[MLW]

Yeah... my (admittedly limited) understanding is warranty work, like insurance "book labor time" is often unrealistic. Probably contributes to the (thus artificially) high labor rates we wind up paying for out-of-pocket work.

Essentially - retail customers wind up subsidizing manufacturers and insurance companies.

Modern day American Capitalism at its finest!

 

[Fast1]

[QUOTE="MLW, post: 2008166, member: 129733"

Essentially - retail customers wind up subsidizing manufacturers and insurance companies.

Modern day American Capitalism at its finest!
[/QUOTE]


Best case scenario is that you get free drive shaft servicing every 12K and a free drive shaft replacement at 36K, hopefully preventing one from having the rear tire lock up at 80 mph and sustaining serious physical injury or death.

 

[MLW]

Works for me!

Bought my 2014 R1200RT with 52Kish miles from an independent dealer. They replaced fork seals prior to delivery with aftermarket seals which failed pretty quickly. (All 7 Beemers they did all failed). Replaced with BMW OEM seals which they apparently nicked during installation also failed and they replaced them again at the end of the season.

Getting local dealer to pick her up at my Winter heated storage location and replacing the shaft drive now at about 56Kish miles works pretty well for me!

Pushed it due to weather but will get it done in next week or so (or two).

Just hope they have actually figured out and fixed the issue. Or are they just kicking the proverbial can down the road?

 

[Geekmaster]

Bought my 2014 R1200RT with 52Kish miles from an independent dealer.

Getting local dealer to pick her up at my Winter heated storage location and replacing the shaft drive now at about 56Kish miles works pretty well for me!

@MLW, is BMW replacing the shaft under the service bulletin? A friend of mine has a 2014 RT and the local BMW dealer said his wasn't covered. I also have a 2014 RT, but it only has about 17k on it, and I haven't checked yet.

 

[MLW]

@MLW, is BMW replacing the shaft under the service bulletin? A friend of mine has a 2014 RT and the local BMW dealer said his wasn't covered. I also have a 2014 RT, but it only has about 17k on it, and I haven't checked yet.

Yes. VIN search didn't show it as eligible for anything but a software update. Conversation with their Rep. RE: the service bulletin was all it took to get it approved.

 

[alegerlotz]

I was at my dealer today. It was the same dealer that had previously told me that my bike wasn't covered for the driveshaft. The service advisor said the same today when I provided the bulletin numbers from this topic, but then came back after a few minutes and said that its not listed on AIR as a separate item for my 2016 RT (non "Authority" model) but checking it is part of the service to be done at 12K intervals now. So if I were to bring it in for a 12K interval service, they would check the drive shaft and replace it under warranty if it meets the criteria.

I said, "So my options are to pay highlabor rates for a 12K service that I typically do myself and then get a 'free' replacement, OR pay the price for the part (which is now ~$225) and still be well ahead cost wise." His answer was "Yes". I told him I'd stick with the latter.

Sounds like a load of crap to me. It's either covered or its not. You shouldn't have to be a hostage to overpaying for other services to get it covered. Ridiculous.

I'm at 55K miles and need a clutch soon. I'll do the clutch (picked up the parts today) in the next few weeks and then at the 60K mile service I'll install a new prop shaft (which is what the parts fiche now calls the part instead of a drive shaft). I'm considering having my original driveshaft rebuilt with greasable u-joints and then re-use that next time the new cheaper part is up for replacement (in 36K miles).

 

[NoelCP]

Read very closely what is on the attachment posted above.. (hint- your VIN or Vehicle Identification Number)

The affected vehicles based on VIN # have been marked with campaign number INFO337390 in AIR

Have them screen print or cell photo the results in the AIR system for your records.

You will need an authorized BMW dealer to do this check in the AIR system. (see post #49)

It is about as simple as can be.

.

Thanks, the local dealer looked it up and gave me the go ahead to schedule the work. '16 RT w/ 55K miles.

 

[MLW]

Thanks, the local dealer looked it up and gave me the go ahead to schedule the work. '16 RT w/ 55K miles.

Again, VIN search didn't do it for me. Dealer contacting BMW Rep. was all it took (referencing the service campaign).

