GSA screen fracturing

[Deleted account 230818001]

Hi all, I know this topic's been touched on before but this time it's a belter.

The screen on my '09 GSA started to fracture around the lower retainers, "nothing new" I hear you say, "over tightening" you also say.

BUT, I had a new screen fitted today (those fractures really did piss me off) by my local BMW dealer.

Rode home through the pissing rain, only about 8 miles though, and guess what ? Two tiny hairline fractures in my new screen, FECK !!

OK, I'm going back to see what's what, but feckin 'ell, wot de fuk ? BMW shite ? Or just one of those things ?

 

[Goose]

Hi all, I know this topic's been touched on before but this time it's a belter.

The screen on my '09 GSA started to fracture around the lower retainers, "nothing new" I hear you say, "over tightening" you also say.

BUT, I had a new screen fitted today (those fractures really did piss me off) by my local BMW dealer.

Rode home through the pissing rain, only about 8 miles though, and guess what ? Two tiny hairline fractures in my new screen, FECK !!

OK, I'm going back to see what's what, but feckin 'ell, wot de fuk ? BMW shite ? Or just one of those things ?

Now THIS is very, very interesting!!

Took my new GSA back to dealer - also noticed fine hairline cracks and was told that those are "mould marks" and that they all have it...........

interesting to see what your response is going to be....

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

OK, I've had the usual Friday night red wine 'nd garlic, but "mould marks" my hairy arse !

These fractures look like the bastard offspring of the ones in my previous screen.

I took a good look at the used GSA's on the dealers forecourt and about half had some fractures whilst the rest didn't appear to have any, but it was pissing down so the tiny fractures would be hard to spot.

IF they are mould marks they won't get any worse or more numerous, if they do, what'll be the excuse then ?

The crazing on my original screen did look like stress fractures and could have been caused by over-tightening, but on a new screen with new retaining fixtures ? Fitted by a BMW technician ?

 

[Goose]

OK, I've had the usual Friday night red wine 'nd garlic, but "mould marks" my hairy arse !

These fractures look like the bastard offspring of the ones in my previous screen.

I took a good look at the used GSA's on the dealers forecourt and about half had some fractures whilst the rest didn't appear to have any, but it was pissing down so the tiny fractures would be hard to spot.

IF they are mould marks they won't get any worse or more numerous, if they do, what'll be the excuse then ?

The crazing on my original screen did look like stress fractures and could have been caused by over-tightening, but on a new screen with new retaining fixtures ? Fitted by a BMW technician ?

that's what I thought as well matey!........... my left-side winglet also shows stress cracks........ I'm really not happy about this - especially with the huge funds we lay out for what's supposed to be a superior product.
Will make sure it gets logged on my VIN when the annual service is done.

 

[Jonnybiscuit]

.... my left-side winglet also shows stress cracks........

Common problem easily avoided. Simply replace the plastic washers with stainless and then the through bush can't compress the rubber grommet. I've told a couple of Dealers and they both agreed, but neither would be following the idea through ('cos they make money on warranty work )

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

Common problem easily avoided. Simply replace the plastic washers with stainless and then the through bush can't compress the rubber grommet. I've told a couple of Dealers and they both agreed, but neither would be following the idea through ('cos they make money on warranty work )

Thanks for the info it gives me something constructive to say when I go back to the dealer.

I'm going to ask for another new screen and suggest that the washers be replaced with stainless ones. My bike's no longer under any warranty and I'm guessing that the new, but fractured, screen will be the dealers problem

 

[PETER152]

Common problem easily avoided. Simply replace the plastic washers with stainless and then the through bush can't compress the rubber grommet. I've told a couple of Dealers and they both agreed, but neither would be following the idea through ('cos they make money on warranty work )

My GSA screen has these mould marks in it from new and I have checked a local BMW dealer and all the new bikes have these marks in the screen. (zero miles on the clock) I have to admit they do look like cracks. My screen came fitted with a stainless steel washer with spacer (like a top hat with a hole in it) so you cannot overtighten them. Hope this helps.

