Is it more than or less than 6 years old? If less than 6 years you would have recourse under UK consumer law. The burden of proof relies on how long you would expect something to last. You might reasonably think the shock being 6 years old is OK but not 6,000 miles? Why should the shock deteriorate just because of time rather than wear and tear due to mileage. It doesn’t matter about warranty either, it should be covered by consumer rights. If more than 6 years old then you’re reliant on goodwill. Keep hassling the dealer and BMW... politely!
Failed ESA Shock at 6000 miles (!)
- Thread starter stevelup
- Start date
It was an ex-demo bike. I bought it in May 2015. Not sure what the date of first registration is without digging out the V5C. I think it was just a few months old.
I've already used the phrase 'unsatisfactory durability' in my e-mail asking the dealer to seek support from BMW.
I've already used the phrase 'unsatisfactory durability' in my e-mail asking the dealer to seek support from BMW.
likewise.
Annoyingly, you could push BMW into assisting, and say they offer 50%, you'd still be throwing £900 at it. I'd give up on BMW goodwill and go for a rebuild.
Currently my 2017 GSA shock has just failed, Im having a new one fitted FOC 13k miles, if i remember correctly my previous 2014 gsa the shock on that failed and was replaced under warranty, clearly an issue with these bikes. I would ask the goodwill question, good luck.
Their are threads on a few people who rebuild the shocks for pax £200-250
Denz0 was local to me, so when mine failed, I dropped the shock off on Friday evening and collected it on Monday. He seemed a very genuine bloke and IMHO probably should charge more!
6 months or so on and I can report my shock is still working fine.
Firefox - here you go.
http://firefoxracing.co.uk/bmw-esa-electronic-suspension-adjustment-servicing/
When my F650GS was having Wilbers front and rear fitted at Revs in Halesowen, they said they get between 1&2 Gs’ per week with failed ESA units.
I used him to rebuild mine a year or so back. Fantastic service at a great price
When I had my 2013 GS LC with about 25000 miles, my rear ESA shock started leaking oil and had no damping. Took it to Firefox for a refurb and they told me I was lucky it reached that mileage. They apparently do lots that have way under that mileage and they do quite a few every week.
I read somewhere (it might have been on here) that the ESA shock is very cheaply made so for BMW to charge what they do for a new one is just taking the piss, but then again that's obviously the BMW business ethos.
Manufacture it at the lowest cost and sell it for as much as they can.
2020 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX here I come. Available for just over 10 grand.
![IMG-1701.jpg](http://[URL="https://postimg.cc/JDfx9Jt4"][IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/Y09PLzHg/IMG-1701.jpg)
[/URL]secure free image hosting site[/IMG]
I read somewhere (it might have been on here) that the ESA shock is very cheaply made so for BMW to charge what they do for a new one is just taking the piss, but then again that's obviously the BMW business ethos.
Manufacture it at the lowest cost and sell it for as much as they can.
2020 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX here I come. Available for just over 10 grand.
A friend of mine has done over 40,000mls on his '16 GS, his shock still works fine. Lucky for him as he is a tight wad.
When I had my 2013 GS LC with about 25000 miles, my rear ESA shock started leaking oil and had no damping. Took it to Firefox for a refurb and they told me I was lucky it reached that mileage. They apparently do lots that have way under that mileage and they do quite a few every week.
I read somewhere (it might have been on here) that the ESA shock is very cheaply made so for BMW to charge what they do for a new one is just taking the piss, but then again that's obviously the BMW business ethos.
Manufacture it at the lowest cost and sell it for as much as they can.
2020 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX here I come. Available for just over 10 grand.
[/URL]secure free image hosting site[/IMG]
I really like them
Trouble with BMW and other manufacturers they never admit any issues... Despite some known.
For a shock to fail at 6k is embarrassing. The more I read the more these things are clearly designed & built in obsolescence, but 6k!!!
Must admit I do wonder when I'm going to have to get mine serviced (37K/2015 GSA). Perhaps regular use tends to defer the horrible moment (currently doing around 250mi per week)?
I bet frequency of use has some bearing on it. Seals lips like to be kept wet or they dry and deteriorate. Ohlins forks are well known for it, even them switching to double lip seals only slightly improved it. My ohlins shock on aprilia ate its seal within 10k miles after riding a bumpy road in Spain. My Ducati Showa shock failed 2 weeks into ownership although that wasn’t a seal failure.
I don’t think the bmw failures are particularly high based on the volume of bikes out there. 15k miles etc would be 5 or 6 years ownership for many bike types so owners don’t consider that a big deal but a tourer can do that in a year. The price of the bmw shock is a piss take though for what it is but most bike spares are a piss take for what they are.
I don’t think the bmw failures are particularly high based on the volume of bikes out there. 15k miles etc would be 5 or 6 years ownership for many bike types so owners don’t consider that a big deal but a tourer can do that in a year. The price of the bmw shock is a piss take though for what it is but most bike spares are a piss take for what they are.
On 39,000 miles with my 13 plate LC. ESA still fine. Mate on his 14 plate GSA had his rear ESA shock go pop this summer. He's done about 27,000 miles. He's now got a spangly set of electronic Tourtech boings on his. Made to his weight/height. 6ft 5in and 16 stone. No surprise his bike now handles far better.
