Corrosion : yes or no ?

[sk8mutie]

BR, all I had was corrosion on the front braided brake hose and a few people suggested I look around the bike, and the more I looked, the more I found.
I gave the bike a good dousing in ACF before as soon as I picked it up last winter and every few days, it gets soaked in WD, so up under the fuel tank and on wiring looms etc etc are grimey, but if you wipe them, you can see the ACF is doing its job.

The bubbling paintwork....well, as a marine engineer who has to deal with the meeting of most machinery components and salt water, once there's an opening to the elements, then there's going to be corrosion. Even if the bikes are kept dry, if there's a way in for oxygen, then there's going to bubbling under the paintwork in due course.

As Karlread says, some lacquer around the edges would be a good plan.

In the marine engineering environment, any piece of equipment that goes off for overhaul comes back having been spray painted....and I mean everywhere (electrics, sight glasses, unions...the lot) with thick, marine grade paint. It's an absolute nightmare when it comes to maintenance, but up until the point that the seal on the paint gets broken, there is no corrosion. So the fact the bike parts are painted, then machined....never gonna not corrode!!

I have to say, the oxidisation, if it occurs again on any new parts I get, is something I'm just going to have to live with. It'll take some time for it to affect the performance of any component, so it will be more of an aesthetic problem, but a problem nonetheless.

Such a shame though, that this has the potential of driving some of us away from the marque.


sk8mutie

 

[sk8mutie]

Oh...repair options outside of initial 2 year warranty....none. Corrosion is not covered even on the extended warranty.


sk8mutie

 

[duckspeed]

I find it impossible to accept that BMW do not do something to change their manufacturing methods.
Simply fitting new components which have exactly the same inherent defects is not the answer

 

[sk8mutie]

Duckspeed, I totally agree. So what do we do??
They will have an answer for everything. I mentioned the heavier crankshaft to get rid of the vibes...nope, BMW never said that I was told...but that's why they did it I said....no, that's not why they did it....

So if we go back and demand they fix it properly, or demand another bike with better paint scheme, I know, as I've had it in the past....there will be reasons that won't happen...and until the stock of spare engines run out, there'll be no reason for things to change.

So as a collective, what do we demand when we go to the dealership?? If we all demand the same, and the correct thing, then they might listen.


sk8mutie

 

[Karlread]

Duckspeed, I totally agree. So what do we do??
They will have an answer for everything. I mentioned the heavier crankshaft to get rid of the vibes...nope, BMW never said that I was told...but that's why they did it I said....no, that's not why they did it....

So if we go back and demand they fix it properly, or demand another bike with better paint scheme, I know, as I've had it in the past....there will be reasons that won't happen...and until the stock of spare engines run out, there'll be no reason for things to change.

So as a collective, what do we demand when we go to the dealership?? If we all demand the same, and the correct thing, then they might listen.


sk8mutie

On the corrosion thread under R1200RT tourers I suggested bombarding Ride magazine and MCN with e mails, alas there appears to be a case of oh well we may as well accept it and do nothing. I did have an e mail exchange with Kev Raymond of Ride who does the reviews on the used bikes and they said they were aware of the issue and keeping an eye on it. Problem is, if they "diss" BMW they won't give them bikes to test.
This issue must be costing BMW mega bucks as a chap at the dealership local to me says the engines they take out they smash up out the back and each time BMW replace an engine it costs them £8500 incl labour.....

 

[-BR-]

I have to say, the oxidisation, if it occurs again on any new parts I get, is something I'm just going to have to live with. It'll take some time for it to affect the performance of any component, so it will be more of an aesthetic problem, but a problem nonetheless.

Such a shame though, that this has the potential of driving some of us away from the marque.

sk8mutie

Sadly I totally agree with both your points here.

 

[sven]

Sadly I totally agree with both your points here.

+1 �� As my new engine has already started showing the white flecks after 1500 dry miles in couple of months since it was fitted, I'm resigned to the fact there's f-all I can do to stop it ��

A Yam XT1200Z is looking like an attractive option...

 

[Nutty]

A low GSA is looking like an attractive option...

