BMW Final Drive Failure Form

Pparker1024 · 11-05-2008, 12:04 AM

Recently, while at a local coffee shop, a fellow rider brought in the current issue of Motorcycle Consumers News (?) or Guide. There was a article talking about the issue of BMW final drive failures. I found it to be a very interesting article, and few covering the topic and having a place to log your own failure into a database. The piece even mentioned that BMWMOA chose to not be an advocate for their members and noted simply that it was a community forum for it's members - a claim that I felt was pretty lame for MOA.

That said, I found this site to log your own failures if you had one.

BMW Final Drive Failure Website
http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/index.html

BMW Final Drive Failure FORM
http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/fd_failure_entry.php

BMW Final Drive Failure List
http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/fd_failure_list.php

Regards,

Phil

mrich12000 · 11-05-2008, 07:45 AM

I had no idea the problem was that extensive. Glad I have my K75

KCKBMOA · 11-05-2008, 08:44 AM

I posted that awhile back, and now the same article has been reprinted and added to in the new BMW ON, (Owners News), magazine. The MC Consumer News is harder to find, and most riders have easier access to the ON. The info is very interesting, and a bit disturbing of course. I for one am amazed that BMW will let this issue go on unchecked, since it seriously affects their reputation. Some kind of retro-fit fix would certainly be logical, even as an option at owner's expense. Of course, in today's world, companys are afraid to open the door to law suits by admitting anything. Tort Law has ruined the concept of doing the right thing in many cases. Anyhow, the article is a very good history of the issue, and it's worth finding a copy to read.

KC

rocketman · 11-05-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pparker1024

Recently, while at a local coffee shop, a fellow rider brought in the current issue of Motorcycle Consumers News (?) or Guide. There was a article talking about the issue of BMW final drive failures. I found it to be a very interesting article, and few covering the topic and having a place to log your own failure into a database. The piece even mentioned that BMWMOA chose to not be an advocate for their members and noted simply that it was a community forum for it's members - a claim that I felt was pretty lame for MOA.

That said, I found this site to log your own failures if you had one.

BMW Final Drive Failure Website
http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/index.html

BMW Final Drive Failure FORM
http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/fd_failure_entry.php

BMW Final Drive Failure List
http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/fd_failure_list.php

Regards,

Phil

Do a search for MCN and you will find this topic has been pretty much beaten to death already on the MOA forums.

RM

dzimbric · 11-05-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketman

Do a search for MCN and you will find this topic has been pretty much beaten to death already on the MOA forums.

RM

151 drives out of ?????

That is UNACCEPTABLE

Ok guess I will unmmm uhh go and ahh

Beemer01 · 11-05-2008, 11:17 AM

The early K final drives seemingly last forever... at least I've not heard of statistically high failures.

Wonder why they changed a pretty bullet proof design? Is it related to the newer paralever suspension?

cjack · 11-05-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beemer01

The early K final drives seemingly last forever... at least I've not heard of statistically high failures.

Wonder why they changed a pretty bullet proof design? Is it related to the newer paralever suspension?

The design was the same from 1985 thru 2009 (the 12Lt). What changed was probably the load on the drive and the quality control. My guess.

The new drives which came out in 2005 (for everything except the 12LT with a final drive) are in fact a major design change.

One thing though on the new drives, my local dealer had maybe two loose spline hubs and a couple of leaky seals. No bearing failures...in four model years.

breyfogle · 11-05-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjack

The design was the same from 1985 thru 2009 (the 12Lt). What changed was probably the load on the drive and the quality control.....

It would be interesting to know if BMW began sub-contracting parts like FD's to former Eastern Germany suppliers before they were fully up to speed with western style quality control .

eljeffe · 11-05-2008, 04:56 PM

You can see mostly LT-specific failures here:

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/survey.p...results&sid=28

MOA ON and MCN have only confirmed what the LT guys have known for years. The weak link in BMWs since 1998 is the rear drive.

4117 · 11-08-2008, 06:32 PM

I have been riding beemers since 1973 when i bought a new r60/5, then i bought a r100/7 and then my 2002 k1200lt. my old r bikes were bullet proof. they never once left me along side the road boke down. i cant say the same for my very expensive k1200. i had the final drive go out and had to have a harley riding buddy pick me up with his pickup and trailor :-(. my bike only had 26k on it when the drive failed. bmw knows they have a problem. i will be buying another bike soon. hummmm Honda, guzzi will be my options this time.

11-05-2008, 12:04 AM	#1
Pparker1024 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boynton Beach, FL Posts: 31	BMW Final Drive Failure Form Recently, while at a local coffee shop, a fellow rider brought in the current issue of Motorcycle Consumers News (?) or Guide. There was a article talking about the issue of BMW final drive failures. I found it to be a very interesting article, and few covering the topic and having a place to log your own failure into a database. The piece even mentioned that BMWMOA chose to not be an advocate for their members and noted simply that it was a community forum for it's members - a claim that I felt was pretty lame for MOA. That said, I found this site to log your own failures if you had one. BMW Final Drive Failure Website http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/index.html BMW Final Drive Failure FORM http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/fd_failure_entry.php BMW Final Drive Failure List http://www.bmwfinaldrive.com/fd_failure_list.php Regards, Phil

11-05-2008, 07:45 AM	#2
mrich12000 Just South of Eden Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Calgary Alberta. Canada Posts: 1,374	Rear diff I had no idea the problem was that extensive. Glad I have my K75 __________________ Loonie-Tics BMW club Gone for now hope to see you all soon Michael.. Lost children will be sold to MOA staff and trained to ride Harley's

11-05-2008, 08:44 AM	#3
KCKBMOA Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 127	That Final Drive article is in this months ON also I posted that awhile back, and now the same article has been reprinted and added to in the new BMW ON, (Owners News), magazine. The MC Consumer News is harder to find, and most riders have easier access to the ON. The info is very interesting, and a bit disturbing of course. I for one am amazed that BMW will let this issue go on unchecked, since it seriously affects their reputation. Some kind of retro-fit fix would certainly be logical, even as an option at owner's expense. Of course, in today's world, companys are afraid to open the door to law suits by admitting anything. Tort Law has ruined the concept of doing the right thing in many cases. Anyhow, the article is a very good history of the issue, and it's worth finding a copy to read. KC __________________ KC Kenzel Santa Barbara, Ca '93 K1100RS, Buncha ole BSAs and Triumphs

11-05-2008, 11:17 AM	#6
Beemer01 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lake Forest, Ill Posts: 681	I wonder - The early K final drives seemingly last forever... at least I've not heard of statistically high failures. Wonder why they changed a pretty bullet proof design? Is it related to the newer paralever suspension?

11-05-2008, 04:56 PM	#9
eljeffe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 235	You can see mostly LT-specific failures here: http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/survey.p...results&sid=28 MOA ON and MCN have only confirmed what the LT guys have known for years. The weak link in BMWs since 1998 is the rear drive. __________________ El Jeffe '06 K1200GT '04 Sprint RS (the wife's) www.bmwlt.com www.k-bikes.com www.curvecowboyreunion.com

11-08-2008, 06:32 PM	#10
4117 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1	Junk Final drive I have been riding beemers since 1973 when i bought a new r60/5, then i bought a r100/7 and then my 2002 k1200lt. my old r bikes were bullet proof. they never once left me along side the road boke down. i cant say the same for my very expensive k1200. i had the final drive go out and had to have a harley riding buddy pick me up with his pickup and trailor :-(. my bike only had 26k on it when the drive failed. bmw knows they have a problem. i will be buying another bike soon. hummmm Honda, guzzi will be my options this time.