Final Drive Failure Register

Depends what you noticed first! If it was just oil-then good for you- if it was noise and oil then I hope its covered by warantee- Ive just returned from Coopers of Tonbridge Well- absolutley smashing blokes, always keep me running as I use mine daily- mentioned FDF and they said a grand (£) if its not covered. Ive had 4 go and Ive done 85k miles on my 06.
Why did I go to the Dealers I hear you ask- brakes gone- rear modulator apparently (whatever that is)- £1k if not covered by warantee.

The message...

£350 a year is the price Ive paid for my BMW warantee- well worth it!
 
Final drive large bearing fail at about 75mph on the A6 150 miles south of Paris. RAC European breakdown cover - Priceless! 05 Model with 35k miles on it.
 
FD

FD bearings went at 20,000 rearwheel carrier failed at 24,000
 
Depends what you noticed first! If it was just oil-then good for you- if it was noise and oil then I hope its covered by warantee- Ive just returned from Coopers of Tonbridge Well- absolutley smashing blokes, always keep me running as I use mine daily- mentioned FDF and they said a grand (£) if its not covered. Ive had 4 go and Ive done 85k miles on my 06.
Why did I go to the Dealers I hear you ask- brakes gone- rear modulator apparently (whatever that is)- £1k if not covered by warantee.

The message...

£350 a year is the price Ive paid for my BMW warantee- well worth it!


Why should you pay bmw £350.00 at all !!! :blast
 
07GSA Bearings replaced 2000miles and again 10,000miles
 
Really scary thread this - unless you've got shed loads of money that you enjoy giving to BMW. I wonder, if you added up all the repair bills referred to here, they'd pay for my bike several times over! I think you've convinced me, I'm going to stick with my 1150GSA SE that I've ridden for 41k. With FD bearings that run submersed in oil. And I'm expecting to last at least that again!

So the 1200 is a better design is it?
 
Why should you pay bmw £350.00 at all !!! :blast

Exactly, and you also have to pay for BMW main dealer servicing, and with my dealer wanting £400 for a service I can get done at an indie for about £150 the real cost is about £600 a year to keep up the BMW warranty.

It seems the average FD lasts 25k - 30k, the same as two chains, and if you do the maths FD replacements work out about the same as tyre costs somewhere around 5p per mile!!!
 
Bearings failed at 39K. £500 to refurbish FD but left with tarnished axle where unit had to be heated to get the original bearings out.

Good job done by Brian Giles at Pembury. It will be easier for him to do the next one as mine was a bit of a test bed.

BTW the replacement bearings only fit the 06 model which suggest BMW have been redesigning the bearings every year trying to get them right
 
Really scary thread this - unless you've got shed loads of money that you enjoy giving to BMW. I wonder, if you added up all the repair bills referred to here, they'd pay for my bike several times over! I think you've convinced me, I'm going to stick with my 1150GSA SE that I've ridden for 41k. With FD bearings that run submersed in oil. And I'm expecting to last at least that again!

So the 1200 is a better design is it?

Yes :aidan
 
07GSA Bearings replaced 2000miles and again 10,000miles


Err because...... Its not that I don't believe you, I know its lighter, when you drop it off road its easier to pick up, its faster, its got more plastic, it looks more modern but the above extensive thread with sooooo many people experiencing a serious debilitating problem very early on in its life I'm not inspired. Seems to me that you have to consider FD bearing as a standard service part - essential if embarking on a long trip.
So tell me how:duno
 
Err because...... Its not that I don't believe you, I know its lighter, when you drop it off road its easier to pick up, its faster, its got more plastic, it looks more modern but the above extensive thread with sooooo many people experiencing a serious debilitating problem very early on in its life I'm not inspired. Seems to me that you have to consider FD bearing as a standard service part - essential if embarking on a long trip.
So tell me how:duno

I have an 1150 and a 1200 in my garage, both with just over 15000 miles on them. One has had a new FD bearing and seal and it ISN'T the 1200.:thumb
 
Err because...... Its not that I don't believe you, I know its lighter, when you drop it off road its easier to pick up, its faster, its got more plastic, it looks more modern but the above extensive thread with sooooo many people experiencing a serious debilitating problem very early on in its life I'm not inspired. Seems to me that you have to consider FD bearing as a standard service part - essential if embarking on a long trip.
So tell me how:duno

For all of the above reasons for me. I don't really consider the final drive any more of an issue than it is on the 1150. Theres plenty of evidence (and how to change the bearings at the side of the road threads) about that too.

Yes, mine failed and the bike is still in France, but it's the only time i've been stranded in 35,000 very enjoyable miles. I think the failure rate given the amount of 1200's sold is probably still on the low side. The issue is more of it's percieved reliability. After all no one bothers to post unless they've had a problem.

The only advice i'd give is, ride it, if it breaks fix it or sell it (same for every bike really). :thumb
 


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