You'll have to forgive my lack of technical vocabulary.
I was looking over my not very clean S this morning while getting my gear on and I noticed that there’s some bubbling on the paintwork on what I think is the lower yoke?
It’s the lower piece of metal that the forks go through before the brake callipers etc…
There’s bubbling round the holes where the forks go through. The bikes only 18 months old and I’ve had it for 34 months now but I wouldn’t have expected to see something like this so quickly.
Has anyone else seen that… is it a know weakness with the S? Is this something that I could take back to Vines and ask to have addressed under the warranty? Or would it not be covered?
If anyone can tell me what the piece I’m talking about is actually called I’d appreciate it
Ah, they all do that sir. BMW uses "environmentally friendly" paint , which as you can see cannot cope with the UK's unfriendly environment . If the bike is still under warranty, then ask your dealer to repaint it. I believe several folks have succeeded with that approach. If not, it's not a major job to strip the old paint off and do it yourself with proper "man's paint". While you're at it, do the bottom fork castings too, since they will go the same way soon.
Hope this helps,
Paul
You really need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the tape.
The bike is still under warranty but if it's going to go every 18 months is it not better for me to do it properly myself now?
I'm not looking to create work for myself but if it's an easy job and it's recommended to do the lowers at the same time then maybe I should bite the bullet and do it now?
Is it the sort of thing that you can do over a weekend? I wouldn't fancy loosing the use of my bike for too long.
Lightrunner wrote:The bike is still under warranty but if it's going to go every 18 months is it not better for me to do it properly myself now?
I'm not looking to create work for myself but if it's an easy job and it's recommended to do the lowers at the same time then maybe I should bite the bullet and do it now?
Is it the sort of thing that you can do over a weekend? I wouldn't fancy loosing the use of my bike for too long.
Taking the forks off sounds scary but is surprisingly easy I thought - should be able to do in a busy weekend - could do it with the forks on but wouldn't be so easy
Did mine recently without removing the forks. (used a lot of news paper for masking mind you and really only tackled the front of the fork brace - where the problem was - and not the rear side).
Obviously you need to remove the frond mudguard and as that's fixed with a screw under the fork brace it does mean front wheel out.
As to whether you can do it in a weekend - you could, but it probably depends on the drying time of the paints and lackers you use and how many coats you go for.
Yep, happens to em all!!! touch wood mine is still ok, but my old mans RT is starting to do it - he doesnt clean it that often (idiot!!!). I try to clean those bits after a mucky ride out and then rub wd-40 over the area. Its protected it fine since brand new and still looking good now.
Hmmmm..... what I'd like to do is to take the forks out and do the forks and yoke properly, (not that those you of you have done it in situ didn't do a proper job), even if the bikes off the road for a few days. I use it a lot and intend to keep it for a long time so consider that effort / disruption a long term investment.
That said the idea of taking the forks off scares the willies out of me!!!
I have a recurring nightmare that some 'simple' job I do will render the bike out of action or end up with a huge bill while I pay for someone to put it all right.
Any of you geniuses live close to Woking?
Swap copious amounts of tea, coffee, beer, bacon, curry if anyone was able to drop by and give me a few pointers.
If its under warranty get the new bits from the dealer and before you fit them get them two pack epoxy or powder coated then get the dealer to fit them
cleaned the bike yesterday... in the snow... an noticed that the forks are going the same way as the yoke, if not worse
Spoke to Vines and they said wheel it in at some point and they would assess it to see if it was a warranty issue or not.
I'll speak to them and see what they say... find out if I could get the parts to get them painted / powdercoated and then get them to fit them etc.
Do you know if they're likely to replace the parts or removed and respray them themselves? Seems pointless if I'm going to be in the same situation in a years time.
Lightrunner wrote:
Do you know if they're likely to replace the parts or removed and respray them themselves? Seems pointless if I'm going to be in the same situation in a years time.
Warranty is usually a straight swap, bit pointless as you say. Some dealers have been known to ask the manufacturer for a contribution towards fixing the problem (ie getting the bits painted properly) rather than delaying it till the warranty expires they saying sod off. How helpful are Vines ?
Lloyd
It's not how fast you ride, it's how you ride fast.
Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear
bright until you hear them speak.
Just to continue the story I rolled in Vines on the way home last night.
They had a look at it and agreed straight away that the bubbling on the fork bridge was a warranty issue as was some bubbling on the mirror stalks.
They felt that the forks should be a warranty issue but that BMW might reject the claim as they've been a bit tight recently ?? and have been rejecting claims saying that it's lack of maintenance or stone chips (although I have paint flaking from all round the forks so can't all be due to stone chips)
I asked about getting the replacement parts painted differently to stop this happening 2 years down the line but that's not an option apparently.
All in all I was happy with their assesment, they seemed very eager to get the work done under warranty and it's booked in for the end of April. That was their suggestion to make sure the worst of the weather is over before getting my shiny new pieces fitted.
But the new ones will last only just as long, ask them for the new bits in advance of fitting and get them painted properley then give them back to the dealer for fitting if they baulk at this create a big f8ck off row and say that you will be back, in another few more months for a second replacement and so on and so on.
If they continue with the tack about stone chips and lack of maintenance I sugest that we have a mass turnout at BMW GB in Bracknell for a protest me personally I am fed up with stealerships and the great god BMW taking the piss after all they only cost about 8.5K
yeah I know... I'll press the point about getting the replacement parts so that I can paint them properly closer to the time and see what happens.
It strikes me as a very reasonable request as there's no increased cost to them and all it means is that I'll not be faced with the same situation in another 18 months when there's no warranty to speak of
, which as you can see cannot cope with the UK's unfriendly environment 
. If the bike is still under warranty, then ask your dealer to repaint it. I believe several folks have succeeded with that approach. If not, it's not a major job to strip the old paint off and do it yourself with proper "man's paint". While you're at it, do the bottom fork castings too, since they will go the same way soon.