Fixed

 

[Spud]

Just thinking at a slight tangent. If you have a bike on PCP and you take it back all corroded, could it affect your "future value" and condition stipulations ?

I know that BMW "know" all about it etc etc, but could/would a dealer try it on ??

 

[Karlread]

Just thinking at a slight tangent. If you have a bike on PCP and you take it back all corroded, could it affect your "future value" and condition stipulations ?

I know that BMW "know" all about it etc etc, but could/would a dealer try it on ??

The acid test will be when a bike is returned, it also depends on the dealer no doubt.

 

[sk8mutie]

I'll let you know in 3 years


sk8mutie

 

[T2725]

I have to say, the oxidisation, if it occurs again on any new parts I get, is something I'm just going to have to live with. It'll take some time for it to affect the performance of any component, so it will be more of an aesthetic problem, but a problem nonetheless.

Such a shame though, that this has the potential of driving some of us away from the marque.


sk8mutie

Yep. My 3 year PCP is finishing next month. I had corrosion issues within months on my LC and reported it to the dealer who said that I hadn't looked after it, and this conversation was repeated at every service. It has been the most expensive machine I have had and looked after it better than any other. I've ridden sports bikes through winter and had no issues! The engine and shaft were finally replaced just before the 2 year mark following a lot of grief on my behalf and raising the issue through their head office. This is my second BMW and will not be having another. Although the GS is a fantastic machine to ride, a poor quality product and awful customer service/ experience has soured my experience and will be looking elsewhere for my next bike.

 

[sk8mutie]

Not good T2725. I've only had the bike since Xmas, so if there were to be talk of not looking after the bike, then it falls on the previous owner...a BMW Director, and then the dealership, who have had it in the show room!! I think I'll be fine...whereabouts are you in the country?? A roundabout way of asking which Dealership I suppose?? ;-)




sk8mutie

 

[T2725]

sk8mutie, I visited SBW at Welwyn. It's amazing at how friendly and helpful people are when they want you to part with your cash. They did not return calls and emails and their face to face customer service was simply atrocious and then had the audacity to say that I had to pay for the first service again following the engine replacement. A quick email to customer services resolved this. Within weeks of the engine replacement, the small bubbling appeared again. I put it away for the winter and have only done 4o miles this year for fear of it falling apart - I know it won't, but that's how I feel!

The GS is a bloody awesome machine to ride whether you want a gentle bimble or be a loon. I wish you well with your machine and ownership.

 

[Karlread]

I hope I fair better with my replacement engine which is being fitted as we speak, I got my first BMW from SBM or Sawbridgeworth as they were known then. I soon became a Wollastons customer, Balderstons are a good dealership as well.

 

[sk8mutie]

I think i mentioned earlier that it would take a lifetime...and some, for the corrosion/oxidation/whatever you wanna call it, to become a threat to the structure/performance/safety of the bike. I'm a big believer in 'fashion doesn't function' (I have to be....I have to look in the mirror every now and then ), so if it starts again, then I'm gonna have to suck it up and just ride the damned thing as I absolutely love the GS. But I think it's a case of 'it shouldn't be happening to start off with' and 15 grand for a bike is a lot of bloody money, so it's not unreasonable for it to at least 'look good' for half a year. If this were happening to one of BMs 4 wheel vehicles, holy hell would be kicking off with dealerships bending over backwards to fix the issue!!

There will be a fight the other end of all this of course, if after the allocated 4k miles a year they have given me on PCP (already exceeded that in half a year), they turn round and say the bike is worthless due to corrosion issues. I only started riding in 2003 and have bought two 1200s and two ADVs from Bahnstormer near Alton, and a WC 1200 from Parks in Glasgow, so I think I've given BM enough of my hard earned cash for them to play ball in all of this. I also think it has a lot to do with the dealer. I am new to Parks, but I had a great relationship with Bahnstormer, who listened and tried to help as best they could.

