Intermediate shaft and needle bearings

[mojoguzzi]

In an earlier post, I reported about the issues with my 2025 RS. It started with a battery failing its test during other maintenance inn August. While doing that work, the technician heard ticking from the port cylinder and diagnosed it as needle bearing failure in the intermediate shaft. Two weeks later they had the bike ready and delivered it to me (45 miles away). The bike threw an error message (something related to something electrical, "Ride to your nearest dealer" kinda thing. They took it back the next day.

The tech installed a shaft and bearings they had in the shop. She then was in touch with BMW North America & BMW Germany about my bike. It was throwing the same fault code, so the bike thinks the engine is out of timing, but the tech confirmed to them with video that it is in time. They had her order another intermediate shaft just in case the one that replaced was defective. As they said, "Unfortunately, it's a bit of a mystery to them at this time as well."

After not hearing for a month I prompted them with an update. They said, "We received parts Friday, installed today, and took the bike for a test ride, and it failed on the test ride. So we will have to get back into it unfortunately. Wish I had better news."

So no RS.

Again, glad I have my V100.

[Grumpy Goat]

Ahhh ... now the order of the intermediate shaft makes sense ... it is for an issue unrelated to the battery drain issue. Thanks for clarifying. It is indeed a bummer no less, because either way you do not have the RS to ride. The Mandello is a gorgeous substitute though.

[mojoguzzi]

Thinking perhaps an ECU problem

[Duckbubbles]

I may be time for you to get in touch directly with BMWNA. I had an "unfixable" problem with my '16 RS and they bought it back from me. Went through four water pumps and it still leaked from the weep hole. Just a thought.

Frank

[mojoguzzi]

I'd love that, Frank. If you don't mind, send me a PM. Thanks.

[mojoguzzi]

I rode up to Mortons yesterday and they told me my RS is ready!

So it seems it was the timing. It had something to do with the replacement of the intermediate shaft on one cylinder that when she set the timing for that cylinder, the bike thought it was off, even though it wasn’t. It was the fact that the other cylinder that needed to be timed. Or something like that.

At any rate, they've thoroughly test-ridden it such that they feel confident to release it to me. They will deliver it Friday 11/7

[Grumpy Goat]

I rode up to Mortons yesterday and they told me my RS is ready!
...

That is indeed great news. Now not so much need for the V100 Mandello. 

[mojoguzzi]

I rode up to Mortons yesterday and they told me my RS is ready!
...

That is indeed great news. Now not so much need for the V100 Mandello. 

Not so fast... Got a call today--they did another test ride, just to make sure it was ok. They'd earlier done a total of 90 miles of test rides, and wanted to ensure it was AOK...and the damn check-engine failure message appeared. 

Back to the drawing board.

[Grumpy Goat]

Good that they are thinking of this bike more than the typical dealership would and trying to make sure that it was actually fixed. Sounds like a deeper root cause to this issue, which of course would mean even more diagnostic time, which would put more pressure on service department management to balance profit with customer satisfaction. Sorry that this RS is now giving this amount of trouble, and I hope that it is resolved soon and once and for all.

[mojoguzzi]

Coming back tomorrow. Now they say it's the timing sensor. They've temporarily bypassed it and will be replacing the interruptor (?) -- a spinning magnetic disc, which detects timing every time the cyclinder fires -- and THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS.

Good lord. Wish me luck

[Grumpy Goat]

Amazing. Please keep the updates coming. This is not good.

[mojoguzzi]

Latest: They are coming today to pick my RS up because they got the wiring harness and the piece for the timing sensor in.

[mojoguzzi]

They let me know they had replaced the parts but are waiting for decent-enough roads to test-ride it (it's ridiculously icy here)

[mojoguzzi]

Also, I sent a lengthy email to BMW customer support expressing my displeasure at the situation. Will keep y'all updated

[mojoguzzi]

Just talked with BMW. No buy-back, no offer, no trade-in. “You’re on your own, kid. Maybe you can work out a trade with your dealer."

Such a bad taste in my mouth now.

[Grumpy Goat]

Just talked with BMW. No buy-back, no offer, no trade-in. “You’re on your own, kid. Maybe you can work out a trade with your dealer."

Such a bad taste in my mouth now.

This is not a widespread issue which is there BMW Corporate's responsibility would lie. I am not surprised that Corporate would leave it up to you to try and deal with the selling dealership to try and have them buy back the bike or somehow offer to make you whole. That way it would then be up to the dealer to deal with BMW to try and get some assistance.

That said, the Lemon Law in VA states that you have 18 months to file a claim so the clock may be ticking. 

Can't say I blame you for being more than a little irritated.

[mojoguzzi]

Just talked with BMW. No buy-back, no offer, no trade-in. “You’re on your own, kid. Maybe you can work out a trade with your dealer."

Such a bad taste in my mouth now.

This is not a widespread issue which is there BMW Corporate's responsibility would lie. I am not surprised that Corporate would leave it up to you to try and deal with the selling dealership to try and have them buy back the bike or somehow offer to make you whole. That way it would then be up to the dealer to deal with BMW to try and get some assistance.

That said, the Lemon Law in VA states that you have 18 months to file a claim so the clock may be ticking. 

Can't say I blame you for being more than a little irritated.

Thanks.

I get it. And I understand BMW not wanting to buy back bikes. The fact that Morton's has spent so much time and effort (and thus $$) on trying to fix this issue means they pretty much eat the cost; some parts credit and such just doesn't compensate them enough. Meanwhile, I'm out of the riding time time, the value on trade-in, and the confidence in this bike. 

Ironic that my new Guzzi is now the one I'm confident in. 

Sadly, the lemon law doesn't apply--it's for new bikes bought in VA, but I bought this one in NC in 2020. Oh well, so it goes, as Kurt Vonnegut would say. I'm expecting Morton's to deliver the bike Thursday. Here's hoping I can confidently close this thread!

[Grumpy Goat]

Best of luck. When you get it back you will have to ride the sh!t out of it just to compensate for all the lost time and to see whether these issues come back. While Morton's is likely taking a hit on this bike / issue, I am sure they can afford it. If not, they might have dropped the brand a long time ago, but they are a long-time BMW dealer so they are accustomed to dealing with Corporate.