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(09-06-2026, 06:28 PM)NormR Wrote: So, its been a few weeks now that my dealer confirmed the driveshaft and rear drive/gearbox will be replaced once the parts arrive from the motherland. I have 43,400 kms on her now and don't notice any possible drive issues coming from the guilty components when I'm on the road. When I have the bike on the center stand the gear drive does sound a little dry and rough but the rear wheel turns nicely and don't feel any kinked u-joint issue. My question is : what are the risks I might have a major failure and end up on the side of the road? God knows when the dealer will get the needed parts...... 
Right.... Having destroyed the proximal shaft and cooked the swingarm, I'm not touching that question. I had some warning, but not much. If it's already a little rough, the generated heat at speed might already be sufficient to affect transmission and swingarm.
"A good man always knows his limitations...."
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(09-06-2026, 06:28 PM)NormR Wrote: So, its been a few weeks now that my dealer confirmed the driveshaft and rear drive/gearbox will be replaced once the parts arrive from the motherland. I have 43,400 kms on her now and don't notice any possible drive issues coming from the guilty components when I'm on the road. When I have the bike on the center stand the gear drive does sound a little dry and rough but the rear wheel turns nicely and don't feel any kinked u-joint issue. My question is : what are the risks I might have a major failure and end up on the side of the road? God knows when the dealer will get the needed parts......
I don't remember the reason why you are getting a new final drive and I assume that the cardan shaft is being replaced as part of the Service Bulletin.
Suffice it to say that from the accounts I have heard of failures of the cardan shaft yokes while riding, there were no pre-warnings, and there was simply catastropic failure as the U-joint gave way. In one case with a member on this Forum, it happened while driving down the road and the damage was pretty catastrophic, damaging the transmission and more - very expensive. The owner had to pay at least half, and it was likely only because he is a long-time BMW owner and excellent customer at his dealership that he got the consideration he did from BMW and did not have to foot the whole bill. Now admittedly that was years before the Service Bulletin was issued and before BMW officially recognized that the shafts could and were occasionally failing.
If you were to take the bike and some sort of failure like that were to occur you may not receive the same consideration and it might not be worth it to repair.
Regards,
Grumpy Goat
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(09-07-2026, 08:19 AM)NormR Wrote: Thanks for all the info, A little background; The bike was checked a couple weeks ago at the dealer and they confirmed the rusty driveshaft and rear drive was stuck. In their experience they decided it needed both the driveshaft and rear drive. ...
Thanks for clarifying. Not sure why they would want to replace the final drive since it seems to be working fine ... just fused to the cardan shaft due to rust. But if it is no cost to you then you're ahead.
When I first serviced my shaft, it was also fused to the final drive and I had to remove the final drive from the swingarm to pull it and the shaft out as one piece. I was then able to fairly easily break the rust bond and get the shaft off. No issues ever since then, and the final drive has 63k miles on it.
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Grumpy Goat
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Today was the day I got the work done on the bike. Work started at 10:30am and was completed at 3:30pm. I actually waited around the dealership and a nearby restaurant since it was a 2 hour drive from my place. They indeed did change the driveshaft with the final drive together. They also retrofitted a drain too. Apparently the driveshaft was seized at both ends and it took a 2nd mechanic to assist freeing up the shaft. The recommendation to change the final drive came from the mechanic and I am over the moon happy with how the bike is running right now. It shifts much smoother and I believe runs much quieter. I even feel (might be in my head) less a "clunk" when I drop into first gear from neutral. In the end it was a $6,000cdn warranty repair. BMW service gets a 5 star rating from me today!
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.... Glad you decided not to take it on the road while waiting.
Out of curiosity, did you have the courage to ride it to the dealership?
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(09-16-2026, 05:06 PM)NormR Wrote: Today was the day I got the work done on the bike. Work started at 10:30am and was completed at 3:30pm.
...
It shifts much smoother and I believe runs much quieter. I even feel (might be in my head) less a "clunk" when I drop into first gear from neutral. In the end it was a $6,000cdn warranty repair. BMW service gets a 5 star rating from me today!
Excellent, and thanks for the extra detail on what happened. Glad to hear that it is all resolved and to your satisfaction!
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Grumpy Goat
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Glad you're back on the road!
Seeya
ATB
