Warranty Woes

[Roymondo]

A little over 3 weeks ago I took my GSA in for its 12 month/12000 mile service. I also asked them to investigate some vibration at high-ish speeds (i.e. around 90mph the instrument cluster was shaking around and vibration could be felt by both rider and passenger). I told them I felt the likely cause was a recently fitted new rear tyre.

They did the service (and also found the rear brake seized - which they were able to free off, although I had to spring for a new set of pads), balanced the front wheel, and discovered that the paint/coating was flaking off the rocker covers and the metal underneath was corroding. They recommended it be booked in for further investigation of the vibration and for the rocker covers to be replaced. On riding the bike home I immediately noticed a distinct misfire/hesitation at low revs, especially when going from throttle closed to small throttle opening. It was especially noticeable when negotiating e.g. roundabouts - It would splutter and fluff as I began to open he throttle, then suddenly surge away as it started to run cleanly. Not the desired effect on greasy roads... The vibration was also still apparent.

So three weeks ago I took it back in. During the course of the first week, they faffed around rebalancing the front wheel, turning the tyre 180 degrees and not achieving much. They also tried a complete wheel + tyre from another bike and the vibration was still there. They also rechecked all the valve clearances, throttle synch etc and fitted a second set of spark plugs. Still the rough low speed running persisted. They needed to spend a bit more time on it, and as I was a bit dischuffed with the G650 loan bike, I went back and secured the use of a K1300S HP instead, which was much more fun

Week 2 passed, and lo! They discovered that if they swapped out the rear wheel the vibration went away. Quelle surprise! One rebalance of the rear wheel later, and the vibration has allegedly been banished. Great. The rough running also appears to have been fixed after they zeroed all he "learned" parameters in the computer. But then the bad news - during final pad testing, they discovered that the clutch is slipping. New clutch ordered, so I'll just have to slum it with the K13 for a bit longer ;-)

That was just over a week ago. Today I phoned to enquire when my bike would be ready, to be told that it was just about to go onto the ramp for the clutch work. So that'll be another week with only 175bhp to play with on the way to work...

I'm desperately trying not to lose faith, but I'm beginning to feel a premature end to my BMW experience is increasingly likely :-(


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[Twotter]

You could always ask them what deal they would do for your bike against the K13?

 

[gipsymagpie]

Sure it's been broke but a great loan bike and warranty repairs. Still 2 years more of that too. Unstoppable...perhaps not but at least life's never dull on a beemer

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

What a pathetic rant

 

[Roymondo]

The K13 is an astonishing machine - but it's not the bike for me (not for long-term ownership/use at any rate). But I am a little disappointed with the way my GS has failed to withstand the rigours of one (quite mild) Winter, let alone the premature clutch failure.


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[JKW]

What a pathetic rant

If it was intended to be a rant it would have been posted in the rant section surely?

 

[piebaps]

So your bike was broken, someone is fixing it for you but you're considering getting rid of it.

Lucky they didn't really piss you off

 

[Rasher]

So your bike was broken, someone is fixing it for you but you're considering getting rid of it.

I know where the Op is coming from, a lack of trust in a machine is never good, I want to know it will get my where I want to go.

Breaking down is inconvenient at best, if it becomes costly its worse and if it ruins a holiday you have been dreaming of for years it is disatrous.

It being fixed whenever it breaks down, even if the cost is "paid for" by someone else and you get a loan bike is not enough.

Warranty (and goodwill) runs out, of course you can extend the warranty, but even then you have an excess, I spent £325 on warranty and £200 on Excess / items not covered between 17,000 and 19,000 miles, plus a £250 service - nearly £800 in a few months of little riding.

The BMW approach of building unreliable bikes and then sometimes fixing them under "goodwill" never cut it with me, I would (in fact, did) swap the "goodwill" for a reliable bike I can just ride with no fear of impending failure.

 

[Roymondo]

It's not the dealer (or their attitude) that makes me think of jumping ship - on the contrary, they have been brilliant.