I have to say, I received a phone call the very next day from Parks ref the engine corrosion to say BM would replace the engine towards the end of August. I need to get the bike back to the dealership for the remainder of the corrosion issues sometime this week, so time will tell how smoothly that goes. It's quite clear there's an issue, and I think for the sake of loyalty, and lets face it, they sell a bloody truck load of GSs, they are doing the right thing and replacing everything.

Anyway, feel free to shut me up about fecking corrosion!! I'm starting to sound like a stuck record, but as I'm having a Facebook holiday, I'm likely to double 11 years worth of GSER posts in the space of a fortnight!!

 

[sk8mutie]

Just thinking at a slight tangent. If you have a bike on PCP and you take it back all corroded, could it affect your "future value" and condition stipulations ?

I know that BMW "know" all about it etc etc, but could/would a dealer try it on ??

I suspect this is old news, but PCP....BMW apparently don't have to take the bike back after the agreed lease term!!

This is my second bike on PCP. I had a 2008 GS ADV and spent the most of the first 18 months out of the country. It only had 9k miles on it and I handed it back and got £800 back as the agreed mileage was 8K a year and it was clearly worth more. As the current market is flooded with bikes due to PCP, if the dealership thinks it will be stuck with yet 'another' GS that's just going to sit around the showroom, they have a right to say they don't want it....apparently!! It was suggested that if I could afford it, I should put enough away to either buy the bike, or at least have enough of a deposit to put down on another bike as the chances of equity being found on a trade in were slim to none!!

So I can only imagine, the corrosion issue isn't going to help our cause one iota!!

Happy to stand corrected, but that's what I was told when signing the paperwork as it had already happened to a customer.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I suspect this is old news, but PCP....BMW apparently don't have to take the bike back after the agreed lease term!!

This is my second bike on PCP. I had a 2008 GS ADV and spent the most of the first 18 months out of the country. It only had 9k miles on it and I handed it back and got £800 back as the agreed mileage was 8K a year and it was clearly worth more. As the current market is flooded with bikes due to PCP, if the dealership thinks it will be stuck with yet 'another' GS that's just going to sit around the showroom, they have a right to say they don't want it....apparently!! It was suggested that if I could afford it, I should put enough away to either buy the bike, or at least have enough of a deposit to put down on another bike as the chances of equity being found on a trade in were slim to none!!

So I can only imagine, the corrosion issue isn't going to help our cause one iota!!

Happy to stand corrected, but that's what I was told when signing the paperwork as it had already happened to a customer.

That sounds like a worry for a lot of other riders too

You can't buck market forces and the uk is certainly awash with used GS's which is depressing values

 

[Nutty]

I suspect this is old news, but PCP....BMW apparently don't have to take the bike back after the agreed lease term!!

This is my second bike on PCP. I had a 2008 GS ADV and spent the most of the first 18 months out of the country. It only had 9k miles on it and I handed it back and got £800 back as the agreed mileage was 8K a year and it was clearly worth more. As the current market is flooded with bikes due to PCP, if the dealership thinks it will be stuck with yet 'another' GS that's just going to sit around the showroom, they have a right to say they don't want it....apparently!! It was suggested that if I could afford it, I should put enough away to either buy the bike, or at least have enough of a deposit to put down on another bike as the chances of equity being found on a trade in were slim to none!!

So I can only imagine, the corrosion issue isn't going to help our cause one iota!!

Happy to stand corrected, but that's what I was told when signing the paperwork as it had already happened to a customer.

That's not correct.

PCP contracts on vehicles clearly state that you have the option to hand the vehicle back at the end of the term. Under a regulated credit agreement, consumers are entitled to hand the product back after making 50% or more of the liability under the agreement, without penalty.

 

[sk8mutie]

Hi Nutty...I would have said exactly the same as you, but I can assure you, those words came out of the mouth of the salesman selling me the bike.

He said that it had already happened as a guy turned up expecting to hand the bike back and was told they didn't want it.

I'm at the dealership this week and will ask the question again....as I said, this is 'apparently' what happened as I can only say what I was told, and word of mouth is always open to interpretation.

I sincerely hope I am wrong and will report back once I've asked the question again. If I get a moment, I'll email them


sk8mutie