Corrosion - on your own!

[Neil W]

New euro regulations regarding use of water based paints , are the Japanese working to the same regulations.

More likely the cheap finish is to save money and maximise profits, same reason why bmw wheels are cast in China, switchgear is sourced from the far east etc

 

[Scotriders]

My 2010 GSA had the wheels replaced under warranty after 18 months and the new ones have gone the same, rough finish especially around the spokes.
The front casing on the engine has paint blistering and peeling from it as do both lower fork legs.
The rear frame is rusted at all the welded points and really could do with getting powder coated but it's a big job stripping it all down so I'll touch up the bits as and when I've got the time.
Having said that it's done 55,000 miles ridden all year round and not washed that often.
Still a great bike.

 

[ossa eck]

My 1 year old bike is in having an engine fitted as I type, small amount of corrosion on left side of engine ,new centre stand being fitted because it has corrosion also.

You could argue it shouldn't happen and finish should be better, at least there dealing positively with complaints.

 

[bottleofred]

Have you got any pictures of the corrosion you are happy to share?

 

[ossa eck]

Have you got any pictures of the corrosion you are happy to share?

Engine Corrosion

 

[Titto]

There is an R1100 RS at work which has corroded - I think its on an R plate. I'll take a photo when I can and post it up.

The owner of that bike has never washed it, protected it - used it to travel around the globe - literally. It's not pretty to look at but when you consider its age and what its done its pretty incredible really.

 

[pistole]

Interesting.......Any reason why you went to a TC?

I see a few people purchasing the earlier incarnation of the 1200, DingDong for one

I think the TC is the best of the earlier 1200's (JayC might also agree too)

Still not wholly convinced with the new WC, even the performance gain on the old air/oil cooled 1200's, has been eclipsed substantially by the likes of Ducati's MS, the Triumph Explorer and KTM's 1190, in terms of BHP and possibly a more exciting ride perhaps

So where does that leave the WC GS?

Somewhere in the fast approaching redundant middle ground?

Can BMW squeeze more than 125bhp out of the WC engine?

Can they get near 150-160 bhp?

If they can't, then the GS is a bit stuck and the future in the Adv class will need the 4cyclinder S1000 motor in the new S1000F to keep up sales with the leaders of the Hyper Adv bikes - where the leaders like Ducati/Triumph and KTM will be waiting for them as a shaft driven bike (BMW's heritage) will be obsolete

thats , sorry to say , a ridiculous summary of the current crop of top end Adv bikes.

(a) why do you need 160 bhp on an upright bike with off road intentions ?

(b) which is the best selling Adv bike out there ? How far behind are the rest in terms of sales ?

(c) has anyone complained that the water GS is underpowered ? You ?

(d) and the MTS ? Thats a road bike. If you want a road bike, go buy a road bike

(e) and the Triumph ? Come on ... top heavy adv bike ? Who's idea was that ?

(f) the KTM ? Yeah . This is the one , maybe ... but their dealership is crap , reliability is no better.

so , hey , its the bmw then.

.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

thats , sorry to say , a ridiculous summary of the current crop of top end Adv bikes.

(a) why do you need 160 bhp on an upright bike with off road intentions ?

(b) which is the best selling Adv bike out there ? How far behind are the rest in terms of sales ?

(c) has anyone complained that the water GS is underpowered ? You ?

(d) and the MTS ? Thats a road bike. If you want a road bike, go buy a road bike

(e) and the Triumph ? Come on ... top heavy adv bike ? Who's idea was that ?

(f) the KTM ? Yeah . This is the one , maybe ... but their dealership is crap , reliability is no better.

so , hey , its the bmw then.

.

Thanks for correcting me eyes

How silly of me

 

[Rob Farmer]

Have any of you covered your bikes in ACF50 as soon as you've bought them? it'll save a lot of corrosion issues.

I know the 1200WC gets a knocking but years ago the 1100 had a problem with bad blistering on the front cover of the engines and even in the early days you'd see peeling paint on fins and cylinder heads. They also had gearboxes that failed, ABS systems that you had to reset with bit of wire, gearboxes that cracked and a myriad of other problems that everybody glosses over now. The 1150 was only marginally better.

 

[mikebarr]

My 1 year old bike is in having an engine fitted as I type, small amount of corrosion on left side of engine ,new centre stand being fitted because it has corrosion also.

You could argue it shouldn't happen and finish should be better, at least there dealing positively with complaints.

Not wanted to drag an old thread up (would never happen on this site, eh??!!)....but I have had to go down the route of getting my engine replaced.

When I say engine - they are now having to replace the swingarm, and final drive along with the entire engine, gearbox, clutch assembly. Basically they are glueing a new bike on to the wing mirror.

Anyhow...

I enquired whether or not I needed to reset the odomoeter back to zero with a new engine, but the dealer says no. However, do I need to inform the DVLA and get my V5 updated? What happens with my 12k service that is/was due? The dealer doesn't seem to be too sure but I don't want to pay for a full service on a brand new engine?

What did you guys do - the ones who have had engine swaps, etc?

Mb

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I enquired whether or not I needed to reset the odomoeter back to zero with a new engine, but the dealer says no. However, do I need to inform the DVLA and get my V5 updated? What happens with my 12k service that is/was due? The dealer doesn't seem to be too sure but I don't want to pay for a full service on a brand new engine?

What did you guys do - the ones who have had engine swaps, etc?

Mb

Odometer stays as is

DVLA don't need to know and mileage is only ever recorded (voluntarily) on the V5C when the Keeper changes

The engine will need a 600 mile service and the rest of the bike a 12k service which considering all the hassle you've had I'd be surprised if they hadn't already offered to do it FOC

If the corrosion is that bad I don't know why you didn't ask them for a new bike?

