Gearbox leaks

[Bertie]

Ok, I'm getting paranoid, reading all the previous links about gearbox leaks and fuel relay failures. On the latter, whilst recently doing the 12000 mile service on my May 2005 GS (yes, three months out of warranty), I gave all the fuel pump contacts a good dose of WD40, and there was no signs of corrosion there. I also took a deep breath and peered under the engine/gearbox. It revealed no more than a light oil mist at the back underside of the gearbox which, on my wife's Land Rover would be considered normal. The sump guard also has traces of oil, but may be down to the the anti corrosion spray I use on the engine after washing. There isn't sufficient oil to form any drips on the garage floor.

Is this the first sign of something more sinister? How bad does it get before major surgery is required? The bike is running perfectly, and gives no other outward signs of impending doom.

 

[Technopole]

I hate to say it but the "light oil mist" where the engine casing meets the gearbox casing sounds just like what the mechanic at the dealers pointed out to me the other day. He then went on to tell me that the engine seals will need replacing, and that although the parts will only cost £50 the labour wil be about £250. My bike is a May 2005 1200 with 12,000 miles on the clock, therefore 3 months out of warranty also. This seems to be a welll documented problem on the site here.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

With boths bikes being so recently out of warranty and combined with the fact that this is a recognised fault I'm sure that a friendly chat with your dealer should illicit some sort of good will gesture - has to be worth a go

Andres

 

[JIm]

Yep, 06 GSA, 16Kmiles, I've got some black oily substance, well more of a smudge, between the join, on the side, no drips or build up on the bottom -yet.
I wipped it away , then road about 600 miles in a one go and it came back, oh...........

It does not smell of transmition fluid, so it must be engine side. I was hoping that it was ACF50 or silicone spray that had soaked in the join, but it wont be will it? it should be dry in the clutch housing.
What do you think-buggered?
I'll be taking it to a dealer soon for the 18K service.

This does worry me that it is such a common problem. What is the problem? is it the equipment or the design, does this happen to air heads or 1100/1150 boxers?
Jim

 

[chasr]

Time for a poll, methinks. 55 reg. GS, 10,000 miles, went in for the seals last month. Fortunately, under warranty.

 

[littleredrooster]

.....does this happen to air heads or 1100/1150 boxers?
Jim

Happens to 1150s as well as 1200s. Nine times out of ten, it is the back gearbox seal which then contaminates the clutch plate. Mine (1200) was done at 16,000 IIRC. 1100s seem to suffer far less from this problem for some reason. I would deffo go and talk to the dealer about a 'goodwill' claim as it is such a well-documented problem.

 

[bustupbiker]

All this talk about oil leaks made me reply tuther day saying " only problem i have had was new FD at 3000 " best bike i have had in 40 years....so i went to the garage to check the bike...as you do TWO oil leaks, the gear indicator thingie and the motor to box both hissing out..15,000 miles and two months out of warranty also....rang the dealer who said bring it in on Saturday morning 0800hrs for a tech to check it out. Hope i get a good will as well...make you think thou
Lyn.

 

[Chris Terry]

Mines the same! in fact I could not go out on it tonight because it's been in for oil leaks since Tuesday morning. While I was at the dealers the other day I noticed a couple other GS12's sweating oil from the engine-gearbox joint.

 

[Nordkapper]

Mines the same! in fact I could not go out on it tonight because it's been in for oil leaks since Tuesday morning. While I was at the dealers the other day I noticed a couple other GS12's sweating oil from the engine-gearbox joint.

31,000 miles up and my '05 R1200GS is leaking again between the gearbox and engine (the first leak was at 14,000 miles, this is the second occurance). Thankfully BMW gave me a free third year of warranty because of many earlier problems and I'm still covered by this (to be fair, thanks BMW). I've asked for some reassurance from BMW about how long this latest repair will last, but I'm still waiting for a reply after one week.

