2000r11s
11-13-2003, 01:09 PM
I had a spline shaft failure at 17k miles (enroute to a BMW rally in Taos, NM - just a few months out of warranty), and now my '00 R1100S has been with the BMW dealer's service dept. for 9 of the last 10 weeks. I've seen other forum postings that suggest a couple of months in the shop for a spline failure isn't unheard of, but gimme a break.
Before this R1100S, I put 75k enjoyable, uneventful miles on my first BMW - an '87 K100RS. It was never in the shop for more than 2 consecutive days, and I never paid more than $400 for a servicing. It was everything I expected from a BMW.
This is an altogether different experience.
I've owned 4 other shaft-drive bikes, and none ever had a driveline failure, clutch, shaft or otherwise. It took 5 weeks to get the bike back from the spline failure, then had it returned with clutch chatter that I was told will go away after I ride it a little. Well, it didn't go away, and after a week and 1000 miles, I brought it back to them.
It's now been another 4 weeks. When I call, they say they found out what the problem is, the parts will be in at the end of the week, and it will be put back together and ready to be picked up on Tuesday. When I call on Wednesday to make sure that it's ready before I make the 45 minute drive to the dealer, they give me the same story. They needed another part, they got it ordered, yaddy, yaddy, and another week goes by. The service manager is nice enough, and I don't know how complaining would be in my best interest.
When I call BMW NA Customer Care, they say that they can only call the dealer, who gives them the same story. But the bottom line is: I still don't have my bike back from a failure that I can't believe happened in the first place.
Anybody have a suggestion that might help restore my confidence in the bike, the dealership, and the BMW brand? Do I need to go back to the older beemers? Should I simply sell this R11S (if I ever get it back) and get an Aprilia Futura or Honda ST for year-round sport-touring riding, that claim to have both reliability and technical improvements over the R's and K's of old?
Footnote: this R11S has had all its scheduled dealer services, I do not know how to wheelie, and while I don't 'baby' the thing, I would hardly consider the type of riding I do to be aggressive. Indeed, most of my riding is 2-up with my 10-yr old son. I can't believe some of the accusations I've heard as the dealer and BMW try to explain this failure.
Before this R1100S, I put 75k enjoyable, uneventful miles on my first BMW - an '87 K100RS. It was never in the shop for more than 2 consecutive days, and I never paid more than $400 for a servicing. It was everything I expected from a BMW.
This is an altogether different experience.
I've owned 4 other shaft-drive bikes, and none ever had a driveline failure, clutch, shaft or otherwise. It took 5 weeks to get the bike back from the spline failure, then had it returned with clutch chatter that I was told will go away after I ride it a little. Well, it didn't go away, and after a week and 1000 miles, I brought it back to them.
It's now been another 4 weeks. When I call, they say they found out what the problem is, the parts will be in at the end of the week, and it will be put back together and ready to be picked up on Tuesday. When I call on Wednesday to make sure that it's ready before I make the 45 minute drive to the dealer, they give me the same story. They needed another part, they got it ordered, yaddy, yaddy, and another week goes by. The service manager is nice enough, and I don't know how complaining would be in my best interest.
When I call BMW NA Customer Care, they say that they can only call the dealer, who gives them the same story. But the bottom line is: I still don't have my bike back from a failure that I can't believe happened in the first place.
Anybody have a suggestion that might help restore my confidence in the bike, the dealership, and the BMW brand? Do I need to go back to the older beemers? Should I simply sell this R11S (if I ever get it back) and get an Aprilia Futura or Honda ST for year-round sport-touring riding, that claim to have both reliability and technical improvements over the R's and K's of old?
Footnote: this R11S has had all its scheduled dealer services, I do not know how to wheelie, and while I don't 'baby' the thing, I would hardly consider the type of riding I do to be aggressive. Indeed, most of my riding is 2-up with my 10-yr old son. I can't believe some of the accusations I've heard as the dealer and BMW try to explain this failure.