Catastrophic engine failure!!!!

[Bobos578]

I purchased my Gen A 2016 S1000XR 18 months back and was very happy with my new bike until one evening on a ride it started to have a tappet sound on the left hand side of the engine. Being very shocked with the sudden change of tone of the engine I headed home and contacted my local BMW dealer. I was advised to have a valve clearance check done to the bike as it was due to be done and informed that the noise was normal with this type of engine and there was nothing to worry about. Valve clearances were checked and I was advised that all was good with the bike but the noise was still there which I wasn't happy about..

I was out on the bike a couple of weeks ago when suddenly it lost power for a few seconds and then returned only about 5mph. With that there was a terrible metal rattling sound on the right hand side of the engine. I pulled the clutch in and coasted to a stop.
The bike was recovered and taken back to my local dealership for further investigation on what had happened.

The bike had dropped a valve and damaged the engine beyond repair.

Now my bike has just covered 25,000miles I wouldn't have expected this to happen on a modern bike especially a BMW..

The dealership approached BMW to ask for any assistance in getting my bike repaired as a good will gesture but after waiting a few days for the reply they have turned down any assistance in helping me, not happy.
The reason for refusal that the bike hadn't been serviced by BMW throughout even though the book was all stamped and even one year it was serviced twice.

Not happy at all with the response that I have received from BMW.

Has anyone else had an issue like this I have read on the internet about GEN A bikes having faulty cams and being replaced and one had a complete new engine. This was down to incorrect material used in the cam and the hardening process had failed causing the cam to become lumpy generating the tappet sound.

Any help would be appreciated..

[Mareng1]

OUCH! 

How much servicing was carried out by BMW in the 6 years?    If only the early couple of years, then I think the valid argument is that ‘goodwill’ goes in both directions.

If you had supported the BMW dealer network, for that time-  they are more likely, I think - to support you now.

Take a chance on a used engine from a written-off bike? 

‘Shaming’ on social media wouldn’t work for a ‘goodwill’ claim - I don’t think.

 

[Bobos578]

50% of the servicing was done by BMW and valve clearance end of last year.

[Mareng1]

Sorry, re-reading - it may be that you have yourself discounted a goodwill gesture, and looking at a more ‘legal’ approach, in which case my post might seem condescending.

You may have a chance by detailing the work carried out by the BMW dealer(s), and appealing direct to BMW UK (nothing to lose).

Good luck.

[Bobos578]

You weren't condescending at all I am going to approach BMW directly see what happens, just disappointed after getting a lovely bike to have mechanical failure at such low mileage. I have a 26 year old VFR with over 53,000 miles on the clock still going strong.

[Winger]

Hmmmmm always a tricky subject....had a fair bit to do with both dealers and importers and they specialise in passing the buck, if you had bought the bike new and serviced on the dot after arguing between themselves they’d have both made a contribution and on the basis it was long out of warranty expected you to pick the rest of the bill up, but with its history you posted i’d Be amazed if they chip in.

To make matters worse....as an example my K1200r Sport lunched it’s gearbox last year and ended up buying a donor engine(just for the box)which really is a separate story, but having trawled eBay for an X/R engine while their are plenty on there, only saw one that I thought would be good enough with a combo of miles and condition, sure enough also the most expensive but there’s always room for negotiation.

ATB