I ride down a mile or so road to the freeway, doing a few gentle S swerves within my lane to scrub in the tires. I get on the freeway an knock the bike up to about 65 or so, there is pretty heavy traffic, including lots of trucks. The freeway is grooved concrete, & I notice the bike just feels slightly off, like its trying to track the grooves. This goes on for maybe a half mile, it gets noticable enough that I know I'm not imagining it, but I'm trying to fathom that maybe the wheels are not "aligned" properly or something. I'm down to maybe a maximum of 60mph, in the slow lane at this point.
About the time I figure I am sure something is screwy, & I decide to pull off at the next ramp (which is past an interchange with a big curvy transition lane I'm going to take in a few moments), all hell breaks loose.
The rear end is all over the place, I'm a concerned the bike might high side me off, and the traffic is still pretty heavy. I'm next to a major truck at this point. I actually manage to hit the hazard light switch and pull the clutch in & coast towards the shoulder. Of course I'm concerned about any input at this point, as the bike is in sort of a rear end tank slapper. There is a decent asphaltic concrete shoulder and then a nice concrete retaining wall. I notice that I am approaching the wall faster than intended, but manage to pull up to a complete stop with the right jug about 3 inches from the wall. Whew.
I'm sort of shaking in my boots at this point. Traffic continues at 70mph a few feet away, I spot a nice asphalt side area to a culvert about 100 feet ahead of me and paddle the bike up to it and get off. Center stand comes in handy when you are not sure about your wheels. I see that the valve cap pressure sensor things I have on the bike are both indicating full inflation.
After a few moments of getting the gear off & walking around to calm down, I take a look at the rear wheel. It is very loose & all 4 of the wheel lugs are loose on the wheel. I'm pretty freaked out.
I call the dealer (cell phones do have their uses) to let them know they need to come on out. They say they will send a tech with a torque wrench. Seems like a bit of a weak response. I look at the rear wheel a bit better. Two of the four rear lugs on the wheel pull out in my hand, they were not in the threads at all. In fact the threads are pretty screwed up and there is metal in them. The third lug is in the threads about one and one half turns. Its threads are also stressed & a bit deformed. The 4th and final lug is backed off about 1/4 inch or so but feels more than finger tight. I figure it was backing out and with the other 3 lugs way out, the wheel torqued enough for the 4th lug to jam its threads enough to at least momentairly halt the lug coming completly out and the sure to follow disaster of sliding down the freeway on the final drive.
I phone the dealer back & let them know that the lugs' threads are screwy (theres a pun) and that they better send some new lug bolts over. They say ok, I guess the guy had not left yet.
I now look at the brake rotor side of the wheel. This is where the burning smell I noticed after getting the bike stopped was coming from. There is a fair amount of metal missing from the brake rotor surface, with various pieces of metal stuck here & there, like in the drilled rotor holes, as well as some of the rotor bolts having been abraided down. It looks to me that the rear disc rotor is what kept the rear wheel from falling too far out of alignment, and I bet actually kept the rear wheel on the bike.
I call Tracie, she's not too happy (about me almost getting killed, not my missing the lunch date with her). She suggests that she drive out to the shop (about 35 miles), as I tell her I suspect I will not be taking the bike home.
After about 25 minutes the young service tech drives up in a sedan. I guess it takes a fair amount of time to cover the 2 to 3 miles from the shop. And yes I do expect them to drop everything and jump when a customer tells them they almost lost a rear wheel after tire service.
Anyway, out jumps the tech with a torque wrench (too bad it wasn't used earlier in the day) and a pan with, whats this, THREE used lug bolts. I guess they couldn't scare up 4 used lug bolts, and god forbid they bring a new one. After an inspection of the bolts, and a quick removal of the wheel, I saw that the "cone" that looks to me centers the wheel on the final drive had a considerable amount of metal missing. I'm guessing that the wheel is history, but maybe thats a NON CRITICAL part.
Anyway, in go three used lug bolts, and then there is some consternation about which of my 4 bolts is the best. A 4th bolt goes in, they all get nicely torqued up, the brake caliper (which had been loosened to release the wheel) gets torqued up, the wheel spins, the rear brake brakes, and the service tech looks at me.
I say, "I'm going to ride back to the shop". He then says "Thats good, we can take a better look at things there." I swear that if I didn't offer to ride back he would have sent me on my way home. To tell the truth, if he had a trailer or a helmet in evidence, I would have suggested that HE ride or trailer it back to the shop. I was still pretty jittery, and was not too trusting in the wheel's ability to remain attached.
I follow him back, which entailed a short freeway jaunt across some lanes of traffic (the cars did back off for me, which was nice) and then surface streets. We get back to the shop. My wife is outside, looks relieved to see me, and the service manager comes out.
Whew, at least I made it.
The service manager goes in to get some paperwork, I get all my gear in my Tracie's car. Tracie said when she got to the dealer she identified herself & said she was waiting for me. They said I left awhile ago, she said no, his wheel almost fell off and was coming back. They said "I gotta go get my manager" & fled.
Out comes the service manager. To his credit, he took complete resonsibility, said the tech who wrenched my bike took credit (or is that the right word?) for my near disaster. He said they would make the bike right, and seemed pleased when I said I was leaving it. He also said the owner knew about this, and would be in touch. Also said the tech would face disaplinary action.
Thats where things stand now. The ironic thing is that I now I am a bit of a compulsive person, and the main reason I bought this bike new is that I don't like to ride down the road with images of catastrophic mechanical failure (I imaging things like the handle bar bolts coming out). A new bike for me is one that I know its history, and I'm willing to pay for that (its cheaper than therapy). And thats also the reason I take the bike to a BMW dealer & pay full list ($450) for tires & tire service, BECAUSE I DON"T WANT TO WORRY ABOUT THE REAR WHEEL COMING OFF!!!
Obviously, my method does not work. Looks like I will have to carry a torque wrench with me to my dealer when I have a service done, & make sure things are tight before I leave the parking lot. I know alot of you here like to do your own wrenching, & when I'm retired I most likly will too, but right now I'm busy & make more $ per hour than the mechanics, and have more work to do than I have time. But I do like the wrenching done right, and I was hoping to get that at a certified BMW dealer. Same reason I did not buy my bike at a BMW dealer that carries other brands.
Well, thats about it. Not sure if I will ever trust this bike again. I do hope I wake up with a better attitude tomorrow.
Glad you're ok. Sounds like the brakes need a good check too, rotor and caliper.
