Rear Wheel Bearing Failure

[MacJ]

Just collected my 09 GS from Benhams of Wolverhampton following service. The Bike is 2 years 6 months old with 10K on the clock.
The invoice notes read, 'Rear wheel bearing rough/play requires replacement'. Estimate for repair £420!
I was absolutely gob smacked - it's a 2 year old bike for god's sake.
Just spoken to a really nice guy at BMW service who is going to contact Benhams to see if it can be resolved. Fingers crossed.
Ironically I'd been test riding an RT today. Now let me see will I be buying another BMW???????

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Gob smacked, Seriously? So you were genuinely surprised that this happened, as in you had no clue this could ever happen or are you really just playing to the crowed?

 

[Beemerman59]

I had the same thing 6 months out of warranty. Final bill was £260 which BMW paid for under goodwill.

 

[MacJ]

Gob smacked, Seriously? So you were genuinely surprised that this happened, as in you had no clue this could ever happen or are you really just playing to the crowed?

Gob smacked as in more than a little surprised and very pissed off with BMW. I did (with justification I believe) expect a certain level of reliability as I would not have paid the premium that BMW command. Obviously I am far too optimistic in nature and should have bought a Honda.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Gob smacked as in more than a little surprised and very pissed off with BMW. I did (with justification I believe) expect a certain level of reliability as I would not have paid the premium that BMW command. Obviously I am far too optimistic in nature and should have bought a Honda.

Why are you so pissed off? Things happen, nothing is bomb proof and some things sometimes fail no matter what the cost. Mate, it's a wheel bearing failure which is probably under warranty so no real problem. I'm about to change the rear wheel bearing on mine myself at 67k so they generally last quite well..............

 

[Rasher]

Why are you so pissed off? Things happen, nothing is bomb proof and some things sometimes fail no matter what the cost. Mate, it's a wheel bearing failure which is probably under warranty so no real problem. I'm about to change the rear wheel bearing on mine myself at 67k so they generally last quite well..............

I think generally they don't last so well, others have got through 5 FD's in that mileage - having seen your bike I have no idea why it seems to be the most reliable GS ever made, either that or BMW fairies have been replacing parts while you sleep.

 

[BlueBird]

Why are you so pissed off? Things happen, nothing is bomb proof and some things sometimes fail no matter what the cost. Mate, it's a wheel bearing failure which is probably under warranty so no real problem. I'm about to change the rear wheel bearing on mine myself at 67k so they generally last quite well..............

I abused mine with wheelies,slamming down the gears etc and mine lasted to 63k and I only rebuilt it coz of paranoia,give it some stick

 

[red1]

Why are you so pissed off? Things happen, nothing is bomb proof and some things sometimes fail no matter what the cost. Mate, it's a wheel bearing failure which is probably under warranty so no real problem. I'm about to change the rear wheel bearing on mine myself at 67k so they generally last quite well..............

You are so blasé about BMW issues and how they affect owners who have spent a lot of hard earned cash buying into a supposedly premium brand.

"they generally last quite well" how much are BMW PR dept. paying you ?

And I thought it was only Ostriches that buried their heads in the sand.

 

[Dr.KC]

Why are you so pissed off? Things happen, nothing is bomb proof and some things sometimes fail no matter what the cost. Mate, it's a wheel bearing failure which is probably under warranty so no real problem. I'm about to change the rear wheel bearing on mine myself at 67k so they generally last quite well..............

Thanks God, at least there is one reliable GS around.

 

[KAYCEE]

Just had mine done for the second time. (3 1/2 years and 23000 miles)

Aquaintance has had his replaced 3 times. Last time the dealer told him that he wasn't cleaning the bike properly, and suggested that he should use a high pressure washer on the rear drive to make sure that no dirt is left to get behind the seal. WTF!!!

 

[Patventure]

Not impressed either, but....

Some of the frequent parts replacements here are horrific and my sympathy goes out to them. At the minute I'm still on the first final drive at 25k miles (2006 Adv) and I'd hope to get the 60k+ that some have mentioned. Certainly there's a pattern of poor reliability, which is one of the points of a forum like this. I guess we'd like to see the manufacturer pop a bollock when they see the stats.

One point comforting me is that a chain and sprockets kit ain't cheap (£180?), and we'd be replacing them every, say, 15k miles. Cold comfort I know, and I'm not sure where that money is just at the moment.....

 

[BBB61]

I think generally they don't last so well, others have got through 5 FD's in that mileage - having seen your bike I have no idea why it seems to be the most reliable GS ever made, either that or BMW fairies have been replacing parts while you sleep.

Can you provide us with the details of the bike that has got through five FD's in that mileage please Rasher?

 

[oldnfat]

Some of the frequent parts replacements here are horrific and my sympathy goes out to them. At the minute I'm still on the first final drive at 25k miles (2006 Adv) and I'd hope to get the 60k+ that some have mentioned. Certainly there's a pattern of poor reliability, which is one of the points of a forum like this. I guess we'd like to see the manufacturer pop a bollock when they see the stats.

One point comforting me is that a chain and sprockets kit ain't cheap (£180?), and we'd be replacing them every, say, 15k miles. Cold comfort I know, and I'm not sure where that money is just at the moment.....

Good point on the chain and sprocket...flip side of the coin is you are not paying for a complex shaft drive when you buy the bike in the first place and you expect to relace them.