 

[Wapping]

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

My GSA screen has these mould marks in it from new and I have checked a local BMW dealer and all the new bikes have these marks in the screen. (zero miles on the clock) I have to admit they do look like cracks. My screen came fitted with a stainless steel washer with spacer (like a top hat with a hole in it) so you cannot overtighten them. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info, curiouser and curiouser, but my screen only has the rubber washer.

The holed top hat sounds like an ideal solution though.

 

[PETER152]

The things one does on a Saturday night.

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

The things one does on a Saturday night.

Still raining up here, otherwise I might have done the same.

Yup, that's what mine looks like too.

So, is that a mould mark ? 'Cos it looks like a fracture to me, especially as the replaced screen had about half a dozen longer ones all radiating away from the retaining point.

 

[Jonnybiscuit]

......My screen came fitted with a stainless steel washer with spacer (like a top hat with a hole in it) so you cannot overtighten them........

I was only referring to the winglets, but my fix sounds like what you describe on the screen too. So maybe they did listen after all ?

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

So, is it just me being picky here ?

I've just paid £220 to have a new screen fitted and it's got one of these marks/ fractures on each fixing point. Both in slightly different positions and both running at different angles.

Are they common ? Is it acceptable ?

I'm just concerned that I'm over- reacting and that I may blot my copy book, with my local dealer, over nothing.

Can you tell I'm more sober tonight ? well ... 'ish

 

[1157]

Mould marks

Tis true ,I've just got a new x3black and got home with it and thought the exact same thing ,so went back to the dealer and checked out other new bikes in showroom and all screens had these two marks on near fixing point so it does come as standard an not an optional extra !!!

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

Tis true ,I've just got a new x3black and got home with it and thought the exact same thing ,so went back to the dealer and checked out other new bikes in showroom and all screens had these two marks on near fixing point so it does come as standard an not an optional extra !!!

Oh bloomin 'eck, we've all bin 'ad

 

[Gonzo]

I'm just concerned that I'm over- reacting and that I may blot my copy book, with my local dealer, over nothing.

Are you serious? "Blot your copybook?"

Assuming your behaviour is rationale and that of a sane man, why should you have to tread on eggshells whilst handing your money over to a dealer? FFS this is why so many dealers get away with it.

I remember ( some years ago now) the same sort of perversely balanced relationship with Cannons in Essex that made me go elsewhere. I was not a part of their "clique" who bent over every time they went in there and in return got to hand over loads of cash without question and call Bill by his first name.

I went somewhere that treated me like a customer not a muppet.

Now Honda have a bike to rival the GS I'll be testing out their attitude this summer too. The BMW dealer and corporate attitude (with some exceptions i admit) still stinks.

 

[Deleted account 230818001]

Are you serious? "Blot your copybook?"

Assuming your behaviour is rationale and that of a sane man, why should you have to tread on eggshells whilst handing your money over to a dealer? FFS this is why so many dealers get away with it.
I remember ( some years ago now) the same sort of perversely balanced relationship with Cannons in Essex that made me go elsewhere. I was not a part of their "clique" who bent over every time they went in there and in return got to hand over loads of cash without question and call Bill by his first name.
I went somewhere that treated me like a customer not a muppet.
Now Honda have a bike to rival the GS I'll be testing out their attitude this summer too. The BMW dealer and corporate attitude (with some exceptions i admit) still stinks.

I completely agree with what you're saying, but I often over-react and wanted to be sure that this isn't another case of me being a knob head

 

[Goose]

in my opinion, I have been fed so much bullshit by BMW on my previous bikes with statements like "never heard of this problem before" .... "they all do it" .... "yours must be the only one that has the problem" .....

no fecking wonder we're a suspicious lot when it comes to being finickey.....?

the above answers I've had before on the following....

- cluncking of the older gearbox (2009 model)
- rust of the engine crash bars after only 600 miles
- serious vibration on the bike - handlebars & pegs
- warped front disc brakes
- serious backfiring, pinging due to exceptionally lean A/F mixtures

so when it comes to something small on a top-of-the-range bike we spend a helluva lot of our hard earned cash on..... I feel entitles to ask questions no matter how trivial..

 

[PETER152]

Just a thought, could it just be a German engineer with a wicked sense of humour