QD's Fixed by BMW then made worse by BMW then fixed for free

[Marku]

I have an gas leak in one of the tubes on the right side of my bike. I noticed this last fall but it was so minor I decided to fix it next season.

Started it up at the beginning of January and I noticed it was leaking seemingly worse.

Today I came to take it home ( a 400 km journey ) and was hoping/praying I'd be able to fix it myself. Honestly, I have no clue. And the nearest BMW dealer 100 km away from where my bike has been stored. And I'm scared to ride it there.

I started it up and it sprayed gas. I drove it for a very short time to see if it would persist. But when I came to a stop I could not notice the leaking. But could only see the evidence.

Anyone get there bike fixed at a different motorcycle mechanic other than BMW?

I highlighted where I can roughly see the source of the leak in green.

Edited for truth. Plus the same problem is discussed here. http://www.r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=10459
Not my actual bike. Don't have my camera with me.

[HiOSilver]

Marku,

The hoses you are pointing at are the fuel line hoses. If you follow the hoses a couple of inches towards the gas tank you will come to two 'quick disconnect' fittings that are famous for breaking and leaking. Could it be gasoline that is leaking? If so, just do a search here for quick disconnects and you should find plenty of guidance. Good luck!

[DJ Downunder]

I agree..That's where the fuel line disconnects are...It could be the clamps that hold them..or..the disconnects themselves.

Take the side cover off..Push the silver metal tabs to release the disconects..and push them back together till you hear a loud click.

The little rubber 'o' ring may also be damaged or worn....Good luck with it..Let us know how it goes.

DJ

[Marku]

Wow,

Thank you so much for the fast replies. I'm still obviously a N00B. heh. But what you guys said sure took alot of fear for my baby away. I'll let you know how it was fixed.

Thanks again.

[riceburner]

If the QDs are leaking, then it's probably because the seals are worn, and when they get warm/wet they'll expand and re-create the seal.

I'd get it to the dealer ASAP for the recall work that should have been done on it.

[Marku]

Kind of odd they didn't catch it during my bikes 20,000 km check up at the BMW dealership. Which was literally weeks before I put my bike in to storage. Maybe it's something else.

[MikeCam]

Sad to say, it might have been that service that caused the QD's to start leaking. They are a notorious weak link.

[DJ Downunder]

Kind of odd they didn't catch it during my bikes 20,000 km check up at the BMW dealership. Which was literally weeks before I put my bike in to storage. Maybe it's something else.

That's it...The service.

I just happened to be there watching as my serice guy was finishing off my bike once and as he clicked the disconects together (after having the tank off)..he paused for a second..undid the disconect..and found the plastic spiggot bit had broken inside the rubber tube..he said Dam!..Lucky I checked that..and he ran off to spair parts to get another..he said they break all the time.

If he had not checked it and found the break I would have had fuel leaking at some stage later on.

Maybe..just maybe that's what has happened to you.

DJ

[Marku]

Today was my first chance to take a real good look at the problem. With the help of extra eyes .

So far, I just squeezed a metal bracket that's just below the disconnects with a pare of pliers. Which seemingly has done the trick. At least temporarily.

I'll edit my original post at the top for truth once I totally have fixed the problem.

[Marku]

Went for a quick 100 km test run. and no leaking. But Cultus Lake is beautiful.

[Marku]

I have an gas leak in one of the tubes on the right side of my bike. I noticed this last fall but it was so minor I decided to fix it next season.

Started it up at the beginning of January and I noticed it was leaking seemingly worse.

Today I came to take it home ( a 400 km journey ) and was hoping/praying I'd be able to fix it myself. Honestly, I have no clue. And the nearest BMW dealer 100 km away from where my bike has been stored. And I'm scared to ride it there.

I started it up and it sprayed gas. I drove it for a very short time to see if it would persist. But when I came to a stop I could not notice the leaking. But could only see the evidence.

Anyone get there bike fixed at a different motorcycle mechanic other than BMW?

I highlighted where I can roughly see the source of the leak in green.

Edited for truth. Plus the same problem is discussed here. http://www.r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=10459
Not my actual bike. Don't have my camera with me.

Finally brought my baby in to get the quick disconnects(QD's) fixed/replaced. They were covered under a BMW recall. Cost me 1 hour of service, so 85 Canadian smack-a-roos.

Quick fix with pliers is very temporary. The leakage got worse over a short period of time. Not recommended. Take her in at first sign.

Now that that is over with, as soon as I get my GPS mounting bracket in the mail I'm off to Cali. W00t [/b]

[sjbmw]

They charged you $85 CDN for a recall fix?
I would not let that stand.

Those things were supposed to be replaced on BMW's dime.
Maybe Canadian recall law is different?

