Service Bulletin but not for the RS?

[Mark]

I've got the free replacement scheduled for next week (22 March 2024) (along with new tires and valve check). They indicated in effect that the first replacement is free; thereafter, I'm liable for the next 36k-mile shaft replacement

I believe the drive shafts are free every 36,000 miles for as long as the bike is registered for the road. I'm on my third drive shaft. Unfortunately for me BMW is not refunding me for my second drive shaft which I  paid for at the higher drive shaft price. So it goes!

[Chug]

   
I was proactive this week with the dealer on my '16 K54 at 27K miles.  Asked them to do the inspection or provide evidence as to why the K54 would be different. 
Dealer replaced the shaft and front boot, no duckbill. Reported partially fused.

Nice to know and have fixed coming off a 600 mile north central TX weekend to collect hatching insects!

[Grumpy Goat]

I was proactive this week with the dealer on my '16 K54 at 27K miles.  Asked them to do the inspection or provide evidence as to why the K54 would be different. 
Dealer replaced the shaft and front boot, no duckbill. Reported partially fused.

Good move. I am still pissed that BMW Motorrad has not moved to include the K54s on this side of the pond. It does nothing for my loyalty to the brand.

[Twisty Road]

Not sure which side of the pond you are on. But in Tennessee in the USA my 2016 K54 Lupin RS had the drive shaft replacement a few weeks ago. No cost to me at 40,000 miles .

[Lee]

I was proactive this week with the dealer on my '16 K54 at 27K miles.  Asked them to do the inspection or provide evidence as to why the K54 would be different. 
Dealer replaced the shaft and front boot, no duckbill. Reported partially fused.

Good move. I am still pissed that BMW Motorrad has not moved to include the K54s on this side of the pond. It does nothing for my loyalty to the brand.

I thought it was covered in the US.

[Mark]

It is

[Grumpy Goat]

I went to 2 BMW dealers (from which I bought 1 bike each) and both put in my VIN# in their system and said that there was nothing there. And I have not received any letter from BMW Motorrad as others in the UK appear to be getting. But I can see from the above that some are getting their driveshafts replaced. This is inconsistent and something seems fishy. Meanwhile I wait for some sort of change or letter ...

[Duckbubbles]

Two friends with 2016 RS's had their driveshafts replaced by BMW Motorcycles of Austin in the last few weeks. No problem.

Frank

[Twisty Road]

Perhaps showing this to your dealer will help.    

[Grumpy Goat]

This certainly looks like it might help me and those in my position. I never received a copy of this document.

However, the crucial part in the document is this (emphasis is mine):

"The affected vehicles have been marked with campaign number INF-0337390 in AIR.

In order to determine if a specific motorcycle is affected by this INFO-campaign, it will be necessary to

verify the vehicle VIN in AIR (Aftersales Information Research). Based on the response of the system.
either proceed with the repair or take no further action. Please note, open campaigns or vehicle stops
may not appear in DCS Warranty Vehicle Inquiry or sales systems until 24-72 hours after they are
announced, therefore AR is always the recommended method for determining open campaigns and
vehicle stops."

I have no idea whether they checked AIR (Aftersales Information Research), or whether they just looked somewhere else, as in recalls or service bulletins for my VIN. If that is the case, then they would have missed INF-0337390.

It is possible that they did check AIR and found that mine was not an affected vehicle, and hence no further action was offered. Neither service department told me what they checked, and I did not know about INF-0337390 in AIR.

Do you (or anyone else) have a PDF of the actual document (as opposed to the photo). I see from the photo that there are more pages (from the ghosted image of the text on the backside of the page).

[Duckbubbles]

I may be jumping the gun on this, but we may be seeing the beginnings of a driveshaft shortage in the US. A couple of friends with RT's are having to wait for new driveshafts to arrive. Good news is that the bikes are together and rideable for the time being. This is from central Texas.

