Greg Masters said:
John
I think from where you are, you do what you've done. you're not a confident mechanic and you may have an aversion to mchanical risk. So you shove it in to the dealer to sort. That's not what I'd do, but it's what you did and that's fine.
But I just don't understand the next bit. The dealer gets it running and it doesn't go bang. They haven't found anything wrong yet they're fitting a new engine - and the insurance is paying!!
For you it's a great deal. No loss of no claims and a new donkey for your mount.
Greg
Hey Greg, the only thing I would dispute on the first part is that I am a reasonable mechanic, my reasoning for not touching it is that I'm not a BMW qualified mechanic and therefor anything I do to a bike that is less than 6 month old will only invalidate any warranty. If I decide to sell it when it gets back on the road, the full warranty it will get from BMW or the insurance is going to be worth a lot more than a nod and a wink from me that I know what I'm doing... honest guv
On the second part, they have found something wrong with it... firstly it wont start properly/easily, secondly it wont idle properly, finally there is a knocking when it is cold - this is all second hand information and having not personally heard it running I can't comment further.
The choices that have been presented are pay for a new engine or pay for the investigation work and potentially find you need a new engine anyway. As I said, we've been advised that the end cost is the same either way.
The insurance company has opted for the middle option, we figure that there is possible a bent con-rod, we've been told you can't buy con-rods for the 12GSA engine (Lou I take you point, but its the dealer buying not me) so an inspection of the top end has been authorised and a short block engine has been ordered.
Personally I don't care who is paying; I even considered paying out of my own pocket, but what is the point in fully comp insurance if I do that?
I would still like to know what has failed on that engine as I don't think that what it went through should cause such a major failure as to require a whole engine. I am just going to have to wait for the feedback from the assessor once the heads are off.
I hope this doesnt come across as me being snotty or arsey, I'm just trying to get the facts out so you are all in a better position to judge if you end up doing anything similar in the future, which I hope you don't
At least this way the complete motor will have the remainder of the manufacturers 24 month warranty and LL gets some piece of mind 
