Oil blowout and flat battery

Villanjc

Villanjc

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Hi
Bike is a 2013 GS lc
I am on a trip through france and I was stuck in traffic, there was a puff of smoke and an oily smell. When we looked there was oil on the stand and crash bars. We could not see where it had come from. We wiped it away and carried on . Engine temp was fine. But then the red warning triangle and battery sign came on. We stopped checked the manual. Then had to bump start the bike. We quickly rode into town and when we rode over bumps all the lights, dashboard etc, went off and then come back on. The bike literally stopped outside a hotel which is where I am now.
Any ideas anyone ?
 
Not sure where the oil has come from but it does sounds like an alternator/voltage regulator failure , check it out best you can regarding where the oil has come from (and any loose connections) but in this case it does sound like recovery insurance will be your friend
 
Failed alternator, which is.now an engine out job.
Usless service frpm motorrad evasion in narbonee.

One 2013 lc for.sale and one 15 plate R1200R for sale
BMW have lost a long standing and loyal customer today.
 
Villanjc said:
Failed alternator, which is.now an engine out job.
Usless service frpm motorrad evasion in narbonee.

One 2013 lc for.sale and one 15 plate R1200R for sale
BMW have lost a long standing and loyal customer today.
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Well, judging by the lack of response to this, it would seem that nobody seems to be bothered. Maybe most bikes are on a PCP and extended warranty.
My own bike is a paid for Sept 2013 without any form of warranty so this does raise my concern levels.

Any news on your plight ?
 
How many miles has it done if it's reasonable maybe it will be fixed as good will

Terry
 
Villanjc said:
Failed alternator, which is.now an engine out job.
Usless service frpm motorrad evasion in narbonee.

One 2013 lc for.sale and one 15 plate R1200R for sale
BMW have lost a long standing and loyal customer today.
Click to expand...

So are you selling your bikes because of one breakdown or because in the 11 hours since you posted on the internet they hadn't fixed it?
 
A modern bike shouln't have a major failure, if it was my GS it would up for sale too !
 
WaterMonkey said:
So are you selling your bikes because of one breakdown or because in the 11 hours since you posted on the internet they hadn't fixed it?
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No my friend. I am selling it because they cant get the part for two weeks, because it never fails lol, and its two days to fix if they did have the part.
Lets be clear this is an Alternator. The bike has been serviced at a BMW dealer since new.and has 18k miles on it.

I am driving a fiat panda to.cherbourg great holiday.
Thank you BMW GS LC
 
mrtee43 said:
Well, judging by the lack of response to this, it would seem that nobody seems to be bothered. Maybe most bikes are on a PCP and extended warranty.
My own bike is a paid for Sept 2013 without any form of warranty so this does raise my concern levels.

Any news on your plight ?
Click to expand...

It is very annoying indeed to lose a holiday for anyone that has experienced it. I had a rear drive gone completely back in 2009 on my then 05 hex. Partly my fault as I knew the drive had play and was leaking and decided to take a 2k mile holiday despite it and change after. Lesson learnt.

BUT: extra cost aside (peanuts in the grand scheme of things) the PCP deals of today are very much worth considering regardless of financial status. I could also buy my incoming TB outright but decided on PCP. Gives you a very comfy 2-4y period to just hand it back for whatever reason. The K1600 I m handing back a year early is proof. Never went wrong (in all its 3500 miles), but was too cumbersome for me thus remained unused. I had it garaged and during the winter of 14/15 I did not even look at it once let alone start it for 8 months. Can't bear thinking outright owning such a white elephant...

Hard to argue owning a car/bike today without a deal/lease etc. Makes 0 sense as most products incl all our beloved bikes are "lifed" /designed for very finite time. Just look at a dashboard/infotainment system of any premium expensive car of 10-12years ago. An 04 Carrera looks older and more ancient than an 80s one. There is zero timelessness nowadays. Last timeless Bmw bikes were the r1150s.