 

[Bertie]

So I'm getting that although the leak might not externally be more than an oil mist around the joint between engine and gearbox and some wetness around the bottom (!), it can ultimately contaminate the clutch?

 

[Engineer]

So I'm getting that although the leak might not externally be more than an oil mist around the joint between engine and gearbox and some wetness around the bottom (!), it can ultimately contaminate the clutch?

That is correct.

 

[JIm]

That is correct.

Oh goodie!.....................................
Jim

 

[Engineer]

Oh goodie!.....................................
Jim

Glad to be of help

 

[Engineer]

So I'm getting that although the leak might not externally be more than an oil mist around the joint between engine and gearbox and some wetness around the bottom (!), it can ultimately contaminate the clutch?

Take a look at this link


http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143392

 

[JIm]

Take a look at this link


http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143392

Well thats it then!, the photos speak volumes, I've a trip to the Pyranne.. er Pyrenee....oh those Mountain things between France and Spain.
I hope mine lasts! then time for a 18K service.
I am now officially down in the dumps

 

[Jones8447]

Oil Leaks

Should we not have a thread on here dedicated to those 1200 owners who have suffered the engine/gearbox oil leak.
It would help those owners who's bikes are out of warranty (me) to prove to BMW that this is down to a faulty part and force their hand to honour the repair cost. I am planning to visit my dealer soon to argue that they (BMW) should foot the bill. Mine has covered 12,000 miles and has been leaking for about 3,000. However, it doesn't seem to have got any worse and doesn't leak so much to cause a drip.
It would be interesting to see just how many 1200's have had the repair or are experiencing the leak,

 

[Happyhenry]

Had mine done under warranty at 7,500 miles and 15 months. The bike now has 5 months left under warranty - after that does it stay or does it go go?
Debating a px for another with more warranty left vs saving that money and potentially swallowing £700 if the seals go again (likely?) and the 'goodwill' pleading doesn't work vs paying £600 for an extended warranty .
Are these bikes only worth risking if they're within the manufacturer's warranty period? I would really like to know the instance of gearbox seal failure - not just GSs, it happens to the other models with the 1200 engine too. Is it 5, 10 or 15%?

 

[Engineer]

Well thats it then!, the photos speak volumes, I've a trip to the Pyranne.. er Pyrenee....oh those Mountain things between France and Spain.
I hope mine lasts! then time for a 18K service.
I am now officially down in the dumps

Don't get too depressed once it's fixed it seems to last - mine's been fine for more than 14,000 miles since it was done at around 6,000 miles. BMW were very good and it was done under warranty without any hassle.

 

[JayGee]

I am now officially down in the dumps

Don't be, mine did several thousand miles after I first recognised the problem and probably more before that. Eventually BMW paid for the repair as it was only a few months out of warranty.

I just had a black smudgy line on the gearbox/engine joint which didn't get any worse before being repaired. If someone hadn't told me I'd never have known there was a problem. I know seals can fail catastophically but I'm told they usually just get slightly worse rather than suddenly poor oil out.

I'd also check the gearbox oil level, mine was way too full and that can only make it worse.

 

[Technopole]

Hi,
Welll I have just received a response from BMW. It leaves me with some hope, but does not make any offer! This is what it says;

"Thank you for your e-mail concerning your BMW R1200 GS. I am sorry to learn of the recent problems you have experienced with your vehicle.

I appreciate that it is frustrating to experience a fault so soon after the expiration of your vehicle's warranty. We are aware there have been a few incidents where the engine seals have required replacement. As the rubber used for the seals is classed as perishable, and not all of the failures are the result of a manufacturing defect, each case is assessed on an individual basis.

In order to ascertain if a manufacturing defect is present I would suggest that you visit your local BMW Approved Dealership and ask the technicians to submit a claim for goodwill contribution to BMW for our consideration. "

So, it's worth asking. But we will see whether they do anything later.