F800GS (and F650GS) Corrosion

[russ_fae_fyvie]

Not sure if anyone else on here has had problems with the paint peeling on Engine casings so thought I'd check. The alloy is rotten under the paint and it all starts from the edges where the
unsealed paint edge is (including all the bolt holes)

My bike is less than 3 years old and you can see the state of the sump and LHF Casing.

BMW are blaming me for not washing the bike, but considering the corrosion under the pain is only on 2 specific parts they are just trying it on.

This is the sump
https://www.fyviedesign.co.uk/personal/paint6.jpg

and the LH casing
https://www.fyviedesign.co.uk/personal/bmw6.jpg

Makes you wonder if any BMW car owners would put up with a new car corroding like this after less than 3 years.

[-Matt-]

Jesus christ where have you been riding through salt mines ...

Even after a few bad winters without proper washing I wouldn't of expected anything like that personally

[russ_fae_fyvie]

Forgot to say, it was always treated with 365 and WD40 during the winter too !

Generally the bike is in good condition, its just those 2 casings, selective corrosion !!

https://www.fyviedesign.co.uk/personal/paint5.jpg

[-Matt-]

Somethings definately up then, it doesn't look right as well its catastrophic on specifcally the underside piece, yet barely anything around the next bit up its in contact with, you'd of expected residual spray at least to of started working away at that fairly strongly considering the bottom.

[-Matt-]

I'm guessing perhaps if it had been dropped against something the outer areas of the parts affected had a crack in the paint where the salt started getting in and just ate away at it like a fire - how quickly did you notice it happened

[Sako]

Think I'd be pushing the dealer more, pretty unacceptable especially when you see the rest of the bike.

[c-m]

IRC engine production was moved to China. At least it was for the 650 (single cylinder range).

I've got a 10 year old Dakar, and although it has some pain corrosion on the casings, it's in much better condition than that. eek!

[-Matt-]

Looking at the second pick quite frankly its a load of bo--ucks for them to try say you not washing it is the problem - the rest of the bike and all the other areas you'd expect to of corroded through mis-care are virtually pristine ...

I'd be asking them for a better explanation i think

[chris-red]

Disgusting, I'd be mega angry about that, get down a dealers, if they are unhelpful tell them you will park your bike outside.


As per usual....

I have an 11 year old TDM, 65k miles, rarely washed ridden all year, and it looks in better nick than that.

Infact my Dads 30 something year old CX500 That was used and abused looks better than that!
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[nowhere.elysium]

I want to know what BMW have got to say about it: it's probably not going to be as funny as Victory's "You're washing it wrong" retort to stuartt, but I live in hope.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[russ_fae_fyvie]

Here was their final reply, as you can see, they blame me as its apparantly a cleaning issue !!

BMW will not entertain any problems from their head office, they pass the buck to the local dealer and they are not interested.

Totally unrelated the dealer I bought it off in Dundee (same chain as where its serviced) phone last week saying that becuse the bike I got from them is nearing the end of the finance, would I be interested in buying a new 800 Adventure from them !!!

Errr , the polite answer was NFW !!!!

The offer from the dealer was to just replce the LH casing but I would still have to fork out over £100 for labour !

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr Quinlan

Thank you for your further email dated June 18, 2013. I acknowledge your continued disappointment and this has been recorded under the above case number, which will be used as part of our ongoing customer satisfaction programme.

I can advise that once a motorcycle’s warranty has expired, we are under no obligation to assist financially with a repair. The dealer has offered you a contribution that was fair and reasonable, which you have declined. Your case was escalated to a BMW Technical Manager, who has confirmed that the corrosion on your motorcycle is not a manufacturing defect and is due to a cleaning issue. No further assistance therefore, will be offered.

I acknowledge that you have asked why only two parts have been affected if we deem it to be a cleaning issue. I can advise that I have been in contact with the BMW Technical Manager to discuss your case further. He has confirmed that the extent of corrosion shows that this is established and has happened over a period of months. Therefore, the issue should have been reported earlier, preferably, when the motorcycle was still covered under warranty. He has also stated that contrary to your statement that the corrosion is only in two places, he can see from the photographs you have supplied, that the front of the engine and the sump, along with the casings, show issues with corrosion.

I can advise that as the casings are low down, in line with the front wheel, they are subject to road debris, such as salt, grit and dirt. If this is not cleaned sufficiently, over time this will cause an issue.

I can confirm that your concerns have been thoroughly investigated and we have reached the stage where further exchanges of correspondence will not enable us to assist you as you had hoped.

