Question about BMW final drive issues

[igneouss]

Marc,
Since buying the bike I have been getting educated. It's amazing how much contradictory info is out there. One point of confusion for me was that in one or two years the GS Adventure was different (engine) than the non-adventure GS. 2013 is one of those years. In 2013 the GSA is oil cooled, the GS has water cooling.

My 2013 GS Adventure has a vent, a drain plug, and a fill port. I drained and filled it (the first person to do so on this bike) it had 180+/- in it.

Virginia Motorrad seems to be a good source of info. They note that 2010 was a year when significant design changes happened. One large bearing was relocated to the oil bath side of the seal and the vent was added.

So far I think mine is better rather than worse. I'm sure there's more to learn about this...

2013 and 2014 final drives had a higher failure rate than pre 2013 or post 2014 as BMW made changes with the 2013 year and again in 2015 or there about.

Some failures were catastrophic and well documented, some, will have simple to fix blown seals from too much oil and no vent.

In 2013 BMW came out with the new final drive with the wet head motor which specified a higher oil quantity 220ml IIRC and specified it as lifetime fill, thus no drain plug. There are also theories of incorrectly shimmed bearings but I cannot say if that's true.

Around 2015, could be late 14 could be 16, BMw changed the final drive in a few ways:

1. Added a vent
2. Added a drain plug
3. Added a 12k service interval
4. Lowered the fill spec during a service full to 180ml

I do not think all these changes happened at once, I believe they were irritative as BMW tried to solve the drive failure issues.

Bottom line is, there is a higher failure rate of 2013 WET HEAD ENGINED final drives vs at the very least 2016 and newer.

Not all final drives fail.

Any year BMW can and does have final drive failures.

Exact percentage is unknown. Probably lower then the internet makes it seem, but higher than it should be when compared to a Honda or Yamaha.

There are easy tests to know if the bike you are looking at has a currently good final drive and if it was services correctly.

 

[Marc11]

Marc,
Since buying the bike I have been getting educated. It's amazing how much contradictory info is out there. One point of confusion for me was that in one or two years the GS Adventure was different (engine) than the non-adventure GS. 2013 is one of those years. In 2013 the GSA is oil cooled, the GS has water cooling.

My 2013 GS Adventure has a vent, a drain plug, and a fill port. I drained and filled it (the first person to do so on this bike) it had 180+/- in it.

Virginia Motorrad seems to be a good source of info. They note that 2010 was a year when significant design changes happened. One large bearing was relocated to the oil bath side of the seal and the vent was added.

So far I think mine is better rather than worse. I'm sure there's more to learn about this...

IIRC 2013 was a transition year from the Camhead to the Waterhead engines, this is when they also changed the FD. The GS was the first to get the water cooled motor in 2013, all other boxer bikes got it in 2014. It is possible BMW started with the GSA and then moved to the GS with the engine. I do know for sure in 2013 BMW sold both hex and water head engines, early in the MY and later.

If your bike has a vent and a drain then that FD has been replaced already and if so, that's a fantastic outcome for you.

Takes a lot of concern off your plate. If I were you, I'd drop the FD and check/lube the splines as mentioned but I'm betting they are just fine if the FD has already been replaced.

Seems like you may have found a unicorn.

 

[igneouss]

I'd like to say I knew all this before I bought the bike... but...
The dealer that sold it to me changed the engine oil and brake fluid. I immediately changed the FD oil and the transmission oil.
Bike goes to dealer for 'run in check' late this week (funny....run in check for an 8 year old bike). New tires and some other minor stuff. When I get it home I intend to change the FD oil again so I can see what's on the magnetic drain plug. As I get used to the oil condition I will set a maintenance interval. After this initial pair of changes I expect it to be something like 10k. We'll see.

IIRC 2013 was a transition year from the Camhead to the Waterhead engines, this is when they also changed the FD. The GS was the first to get the water cooled motor in 2013, all other boxer bikes got it in 2014. It is possible BMW started with the GSA and then moved to the GS with the engine. I do know for sure in 2013 BMW sold both hex and water head engines, early in the MY and later.

If your bike has a vent and a drain then that FD has been replaced already and if so, that's a fantastic outcome for you.

Takes a lot of concern off your plate. If I were you, I'd drop the FD and check/lube the splines as mentioned but I'm betting they are just fine if the FD has already been replaced.

Seems like you may have found a unicorn.

 

[Dann]

The recommended interval for the FD oil change from BMW is 2 years or 20,000km
I sold my 07RT with 186,000km and no FD issue (original FD design with no drain plug or vent)