Mine were replaced, this past April, 8 months past the 36 month warranty.

I had the recall done first in late 2003, it was a 'visual inspection'.
April 2007, the QD's were replaced under warranty.

[Marku]

I don't know if this counts, but my bike is not under warranty anymore.

A week before I got them to key my system cases and they lost the work order. So the BMW dealer gave them back to me free of charge. So it all worked out in the end. Sometimes I'd rather pay than complain.

What is sad is that a different BMW dealer that did my 20,000 km check up didn't do the recall fix.

Come to think about it, I never payed a dime for any recall work for my Volkswagen. Why would BMW be any different. Hmm

[Marku]

Ok, I'm pissed now. WTF!

As I stated before I brought my bike in 10 days ago to get the "QD's" fixed/replaced. Well guess what? The are leaking again. And 1000 times worse than before. OMG!

I got up early this morning (5:00am) to go jogging. Thought I'd ride my bike. I get to the park and it's just flooding bigtime out of where the so called repair was. I freaked out and thought I wasn't going to make it home, it looked so bad. But that wasn't a problem. I hope nothing gets wreck while driving it in this condition.

I'm almost willing to bet that they didn't fix anything. I bet they just squeezed the O-Ring tight, if that! I'm terrified to take this bike on a long trip if I can't get a competent person to fix this bike.

I'm sorry to have to say this. I'm not mechanically inclined so, if I cannot trust the local BMW dealer to fix my bike. I'm going to have to get rid of it. :(:(

[Marku]

Well I called them up and the first thing they do is accuse me of taking the tank of and fiddling with it (Which I did not do). This problem started at the dealer and should end there. Well at least they are coming to pick it up with their own truck. That's a good sign.

It's to bad cause I know BMW is a really good product. Maybe it has something to do with Canada BMW. Selling BMW motorcycles at a motorcycle shop is relatively new. (They used to sell them at the BMW car dealer till recently) At least in western Canada.

Maybe the mechanics are just not competent yet. Maybe this will take them years of experience to finally support the product they sell properly. If I knew I was going to have to rely on my none existent mechanical skills I wouldn't of even bothered in the first place.

Buying a BMW is turning out to be the worst purchase I've ever made in my entire life. I'm supposed to be in California right now. And now I"m scared to drive this thing 10 miles.

Only bonus I can think of, having leaky QD's is it might come in handy to start a fire while camping.

Obviously I'm mad. I edited out all the swear words before posting

[sjbmw]

Contact BMW Canada (or NA). Get a human on the phone and advise them of the dealership experience you are having.
Many a riders report problems get solved when they find a reason to step in.
Give them one.

[Marku]

That will be my last resort. I really think the dealer probably tried to fix my bike. But failed. But maybe the issue of the QD's is not the dealer's fault but actaully BMW's fault. Hmm now saying that, maybe I'll phone them anyways.

Canadian BMW dealers should be made aware of this seemingly common problem of the evil QD's. Maybe the dealers should come up with their own sollution if BMW doesn't issue a recall and replacement to a more superior QD.

In my mind it is absolute BS that people have had to fix this problem with their own money and time. But I'm sure it's worth it. I just wish I had a garage to work in and some tools.

[hirsty]

Don't let it upset you though Marku. You've bought a basically sound bike, which like many other mass-produced complex machines does have a couple of known weak points that've come to light over the years.

Touch wood, many people never have a problem with the fuel lines, but many more have & it's a worrying safety problem to experience (gasoline + hot engine = anxiety) that BMW should've prioritised worldwide to make sure that it's eliminated from every bike on the road.

Also, all dealerships, no matter how well established, are staffed by mere humans who have an "off day" now & then, they also have trainees who screw-up on occasion too - it's not right, but it's fact.

A lot of people ditch perfectly good vehicles after their first let-down, but once it's sorted you'll most likely never have another problem for many many miles - give it a while first before doing anything expensive, but life is too short to ride a bike you don't trust either - sleep on it!

[Marku]

Yeah, That is what is so bizzare about this whole issue. We live in a first rate country with first rate rules on safety and quality assurance. And yet BMW doesn't have a recall on gasoline spilling over an air cooled engine. An engine that might start a fire if left idling by itself for to long without the help of spilled gasoline.

I don't know anybody elses experience. But holy crap. The amount of gas that was going over my engine was crazy. If that was to light on fire while I was riding and burn my leg. I could be dead or seriously burned. hmm. Who wants to get sued?

[Marku]

Fixed again. They said it was leaking in a whole new area. hmm but didn't elaborate. But fixed for free. I'm happy now. I guess it's a good thing I have AMA and a cell phone. I'm going traveling now.

Laterz.