Once again, I am sorry that you have had reason to write to us under these circumstances.

Yours sincerely

BMW UK
Stacey Owen
Customer Service Executive
Ellesfield Avenue
Bracknell RG12 8TA
Tel: +44 (0)870 5050160
Fax: +44 (0)870 5050205
Mailto: customer.service@bmw.co.uk
URL: www.bmw.co.uk

[-Matt-]

So basically they're saying you washed every inch of the bike perfectly - except the bottom and front left side which you not only haven't washed but have driven in such a way to spray tons upon tons of salt specfically on just those small areas.

Right

Thanks BMW for the continued quality service and input....

[J4mes]

Have you approached the finance company about any of this?

Failing that, Yeh, park it outside the dealers on a weekend with some laminated copies of the letters you have received so everyone can see

[Rogerborg]

Oh, the F800GS/F650GS, you say...?

https://rogerborg.dnsd.me/fuuu-face.png

I see from your adventurebikerider thread that you had a bash plate on it as well. That's pretty bloody awful. FS 365 is neither here nor there, that wouldn't have protected the coating.

AFAIK, that engine is still made by Rotax in Austria, it hasn't been palmed off to Kymco like the G560GS single (yet).

Since a quick Google for "F800GS corrosion" turns up your threads, I'm going to live in hope that you just got a bad 'un.

It's out of their warranty, but that doesn't mean that they can just wash their hands. That looks to me like a manufacturing flaw, for which they're responsible for at least 6 years.

Have you thought about getting an engineer's report and going down the Sheriff court small claims route? You'll need to pay a bit more up front, but it might be worth it to see the bastards cave in or be ordered to pay up.
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[sidewinder]

17 yr old divvy nowhere as bad and ridden i all weathers..

https://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m492/sidewinder11/DSCF0203.jpg

I would personaly take it back maybe to a different bmw dealer and get them to sort it.

[russ_fae_fyvie]

I called into the dealer who have been servicing it regularly for 3 years and although you could see his reaction to how bad it was, there was no way he was going to admit there was a problem with the paint.

To be honest I don't think there is any point fighting them any further, but what I WILL do is publicise this as much as possible and send those photos into as many Forums and Magazines as I can, I mean it would be remiss of me not to advise fellow bikers of potential problems if they are thinking of buying one !!

Just gonna clean it down and put Smoothright on and sod em.

Heres a couple more of the sump......

https://www.russquinlan.co.uk/Long_Rig/Stuff_files/sump1.jpg

https://www.russquinlan.co.uk/Long_Rig/Stuff_files/sump2.jpg

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

Holy fucking crap!!! Looks like you parked it in the harbour over winter.
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[-Monty-]

Bloody hell, that is awful. I know you have now said that you're not going to take any further action, but maybe it would have been an idea to let them know of you're intentions to make this public?

My 14 year old bike has a little bit of paint flaking off some of the covers but nothing anywhere near that sort of level.
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[russ_fae_fyvie]

My last email to them stated that I would let as many potential owners know of possible problems to look out for if they were wanting one of these bikes and I also said MCN would be advised, so they know even if they choose to ignore it !

[...]

Well that's certainly put me off owning one

[Ste]

BMW should be better than that!!!


The Customer Service Executive was unhelpful, you should seek help from customer service management and if that's unsuccessful then contact the managing director and/or chief executive.

[Alpha-9]

Have you been driving through the ocean?

He has a point about letting it get to this point, surely you noticed when it was brown rust before white 'it's fucked' rust?

if it's brown sand it down if it's white it's fucking shite
no ACF50? 3 years is ridiculous even if you haven't washed it once, i've never washed a bike, especially the underneath and it's never rusted
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Fzr-600 1999

[russ_fae_fyvie]

yeah it looks like a sand bike !!

Just ride all year in Scotland, not even off road, so god help me if I did that as well !!

The sump only became obvious when I took the plastic bash plate off, it was hiding it all.

I honestly think complaints against a company like BMW are a waste of time so will just publicise as much as I can and move on, steering well clear of any BMW product in the future.

I don't expect they are that bothered either,,,,,,,,,

[Furrybiker]

My 1985 Kawasaki is infinitely better than that.

Trading standards worth a phone call.

Bike is not fit for purpose, does it say in the warranty that it must be washed and have baby oil rubbed into its bum?

Not the first I have heard about lousy BMW quality.

[nowhere.elysium]