BMW paying $3 Million Penalty

[Norwood]

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/573/12245/Motorcycle-Article/BMW-Incurs--3-Million-NHTSA-Penalty.aspx

[Vance]

ouch!!! that hurts! Wait til they get 'em on the whole final drive thing....lol....

[Bikebum]

What final drive thing? BMW doesn't have a problem with final drives; just ask them. (wink, wink)

[cpannarbor]

Does the final drive issue seem to be resolved in most recent model years or will it continue? Or do we just not know? I ask because I am 2 wks from my GSA purchase.

[BMWWANDRR]

Don, I'm not quite sure what this means for the company, other than they got caught.

[Norwood]

Don, I'm not quite sure what this means for the company, other than they got caught.

I am thinking that with this penalty coming on the heels of the of the finding of the NHTSA in January for final drive failures on the LTs, this should be their great awakening....but, with this company like other corporations of this size...pay the penalty and hope the problem goes away...then find the right PAC or pocket to pad to make it goes away for good. There are many wide open pockets near the beltway in DC.

With all the cross-posts I am reading on many BMW forums and other bike forums as well...the fire has been fueled, however BMW has turned it's deaf ear to every BMW organization large or small (dealers included) in regard to this issue...it is well documented. More than once, I have listened to BMW spokespersons in open organized meetings dance around the issue and attendees come away with empty promises and never have I heard them admit they have a problem.

The first step would be to BMW to man up and say..."we have a problem and we going to correct it".

Personally I can hope....but I do that when I buy a lottery ticket as well, my chances are better with the lottery.

There are other companies knocking on the door with some great bikes and great dual sport/touring type bikes....They are getting my attention!

[Norwood]

Does the final drive issue seem to be resolved in most recent model years or will it continue? Or do we just not know? I ask because I am 2 wks from my GSA purchase.

Chris, I choose ---We don't know....

I have just purchased a NEW 2011 leftover....good incentives back in November 2011... 1200GSA. my 4th GS type bike.. It's made for my type of riding. Other brands are looking better all the time I may add...while they are GS copies... it's the market.

The below is just my Opinion and the way I look at my new purchase.

When I go to purchased a new bike I figure the TRUE Cost of this bike:
Stock seat...sucks...custom seats 500 to 1000 dollars, depending....
ESA or OHLIN later.... add up to $1800.00
Stock windshield or wide and high.... add $275.
Get after market Panniers or BMW ones... add $1200 to $2500.
Basic GPS or BMW Nav or best Zumo.... $350 to 1250
Bar risers..I am big guy... add $150
Swivel pegs...I stand up some .. add $150
Cooler Guard...don't want a rock in there... add $100
Headlight guard...same rock...easy to clean.. add $100

By pass the Canbus....add Fuse block... add $150... a must if you add accessories!!!

Stock Headlight sucks...add HID or LED with switch...add $75 per light.

Change out turn signals to LED...flashing back stop light, top case, radar detector, camera mount, SPOT tracking device, highway pegs, larger engine protector, mud guards, engine protector, splash protector mounted on center stand, then all the little protection add on(s)...the list grows..and so does the True Cost....(touratech and others know where I live)

Many are content with just the Stock bike...I admire those riders!

Then I consider the warranty... and the extended warranty at 36,000 miles or 3 years... I will be the first to say that we shouldn't have to buy an extended warranty to cover BMW's lack of research and development.

So to that price... I add $1400 to $1800 to be paid before 36,000 miles turns..

I have only been riding BMW bikes since 2001...and just turned over 210,000 BMW ridden miles... (got the patch)

I have owned 6 BMW bikes...the first two where LTs purchased new and traded or sold ...the first at 18,000 the second at 58,000 and then the GS bug got me... my 1150GS was purchased used..great bike...my 05 GS was new ...great bike... my 07 GSA great bike...but with this bike I knew I would outfit it to the max and do some serious riding to Alaska and Canada and do a IBA ride, National Park Tour and more... I rode it 80,000 plus... with this one I purchased the EXTENDED warranty...because I knew I would ride it long and hard and I did... I going for 100,000 more on that later....

