FD Failures, a thing of the past?
- Thread starter MikeP
- Start date
KAYCEE
Registered user
Don't think so. After almost getting wiped out in the "fast" lane of the M4, just outside Cardiff, when the back end of the bike seriously stepped out, I discovered that there was a "fair bit of play" in the FD bearing.
Bike eventually collected by BWM assist (DONT BREAK DOWN ON A SUNDAY!!!!) and taken to dealer for further investigation. Currently awaiting update on situation.
Kaycee
My 2005 model had a new FD under warranty @ 12k miles.
It has now just had another at 24k miles which wasn't under warranty.
There was no goodwill gesture either which was understandable given that the warranty was up but frustrating when the monkey at customer services refused to explain why my bike was different from the many reported on here whch have had FD failures and goodwill gestures!
It has now just had another at 24k miles which wasn't under warranty.
There was no goodwill gesture either which was understandable given that the warranty was up but frustrating when the monkey at customer services refused to explain why my bike was different from the many reported on here whch have had FD failures and goodwill gestures!
Andy Michael
Registered user
Mine (08) went in for it's 6k service last month and the dealers (riders of Cardiff) noticed some corrosion on the rear diff bearing, took it out and it was rusted and worn. They sorted me out with a new one and all is well (big up to Riders for good service
). There was no play in the rear wheel to indicate a problem, but the corrosion on the bearing was pretty bad they showed it to me.
). There was no play in the rear wheel to indicate a problem, but the corrosion on the bearing was pretty bad they showed it to me.RickG
Registered user
Came across this, I've not seen it before.
http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/fd_failure_list.php
Quite useful diagnostics given some of the recents posts on the forum
http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/fd_failure_list.php
Quite useful diagnostics given some of the recents posts on the forum
Phil Clarke
Registered user
I notice they change the FD oil at the first service and every 2 years afterwards - I suspect thats the only change made to it...
New final drive fitted a couple of weeks ago on my 08 R1200GS @ just under 12000miles. Might be something to do with the fact that its getting px'ed and the dealer wanted it done 
Deleted member TF
Guest
Don't think so. After almost getting wiped out in the "fast" lane of the M4, just outside Cardiff, when the back end of the bike seriously stepped out, I discovered that there was a "fair bit of play" in the FD bearing.
Bike eventually collected by BWM assist (DONT BREAK DOWN ON A SUNDAY!!!!) and taken to dealer for further investigation. Currently awaiting update on situation.
Kaycee
How old is your bike and how many miles?
Don't think so. After almost getting wiped out in the "fast" lane of the M4, just outside Cardiff, when the back end of the bike seriously stepped out, I discovered that there was a "fair bit of play" in the FD bearing.
Bike eventually collected by BWM assist (DONT BREAK DOWN ON A SUNDAY!!!!) and taken to dealer for further investigation. Currently awaiting update on situation.
Kaycee
Busy day for them. Yesterday, Sunday, my mate's 1200GSA, 6 months old, 6,000 miles suffered a FD failure in Bristol and was recovered to Plymouth (eventually).
Bear
Registered user
I hade a new FD (2006 model, 20,000 miles) a month ago as a goodwill gesture (thank you SSB). The new drive has a drain plug in the correct place and apparently needs occasional oil changes. I wonder if BMW are being helpful because they know (but probably won't say) that the original no-maintenance schedure was over-optimistic.
scubaGSA
Registered user
Oh well sounds like that'll be the next thing to break down on my 'round the world' bike 
already had EWS and FPC faults, such a shame cos I love riding her when shes going well.
already had EWS and FPC faults, such a shame cos I love riding her when shes going well.
KAYCEE
Registered user
15 months and 12500 miles.
BVM at Stroud have just been on the phone to say they've fitted a new FD and the bike will be on its way back up to Edinburgh tomorrow.
I'll be having a word with my local dealer, as the bike was only serviced 2 weeks ago and nothing was reported to be amiss.
Just for information, I got a new set of tyres fitted about 2 thousand miles ago, and since then the bike never really felt settled. I put it down to the new tyres and assumed that things would settle down as the tyres bedded in. There was also an increase in vibration through the bars, so much so I was getting "pins & needles" in my hands when during my 40 mile motorway commute to work. (4000-5000 rpm)
I mentioned the vibes to the dealer when the bike was in for a service and he advised that the cylinder balance was slighty out and that they had fixed it. To give them their dues, the vibes did disappear, but reappeared on my holiday trip down south and across the water to Eire
, abet now between 3000-3500 rpm. During the trip around Eire, the handling of the bike sometimes felt a bit vague, but again I put it down to the tyres and the condition of some of the Irish roads.
On my return to the mainland, the rear wheel stepped out on a long sweeping left hand bend. Again I blamed the tyres. A few miles later, the same thing happened, as I was in the outside lane of the M4. The resultant momentary loss of control gave me the biggest fright that I have had on a bike for a very long time (since my old Kawasaki 750 went into a tankslapper over 30 years ago.) Luckily I managed to stay on and was able to ride slowly to the nearest services. On checking the rear wheel nothing appeared to be amiss. No signs of any oil, no apparent movement in the wheel.
I continued my journey bolt upright and never over 50 for the next 70 odd miles until I got to my brother-in-laws house. There we checked over the bike again. No play was noted in the wheel until it was held at the 12 and 6 'o'clock positions. Then a discernable amount of play could be seen and felt.
Ok so BMW are fixing it under warranty and the bike should be as good as new, BUT, normally my son rides pillion while I'm on my holiday tour. Luckily this year he decided to go with his mates to T-in-the Park. If he had been on the bike when the wheel let go, I don't think that I would have been able to have controlled the situation and we both would have ended up bouncing down the road.
Sorry I'm ranting, but if you feel anything unusual coming from the back end of the bike get it checked out. A failed FD bearing, in my mind, can be LETHAL.
BWM should have done something long ago to make sure that the bearings they use are fit for purpose. It obvious from this thread and others that a problem still exists.
Kaycee
a twin sided swinging arm seems the most obvious solution.
what's the point of single arms unless you're in an endurance race?
what's the point of single arms unless you're in an endurance race?
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