Just come back from a long trip in France and bike goes in for a 12K service shortly. Whining noise from the back had increased, particualrly bad conering (pretty sure it wasn't Mrs Oldnfat on the pillion)....hoping it was the tyres not he FD going. If it is I too will be "surprised and an disappointed".

 

[Rasher]

Can you provide us with the details of the bike that has got through five FD's in that mileage please Rasher?

There was one in an FD failure topic that I think had got through four in 50k, and then some chap the other day was happy with his machine that had got through five in something like 75k.

A lot of owners have reported multiple failures, and many bikes have had low mileage failures, so to me 67k looks quite rare, although it should be fairly typical, if that was the average the cost would at least be comparable to chain & sprockets and without the extra hassle of chain maintanence not so bad.

I would guess most will fail before 50k, but it is the fact GS ownership is such a lottery that annoys me, sure some bikes like Sgt's are bloody reliable, others just repeatedly break down, perhaps Forest Gump should have said "Life is like buying a BMW GS"

 

[cookie]

Can you provide us with the details of the bike that has got through five FD's in that mileage please Rasher?

there was a guy saying he'd had 5 in 86K, i think.

found the link now.

seems some blame must go to the dealer that "fixed" the problem, but it's not very clear.

 

[Spout]

One point comforting me is that a chain and sprockets kit ain't cheap (£180?), and we'd be replacing them every, say, 15k miles. ....

FD bearing replaced at 30K, cost £100 (quality independant).

Saved myself £260 then and all the hassle of looking after chain and sprockets.

 

[alex_rsa]

There are some higher mileage ones around (I think so in my case). I have no record of an FD change (unless Tim Cullis knows better) which means mine was replaced at 68000 miles with no issues, it was still working fine when replaced.

BMW replaced my FD under warentee as the hub flange around the wheel bolts had cracked around all 5 bolts. Hopefully this one works as well as the first one!

 

[bsogri]

REAR DRIVE FAILURES

MY MATES GS 1200 2007 FINAL DRIVE FAILED AT 22000 MILES IT WAS REPAIRED BY BMW AND LASTED ONE WEEK AND HAD A MAJOR OIL LEAK RUINED HOLIDAY IN WALES AND WAS RETURNED TO DEALER ON TRUCK AND SEALS REPLACED
TWO DAYS LATER GUESS WHAT ANOTHER MAJOR OILLEAK WHICH COULD HAVE HAD HIM OFF AS IT WENT ALLOVER REAR TYRE

AFTER MUCH HASSLE A NEW REAR DRIVE WAS FITTED AND MY MATE WAS NEARLY HAPPY BUT HAVING LOST FAITH IN BIKE/DEALER DECIDED TO SELL THE BIKE AND NEVER GET ANOTHER BM ETC ETC

THE BIKE WAS SOLD TO ANOTHER MATE OF MINE WHICH NOTICED THAT THERE WAS ROUGHNESS AND A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, PLUS A BIT PLAY IN WHEEL,
THIS REAR DRIVE HAD ONLY DONE 4000 MILES SINCE BEING REPLACED LESS THAN 9 MONTHS EARLIER
BACK TO BMW DEALERSHIP WHO TOTALLY REFUSED ANY HELP AS THE BIKE HAD BEEN SOLD ON FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER EVEN THO IT HAD BEEN SERVOCED THERE, EXCUSE IT NEDED SERVICE [4000 MILES AFTER BEING SERVICED BULLSHIT]
SURELY A £1000 REPLACEMNT PART HAS SOME SORT OF GUARANTEE
ANYWAY AS WE WERE GOING TO POLAND THE NEXT WEEK WE STRIPPED THE DRIVE DOWN AND REPACED TWO BEARINGS,2 OILSEALS AND LO AND BEHOLD ALL THE NOISE/PLAY WAS GONE

HE STILL CAN'T BELEIVE HOW HE HAS BEEN TREATED BY OUR LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND WONDERS WHY THEY DIDN'T JUST REPLACE IT AS THEY GET PAYED FOR WARRANTY WORK SURELY

HAVING RBUILT OVER 15 UNITS I HAVE FOUND IT S THE MAIN INNER BEARING THAT WEARS BUT AS THE UNITS ARE STRIPPED OUT I REPLACE BOTH BEARINGS INCLUDING OILSEALS AND O'RING AS A MATTER OF COURSE.

HAVING MADE SOME TOOLING TO STRIP AND REFURBISH THE REAR DRIVES

I CAN NOW OFFER MY SERVICES ON A 1/2 DAY TURNAROND FOR A REBUILD

I REPLACE THE OUTER,INNER & BEARINGS,OUTER &INNER OILSEALS PLUS O'RING AND OIL FOR £225 PLUS POSTAGE

I AM IN THE NORTHEAST AND CAN BE CONTACTED ON

E MAIL [email protected]
Phone 0191 5220217

 

[red1]

Best of luck with the rebuild business bsogri, but according to the BMW PR machine (alias Sgt Bilko) it hardly ever happens so you'll be out of business soon

 

[seahorse]

It would appear there is a bit of a cottage industry developing for FD rebuilds. There are probably three or four guys on this site alone now offering their services. Which suggests that the people saying it is an over reported issue and only happens to a small percentage of bikes are burying their heads in the sand.