R1200 GS Adventure engine defect caused sudden engine failure

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CHYYUEH

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R1200 GS Adventure engine defect caused sudden engine failure

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MODEL YEAR : 2007
DISPATCH DATE : AUG 2006
WAS MANUFACTURED IN : FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY


engine failure that I experienced while riding a BMW R1200 GS Adventure (2006) motorcycle on the highway on November 30, 2008. The engine failure was total and I lost power suddenly which led to a very dangerous situation. I had to have the motorcycle towed to the BMW service center in Taoyuan, Taiwan. On December 6, 2008, the mechanics at the BMW service center took apart the engine and discovered that it had extensive damage. After inspecting the engine, the mechanics surmised that the engine failure was caused by the breaking off and being thrust into the engine, causing massive damage. Several engine parts were destroyed and turned into small fragments. I have taken several pictures of the engine at my blog.

kevin Chen (Bear) / Taiwan

[email protected]

http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!Yuv6gHqZFQFdcyghR3K5UeMNbw--/article?mid=2559&prev=-1&next=2519
 
CHYYUEH said:
R1200 GS Adventure engine defect caused sudden engine failure

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..., the mechanics surmised that the engine failure was caused by the breaking off and being thrust into the engine, causing massive damage. Several engine parts were destroyed and turned into small fragments. I have taken several pictures of the engine at my blog.

...
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!Yuv6gH...ghR3K5UeMNbw--
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Glad to hear you are OK, but curious to know what broke off and was thrust into the engine ?
BTW, the link to your blog does not seem to work?
 
Yet another classic case of an R1200 engine right-hand cylinder dropping an exhaust valve. There have been several reported cases of this, and for some reason it is always the right hand cylinder exhaust valve heads that seem to snap off. The only way to determine the exact failure mode is to check the camshaft timing before engine stripdown, then carry out analysis of the fracture surface of the failed component(s). A scanning electron microscope could be used for detailed metallurgical analysis for inclusions at the fracture surface. Do you know any metallurgists ??

I personally think that for some reason the right hand cyclinder runs hotter, resulting in metal fatigue of the exhaust valve stem at the change in cross section where it meets the valve head. Thats a guess and not based on any data or evidence (other than another set of photos of the same old fault on a BuMW themed website). There could also be a metallurgical reason eg poor materials quality control at the foundry, stress-raiser at the fracture surface (due to machining/surface finish) or material inclusions within the failed component (microscopic flaws in the metal).

Why does it never seem to be the left hand cylinder that suffers from valve failure ??:nenau
 
Pukmeister said:
Yet another classic case of an R1200 engine right-hand cylinder dropping a valve.

Why does it never seem to be the left hand cylinder that suffers from valve failure ??:nenau
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Because BWM sell 1200's to short arses who can't get the bike on the centre stand like they should- causing oil starvation on the RH pot for a few critical seconds after its started (and so often revved up ! :eek: :blast )
 
Fanum said:
Because BWM sell 1200's to short arses who can't get the bike on the centre stand like they should- causing oil starvation on the RH pot for a few critical seconds after its started (and so often revved up ! :eek: :blast )
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Sorry Bill but that makes little sense as the oil pickup must still be immersed in the sump and oil pump is still primed. I can't believe that BM would sell a bike which has to be started only on the centrestand. Agreed that an owner shouldn't rev their engine immediately after starting until the oil pressure had had a chance to build and lubricate the entire engine before it goes on load/revs.
 
Pukmeister said:
Sorry Bill but that makes little sense as the oil pickup must still be immersed in the sump and oil pump is still primed. I can't believe that BM would sell a bike which has to be started only on the centrestand.
.
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:DI was hoping that Bill was making a joke there:eek:
 
I hope he was, but you never can tell.;)

The fact that a good few 1200's have had this same fault (including a friend of mines) makes me a little concerned about this particular issue.

Don't want to tempt fate, I hope that after 34,000 miles mine would have let go by now if it was going to?
 
Pukmeister said:
Sorry Bill but that makes little sense as the oil pickup must still be immersed in the sump and oil pump is still primed. I can't believe that BM would sell a bike which has to be started only on the centrestand. Agreed that an owner shouldn't rev their engine immediately after starting until the oil pressure had had a chance to build and lubricate the entire engine before it goes on load/revs.
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So you can't start the bike on the sidestand?

How long do you have to wait before you can "rev" (i.e. move off) the bike after you started?
 
Indecisive said:
So you can't start the bike on the sidestand?
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Of course you can.

Indecisive said:
How long do you have to wait before you can "rev" (i.e. move off) the bike after you started?
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Give it a couple of seconds to settle down after a cold start and to allow the hydraulic camchain tensioners to pump up. Like any machine, it's best treated with respect and mechanical sympathy eg don't rev the tits off it until its had a chance to warm up a bit from cold.
 
Indecisive said:
So you can't start the bike on the sidestand?

How long do you have to wait before you can "rev" (i.e. move off) the bike after you started?
Click to expand...

Not only that, Tom - you have to keep the bike upright when you corner, otherwise you run the risk of total destruction. :rolleyes:

It would also be a benefit if you let the engine idle for 5 minutes after starting - and if you feel the urge to "rev" it - just pretend to twist the throttle and make "VROOM-VROOM" noises with your helmet on - no-one will be able to see your lips move, and you'll still give the impression of being a hardened biker. :D

Al :thumb
 
Getting back to the original problem, how much do the parts cost to repair such damage? Labour would be my own if needed (well out of warranty now).

Piston, Barrel, Head casting, Valves, gaskets etc. Not cheap I guess ??
 
Blackal said:
Not only that, Tom - you have to keep the bike upright when you corner, otherwise you run the risk of total destruction.
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That's what I do now. I don't know why people want to lean their bikes at all. It's also good to have those bits on your tyres at the edges when you change them :D

Blackal said:
It would also be a benefit if you let the engine idle for 5 minutes after starting - and if you feel the urge to "rev" it - just pretend to twist the throttle and make "VROOM-VROOM" noises with your helmet on - no-one will be able to see your lips move, and you'll still give the impression of being a hardened biker. :D

Al :thumb
Click to expand...


Yes .. I remember seeing you do that at a GSer event. I thought you were a twat at the time, but I now understand the "mechanical" logic behind it :thumb2


:comfort
 
Blackal said:
It would also be a benefit if you let the engine idle for 5 minutes after starting - and if you feel the urge to "rev" it - just pretend to twist the throttle and make "VROOM-VROOM" noises with your helmet on - no-one will be able to see your lips move, and you'll still give the impression of being a hardened biker. :D

Al :thumb
Click to expand...

Or you could just thrash it from cold and see if it goes bang. Surely the comprehensive warranty covers it if anything breaks.:rolleyes:
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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