FOAM PAD BEHIND FRONT COVER

[dogman]

Just in case anybody is in any doubt (some have asked recently), the foam accoustic pad fitted behind the front belt cover is not being fitted at the factory. I have just removed mine before it's running in service, to see that it aint not there so it isnt! What is also clear is that despite all the problems with rust behind that cover, that no apparent effort has been made to preserve the paint eg protective coat of grease / waxoil or similar. Even the non galvanised bolts that fix the cover were bone dry. It would take seconds to do in the factory and help to preserve an area that cannot be cleaned properly as part of routine cleaning. Yes the pad was probably responsible for most of it, but water will still get in there and hide in nasty places no doubt. Never mind - it's all nicely protected now.

 

[nix]

My front cover has just been replaced under warrantee due to corrosion, but I've yet to remove the plastic cover to establish if the foam pad is still there. If it is, then I'll remove it.
Also I notice people are fitting stainless retaining bolts, don’t be tempted as it’s the worst possible thing you could do due to galvanic corrosion. Not only will the front cover suffer, these stainless bolts could also corrode into the crank case and thus be difficult to remove along with the added risk of stripped threads. Understandably in this situation BMW would not be interested in related warrantee claims.
The best solution is Zinc/Nickel plated steel bolts and I'll be trying to source these.

Nick

 

[dogman]

Be sure to let us know when you do Nix.

 

[Mr K]

Take the foam out!!

Stainless bolts, covered in Copaslip...

 

[cookie]

My front cover has just been replaced under warrantee due to corrosion, but I've yet to remove the plastic cover to establish if the foam pad is still there. If it is, then I'll remove it.
Also I notice people are fitting stainless retaining bolts, don’t be tempted as it’s the worst possible thing you could do due to galvanic corrosion. Not only will the front cover suffer, these stainless bolts could also corrode into the crank case and thus be difficult to remove along with the added risk of stripped threads. Understandably in this situation BMW would not be interested in related warrantee claims.
The best solution is Zinc/Nickel plated steel bolts and I'll be trying to source these.

Nick

i've seen shed loads of stainless bolts screwed into ali and not had any "galvanic corrosion" on any of them. they all came out beautifully.

on the other hand i've seen scores of zinc/cad and pas screws stuck solid. not sure i've had much experience with nickel screws at all.

CWs refitted my new cover with stainless machine screws. i am not in the slightest bit concerned they will seize.

 

[nix]

No offence, but what you do with your bike and any expert advice given is completely up to you.
For those wanting advice and are genuinely interested in preserving their pride and joy, take it from a chief structures engineer who’s slaved for 37 years within the aerospace industry, ""you simply won’t find stainless steel attachments being used on aluminium alloy airborne structures, particularly where safety and air life is a major concern (i.e. military and civil aircraft)"".

Within my industry the usage of interfacing materials is strictly controlled via recognised specifications and standards. Sometimes dissimilar interfacing materials are unavoidable, in this situation jointing compounds are used (for example CA1000 or JC5A).

If you’re interested and want to learn more perhaps you could do a search on Google for dissimilar metals and galvanic/crevice corrosion.
Regards Nick

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

sorry but sounds like the usual scaremongering with all things stainless... The aerospace industry has very tight tolerances.... BMW's are tractors in comparison....we've all heard that we shouldn't replace the brake caliper bolts with stainless ones because they haven't the same spec but we've still to see anyones brakes fail because of it.... fair enough to take notice if there is proof of damage with using stainless... but some of the guys on here that do lots of servicing don't see any problems using stainless.. so i can't really see too much to worry about.
I have to agree with cookie i've had less corrosion/stuck bolts with my stainless than normal bolts

 

[nix]

We very much doubt your claims about stainless, seen far too many problems on old bikes, just let the knowlegable ones amounst know when you sell your bike, we'd hate the unsuspecting to end up with a maintainance lamon.[The tolerance thing had us in stitches today]