not just BMW.

 

[doctorsmudge]

Really?

You think, I know that every manufacturer has had issues but after nearly 35 years of having bikes I've not known anyone, and anyone means anyone claiming to be a premiere brand having so many common faults and refusing recalls for fixes.
I've had BMW's for twelve years, my recent purchase of a problem riddled 2 years old bike means that when this ones time is over with me unless they can sort out these quality control, be it welding or be it components I wont be going back.
I was considering chopping in my GSXR 1000 for the RR1000 thingy but theres not a chance in hell of that happening now.

 

[Nutty]

You think, I know that every manufacturer has had issues but after nearly 35 years of having bikes I've not known anyone, and anyone means anyone claiming to be a premiere brand having so many common faults and refusing recalls for fixes.
I've had BMW's for twelve years, my recent purchase of a problem riddled 2 years old bike means that when this ones time is over with me unless they can sort out these quality control, be it welding or be it components I wont be going back.
I was considering chopping in my GSXR 1000 for the RR1000 thingy but theres not a chance in hell of that happening now.

You don't know any Ducati owners then?

 

[Wrinkly]

2 holes R hand side.

1 hole L hand side.

All looks neat enough obviously there for a reason.

Not worried.

Steve

 

[doctorsmudge]

You have a point

You don't know any Ducati owners then?

Now Ducati come under any Italian brand........ if you're going Italian you deserve everything thats coming to you........... good and bad. Ducati has somewhat got their act together. 10 years ago I'd go along with that, recently things are vastly better except in MotoGP. One thing the Italians dont do is scrimp on components. Even so, I think their bikes are comparable reliability wise to recent BMW efforts.

Are you sponsored by BWM by any chance??

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Now Ducati come under any Italian brand........ if you're going Italian you deserve everything thats coming to you........... good and bad................

Plus with Italian you're getting that indefinable thing called character, something WMB's have never really got a handle on.

Andres

 

[Gossy]

2 holes R hand side.

1 hole L hand side.

All looks neat enough obviously there for a reason.

Not worried.

Steve

Then why do some fames have some, or all, or none