BMW top box and plate info please

[LBL]

Hi All,

Ive just ordered a vario top box and plate after getting a little discount, cus im nice to be fitted on my first service, however, they wanted an extra £41 to fit the plate to the bike saying you need to do a bit of drilling, so as i like hitting things and using power tools.... i said i can do that.

Anyone help me and let me know what needs to be done.

Cheers

LBL

 

[Nobbyk]

I fitted mine myself and can't remember drilling

Twas a pain removing the two bolts from the rear carrier for the new support frame, but other than that, no drilling

Nobbly

 

[LBL]

Cheers Nobbly, they were just trying to get the extra £41 of me.....

LBL

 

[JanTurn]

As far as I am aware there should be no need for any drilling. The plate has been designed to fit the GS perfectly and the vario top box to the plate. Can see why there should be any drilling involved!!

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Depending on the age of your bike, there may be some drilling/filing/grinding to do. The rear brace goes into the ends of the subframe and on earlier bikes, the silver plastic bit doesn't allow access. Instructions with the fitting kit talk about dismantling the rear of the bike to remove the bit that needs to be ground - effectively the flat bit the pillion seat rests on - and making the necessary adjustment with a round file.

I didn't do this; I used a dremel with a grinding bit on the end and slowly and carefully ground away the plastic with it in situ. You are supplied with a template that sticks to the plastic. It worked well (though I say so myself) and was certainly much quicker than removing the plastic part.

I understand that the plastic bit was redesigned on later bikes. Mine's an 05.

There's no drilling of the parts they supply. Mine was missing one of the bolts that attaches to the frame, but I got a pair form local fixings shop.

Don't forget to get the lock made up to match your key.

 

[LBL]

Cheers Robin,

The bikes brand new so should be ok, they are key matching the locks too.

LBL

 

[Tailspin]

No drilling as far as I can tell?

 

[adie]

it takes 30 min no drilling done mine my self

 

[Andy B]

I had an 05 bike and broke one of the lugs that holds the panniers on. When I stripped the luggage carrier down it was in two parts - an upper piece and a lower one (like this: http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/MainDiagrams.asp?mospid=47824 go to fische titled 'Rear Carrier Part').

However, I couldn't buy the individual part I wanted (the lower carrier - part 2) because BMW had changed the design to a single carrier piece - in effect combining part's 1 and 2 together, so had to buy the whole thing (this was Autumn 06). It was a relatively easy strip down, and again - no drilling or modifying needed to refit the mount for my Vario topbox.

 

[Thunder]

Cheers Robin,

The bikes brand new so should be ok, they are key matching the locks too.

LBL

On a brand new bike the "drilling" they refer to which is actually filing the rear bodywork to allow the bracing struts to be bolted to the rear subframe is not necessary as later bikes come with the bodywork with cut outs as standard.

DIY you'll be fine

 

[see1]

they wanted an extra £41 to fit the plate to the bike saying you need to do a bit of drilling

In my case (12GS '07) Drilling was only necessary to attach the passenger backrest to the box if you ordered it, the holes were pre-marked and it took two minutes.

 

[Dave GS]

Dealer's !#!#$%$!r's

Everyone is bang on, no drilling on newer bikes 05's yes, for the supports. I see you lot have the same problems with your stealers, I mean dealers as we do.

 

[piebaps]

I bought my topbox from the venerable Wapping ofthis very parish and my dealer Jason Griffiths Motorcycles of this fair Island did the cutty outy bit for me for free. I guess some are stealers and some are healers

 

[piebaps]

I would just like to add that I have no connection with Jason Griffith Motorcycles other than as an "arms length" customer. Even if he does have some super deals in his Castletown showroom.