Firing on ONE !

[Phillo]

Coming back from a breakfast run this morning and about 5 km from my turnoff I opened up and pushed it up to around 210 kph for a short while then suddenly experienced a loss of power . Pulled over and found the motor is only firing on one cylinder - limped home about three km - unable to find anything obvious so will have to call the "men in white coats" tomorrow to take it away. I am not a happy chappy at this point in time and will be seriously considering getting rid of this bike as this is the second time I have had a problem in 11500 km and been able to do nothing about it. It is also the only bike to have ever let me down to the extent that I have been unable to rectify matters on my own - problems with previous bikes have always been solved PDQ.

[ka5ysy]

What happened the first time? Unclear from your post if it is the same thing. Were you able to check if the plugs are firing?

[Phillo]

The first time was something totally unrelated - " battery failure ". I initially did not think that it could possibly be spark plug related due to the so called twin spark configuration but after speaking to a friend who has had several R1200GS's and who informed me that the second (lower) plus is basically and afterburner type I pulled the centre plus to find that a piece of the centre electrode porcelain insulator has broken off on the right side plug which it would seem has damaged and bent the two outer prongs, one being pushed up against the centre electrode the other bent sideways with the corner just touching the centre electrode. My friend also tells me that this is a problem with the NGK plugs on occasion. So "heavy sigh of relief " and apologies to BMW - put new plugs and the problem should be solved.

[Phillo]

Well new plugs are not the solution - motor fires on both now but still missing and traces of aluminum showing in the exhaust so it looks like something is cooked - back to sqare one and phoning the "men in white coats " tomorrow.

[deilenberger]

Bent electrodes indicate metal to metal contact. Something seriously wrong in that cylinder.. but the aluminum particles tell you that already.

[WILDPIG]

WORST CASE SENERIO-- BUT PROBABLE ISSUE-- YOU HAVE DAMAGE TO A VALVE, CHIPPED BROKEN ETC... U DIDNT GIVE ENUFF INFOR TO GO ON..I DOUBT ITS A RING-- YOU'D GET SMOKE AN BLOW BY AN SINCE U INDICATE ITS STILL MISSING-- IM PRETTY CERTAIN YOU HAVE A VALVE ISSUE --BENT BROKEN,, BROKEN SPRING CANT BE RULED OUT..........OH WELL-- IS IT UNDER WARRANTY? IF SO YOURE IN GREAT SHAPE..... IF NOT-- THEN YER SCREWED -- I AM NOW VERY FAMILAIR WITH THE TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS PRICES BMW CHARGES................................

[Phillo]

Yep she is still well within warranty so no problem there. When I checked her out I found that the exhaust valve clearance was very loose indicating possibly some debris lodged between valve & seat plus we do have a little smoke - possibly bore is scored. Anyway the bright side is the agent Auto Umhlanga BMW have come to the party and loaned me a brand spanking new F650GS - 647km on the clock so Ive got wheels - Im happy - no news on the extent of the damage yet as their one and only technician hurt himself quite badly at the GS Challenge over the weekend and will be off for a few days at least.

[WILDPIG]

PHIL--WHATS THE DEAL? WHATS THE FOLLOW UP ON YOUR BMW FIRING ON ONE CYL?

[Phillo]

Spoke to the agents today who say the repairs are complete and they are just waiting for the warranty claim I put in for the hairline cracks in the headlamp lens to be confirmed. As soon as that is passed they will deliver my bike and collect their loan bike. They have not told me as yet what the extent of the damage was but I will find out as soonas they contact me to arrange the swap.

[Phillo]

Well I hope you guys do not have agents like we have. When I spoke to guy in charge yesterday he tells me as per my previous posting " its ready but " this morning I speak to his 2IC who tells me they have not even started on it . Well I guess I will just have to ride their bike for as long as it takes - at least Ive got wheels.

[Phillo]

Well at long last I have some answers from the men in white coats who incidentally have had my bike since the 30th of September. According to the mechanic at the agents a piece of the crown of the piston approx 3cm came off ?? mangled the works and dissapeared into the depths of the cat converter. They are replacing both pistons with rings, both con rods & big end bearings, one cylinder & cylinder head with valves plus the cat converter and I should get it back sometime next week. Whether I want it back ? well thats another story, I will have to run it in again so I might well decide to just trade it in on a new bike at the end of the day probably on a new GS.

