Gearbox leaks

[team duvet]

Other 1200 models???

Stupid question as it’s the same engine……. but what is the state of play re oil seals with the 1200 RT, RS and S models???

Anybody know any owners? have Dealers had these models in for replacement seals?

Just a thought?

TD

 

[Happyhenry]

I've been told that it happens to the other 1200s too. Though I expect that it isn't spotted as easily on the fully-faired models.

See post 40 above in this thread.

 

[Thrasher]

Oil Mist

Count me in chaps! '05 plate 10,000 miles and it started leaking at about 8k with just a slight mist - bottom of the engine now resembles that of a poorly maintained 70's Triumph! The problem was first brought to my attention by a Frenchman whilst at a rally in Dijon in May 2006 - he'd already had his done.

This is my first beemer after loads of jap race reps and I really love the bike, but having already had the discs replaced foc (bike was 5 months out of warranty then in August!) and now the mist (must get down to SBW this week for another (out of) warranty claim!), I'm seriously considering the future options (at the same time as wondering what ill will next befall the bike - battery, fuel pump, .....).

A potential ray of light for all of those that have already had the seals fixed and worrying about them leaking again - when my discs were replaced I made a remark about any future replacement, and was advised that all replacement parts also carry a 2 year warranty.


Good luck to all.

 

[talonfs]

Had my gerbox seal and front engine cover replaced last week by SBW (under warranty) on my 04 GS which I bought from them 2 months ago, done 3000 miles since I bought it.

Oil seal was pointed out by a technician at another BMW dealers.

Have only done 100 miles since replacement, but will keep an eye on it.

 

[geoff]

Oil Seals

Blimey! I thought I was hard done to as my oil seals are failing at 30,000 miles. Looks like I've had over twice the distance from them than some owners. What do BMW make them from - licorice?

 

[Our Gee]

Been following this thread with both interest and fear as to what the future holds as I am the delighted owner of a 2007 GS with only 1500 miles on. Looking at the overall design of the Bike it consists of three main lumps, ie front subframe, rear subframe and engine/tranmission to hold the lot together. Does this mean that to rectify any internal problems at the engine/tranmission junction the Bike has to be basically split in two ?. If it has to be, then this is the kind of major disassembly that IMHO may be expected on an old high milage piece of Kit but not a low mileage (lets say up to 50,000 miles)Bike built with modern materials. Has anyone who has had this work carried out either under warranty been disatisfied with the quality of the Re-Build. ie scratches on Frame etc,etc. I think that if my Bike had to be subjected to such a major re-build I would be thinking of it as very "Second Hand" !!.
Mike Tee.

 

[luckylucian]

Mike,

Think of it as lego blocks joined together, once you unclip a few pipes n wires, you un pop the lego blocks apart, fix whevers broke, and re-assemble. You just need a bit of room to do it in!

 

[Chris Terry]

Has anyone who has had this work carried out either under warranty been disatisfied with the quality of the Re-Build. ie scratches on Frame etc,etc. I think that if my Bike had to be subjected to such a major re-build I would be thinking of it as very "Second Hand" !!.
Mike Tee.

My mate and I have both had this work done (our GS's anyway) at CW and it looks like they have made a good job (that is to say there is no evidence of disassembly). The bike is made to "come apart" so there is no problem there, that said there seems to be an air of "get them out the door quick" a the BMW production plant. This is basic proven engineering that should not be causing a constant problem on a lot of 12's. BMW's quality control needs looking into.

 

[Our Gee]

Does anyone have any Pictures of a GS in the "Stripped Down for a Seal Job " state. I would be very interseted to see just whats involved.
Thanks.
Mike Tee

 

[Panzer]

Oil Leaks

If the clutch had been a wet clutch this wouldnt matter at all why did they go for a dry in the first place none of the japs do.?

 

[bumpy]

If the clutch had been a wet clutch this wouldnt matter at all why did they go for a dry in the first place none of the japs do.?

But this is essentially a car engine configuration (engine / clutch / gearbox in line) and there are very few car engines with wet clutches. Mind you there are very few car engines that leak.

 

[Panzer]

Seals

Its funny that the seals are to blame from what i have read they are breaking down and perishing surely they should make them from a material from a similar seal in a similar position that dosent break down and there are plenty of them used in industry. But seals also break down if there is bearing wear or too much movement (endfloat).

 

[Bub]

Count me in
My gearboix seal was spotted as leaking when in for something else (service i think) Seal and clutch replaced under warranty.

So , apart from the rear drive shaft, I have now had :

gearbox seal leak, Immobiliser antenae failure, fuel pump failure.
(not in that order).... but I STILL love this bike.

