Final Drive Failure Register

The lip in the casting that the outer bearing sit against has cracked. The bike has done 60k and is on its 3rd wheel bearing. Good job I have kept the BMW extended warranty going.

They are starting to wriggle. I have to prove that a worn bearing or something caused the casting to crack.
 
Is that a retro fit on to older bikes? 2006 was my limit financially

Really don't worry about it. You can get a really good rebuild with high spec bearings for around £300. My original FD on my 2006 ADV lasted for 70,000 miles before I had it rebuilt. Just had it done with better spec bearings again at 90k because there was a slight clunk caused by my rear wheel running way out of true for a few 1000 miles:blast It just knackered the main bearing but no real worries.

The FD will need a rebuild at some stage but it's fairly easy to spot and do something about before it leaves you stranded. The outer seal sometimes weeps which is not an issue and is a 20 minute fix. Some people will think that is an FD failure when it isn't.

The FD issue is not as common as some would like you to think although there are some bikes which seem to eat them. Don't let it put you off buying a bike though and just budget for a rebuild occasionally and you'll be good to go:thumb2
 
Costs are about £300 to £400 for an FD rebuild. A lot less for just a new wheel bearing.

A BMW dealer bike will add a lot more than that to the costs of a private sale. Just be sensible. Regularly check the wheel bearings at both ends. They wont fail suddenly and if any slack develops get the main bearing changed.

Also change the FD and gearbox oil as soon as you get the bike. If nothing else, it feels good to know the oil is new.
 
noticed some movement in pinion shaft,06 gs with 45k
currently with mikeyboy for some surgery,all other bearings seem fine.
pinion seal needs to come from the fatherland so looks like next weekend at the earliest.
 
Sgt Bilco always posts sensible stuff, cheers, went down to Devon this weekend, and checked out the bike, gave the back wheel a good old pry back and forth, solid, all seems well, the bike is all pretty sound, although I will drop the final drive oil myself, and go through the bike myself. Thanks all.
 
BMW 1200 final drive

Just had mine replaced on my 05 gs with 42000 on the clock also a service and a few other bits done total bill £2098 not impressed
 
Just had mine replaced on my 05 gs with 42000 on the clock also a service and a few other bits done total bill £2098 not impressed

Niether would I have been. I've documented mine on this Forum- I had 4 but I had warantee for all mine- I did nearly 100k on the last Gs- used it each day every day. I've had my GSA now for 2 years and so far at 40k no problems. Mines got the breather- obviously that's the cure!
 
Just had mine replaced on my 05 gs with 42000 on the clock also a service and a few other bits done total bill £2098 not impressed

Can I just ask why you let the dealer put a new drive on when there are loads of threads on here about rebuilds for around £350? I can't imagine what their bill for the FD was but it must have been £1500 plus:eek:
 
Which dealer? That is a ridiculous amount of money, unles the "few other bits" were all 24 carat gold.

Unobtainium, mined by hand in the depths of darkest bongo land by virgins, and transported using unicorns as pit ponies.

Mere gold would never do.
 
Regardless of all this, it's annoying that it took them so long to resolve. In the meantime, yes, BMW warrantee claims did start to wriggle, as confirmed by my Dealer, of whom I had my frequent flyer pass! But I have time admit that my latest GS has past the point where the 06 one started to eat them- so fewer visits.
I've had 3 GS's so I've lived with them for a bit. You can pile the miles on them and they have good engines. My other bikes are Jap, and even the R1 has only been used a few times in the 12 years I've had it and eaten 2 chainsets (26k)
My 400/4...well, that's another chapter!
 
Can anyone point me to a thread on WHAT to check/look out for, and HOW.

I've noticed a slight <1mm movement in the rear wheel (12 and 6 o'clock side to side)...which apparently is within tollerance...have I missed this in the past, or is it something developing which I need to keep a close eye on?

2009, 25000 miles. :rob





with a scottoiler I got 30000 miles from the chain and sprocket set (easily) from my TDM900, £150 to replace...begins to make me wonder if shaft drive is so wonderful after all? :nenau
 
the official bmw tolerance is less than 1mm - I believe it is 0.3mm measured by dial guage on the rim. Thats what my dealer said after looking it up on the computer. the mot limit is greater

you can feel a tired bearing if you put the bike in neutral on the stand and rotate the wheel - you will feel a rumble which is the loose balls in the bearing. They tell me thjat even if the bearing fails completely , ther wheel wont come off but it just might seize. But it will be expensive if you leave it to failure. To deal with it now will, assuming you are up to removing the bevel box yourself, cost between £200 and £ 350 depending on who you use and how many of the total bearings on the unit they replace. I chose to have the lot done and would recommend Mikeyboy of this parish

Nothing wrong with shaft drive - you wouldnt get this problem on a Honda Pan or in your car. The problem here is poor BMW design, simple as that. But typical arrogant krauts they wont accept that.
 
The bevel box on my Yamaha 900 (worth 1/7 of what my BMW cost) is fine after nearly 80K miles and 15 years and still going strong with its current owner. As @Birdseye says, its poor engineering design that lets BMW down. TBH expecting one large diameter rolling bearing do most of the work is a big ask so little wonder they fail.
 
42000 miles 05 GS, now rebuilt by mikeyboy...thank god I don't have to rely on BMW dealers!
 


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