[celticus]

The GS will still have a BMW motor in it.

Mark

[Phillo]

Yes it will Mark but it will be a brand new motor not one that has had a problem and been opened up and rebuilt.

[WILDPIG]

PROPERLY REBUILT YOU SHOULD'NT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WHATSOEVER.................. USE SAME BREAKIN PROCEEDURES REGARDING TOP END..............

[deilenberger]

With the description of the parts they're replacing - both pistons, both connecting rods, all the bearings, I wouldn't have a problem with that engine. It sounds as if they're doing a complete job - and you'll basically have a new engine when they're done. If you can trust the mechanics (some shop mechanics are very good..) and you still have warranty remaining on the bike, I'd consider keeping it.

BTW - in the US - when mechanical work is done by a shop, BMW warranties the work/parts for 2 years after the work is completed (dunno if there is a mileage limitation), so if you're near the end of the factory warranty, and they do the same in SA - it might be to your advantage to keep the bike.

[Phillo]

Hi Don, Yes I hear what you are saying - at this point when I get the bike back I will have about 8 months of the original warranty left which in SA is 2 years / unlimited mileage. I will have a chat with them as to where I stand re the warranty once repairs are completed and as you say there may be some percentage in keeping it. Thanks for your input I had not thought in that direction.

[Phillo]

Well people, the saga continues. After countless phone calls & emails etc to all and sundry including BMW S.A. top management I still do not have my bike back. It is now 3 months to the day since it was delivered to the agents and the latest is that they cannot get the valve timing right. It semms according to the mechanic that the valve timing is out by half a tooth and nobody knows why or how to sort it out. I have now been informed that the whole machine is to be transported from Durban to Johannesburg ( Head office) so that the so called experts can establish what went wrong or what is wrong and how to fix it ( this could take another month ). The bike has only done 11632 and is still on the original tyres so it has not been abused if anything it has been nursed by comparison to how some ride. I know how to fix it easily and have told them - replace the bike - which they at this point still refuse to do so on Monday I will be taking legal advice with a view to taking them to court and forcing them to replace purely on the basis that nobody should have to wait in excess of three months to have a warranty claim finalised.

[gibbo111]

It seems this type of poor service is world wide. After poor service when I had a new 1100s some years back I swore I would never buy a new BMW again, but after a couple of used ones I had to have a 12r. So far no issues with this one, I hope you get this sorted soon Phil. Happy new year

[WILDPIG]

FAIRLY SAFE TO SAY AT LEAST MY OBSERVATION IS-- CORPORATE BMW DOESNT GIVA DAM BOUT ITS CUSTOMER BASE. I DOUBT I'LL CONTINUE WITH BMW AFTER THIS R 12 BASED ON THE LACK OF SUPPORT COMING OUTTA BERLIN AN BMW NA. YOU KNOW I USED TO CUSS AN RAISE HELL AT HARLEY FOR SOME OF THIER OUTRAGEOUS PARTS PRICES-- AFTER SEEING WHAT BMW CHARGES---- HARLEYS FRUGAL COMPARED TO BEEMER PRICES... I AINT KNOCKIN BMW BUT I AM SAYING THEY{ BMW AN CORPORATE BMW} GOT 1 HELLUVA WAY TO GO TOWARDS SERVING ITS CUSTOMER BASE------- AND I FOR ONE ---DONT SEE THAT HAPPENING.

[Phillo]

At last after 75 working days my bike has been returned to me. The engine has been repaired, the lower fork tubes replaced (corrosion) the headlight insert replaced (hairline cracks) all under warranty. BMW South Africa have agreed to do the first / 1000km service & the 10000km service on the rebuilt engine at their cost but at this point are still refusing to extend the warranty on the motor so if there is a problem after 7/6/2009 or alternatively 7/9/2009 should they decide to be so generous as to extend the warranty by the three months it has been in the shop guess who sits with the baby. They make a class bike but when it comes to service they suck and I have no inclination to possibly have to go through all this again so I very much doubt that the next bike is going to be a Beemer !.