Frank

[Ray]

I may be jumping the gun on this, but we may be seeing the beginnings of a driveshaft shortage in the US.  A couple of friends with RT's are having to wait for new driveshafts to arrive.  Good news is that the bikes are together and rideable for the time being.  This is from central Texas.

Frank

Right - some on the forum stashed away an extra in their parts chests when the price came down. 
I have the impression that any shortage will be short-lived. They produced a lot before they opened the replacement programs.

[Mark]

I was one that bought a drive shaft at the lower price. I just return it to my dealer for a refund.

[Grumpy Goat]

I was one that bought a drive shaft at the lower price. I just return it to my dealer for a refund.

Even if you don’t get a refund from a dealer I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to sell. I bought mine a while back from a dealer in California and getting a refund would probably not be worth my time. Easier to sell I’d think.

[darrell]

I bought one and when in MN my dealer came and picked mine up 2 or 3 times to get another rider on the road again as they were out.  Then replaced mine.  Free T-shirt each time.  Let your local dealers know you have one they can borrow.  Stock the T-shirt drawer.

[Ray]

I bought one and when in MN my dealer came and picked mine up 2 or 3 times to get another rider on the road again as they were out.  Then replaced mine.  Free T-shirt each time.  Let your local dealers know you have one they can borrow.  Stock the T-shirt drawer.

Ahh - the advantages of a good working relationship with a dealership. If you can be an advocate for the dealership, the advantages go both ways. (Never enough ball caps.)

[36654]

Hello,

Was there any change in footpeg vibration after the shaft replacement?

After a rear tire change, my bike has been developing increasing and uncomfortable footpeg vibration.  The bike tracks straight and there's no noticeable tire vibration (handlebar shake).  Acceleration seems weak (in gear) and throttle roll-off seems abrupt.  The engine freely revs when clutch is disengaged.  Initially, the vibration only annoying above 4000 rpms, but now it's noticeable at lower engine speeds. 

I called my dealer for a service appt, but they won't look at anything for 6 weeks.

[Ray]

Was there any change in footpeg vibration after the shaft replacement?

After a rear tire change, my bike has been developing increasing and uncomfortable footpeg vibration.  The bike tracks straight and there's no noticeable tire vibration (handlebar shake).  Acceleration seems weak (in gear) and throttle roll-off seems abrupt.  The engine freely revs when clutch is disengaged.  Initially, the vibration only annoying above 4000 rpms, but now it's noticeable at lower engine speeds. 

I called my dealer for a service appt, but they won't look at anything for 6 weeks.

(Sure sounds like a drive train issue.)

Yes. In my case (and others), the foot peg vibration was a failing proximal universal joint on the shaft. Buzzing was initially intermittent at only higher RPM. All resolved - including the abrupt roll-off - with replacement. If the proximal swing arm hits high temps..., time to put the bike in a trailer. 

Unless the failing cardan damaged the transmission, the dealer is not looking at a lot of time to evaluate and replace. 

Take care. Hope we're wrong.

[36654]

(Sure sounds like a drive train issue.)

Yes. In my case (and others), the foot peg vibration was a failing proximal universal joint on the shaft. Buzzing was initially intermittent at only higher RPM. All resolved - including the abrupt roll-off - with replacement. If the proximal swing arm hits high temps..., time to put the bike in a trailer. 

Unless the failing cardan damaged the transmission, the dealer is not looking at a lot of time to evaluate and replace. 

Take care. Hope we're wrong.

Initially, I was hoping it was engine vibration.  However, after two tanks of gas, it's getting worse and occurring at most speeds and RPMs.  So, I'm keeping the bike off the road and looking for a dealer that will look at it sooner than 6-weeks from now.

Going anywhere will be on a trailer.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

You guys are making me afraid to run my bike! Just turned 40K and have no symptoms that I know of. Guess I'll have to pull the shaft for an inspection before going to Santa Fe.