Wheel 'corrosion' (Courtesy of Dealer)

[R1150GS Kid]

My bike had its 18,000 mile service today, and when I collected the bike I noticed it had been washed.

However when I got home I noticed the front wheel looked like this.

I am thinking that the dealer probably left detergent on the bike, didn't wash it off and now this has happened.

Has anybody else seen this before, and have they got any advice for what I should do now - I can see this turning into a "it must have been like that before you brought it here" situation.

I won't name the dealer but its a main BMW franchised dealer, and I didn't expect this!

Any advice much appreciated.

Andrew

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Looks like an acid cleaner like ProClean or Woder wheels,that wasn't washed off quickly enough

 

[adamski49]

Looks like alloy wheel cleaner has been left on too long and corroded the rims.

I made the same mistake many years ago (on a car fortunately) and only used the stuff if I had a hose and bucket of soapy water at the ready to remove it almost immediately.

I doubt the dealer will cough though. If this happens name and shame so that if anyone else goes for a service to the same place they can at least request that the bike is NOT washed.

Adam

 

[The Mechanic]

Cocked wheels.

Your friendly dealer has cocked your wheel rims for you when they valeted your bike, you may be too late to get any redress from them now. It's to easy for them to say you did it unless you spotted it before you left the dealership.

This same thing happened to a demo Fazer 1000 that we lent to an advanced rider for some training while his bike was off the road. When he got back from his daily toil I watched him liberally douse the bike in wonder wank stuff, walk off to find a bucket and sponge. By the time he'd got back the wonder wally stuff had done its worst, even the footrest hangers coped it. Estimate to re-polish those bits that could bve polished and replace the more seriosly attacked stuff ran into £100's. Very embarrassing all round.

Your dealer should at the very least pay for new rims or suitable polishing to your preferment.

 

[Den]

Maybe the dealer was trying to get the rims to match the disc bolts. I think there has been a bit of neglect by both parties dont ya think?

 

[Steve H]

Cossosion

Hi Andrew had exactly the same thing happen to me only it was both wheels. Luckily for me I had noticed it before I had ridden away. Went back to the service manager and explained, he came out look at the wheels and was very apologetic saying BMW had sent a new type of cleaner for them to try and that this must have caused the corrosion. They did try to polish it off but as you've probably found it's useless, so basically there and then they ordered two complete new wheels which came within a few days . Same day they picked up my bike from home (I live at least 80 miles from my nearest BMW dealer that 160 miles round trip!!!) and delivered it later that day with 2 new wheels and more fuel than it went with, and all at no charge. Personally I would go back to the dealer and explain, you 've got nothing to lose plus you may save them money long term if it is down to the cleaning fluid.
Best of luck Steve

 

[dorian]

Dealer cleaning

Well yes we dont want to name the dealer but I think I have dealt with the same one being from your area.

In my instance my wife's F650 was in for some remedial work a week or so after buying it which they did to my satisfaction. But they decided to be nice and wash it for her. I went down to pick it up, saw it parked up out front ready for collection, and could not believe my eyes. The whole bike, especially the complete engine cases (painted grey on an F650), was covered in slimey marks where the paint had been eaten away as if by acid.

I immediately pointed this out to the service manager who, to his credit, couldn't believe it either and spent the next 30 minutes with other staff members and a pot of polish trying to rectify the problem, with very little success.

This they admitted had been caused by the powerful cleaning agent they use not being washed off quickly enough and having been applied to a hot bike just after road test.

The long and short of this tale is that they replaced the whole bike with another F650 within 3 weeks as I wasn't prepared to accept back what had been a pristine used example.

So I think that you have every right to follow this up to your satisfaction. Hope it all works out in the end.

 

[R1150GS Kid]

I've been back to the dealer now who have admitted it must have been them.

The bike has to go back for a recall for the rear brake pipe anyway, and they've agreed to get the wheel back to its original condition, or replace the wheel with a new one at this time.

Hopefully that will be the end of the matter - I'll be making sure they don't wash it after this next service!

Andrew

 

[JohnC]

I purchased a 2000 Model 1150GS about 6weeks ago, when I collected it I mentioned to the salesman regarding the discolouration on the rims,( my rims are not as bad as the one in the photograph) and he replied it was brake pad dust. I tried to polish it out but no luck, since seeing this thread about
corrosion started by using acid based cleaners I realise that they, or the previous owner are responsible. The only problem is I only had the bike a week then I went off to work in the Yemen for 5 weeks, so doubt if the BMW dealer will be very helpful. Question does any one out there no of any method of getting the wheels back to normal.

 

[Dutchman]

All part of the Service....

Valeting the 'bike after it's been in the workshop is all part of BMW's 'customer care' package, which is supposed to make the punter think they're getting 'good value' when they pay the grossly inflated service bills.....

Whenever I take my 'bike into John Clark Tayside, in Dundee and am asked to autograph the 'pre-workshop' instruction sheet for work to be undertaken, I always handwrite in block caps:'Please do not wash'.....

This instruction has been ignored twice, damage has been caused by solvents during the wash and compensation has been received......

Now the message seems to have got through.....

 

[carbold]

I tried to replace the rotten disc bolts with stainless steel ones but Motorworks said they don't do them 'cos they aren't strong enough (!!!)
I'm sure they exist - saw them on a bike down in Italy - but finding them is another matter.
Any idea folks?

Carlo

 

[cookie]

I tried to replace the rotten disc bolts with stainless steel ones but Motorworks said they don't do them 'cos they aren't strong enough (!!!)
I'm sure they exist - saw them on a bike down in Italy - but finding them is another matter.
Any idea folks?

Carlo

motorworks are windy about supplying s/s bolts for your discs 'cos they have a lower shear strength than high tensile originals. they don't want a law suit however remote the possibilty of failure. i don't blame them.

however, bolts like that in stainless, are available from any number of fastner shops. i use allfix cos there's one local.

 

[R1150GS Kid]

I've now been back to the dealers 4 times about this problem since I first posted about it.

1) The first time was the day after the service to show the dealer the problem.

2) Next time they carried out the rear brake recall and said the wheel would have to be inspected by the head of the independant valeting firm another day as they casued the damage and would be paying for any remedial works.

3) Next it went back and the valeting firm spent all day polishing the wheel. It was presented to me as pretty much fixed however the marks were still visible in places. I was instead offered some free servicing if I accepted it, however we agreed a new wheel would be best.

4) Finally last friday a new wheel was fitted (with new disc bolts which aren't rusty yet - I do ride it all year round and don't really know how to stop this happening without being 'obsessive' and cleaning it every day)

I think I've been fair to the dealer as the wheel was perfect (apart from the rusty disc mounting bolts...) when it went in - its just annoying that its taken this long to fix, and several times I've had to arrive at work late and leave early to travel the 30 or so miles to drop off/collect the bike.

Anyway I don't want to criticise the dealer too much because they've been friendly(ish) throughout and the problem is now fixed.

Finally in the future I will definitely state I don't want the bike cleaning - its not worth it

Thanks all who offered advice!

 

[roadrider]

WONDER WHEELS

do we know what they cleaned your wheels with??????????

John

 

[R1150GS Kid]

Unfortunately I don't know exactly what they cleaned the wheels with.

All the dealer said was that the product was intended for painted wheels.

I hope they didn't spray too much of it elsewhere!

Andrew