Need to replace engine cover

[Vleis]

Has anybody replaced the engine cover for 1200GS? – The part on the front of the engine where the notorious bubbling is a known problem

The first owner never had this done under warrantee and BMW is quoting me £120 just for the labour. Thinking I can probably get the tools for that amount of money (need a new set anyway) and do it myself.

Just want to see if there is anything I should know before heading down this route.

Cheers

 

[Big Lee]

Mr Bodge-a-job here would probably give it a rub down & spray it silver in situ After all, it`s just gonna go again

 

[radrod]

do you think sand blasting off the paint and buffing it would remove the corrosion. Then what if it were to be zinc primered before re-painting again? What are your guys's thoughts on that.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

£120

They are kidding, surely.................

When mine goes again (out of warranty now) I'll get it blasted and Smoothrite it. Their silver should be a pretty good match to BMWs but I reckon black might look quite good?

Andres

 

[Captain GSA]

Engine cover

Guys, Insist on getting this done under warranty(if still valid). I have spoken to a number of GS owners on this matter who have had the work done by their dealership under warranty with no fuss at all. BMW are aware of the problems and have records of the complaints on this matter. Some dealerships say no because it's alot easier for them to do so but will in the end rectify it free of charge.

 

[Andy Davies]

When mine was replaced under warranty, I soaked the foam insert with a protective wax substance to make it closed cell. I wonder if water saturated foam is the catalyst that makes the cover corrode. What is it for? Any detriment to removing it altogether?

Andy

 

[Vleis]

Yes 120 labour and another 130 for the parts. I can’t see that taking more than an hour – so at 120 an hour I must maybe change jobs and see if the let me fit engine covers I have put in request to get the parts paid by BMW as I am paying for the labour, so will see what comes out of that…

I could be wrong on the actual time needed, that’s we I though I would get some feedback here. I still think the money quoted and the fact that after how many years in the market they actually developed a part that does this is ridiculous.

From some of the comments above it does not sound if the problem sorted.
Andy if you are talking about soaking the foam bit it does not sound like it is – what’s the use to replace it then (but I hate it when I see it!!!).

 

[Vleis]

Yes 120 labour and another 130 for the parts. I can’t see that taking more than an hour – so at 120 an hour I must maybe change jobs and see if the let me fit engine covers I have put in request to get the parts paid by BMW as I am paying for the labour, so will see what comes out of that…

I could be wrong on the actual time needed, that’s we I though I would get some feedback here. I still think the money quoted and the fact that after how many years in the market they actually developed a part that does this is ridiculous.

From some of the comments above it does not sound if the problem sorted.
Andy if you are talking about soaking the foam bit it does not sound like it is – what’s the use to replace it then (but I hate it when I see it!!!).

Sorry - early morning, missed a word or 2, let’s try again…

Yes 120 labour and another 130 for the parts. I can’t see that taking more than an hour – so at 120 an hour I must maybe change jobs and see if they let me fit engine covers I have put in a request to get the parts paid by BMW as I am paying for the labour, so will see what comes out of that…

I could be wrong on the actual time needed, that’s why I though I would get some feedback here. I still think the money quoted and the fact that after how many years in the market they actually developed a part that does this is ridiculous.

From some of the comments above it does not sound that the problem is actually sorted out.
Andy if you are talking about soaking the foam bit it does not sound like it is sorted – what’s the use to replace it then (but I hate it when I see it!!!)

 

[Davy F]

I had to take my front cover off recently, and even with having to remove the cross member of the crash bars, it only took about ten minutes. So £120 quote for labour is a tad expensive IMO. Seems like they're you.

 

[Phil Clarke]

Outtamuch - forget silver smoothrite - it wont stick to aluminium it looks rubbish and will bubble and flake off due to the engine heat.

Zinc primering also wont work on hot aluminium. Something like Sperex VHT alluminium engine paint may work but if you have gone to the trouble of removing it to repiant then get it powder coated.

Mines just about to get replaced under warranty (along with RH rocker cover). If it happens again out of warranty I'm gonna get it powder coated = no more problem.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Outtamuch - forget silver smoothrite - it wont stick to aluminium it looks rubbish and will bubble and flake off due to the engine heat.

.

Good to know - thanks

Andres

 

[NeverRodeBefore]

As it happens, mine is having a new cover fitted next Friday. I called in at Williams in Manchester and the service lady tapped away at the computer and said "no problem we can do that next week".

The only thing they wanted to see was correct service stamps in the manual. My bike has less than 5000 miles on it and the warranty is about to expire at the end of this month... £659 for 12 months and it doesn't cover corrosion! The recovery option is £130 on its own, but I have a multi vehicle policy with Green Flag that covers bikes as well.

Anyway, back to the engine cover... Apparently Williams remove the foam rubber inserts on initial assembly. So, if Rainbow didn't remove it, Williams will not refit it when they fit the cover.

So in 2 years of it's existence, it has had a rear shock failure, brake pump/servo failure, and a new engine cover.. is this perhaps one of the better ones?

 

[birdseye]

Mines just about to get replaced under warranty (along with RH rocker cover). If it happens again out of warranty I'm gonna get it powder coated = no more problem.

Sorry but you're kidding yourself. No coating will stick to ally for ever. Once the coating is punctured in some place (a stone for example) the corrosion will spread from there and the expansion that occurs when the ally oxides etc are formed simply peels off any coating there is.

The best answer is to anodise and then polish regularly. But that will look odd to say the least with the rest of the ally painted. So maybe just prime with zinc chromate etching primer, undercoat with epoxy and paint with silver over the top.

Its not just a BMW fault. Look at painted ally on Jap bikes and you will find exactly the same problem. Mostly you dont notice it because most jap bikes are at least partially faired.

 

[bustupbiker]

As it happens, mine is having a new cover fitted next Friday. I called in at Williams in Manchester and the service lady tapped away at the computer and said "no problem we can do that next week".

The only thing they wanted to see was correct service stamps in the manual. My bike has less than 5000 miles on it and the warranty is about to expire at the end of this month... £659 for 12 months and it doesn't cover corrosion! The recovery option is £130 on its own, but I have a multi vehicle policy with Green Flag that covers bikes as well.

Anyway, back to the engine cover... Apparently Williams remove the foam rubber inserts on initial assembly. So, if Rainbow didn't remove it, Williams will not refit it when they fit the cover.

So in 2 years of it's existence, it has had a rear shock failure, brake pump/servo failure, and a new engine cover.. is this perhaps one of the better ones?

***is this perhaps one of the better ones? ***

I think mine beats yours,, naa! naa! ne! naa! Naaaa!
Only had one part replaced on my out of warranty 12, the FD at 3000miles.
Never missed a beat and is the best bike i have ever had in 40 years.
Oh! sorry i do have a little paint off near one of the enginge cover screws
but you have to look hard to find it.
Warranty warehouse do a good cover try them, i will be doing my warranty with them this week, mate sells cars and says the trade use them a lot.
Lyn.