I recognize that as this is a mechanical, and electrical item, things will fail occaisionally. (lifes a biatch)

~~ I now just hope that since I have had these items replaced, I wont have too many problems over the next year or two. (warranty runs out in approx 1 week)......... so Im keeping my fingers crossed, while touching wood etc etc

I like the GS12, it suits me. I cant afford to buy a new bike (yet) so will hope that this one keeps going...... nearly 18000 miles from Nov 05....some good rides and times, which is what biking is about IMHO. Including showing some mates a clean pair of heels in the alps on bumpy roads....
Next bike: R1200GS (maybe).. KTM 990 ( maybe)..... Like the look of the Triumph Tiger (maybe)........ all subject to heart, not head

 

[Chris Terry]

Count me in
My gearboix seal was spotted as leaking when in for something else (service i think) Seal and clutch replaced under warranty.

So , apart from the rear drive shaft, I have now had :

gearbox seal leak, Immobiliser antenae failure, fuel pump failure.
(not in that order).... but I STILL love this bike.

I recognize that as this is a mechanical, and electrical item, things will fail occaisionally. (lifes a biatch)

~~ I now just hope that since I have had these items replaced, I wont have too many problems over the next year or two. (warranty runs out in approx 1 week)......... so Im keeping my fingers crossed, while touching wood etc etc

I like the GS12, it suits me. I cant afford to buy a new bike (yet) so will hope that this one keeps going...... nearly 18000 miles from Nov 05....some good rides and times, which is what biking is about IMHO. Including showing some mates a clean pair of heels in the alps on bumpy roads....
Next bike: R1200GS (maybe).. KTM 990 ( maybe)..... Like the look of the Triumph Tiger (maybe)........ all subject to heart, not head

Get a new battery before the warranty expires you'll need it soon.

 

[bumpy]

~~ I now just hope that since I have had these items replaced, I wont have too many problems over the next year or two. (warranty runs out in approx 1 week)......... so Im keeping my fingers crossed, while touching wood etc etc

Someone else on here was saying that each repair carries a free 2 year guarantee if carried out by a BMW dealer. Is that right?

 

[GSmonkey]

Someone else on here was saying that each repair carries a free 2 year guarantee if carried out by a BMW dealer. Is that right?

Only if you pay for the repair. If done under warranty, they only guarantee the repair to the expiry of the warranty period.

 

[Jones8447]

Gearbox leak

Just collected my bike having had the gearbox oil seals replaced.

Mine is just over 3 years old (registered Sept 04) and has done 13,500 miles. Warranty long expired but has full BMWSH.

B*W agreed to pay half of the labour costs and all of the parts as a good will claim, so it cost me £172 in total.

Apparently it was one of the gearbox seals leaking and the clutch wasn't contaminated. The technician said the new (replacement) seals that are coming through are a different colour than the old ones and he thinks this indicates a modification . He also said from the ones he's replaced he's not had any back yet but I suppose time will tell! As I contributed to the repair it is now covered by warranty for 1 year should the worst happen.

 

[birdseye]

What causes the seals to fail?

These seals are rubber constantly rubbing against a steel shaft. The shaft wears - its a funny engineering fact that often its the hard compnent that suffers wear. And its not peculiar to BMW either - i've replaced rubber seals in lots of engines (its the same seal at the end of the crank and often on the valve gear) and gearboxes. And its the same sort of seal that wears in your fork stanchions.

Various things can cause premature wear - badly machined surfaces for example. Grit as in stanchions. But you need to differentiate between catastrophioc failure which is rare, and a minor oil weap. These seals leak a tiny amount of oil from day one and it just increases usually slowly as the seal / shaft interface wears.

Cant comment on why the BMW ones seem to be wearing faster than they should though I do wonder how much is down to the engine gearbox join being so visible and people looking for the slightest problem. In other words, your car is doing the same but you cant see the small leak so you dont worry and nothing much happens.

You dont get precisely the same problem on Jap bikes because the crank runs across the frame and drive to the gearbox often is by chain.

 

[ross]

Just to add to the list, got mine back from it's yearly service and have been told that it also needs a new seal in the gearbox. Reg'd Nov 2004, 10k miles full BMW SH - does anyone think BMW would provide any kind of good will on this?

I was quoted £450 to replace the seal but may look at doing it myself.

Has anyone tried it themselves? The dealer's technician didn't seem to think it was too hard a job, just a bit time consuming.

Very disappointing to find that this is such a common problem.

Cheers, Ross.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Just to add to the list, got mine back from it's yearly service and have been told that it also needs a new seal in the gearbox. Reg'd Nov 2004, 10k miles full BMW SH - does anyone think BMW would provide any kind of good will on this?

I was quoted £450 to replace the seal but may look at doing it myself.

Has anyone tried it themselves? The dealer's technician didn't seem to think it was too hard a job, just a bit time consuming.

Very disappointing to find that this is such a common problem.

Cheers, Ross.

I did read in a recent bike magazine (eithe Bike or Ride), an article about GS's and some bigwig from BMW saying as far as he was aware all leaking gearbox seals had either been fixed under warranty or under goodwill arrangements. Might be worth trying to dig the article out.