In all the miles and bikes.. NO problems until...this past year...
Before I left for Alaska, I had the bike serviced completely at the dealer where I purchased the extended warranty...didn't want any issues about me doing routine service....upon examination (45,000miles), the rear outside the oil bearing was loose, the extended warranty company said rebuilt it... I said NO...it happened that BMW rep was in the shop doing a BMW tech audit review and heard my words...not knowing who he was....I made a statement I was about to embark on a 18,000 mile trip, with hundreds following me via SPOT and internet, Facebook on my Penny a Mile Challenge for Eldridge Children's Home...this is going to be something if it fails and the world is watching...he turned to tech and said... I have a final drive here tomorrow... just that quick I get a new 2008 final drive with drain hole in bottom..(imagine that a drain hole in the bottom, another story) ...
I completed the trip...trouble free....
I had read on many forums and California Highway Patrol maintenance reports at 65,000 miles...drive shaft u joints fail at high rate...Many LD riders confirm this as well.... at 66,000 my drive shaft failed and Extended warranty paid...$878.00... Also other things that the extended warranty covered where ABS sensors and couple other minor things... each time I was only out $25.00 on the warranty contract price....

The extended warranty was purchased at 36,000 ...it was for THREE years and UNLIMITED miles, transferable to new owner OR refund the unused part...

SO at 13 months, remaining on the warranty OR a $663 pay back to me...I decided to sell with the warranty...which I figured added $1000 to the price for the assurance and insurance. The bike sold at my price...with 80,000 plus miles and 13 months on the warranty....

I had purchased the above mentioned 2011 GSA to replace it... within three years or 36,000 miles IF i decide to keep it and pile on the miles I will again purchase a extended warranty to cover BMW's South end of North bound mule.....

OK..sorry to write you a book, hope it's good information for you and maybe others...JUST MY 2 CENTS WORTH.. the cheapest part of owning a BMW.....

BTW, folks...sitting with my mother for past week...got a lot of time on my hands...can you tell...

[Vance]

thanks Don...great book...I enjoyed all the chapters! Thanks for the update, I especiaaly like your farkeling exercise...funny indeed....

Take care of mom my friend. I hope she is wel and you are back on the road again soon!!

[rangerreece]

Me thinks its a done deal.

ouch!!! that hurts! Wait til they get 'em on the whole final drive thing....lol....

Recall Number: 10 V 488 000
Date: 08-OCT-2010
Models: 2005-2011 Motorcycles
Subject: Rear Wheel Linkage
Potentially Defective: 11,826

So its a rainy Saturday here in LA, so I was cleaning Ursala's final drive as I've been riding a lot in the rain this week and she's got a little nasty... but before I stepped out in the garage I perused the forums as I often do and came across this thread, and as I often do, I think on what I read for a bit, and the more I thought as I was cleaning the bike the more these two statements by Vance and the article stuck in my head. Subject: Rear Wheel Linkage may be vague enough to actually mean rear drive failure, especially considering the number of potentially effective being so high to include probably every para-lever rear wheel drive bike sold since 2005.
Ramifications: Three Million dollars and done equals great deal for manufacturer, lousy deal for customer holding the bill for the cost of the materiel failure, both in repairs, and in some cases death or injury. Lets hope that my suspicions are in fact not as conspiratorial as I make them out to be, and that BMW will make good on the rear drive issue.

[BMWWANDRR]

All I can say about extended warranties is this. Honda wing, $600, 7 yrs, unlimited miles. I wish BMW had the same faith in their bikes.

[Norwood]

All I can say about extended warranties is this. Honda wing, $600, 7 yrs, unlimited miles. I wish BMW had the same faith in their bikes.

Where is that LIKE button?

[cpannarbor]

Don,

Thank you very much for the great info. When I see you guys we don't get much time to discuss things such as this, and honestly, we are all there to have a good time at the meetings and not harp on about the negatives we've encountered. But your post is EXACTLY the type information I needed to hear. At least now I can be a more informed consumer. I was aware of all the farkle bits as I have spent the past three years with the Touratech catalog in the "library." Like you I consider an upgraded engine guard, oil cooler guard and headlight guard necessary items, as well as cases.

My heart is so much in the GS, and although I may not have the time for the mileage numbers you rack up, I do plan to get the GSA muddy at every opportunity. I'm the guy who bought a new 4WD Suburban in '05, and while they are usually used as a grocery getter/soccer mom transport, I took that thing VERY off road and one time even flooded my air filter when the water got too deep. So I will be getting my GSA into the dirty stuff as often as possible.

I love my K75, which turns 20 this year, and I'll be keeping that one. He runs better than ever and is my daily commuter. I am just worried that with the GSA even with regular service/maintenance I will have big bills for repairs of breakdowns that, in my opinion, just shouldn't happen.

The BMW cars have gone the same way. Jill has had BMW's for over 20 years and recently bought an Acura. She says it doesn't have a "soul" and I say, maybe not, but it will be the most reliable vehicle you've ever owned.

This has all given me reason to think a bit before I drop down the cash. It sounds like at a minimum the extended warranty is a must. And I do plan to address these issues with the dealer before purchase...for what it's worth.

Thanks again for the info.