 

[mikebarr]

Odometer stays as is

DVLA don't need to know and mileage is only ever recorded (voluntarily) on the V5C when the Keeper changes

The engine will need a 600 mile service and the rest of the bike a 12k service which considering all the hassle you've had I'd be surprised if they hadn't already offered to do it FOC

If the corrosion is that bad I don't know why you didn't ask them for a new bike?

Oh trust me I did. Long running battle with BMW customer support proved fruitless. Dealer support is not great in NI as we have only one so they have a bit of a monopoly. The WC us an unbelievable bike but this has soured the whole experience for me

Mb

 

[Sooty09]

R100T 1977 model, had this for 5 years and after each winter cleaned up like new, few rust spots were easy to fix. The engine, forks and wheels were bare aluminium and just washed clean, eventually a bit of pitting needed auto solvol to fix.

1975 R65, my wifes bike, same as the R100T and just needed a wash once or twice a year. Had the bike 5 years.

1980 R80ST. Going down hill now, constant bevel box worries, lots more corrosion but easily fixable.

2000 R1150R, missed out on the last quality bike r1100. The 1150 was peeling engine paint on the sump within 18 months, the BMW investigator told me to remove the flakes and paint it with Hammerite, no warranty claim possible. 3 years and 36000 miles later the heads, gearbox, wheels, swing arm and bevel were all showing heavy corrosion.

2004 R1150R Nothing learned by BMW. Just as bad.

2009 Back to BMWs with a s/h R1200GS. WTF have BMW not looked at their shite finish on a supposedly quality bike.

2014 Brand new R1200GS LC. The culmination of 100 years of boxer development, only problem is the people who understand all year round motorcycling and the requirement to last several years retired 40 years ago, the new kids in charge have no idea. Why do I keep riding BMWs? because most other manufacturers are the same and have nothing to offer me.
If the expected Africa Twin is anything like the old its TaTa BMW for me. Unfortunately having seen the BatMobile like 750 scooter just launched I fear the kids are loose in in Hondas R&D.

 

[DING-DONG]

My 2014 bike has also had a new engine, I'm yet to collect it, its got the latest 2015 engine now, my bike had done 5700 so they carried out part of the 6k service ie final drive and brake fluid change foc and there going to do the run in service foc, as well as a gesture of goodwill from BMW UK.

Your new engine will have a different engine no, you need to inform dvla by updating the v5 .

 

[cookie]

New engine as a service item! I've heard it all now

 

[Lambert]

Not wanted to drag an old thread up (would never happen on this site, eh??!!)....but I have had to go down the route of getting my engine replaced.

When I say engine - they are now having to replace the swingarm, and final drive along with the entire engine, gearbox, clutch assembly. Basically they are glueing a new bike on to the wing mirror.

Anyhow...

I enquired whether or not I needed to reset the odomoeter back to zero with a new engine, but the dealer says no. However, do I need to inform the DVLA and get my V5 updated? What happens with my 12k service that is/was due? The dealer doesn't seem to be too sure but I don't want to pay for a full service on a brand new engine?

What did you guys do - the ones who have had engine swaps, etc?

Mb

Mines just had new engine and final drive replaced due to corrosion. The 'invoice' from the dealer already had the new engine number written on it, the service indicator was reset to 600 miles and the first service is included as part of the engine swap. No change to odometer mileage.
I filled out the v5 with the new number and a copy of the invoice, new v5 issued.

 

[Nutty]

R100T 1977 model, had this for 5 years and after each winter cleaned up like new, few rust spots were easy to fix. The engine, forks and wheels were bare aluminium and just washed clean, eventually a bit of pitting needed auto solvol to fix.

1975 R65, my wifes bike, same as the R100T and just needed a wash once or twice a year. Had the bike 5 years.

1980 R80ST. Going down hill now, constant bevel box worries, lots more corrosion but easily fixable.

2000 R1150R, missed out on the last quality bike r1100. The 1150 was peeling engine paint on the sump within 18 months, the BMW investigator told me to remove the flakes and paint it with Hammerite, no warranty claim possible. 3 years and 36000 miles later the heads, gearbox, wheels, swing arm and bevel were all showing heavy corrosion.

2004 R1150R Nothing learned by BMW. Just as bad.

2009 Back to BMWs with a s/h R1200GS. WTF have BMW not looked at their shite finish on a supposedly quality bike.

2014 Brand new R1200GS LC. The culmination of 100 years of boxer development, only problem is the people who understand all year round motorcycling and the requirement to last several years retired 40 years ago, the new kids in charge have no idea. Why do I keep riding BMWs? because most other manufacturers are the same and have nothing to offer me.
If the expected Africa Twin is anything like the old its TaTa BMW for me. Unfortunately having seen the BatMobile like 750 scooter just launched I fear the kids are loose in in Hondas R&D.

Maybe the accountants at BMW will realise that people want more paint, and offer it as an option at the time of order. List price = one coat of paint, or for another £250, they'll put another coat or two on.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Maybe the accountants at BMW will realise that people want more paint, and offer it as an option at the time of order. List price = one coat of paint, or for another £250, they'll put another coat or two on.

It's the prep................I reckon

 

[Zander]

Have any of you covered your bikes in ACF50 as soon as you've bought them? it'll save a lot of corrosion issues.

Hi Rob,

I've been very tempted to get mine ACF50'd.

Mo-Clean in London does something a bit similar, and a great valet on bikes. http://www.mo-clean.com/

I've also heard good things about All Year Biker - http://allyearbiker.co.uk/

Has anyone else used these on a WC GSA yet?

Also, is there a risk that all-over ACF50 might affect the warranty?

 

[Bryn]

All year biker do an excellent job... ACF50 on your bike can only do good if it's put on correctly