So get the pcp, have fun, enjoy the toy and chuck it back when done. You only live once after all. My two pence.
 
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Bought my GSA te for cash, when it was playing up was advised by the dealer that I would have been better off on a PCP deal as I would have been excused payments (ie a full month grace for each part of a month in which I had issues)
 
theop said:
It is very annoying indeed to lose a holiday for anyone that has experienced it. I had a rear drive gone completely back in 2009 on my then 05 hex. Partly my fault as I knew the drive had play and was leaking and decided to take a 2k mile holiday despite it and change after. Lesson learnt.

BUT: extra cost aside (peanuts in the grand scheme of things) the PCP deals of today are very much worth considering regardless of financial status. I could also buy my incoming TB outright but decided on PCP. Gives you a very comfy 2-4y period to just hand it back for whatever reason. The K1600 I m handing back a year early is proof. Never went wrong (in all its 3500 miles), but was too cumbersome for me thus remained unused. I had it garaged and during the winter of 14/15 I did not even look at it once let alone start it for 8 months. Can't bear thinking outright owning such a white elephant...

Hard to argue owning a car/bike today without a deal/lease etc. Makes 0 sense as most products incl all our beloved bikes are "lifed" /designed for very finite time. Just look at a dashboard/infotainment system of any premium expensive car of 10-12years ago. An 04 Carrera looks older and more ancient than an 80s one. There is zero timelessness nowadays. Last timeless Bmw bikes were the r1150s.

So get the pcp, have fun, enjoy the toy and chuck it back when done. You only live once after all. My two pence.
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Sorry, that's just rubbish. An 1150 looked incredibly dated 6 or 7 years ago. It's now looking 'classic' due to the passage of time and rose tinted glasses. Same goes for an 80's Porsche.

You can keep any bike or car on the road if you want to, and the more modern it is the cheaper it will be.
 
Villanjc said:
No my friend. I am selling it because they cant get the part for two weeks, because it never fails lol, and its two days to fix if they did have the part.
Lets be clear this is an Alternator. The bike has been serviced at a BMW dealer since new.and has 18k miles on it.

I am driving a fiat panda to.cherbourg great holiday.
Thank you BMW GS LC
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So what failed, the breather wheel? I'm trying to figure out what would cause an oil leak since the stator is contained in the gearbox housing/cover.
 
Whatever the issue or wherever the blame, I'm sorry to hear that it screwed your holiday up.

Everyone seems busier than ever nowadays and we need breaks. Better luck next time.
 
sagalout said:
Sorry, that's just rubbish. An 1150 looked incredibly dated 6 or 7 years ago. It's now looking 'classic' due to the passage of time and rose tinted glasses. Same goes for an 80's Porsche.

You can keep any bike or car on the road if you want to, and the more modern it is the cheaper it will be.
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Lol you sure mate £1000 plus to change an Alternator lol. Modern can be a very definite step backwards
 
Well.....that may be the exception, and I agree it's not always better, but then you had the same issue with a starter motor in an 80's Kawasaki 900 (which triumph copied in their 90's bikes)
 
Lots of bikes will never have alternator trouble in their whole life but if your unlucky and it fails your looking at big money to put it right.

Whoever designed the bike to need engine out to change the alternator should hang their head in shame.
 
Goldfinger said:
Lots of bikes will never have alternator trouble in their whole life but if your unlucky and it fails your looking at big money to put it right.

Whoever designed the bike to need engine out to change the alternator should hang their head in shame.
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It was either an engine out for a clutch (like before) or an alternator presumably... They had to put something behind the engine and clearly the clutch ( because of all associated output shaft leaks that spoiled it) was moved in front for easier access. It is far more likely to need a clutch replaced than an alternator, isn't it?
 
In my experience of cars and bikes the alternator is more likely than the clutch to fail without giving any warning.

Surely it's possible to design the engine so that access to the alternator can be gained without having to take the engine out?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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