Final drive bearings

[John Renaudon]

Does anyone have experience of bearing trouble after 12k miles? My 03GS is rumbling quite badly now on 16k. BMW won't play ball under the guarantee. Any tips? Any special tools required? Any info would help prevent it/them going again so quickly.

 

[boxer]

If you're talking about the pivot bearings there are plenty of tips in the technical forum, so do a search, including this ONE.

Anyother bearing in the FD will require dealer. If that's the case, remove the FD and send it to Sherlocks by post.

Come to think of it, there be plenty of posts on most other bearings too.

 

[hops]

Does anyone have experience of bearing trouble after 12k miles? My 03GS is rumbling quite badly now on 16k. BMW won't play ball under the guarantee. Any tips? Any special tools required? Any info would help prevent it/them going again so quickly.

Sounds like the roller bearings, it is a fairly simple job. You will need a torque wrench though. There is some scope for tightening the rear most bearings if they've not been done up too tight.

 

[Steve]

BMW won't play ball under the guarantee.

Why? It's obviously well within warranty.

 

[BTBR]

Re: Re: Final drive bearings

Why? It's obviously well within warranty.

Well rather oddly its not classed as warranty, well thats according to my local BMW dealer

Mine has only done 4500 miles and I took it in last weekend with 2 to 3mm of play in the final drive bearing. The dealer did it at the same time as doing a couple of recall fuel pipe mods.

Otherwise it would have been chargable I was told. General service maintenance adjustment that is normally chargable I was told? Sounds like a cop out to me?

BTBR

 

[Jon]

One of the guys on the Morocco trip had the same/similiar problem - when we were at the Todra Gorge - which made the trip interesting.

His was an Adv with about the same mileage.

What didn't help was it was fully loaded, he had the suspension wound right up, and rode it over very bumpy roads on the way to the Desert Inn from Erfoud (those of you who've ridden on it will know what I mean) sat down. All those bumps, a large 6ft bloke weighing a few stones, and no suspension play, the force has gotta go somewhere.

This doesn't defend MBW in any way - they have pics of the bike doing all this, so it should be able to IMO.

I believe he's still argueing the toss with BMW, and the fact that the bike arrived back in the UK with more dents than it went out with (MBW Assistance).

 

[Peter Harris]

I dont have any trouble with my bearings as im still using a map.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

His was an Adv with about the same mileage.What didn't help was it was fully loaded, he had the suspension wound right up, and rode it over very bumpy roads

--er - excuse me - the clue is in the name Mr B&W

ADVENTURER !!

Thats what you're supposed to do !

Seems like this a big weakpoint on the ADV, for whatever reason.

I reckon we need a poll - who's got an ADV under 10k with a good rear bearing ?

 

[Racer]

Ay up geezer,

The dealer did it at the same time as doing a couple of recall fuel pipe mods.

what fuel pipe mods are these then ?

Surely Wollaston haven't been remiss in letting me know about this !


Chowfernow, all Yorkshired out.

Racer

 

[BTBR]

My understanding is that there are two fuel pipes mods, it is not a serious issue that needs a mass recall.

However, when your bike is next at the dealers it will be done then as a matter of cause. Given your recent experiance with the leaking QD coupling I would suggest that you need yours done sooner rather than later.

BTBR

 

[Madmountainman]

Had my pivot (needle roller) bearings replaced under warranty on my Adventure at 18K. The mechanic said they were knackered so they were changed... no charge incurred.

 

[Steptoe]

if it's rumbling, it must be the final drive ( bevel ) bearing, not the paralever bearing, that most people have mentioned .

i posted a while ago that my bearing supplier had sourced me an upgraded bearing, this cost £46 trade price, it's been inserted in a bike that used to knock out the usual bearing every 8-12k miles, the bike is chipped, with all the go faster goodies on it, plus an ADV low 1st gear box and an 850 rear bevel, this bike beats anything away from the lights and gets thrashed despatching, thats why the rear bevel bearing get knocked out so fast. Anyway to the point ; so far the "upgraded" bearing has done 7k miles, so at the moment its too early to tell if its made any difference -- so not much of an answer really, but i'll keep you all posted how long it lasts.

 

[steady away]

i had a rear bevel drive bearing completely collapse at 15k while in czecho.mbw plzen did the repair for only £100 when i got home complained to my local dealer who i purchased bike from and who had done all the servicing,they had no interest whatsoever so i wrote directly to the kaiser at mbw gb and they refunded my £100.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

Steady away

Hi Steady away,

Just read your post on a collapsed rear bearing, The same happened to me. Spoke to my dealer (Vines) and they said that they would try to get me a refund from BM as the bike is no longer under warranty. I’m going to wait and see what happened but just in case he can’t I wouldn’t mind having the address of the Kaiser at BM GB who you wrote to and try and get my money back that way.

I’d be grateful if you can send me the address.

Thanks

FD

 

[Spanish Bob]

--er - excuse me - the clue is in the name Mr B&W

ADVENTURER !!

Thats what you're supposed to do !

Seems like this a big weakpoint on the ADV, for whatever reason.

I reckon we need a poll - who's got an ADV under 10k with a good rear bearing ?

me

but I m off to the alps on Friday to cure that!