Very interesting (well not really, just mildly amusing) nice to see a good improvement, but still gonna carry one around just in case.
Got any figures on Final Drives?
Got any figures on Final Drives?
Final drive failure discussions
- Thread starter Rasher
- Start date
so from 2004 to 2011 we have only 400 odd failures?
whats that as a % of bikes sold i wonder,well let me guess at very low.
rasher you are becoming a tiresome twat concerning fd,you havent even had one fail have you?
whats that as a % of bikes sold i wonder,well let me guess at very low.
rasher you are becoming a tiresome twat concerning fd,you havent even had one fail have you?
Yet...
Well 400 FPC failures reported on this forum, you cannot compare to bikes sold as not every owner of a GS is on this forum, and I would guess several thousand others have failed on non forum members bikes.
Either way compared to other components nothing else gets close to this figure so it is definately a weak spot, although fortunately not a particularly costly one and it has definately been improved.
In fact it must be said compared to FPC failure, FD failure is pretty rare, but unfortunately bloody expensive and it is not practicle (or cost effective) to just carry a spare.
If mine makes it to 20k without blowing up I will be a happy chap, as by then I will be in the market for a new bike, but seeing as numerous owners have had multiple FD failures it is still in my mind a pretty common failure.
How many cars blow the diffs on a regular (or even irregular) basis, nobody would stand for this on a car, why do so many owners find it acceptable to get a £1000+ bill for one at 5k, 10k, 20k, 30k or whatever their manages to struggle to.
I find these FPC figures interesting and uplifting, I will feel much happier when sat in the outside lane of the motorway, or when overtaking with oncoming traffic looming.
I would love to know what the average FD life is, and how the failures stack up, as I think there is a big difference between an oil seal needing changing and the caged bearings being shot, if there were similar evidence that a major FD failure is actually a rare event I would be even happier.
It is a pity this information cannot be obtained in the public realm, it may be the average life of an FD is over 60k if you exclude leaky seals, or it could be below 30k, 60k plus I find reasonably OK and not serious enough to put me off another GS, but 30k I consider so bad I would definately not buy another GS.
forest biker
Registered user
Ive known and been riding with guys owning gs bikes of all ages/models and milage for at least 10 years and none of them have had a fd go past 19k
The meaning of your last sentence is unclear. Do you mean that no FD has lasted beyond 19k? Or, no FD has failed once they have achieved 19k?
Alan R
forest biker
Registered user
Sorry alan , yes i meant all the fd's have failed before 19k
I'm glad I'm I've never met you. You must be a right jonah
Stretchamus
Registered user
Rasher,
If you bought another GS with the current FD design, you'd be bonkers.
Best regards Stretch
Rasher,
If you bought another GS with the current FD design, you'd be bonkers.
Best regards Stretch
Doesn't the current FD design boast new filler/level plug, capacity back to 240 ml and a breather; with oil change every 12,000 miles?
Is this the design you mean?
I would not buy another with the same design as mine (drain plug & no breather) but if the latest ones with the brather and higher oil level start looking like they are capable of 50k+ I may consider one.
Currently it appears 20k - 30k is where the current ones seem to fail most often and I will try to get a new bike before mine reaches 20k (or 19k maybe)
Already carry spare FPC which aleviates a lot of worry, the FD cost is not the biggest factor as if it does fail you could fit the latest type for about a grand, or refurb for about £350. I still think it is diabolical that BMW are not officially supporting owners who have low mileage failures, but I could afford to fix it if it does go wrong.
My main concerns over GS reliability is the possibility of a ruined trip, at least the FD tends to fail over time, or should if you check it regularly, I look for play after most rides (certainly every long trip) and am now changing the oil with each rear tyre change (about every 4k) so hopefully will pick up any deterioration in plenty of time.
The FPC's do seem far more stable now, but I will still carry a spare around as it does not take up a huge amount of space, I considered a bypass cable, but thought if it did go i would still have to put a new one in and if it does not go I can recoup 75% of my cash selling the thing when I get rid of the bike.
Currently it appears 20k - 30k is where the current ones seem to fail most often and I will try to get a new bike before mine reaches 20k (or 19k maybe)
Already carry spare FPC which aleviates a lot of worry, the FD cost is not the biggest factor as if it does fail you could fit the latest type for about a grand, or refurb for about £350. I still think it is diabolical that BMW are not officially supporting owners who have low mileage failures, but I could afford to fix it if it does go wrong.
My main concerns over GS reliability is the possibility of a ruined trip, at least the FD tends to fail over time, or should if you check it regularly, I look for play after most rides (certainly every long trip) and am now changing the oil with each rear tyre change (about every 4k) so hopefully will pick up any deterioration in plenty of time.
The FPC's do seem far more stable now, but I will still carry a spare around as it does not take up a huge amount of space, I considered a bypass cable, but thought if it did go i would still have to put a new one in and if it does not go I can recoup 75% of my cash selling the thing when I get rid of the bike.
forest biker
Registered user
Just bmw's shit design , not me bringing them bad luck
sold my gsa so it wont be failing with me on it , time for a change , so going to give the new multistrada its turn in the garage i think 
Stretchamus
Registered user
Its funny that a Fuel pump controller failure thread has turned into a FD thread
Best regards Stretch
Best regards Stretch
Similar threads
