First motorcycle service with me
Annual motorcycle service this time around, but I fancy it will become an interim service when the Covid restrictions end.
I bought this motorcycle back in November 2020. This its first motorcycle service in my ownership.
Main dealer service of my GS
The GS had its annual service this week, which proved to be enlightening. I had already asked for, and budgeted for, a new rear brake fluid reservoir to be fitted – as the current item had been bodged by a previous owner at some point in its history. Why would anyone leave something like this? It was very inexpensive to replace!
Work done:
Bike Details | Service | Extras |
---|---|---|
2014 BMW 1200GS TE | Annual (Non valve adj.) | BMW rear disc. |
29945 Miles | BMW Main Dealer | BMW rear brake res. |
FSH | Final Drive Oil | |
Change Brake Fluid |
This service cost £445 – including new parts
BMW service dept. informed me that the rear disc was .1 mm below spec. Nothing too drastic, the scoring of the disc was not something I was going to tolerate. A brand BMW new rear disc was fitted.
The rear pads were literally brand new, as I had them fitted a few weeks prior. They had covered about 40 miles. they did not need to be replaced. Thankfully the mechanic agreed, and left them in for me. The pads are blue Brembo, they are good quality .
The new disc and the new reservoir were not expensive. I do not skimp on maintaining my bike. This was a lot of money,. Independent garages were only marginally cheaper. They were dearer on the BMW original parts too . No brainer for me.
The final drive oil hadn’t been changed though, despite being on the invoice and prearranged. I know this how? Because the final drive failed, and I had to empty the oil out to investigate. There was no way the BMW technicians would have sent the bike back to me with no O ring on the final drive drain plug.
That drain plug was super tight to remove. I felt like it had been there forever! I have since replaced both plugs on the final drive stainless steel alternatives.
Most worrying of all though, the final drive breather cap was missing. I’m not accusing them of anything, but given the state of the oil (water contaminated), I’d have thought they might have advised me of this issue – as they had to remove the rear wheel to replace the disc.
There was muck and crud around the where the breather cap should have been, so it hasn’t come off recently! I just don’t know… I cannot accuse them of wrong doing, as given the level of corrosion to the splines of the final drive and prop shaft, no maintenance in the past was ever done. Furthermore there was never any oil on the rear wheel, so again, I just don’t know.
A timely reminder to anyone with a boxer powered shaft drive to check your splines and the overall condition of the shaft and final drive. Lots and lots of fantastic videos on YouTube on how it is done – as does the Haynes manual.
No complaints at all, given how they had helped with the fitting of other parts for me. No drama.
My local BMW dealer is in Cambridgeshire. They kept me in the loop about the bike all the way through. I was given the information and left to decide whether or not to proceed. Plus a lovely coffee…
Naming the dealer is not required. I am not going to make negative comments about either them, or the issues mentioned above. It’s all very subjective, and the corrosion didn’t occur in a day! Hence.
I have a 1250 in mind at some point in the distant future. I won’t hesitate to order or source one from them, so there’s no issue with them at all. But I have not named them deliberately, so as to not cause them any grief, just in case my words are misconstrued.
My Garmin Navigator 6 was purchased there too, over the ‘phone. Arrived the next day. Excellent service.
Footnote:
The motorcycle is in good condition. It has a full service history. It currently has 29k miles.
I have had to make a lot of changes to the accessories, and deliberately going around the bike correcting loose fittings and other signs of a careless/ham-fisted removal of aftermarket parts. Very poor workmanship. Easily corrected!
The front screen had to be replaced. It was in good condition. I just did not need a screen that large. Both jobs were urgent.
It’s replacement was an MRA Vario Screen (clear), fender extender, rear mudguard extender, side stand extender, rad covers, mirror extenders with risers, rubber mats to all the Givi box lids, Navigator 6, headlight guard…