 

[APE]

I would sell the bike and get a Yamaha Tenere - they're much more reliable and cheaper to service

 

[chad]

I would sell the bike and get a Yamaha Tenere - they're much more reliable and cheaper to service

reliable ...maybe but cheaper to service,have you seen the price of yamaha parts

 

[Humbug]

I told them I felt the likely cause was a recently fitted new rear tyre.

Did the dealer fit this new rear tyre for you? It's not clear whether they did or not.

 

[bod]

I would sell the bike and get a Yamaha Tenere - they're much more reliable and cheaper to service

I would tend to agree with that & add any Jap bike is probably going to be more reliable than a BMW. Just like a Jap custom bike is more reliable than a Harley.
But there comes a time in life when engineering & reliability perfection just is not enough, and you need to follow your heart and not your head.
Switching to the GS rejuvinated my passion for bikes, the whole rollercoaster ride is just how it was 30 years ago when I first hit the highway! They are bliss when they are running well & a bastard when they're not.
My last 5 years of Jap ownership was on a Honda, a bike that trounced the GS in every department except fuel economy. But man was it dull, the forum was dull, the dealer was dull ...... life on a 21st century Honda on 21st century roads is DULL!

I would stick with it for the duration of the warranty, they have a knack of de-snagging themselves & becoming trouble free - They say the 3rd owner of a GS get's the best bike!

 

[TLSgazza]

Warranty (and goodwill) runs out, of course you can extend the warranty, but even then you have an excess, I spent £325 on warranty and £200 on Excess / items not covered between 17,000 and 19,000 miles, plus a £250 service - nearly £800 in a few months of little riding.

.

why didnt you pay the extra 50 quid or so to get your warranty with nil excess, i did and had two claims, final drive rebuild and rear shock and it didnt cost me a penny,

 

[illustratedman]

reliable ...maybe but cheaper to service,have you seen the price of yamaha parts

yeah they're not bad at all.

 

[Roymondo]

Did the dealer fit this new rear tyre for you? It's not clear whether they did or not.

Tyres fitted by local independent tyre dealer. Nothing to do with the BMW dealer, and I fully expect to be paying for the wheel balancing etc.

 

[Rasher]

reliable ...maybe but cheaper to service,have you seen the price of yamaha parts

My mate has two Yams with over 50k each on them, I asked him about parts prices but he had no idea as neither bike has ever needed anything other than a brake disc.

And the BMW bits I have bought were not exactly cheap, certainly seemed no cheaper than the Jap bikes I had run for the previous 25 years.

 

[chad]

My mate has two Yams with over 50k each on them, I asked him about parts prices but he had no idea as neither bike has ever needed anything other than a brake disc.

And the BMW bits I have bought were not exactly cheap, certainly seemed no cheaper than the Jap bikes I had run for the previous 25 years.

ive been running Jap bikes since i first started riding 25 years ago and can assure you my 1150s were the cheapest to run of any bikes ive owned

mind you it helps if you do the servicing yourself as i have to admit the main stealers are a robbing bunch


jap spares are spitefull

 

[Roymondo]

Got my bike back! Yippee!

It has new throttle bodies, new injectors, new TP sensor, new oxygen sensors, new clutch and a new rear tyre. Both wheels balanced, new rocker covers and it's also cleaner than it has been for many a month. I've also had a shiny new K1300S to play with for the past few weeks. The rough running/hesitation is gone - not had a chance to test for high speed vibration, but they assure me it is fixed. They cannot explain why the clutch was slipping, nor could they put their finger on the root cause of the rough running.

Cost to me? Zero. Full marks to BMW and Wollaston Bikes in Northampton

That K13 was a truly awesome bike, but within two minutes of getting back on my GS I was riding with the biggest grin ever - it just feels "right". Can't explain it really.

 

[Rasher]

Bloody hell!

How much would that have cost out of warranty

So glad I now have one of them Yamaha's with those expensive parts that never go wrong.