R1200GS - OIL LEAK AT 260 MILES!!!

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boxer555

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Yes that's right, 260 miles and I have oil dripping from the back of the left cylinder somewhere where it joins the crankcase. I cant see exactly where the leak is, but it is coming off the lower rear torx bolt. Smelt burning oil when I was out for a gentle 'running in' ride, so pulled over to see 20/50 all over my boot and down the left side and dripping onto the ground. Bike is on it's way back to BMW for repair. How lucky am I having my nice new engine pulled apart before the 600 mile check?!! It may well be a short lived love affair with the GS!
I will update when I find out the cause.
Now where did I put that Honda brochure...:mad:
 
No - level was spot on and to date I havent needed to put any in.
 
judys boy

I would go for the VFR 800. Cracking bike, nearly cried when I traded mine in for the 12. Sorry to hear about your prob's, hoping that there will be no more.
And welcome to the site.:beerjug:
 
Cheers Judysboy!
BMW recovery man said that's the second new 1200 with an oil leak on the left side he has picked up in 2 days!! FFS. Should we be worried? Mind you he also said he was picking up 4 or 5 MK1 1200's every day with all sorts of problems, so this must be progress!
That aside I do like the GS very much. Comfy beast that handles like a dream. Faith to restored I'm sure..?..please.:pullface
 
Heads probably need retorquing earlier than the 600 mile point then ??
 
Sounds like the same problem I had at 700 miles.. At first I thought it was something the dealer had cocked up at the 600 mile service but it turns out it was a machining error on the left piston that caused it to require replacement. was a bit bummed out at the time but now all seems well (6500 miles)

Hope you get it sorted soon, the weathers improving :)

Steve
 
FINAL INSTALMENT!

After the bike was recovered to BMW dealer, mechanics thought they had fixed it, but on test run oil was still dripping out. They couldnt work out where it was coming from! So a complete new cylinder head had to be ordered and fitted.. this is on a bike not yet done 300 miles! 3 weeks off the road whilst Barnstormer had the bike, which was annoying to say the least. Dont get me wrong I like that dealership and will use them again, but there appears to be very little resilience in their workshop operation to deal with unexpected work outside of routine jobs booked in.
As far as the leaking engine is concerned, my view is that this type of fault amounts to a serious QA issue in the factory. I lost confidence in this machine wondering what else has not been bolted together properly and 'politely demanded' that BMW replace the bike with a brand new GS. Thankfully they agreed and are supplying me with a new bike. I took the opportunity to upgrade to a GSA which I wished I ordered in the first place, so all turned out nice. BMW Park lane were excellent in helping to sort this.
Lets hope they are slightly less rushed in the BMW factory this time due to the recession and my new bike stays in one bit.
 
boxer555 said:
After the bike was recovered to BMW dealer, mechanics thought they had fixed it, but on test run oil was still dripping out. They couldnt work out where it was coming from! So a complete new cylinder head had to be ordered and fitted.. this is on a bike not yet done 300 miles! 3 weeks off the road whilst Barnstormer had the bike, which was annoying to say the least. Dont get me wrong I like that dealership and will use them again, but there appears to be very little resilience in their workshop operation to deal with unexpected work outside of routine jobs booked in.
As far as the leaking engine is concerned, my view is that this type of fault amounts to a serious QA issue in the factory. I lost confidence in this machine wondering what else has not been bolted together properly and 'politely demanded' that BMW replace the bike with a brand new GS. Thankfully they agreed and are supplying me with a new bike. I took the opportunity to upgrade to a GSA which I wished I ordered in the first place, so all turned out nice. BMW Park lane were excellent in helping to sort this.
Lets hope they are slightly less rushed in the BMW factory this time due to the recession and my new bike stays in one bit.
Click to expand...


every cloud has a silver lining :)
 
How's the new GSA going?
BTW were you gently breaking the previous GS in or kicking its ass?
I'm extra curious as my GSA comes tomorrow:)
 
boxer555 said:
Yes that's right, 260 miles and I have oil dripping from the back of the left cylinder somewhere where it joins the crankcase. I cant see exactly where the leak is, but it is coming off the lower rear torx bolt. Smelt burning oil when I was out for a gentle 'running in' ride, so pulled over to see 20/50 all over my boot and down the left side and dripping onto the ground. Bike is on it's way back to BMW for repair. How lucky am I having my nice new engine pulled apart before the 600 mile check?!! It may well be a short lived love affair with the GS!
I will update when I find out the cause.
Now where did I put that Honda brochure...:mad:
Click to expand...

Did you buy a Honda? if not why not, get rid of the crap and buy a Jap
 
SALTY BALLS said:
Did you buy a Honda? if not why not, get rid of the crap and buy a Jap
Click to expand...

Out of the 48 bikes I've owned (including Triumph, Ducati etc), only one has let me down from new.... Honda blackbird within 4 weeks, 1700miles, needed a complete wiring loom.

Don't listen to him Boxer555 :thumb2
 
(including Triumph, Ducati etc),

lol got to love the way we all put Ducati and Triumph as paragon examples of sh*te reliability!

I think both Ducati and certainly Triumph are much better nowadays and close to BMW, the latter being far worse bikes than their badge suggests... Still love them though..
 
theop said:
(including Triumph, Ducati etc),

lol got to love the way we all put Ducati and Triumph as paragon examples of sh*te reliability!

I think both Ducati and certainly Triumph are much better nowadays and close to BMW, the latter being far worse bikes than their badge suggests... Still love them though..
Click to expand...

Actually you are quite right, both Duc's never went wrong in over two years, both the Triumphs did :blast and they don't build BWM's as well as they did in the 80 / 90s, oh, and my 1150's a keeper:thumb
 
Mateyboy No I was gently running it in below 4000rpm. I suppose I was very unlucky!
I thought about the Honda and went to J2 to have a look, but no 1300's in stock, no demo's available and the chap telling me the prices were going up!
Not impressed.
Then the email from BMW telling me they were doing the right thing and giving me a new one..... the rest will be history!
 
boxer555 said:
Yes that's right, 260 miles and I have oil dripping from the back of the left cylinder somewhere where it joins the crankcase. I cant see exactly where the leak is, but it is coming off the lower rear torx bolt. Smelt burning oil when I was out for a gentle 'running in' ride, so pulled over to see 20/50 all over my boot and down the left side and dripping onto the ground. Bike is on it's way back to BMW for repair. How lucky am I having my nice new engine pulled apart before the 600 mile check?!! It may well be a short lived love affair with the GS!
I will update when I find out the cause.
Now where did I put that Honda brochure...:mad:
Click to expand...

That's nowt .............. I had oil pissing out of my Rocket III after 20 miles:augie
 
BMW are giving you a new bike? Sorted.

Yes folks things sometimes go wrong. Especially big complex manufactured things like motorbikes. The chances are that things will either go wrong immediately or early on in the lifespan, because of some kind of manufacturing problem, or will last until they wear out.

Engineers call this the bathtub curve.

Its why you get manufacturers warranties.



As for N&F's Rocket III, I guess the oil just wanted out after he took it green laning ...? :D
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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