Front cover corrosion

[Paul B]

Just decided to tackle the corrosion on my bike.

Bike done 3,000 miles and not even 3years old.

What happened to BMW build quality !! Shite !

BMW not interested

 

[Bendy toy]

It not stone cops as bottom centre is spotless. It is a BMW fault because the paint is fretted by the edge of plastic belt cover. Presumably it's out of warranty.
Get it dip stripped & powder coated with masked off areas for the bolt heads. Then use copper washers and marine grade anti seize grease. Also make a thin rubber gasket for the belt cover. Glue gasket to timing cover not to plastic cover.

 

[RonnieG]

Just decided to tackle the corrosion on my bike.

Bike done 3,000 miles and not even 3years old.

What happened to BMW build quality !! Shite !

BMW not interested ��

I would totally agree with these comments - The BMW 'box' was one I was keen and looking forward to ticking off on my list of bikes owned but the quality of components used and BMW's approach to it has left me feeling extremely disappointed and would certainly put me off buying another....

 

[Paul B]

I would totally agree with these comments - The BMW 'box' was one I was keen and looking forward to ticking off on my list of bikes owned but the quality of components used and BMW's approach to it has left me feeling extremely disappointed and would certainly put me off buying another....

What a great way to spend a birthday in the garage fetteling !!

 

[JimVonBaden]

What a great way to spend a birthday in the garage fetteling !!

I did the same on one of my bikes:

Jim

 

[Paul B]

I did the same on one of my bikes:

Jim

Wow .... That looked bad ..... Nice job though !

I was going to paint mine black but have decided to keep it standard ( better than standard at least I know the paint will stay on !!)

 

[Rusty Bolts]

Re Bendy's suggestion about the plastic cover fretting the paint away, I put a couple of washers between the posts and the belt cover. This in effect moves the cover away from the timing cover and so shouldn't fret.

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Painting (As your doing) is the way to go, some useful info here;

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/136102-Front-cover-corrosion-pics

 

[Bendy toy]

Great idea with the washers.
Paint is ok but the original BMW stuff is ridiculously hard. Only reliable option was a day in a Biostrip tank. By then it was easier to get it coated.

 

[Paul B]

Re Bendy's suggestion about the plastic cover fretting the paint away, I put a couple of washers between the posts and the belt cover. This in effect moves the cover away from the timing cover and so shouldn't fret.

I will do that .... You think they would have designed the problem out over the years as its so common or changed the paint finish to a suitable quality

 

[Bendy toy]

Mine rotted from the belt cover bottom bolt hole. The timing cover bolt holes came along later. The bottom centreline where stone chips might hit was fine.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Wow .... That looked bad ..... Nice job though !

I was going to paint mine black but have decided to keep it standard ( better than standard at least I know the paint will stay on !!)

Thanks!

I went with back because the motor was black, though very hard to tell in the photos. After a few good winter rides the cover matched the motor!:Friday

Jim

 

[Paul B]

Interestingly tweeted the photos ... And BMW customer services contacted me to discuss my complaint after dismissing it 6 mths ago ... Looks like they are going to stump up ... I will update when I have the outcome !!

 

[Rusty Bolts]

Result

 

[JPR]

Let me tell you a little story

A few yrs back I got twatted off the bike,and part of the repair was a replacement front cover.
It was about 4 months before I was fit enough to ride again,and when I dragged the bike out of the garage for its first run ,the paint on the new cover was showing signs of lifting.
It hadn't even seen daylight,never mind stones or salt,!
You tell me

 

[Bendy toy]

Did it rot from screw heads?

 

[RonnieG]

Interestingly tweeted the photos ... And BMW customer services contacted me to discuss my complaint after dismissing it 6 mths ago ... Looks like they are going to stump up ... I will update when I have the outcome !!

Well done that man!!!!

You have shamed them into actually doing something in your case.

Can someone not tweet some pics of the well known fix of using a cigarette lighter piezo to fix your petrol fuel gauge strip due to them also not being fit for purpose......

 

[daytripper!]

Being mechanically challenged i felt there was serious scope for me decreasing the value of my bike by spending a month preparing / painting the front engine cover in a futile attempt to improve appearances! So I opted for a dealer replacement of my bike's 11 yr old cover (not much worse condition than PaulB's cover all things considered). About £230 total installed under the dealer's 30% off normal labour charge for an older bike scheme. So its throw away the sound proofing foam, fit washers under the plastic guard and fit a front engine cover protection plate (already have a mudguard extender. Is there scope for garages to operate a system whereby they get a spare lightly corroded cover coated properly and operate a drive-in budget replacement scheme ~ used front engine cover anyone?

 

[Northern Monkey]

I take it that if this panel is removed it will dump a load of oil out? Is that why it's masked and painted in situ?


Uploaded by osmosis

 

[Bendy toy]

Correct but that's what the drain plug is for. If the oil isn't due for changing store it safe and pour back when done.
The rot runs under original (very tough) paint & eats into the metal. Simply scraping off and painting over is palliative at best. The bubbled edges just carry on going and you get a tree ring effect. DAMHIK