Leaky Panniers!!!

[gwocni]

Hi All, Just got my new 2015 GS TE equipped with a full set of Vario panniers and top box worth over a grand from the dealer. Anyhow out on my new bike with the Missus, we don't care about a skiff of rain. We sat out the downpour in a friends house over coffee. On the way back we decided to get our wet gear from the panniers "just in case".
They were wet inside the pannier (put in dry) and I was disappointed to say the least. On washing the bike the next day (by hand and no power washer) I found both panniers to be wet again........... Not very impressed at all at it takes the pleasure out of the bike purchase. They are now back with the dealer for him to investigate and he says they are not guaranteed waterproof. Well, I think, that for a grands worth of boxes they bl@@dy well should be.

Am I being unreasonable?
Should I expect this from BMW? (I am a first time BMW buyer)
Are there aftermarket boxes that fit straight on to the bike that are waterproofed to a good standard?
Am I banging my head off a wall with BMW or will they address the matter?

Sorry guy's but I have no experience of BMW.
Any Ideas, tips etc. gratefully received.

Ta
Davy.

 

[Bayman]

Davy, my experience of Vario Panniers has been very good. Just recently completed a little jaunt around France and for a long period the rain was particularly heavy, but had no ingress of water at all. I also had the older ones on an older 1200 GS again no problem. I would suggest that your panniers are "faulty" or that you did not close them properly. Hopefully you will get sorted out with the dealer, BMW are usually pretty good in dealing with "problems".

 

[Engineer]

If you wash the panniers with a hose then some water does get through the expanding sliding joint - can't be helped really when you look at the design, but I have found not much gets in unless you deliberately aim the hose at the sliding join - normal rain has never been an issue with mine, however if you have things that must remain 100% dry put them into a bag before putting them into the panniers.

PS - I would not expect them to be totally waterproof, I can't see how that design ever could be.

 

[Shep]

You can sometimes get a problem with panniers sucking in water, pannier warmed by the Sun gets a cold shower and as it cools, it sucks water past the seals. Perhaps some aftermarket pannier breathers will make somebody a fortune!

I never trust them, so pack everything in carrier bags!

 

[roadrider]

As others have mentioned they are not guaranteed waterproof. Had similar issue with mine. I bought some inner bags that are waterproof.

I certainly didn't pay anywhere near a Grand for mine .

My prev GS twin cam had Vario's and no leaks ever even in continuos downpours .

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

10 years of heavy use on my old Varios and they never leaked

Andrés

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

10 years of heavy use on my old Varios and they never leaked

Andrés

How are the KTM bread bins for water tightness or is it just Giles who has them

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

How are the KTM bread bins for water tightness or is it just Giles who has them

Ride my KTM in the rain?

Seriously though, so far so good (and mine were free )

Andres

 

[dave hendy]

Davy, my experience of Vario Panniers has been very good. Just recently completed a little jaunt around France and for a long period the rain was particularly heavy, but had no ingress of water at all. I also had the older ones on an older 1200 GS again no problem. I would suggest that your panniers are "faulty" or that you did not close them properly. Hopefully you will get sorted out with the dealer, BMW are usually pretty good in dealing with "problems".

Same experience new and old versions, get them changed!

Good luck


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[Norfolk Tiger]

Ride my KTM in the rain?

Seriously though, so far so good (and mine were free )

Andres

Good to hear they perform better than they look I'd have wanted paying to have them ( sorry couldn't resist saying it )

 

[gwocni]

Thanks guy's. The pannier on the RHS was defo rain ingress methinks but I must admit to hosing them both afterwards whilst washing the bike(after rain showers) but not directly up into the "overlap" so I don't think it was this.
The panniers were shut correctly btw.
We'll see what the dealer says and I will let you all know.

 

[batman1]

Mine have been through some storms and never let a drop in.

 

[Bem]

I have varios for 4 years and never a drop inside, including after washing.
There is a problem Huston!

 

[Popell]

Same here, 2005 Varios and never got wet - you sure the lips seals are actually in there?

 

[tunnie]

Got 2006 GS here with Vario panniers. Always been bone dry, ridden though some big storms. Never had an issue

 

[Weatherald]

I've had a 4 hour soaking in Ireland last year and just had the same experience near Mulhouse France.
Totally dry, I reckons you've not closed them correctly. Maybe trapped something.


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[Rockred]

Not a drop in all the time I have had the bike, and they are on all the time................. Oh forgot it does not rain down here.

 

[gwocni]

I've had a 4 hour soaking in Ireland last year and just had the same experience near Mulhouse France.
Totally dry, I reckons you've not closed them correctly. Maybe trapped something.

No, panniers were shut and locked correctly and empty bar two pairs of over trousers in one side...... They leaked...

Update....

As a result the dealer has offered to pay me the full price he charged (1K) or have a set of BMW pannier bags for all boxes, on the house. I felt that both of the offers were totally reasonable but I have been "put off" by the leaks. I will now get my money back and buy a set of aftermarket (maybe GIVI) boxes that I know are waterproof (hopefully)


tfl
David.

 

[gwocni]

Not a drop in all the time I have had the bike, and they are on all the time................. Oh forgot it does not rain down here.