Bike being picked up at my heated indoor storage facility Tuesday (rescheduled due to weather). Computer update too to fix ride modes, I think.

 

[RTDragon]

Mine went in for the check Thursday just gone. I double checked about the replacement at 36k miles. After some misunderstanding, he said yes and forgot my bike was in miles not km's. So dropped her in at 8:50am, got a call at 11am saying she was ready for collection (they did footpegs pins too).

 

[Stiggy]

? So I can't just ride my 2017 RT into the dealer and schedule a 'free' lube and checkup at my current 18,000 miles on the odometer? It has to be tied in with a service?
(Horse**** if that's the case.)

 

[Ultra54]

? So I can't just ride my 2017 RT into the dealer and schedule a 'free' lube and checkup at my current 18,000 miles on the odometer? It has to be tied in with a service?
(Horse**** if that's the case.)

Would you really be surprised?

 

[Fast1]

? So I can't just ride my 2017 RT into the dealer and schedule a 'free' lube and checkup at my current 18,000 miles on the odometer? It has to be tied in with a service?
(Horse**** if that's the case.)

What is the name of the dealership that told you that horse$hit?

 

[Stiggy]

What is the name of the dealership that told you that horse$hit?

That was my response to post 66 as well. (alegerlotz)

 

[Sandancer]

Logically if the 12k lube is included in the service schedule when you purchase the bike, then the dealer can require that it simply be added to the routine service. If it’s a later addition, associated with an issue that has arisen since purchase, then it can be treated as a discrete item and dealt with by the dealer in isolation from other servicing. I have a feeling, however, that the lube has always been a service item?

 

[Stiggy]

Logically if the 12k lube is included in the service schedule when you purchase the bike, then the dealer can require that it simply be added to the routine service. If it’s a later addition, associated with an issue that has arisen since purchase, then it can be treated as a discrete item and dealt with by the dealer in isolation from other servicing. I have a feeling, however, that the lube has always been a service item?

Rear drive oil changes were/are a service item. Until recently(?) there were no spec's for lubing splines (along with a scheduled inspection of the cardan shaft.)
This has all since been added because I assume some owner had an issue.

 

[Fast1]

OK, time to open the eyes of fellow owners for clarity and to prevent someone from potentially getting injured due to a failure that a dealer may not be resolving for them.

 

[The_real_hati]

I have a feeling, however, that the lube has always been a service item?

On the contrary, it was NEVER a service item. Read above.

 

[Sandancer]

Yes I’ve been confusing changing the drive oil and lubing the splines. I’m finding that BMW service bulletin ambiguous. On the one hand it seems to imply automatic replacement of the shaft at 36k miles, but later says only if deemed necessary following checks. Personally I can’t believe that it’s going to fail, especially on bikes that are never used off road (RTs!), at such a relatively low mileage.

 

[Mellow]

Yes I’ve been confusing changing the drive oil and lubing the splines. I’m finding that BMW service bulletin ambiguous. On the one hand it seems to imply automatic replacement of the shaft at 36k miles, but later says only if deemed necessary following checks. Personally I can’t believe that it’s going to fail, especially on bikes that are never used off road (RTs!), at such a relatively low mileage.

The drive shaft is basically a u-joint - welded on each end... and they can fail... but they can fail at 50,000 miles or 20,000 miles or at 300,000 miles ... lol.. I plan on checking mine every 24k and seeing if it has any notchyness to it's action and if it's loose.. then I'll replace. I had a u-joint starting to go bad on my ST1300 a few years back at 48,000 miles.. some have had them go out sooner but that's pretty rare and some have never had them go out but will replace at 100k.

GS bikes are exposed to more water and extreme angles so it does seem they would be more prone to having issues.

 

[Fast1]

On the one hand it seems to imply automatic replacement of the shaft at 36k miles

correct every 36K miles, unlimited miles duration

but later says only if deemed necessary following checks.

That is for a drive shaft that is determined to have problems at the 12K mile interval checks between the 36K mile mandatory exchanges.


note, be aware this BMW mandated check/replacement provided within this thread is only for North America. (your country may be different)

.