BMW R1200 GSA Cam and Rocker Arm Failure 

I greet you from Slovakia with the same problem that was pointed out to me at the rental company in Tenerife, when I inquired about renting a GS 1200, that the engine was broken, the owner also showed me a photo of the cam shaft that had worn off! So at 100k km I personally checked the camshafts and performed a service on my GSa 2016, with an oil change and a check of the valve stem, with the result everything OK. However, at 105,000 (that is, 5,000 km) on the way from Greece, this sound (a knock from the right cylinder) started.... After disassembly, the same result is the same on the right cylinder on the exhaust valve, the camshaft is broken. I am waiting for a response from BMW SK. This is clearly a manufacturing defect, the motorcycle is always serviced within 10,000 km with motorex oil... So far, I have heard a lot of nonsense from the unnamed SK authorized service center, that such a mistake is my fault and so on, we will wait for a written answer. The price of the shaft is approx. €360 + rocker arm 120x4 pieces + work... Later, I will write which BMW service center dealt with this topic in Slovakia and with what result... Here it will be possible to evaluate BMW's approach in individual countries...

Thank you. Watched your video and replaced all rocker arms with new model as in document you showed. About 1200 for rockers. Replaced myself. Waiting for shims to do valve adjustment myself.

I love how you said it as is …. Thank God, the issue was resolved.

Fortunately in this country, there are fit for purpose laws which transcends any warranty. That means if a part is ment to last a long time then the manufacturer will replace it at their expense.

Love your Podcast!!

At present i am thinking of buying my first BMW R1200RT, a used one. I have heard that BMW doesn't like or want to fix problems with their products. After seeing this i think I will hold off buying a BMW for now.

Going through this currently with my 2018 R1200GS with 31,000 miles. Bike has been sitting at a dealer for 5 weeks so far waiting for BMW to decide if they're going to cover it. I'm the original owner and this is my second BMW. I am 8 months out of warranty. If this isn't handled I'm done with the brand for life. They know there's a problem and have refused to do a recall on it and are hoping people are so far out of warranty by the time the problem rears it's head that they can just wash their hands of it.

I have the same problem at 99500km. on the left side. Repaired in three days and cost almost €3000. Greetings from Germany.

Thanks for the info. I just purchased a used ‘18 GS and after a month of ownership I have the same symptoms. I checked my GoPro footage. It was very faint at first, but now it is very loud. It definitely sounds horrible when it is on your bike.

Glad they took care of it , camshafts not being manufactured with the proper hardness , has been a problem, with the best of brands of cars and motorbikes for many years . Probably not bmws fault, it’s the company that makes the camshafts for bmw , no one can test everything completely, they got to get on the show room and sold .

Interesting to hear your mates bike, mine sounds like his so I guess it’s ok🤔 had my 2018 gs1200 for a week now and I’ve put 300 miles on it so far, I came off a ktm 1090 which was like a tractor 🤣 never had drive shaft before so that took some getting used to with me hearing all sorts of noises from the system 🤣 just as I’m used to that I thought bloody hell this thing sounds like a bag of spanners when hot!!! especially riding slow with my visor up, had a 💩 start to today’s ride when the bloody thing rolled off the side stand and fell over 🙄 no damage though, I think I’m getting used to the noises this bike makes and after all the cylinders are sticking out for all to hear the mechanics of it, mines a 2018 with 9200 miles and hearing your mates bike does reassure me somewhat 😊

Got it !! just read your comments !

you poor bugger, I am a time-served mechanic with a 2013 r1200gs, I had Stroke so can not ride it, only had it for 120km, but noticed valves were lil bit tappy, will check it out first with a long handled screwdriver as a stethoscope you'd be amazed just put the sharp end driver on the head cover, plastic end to your ear, Hope they changed your oil n filter

Same thing happened to my 2014 BMW GSA 1200. 67,000 miles on the bike. Replaced the intake cam shaft on the right side and the rocker arm. I did the work myself. Parts cost is 660 dollars for the cam and 150 dollars for the rocker arm. Bobs BMW, online, will square you away. My intention is to put 120,000 on it.

This happens too frequently with many makers bikes. When the hardened cam surface wears off they will wear incredibly quickly.

I have a 2016 GSA - mine ticks but disappears anything above tickover. This is probably the exhaust flap valve and this noise has reduced as the bike has racked up miles (Probably carbon build up cushioning the valve. It alarmed me at first but I'm used to it now. It's one to watch though.

Same thing happened with my S1000XR 2018 (K49) with 11.000 Kms. I am the second owner and bought it with 3.000km. It was an interstate private purchase from Queensland and I live in Melbourne (Victoria). My bike was already out of warranty but BMW Australia covered all costs after I showed all the records of services/oil changed. Two of the services (3.000 km and I bouhgt it) and the 10.000 km were not carried out by the BMW shop. How can I get a copy of the pdf mentioned above ?? I always thought the issue was with bad tempering of the camshafts. Please let me know.

the problem is the side stand and that's i got from a mechanic from a hi-tech bmw dealer near to the source.. the oil evacuates from the side side due to inclination and standing there for times. literally oilhead. It's a common issue.

I think this is happening to my 2013. How or where can i order parts and do myself?

Where's the link to the PDF so I can show the dealer .

Japanese for the win.

I wonder why it wasn't noticed during the last valve clearance check.

When camshaft premature worn , what about metal shaving in oil ? Did u get engine flush?

Hopefully they cleaned out all that swalf metal out of oil ways?

Wouldn’t you see metal in your oil ?

About how much did this repair cost ? could someone do it themselves?

What have your oil change intervals been since new? I maintain that 10,000 km (6,000 miles) is much too long. Clean oil = happy engine.

I would take off the rocker, if the camme doesn't touch the valve, see if the bikes fires up with using only one intake valve. For balance you would have to take off the same rocker on the other cylinder.

Mine 2018 GSA does that ticking noise on low revs on right cylinder. Up to now thought it was injector, I've got only 7k miles on the clock not sure now if I should sell it back to BMW or not to worry. Actually I asked them about that issue on service 2 years ago and they obviously said 'it's all good', 'do not worry enjoy your life... you worry too much...' I love riding this bike, by far the best bike to ride... but to be honest the quality of the paint, plastics, grips, screws etc. is an disappointment and beggars belief. I had 26 motorbikes other makes and never seen anything like that.

How many miles were on your bike when you started to hear the ticking?

pdf ?

My 2017 is starting to making that noise it has 43000 miles

What year is your bike

I forgot how loud that was.

oh, and you can't miss it when you do the valve check, it's obvious. so, if a dealer sells you a bike with this problem you know instantly they didn't check the valves before putting it on the floor to sell.

Problem solved? Still ticking or it's gone now?...

Hope they changed your oil too

I bought my bike 2 months ago... noise came, went then came again way louder whilst I was on the way rushing to the hospital after my daughter was hit by a car (in an induced coma with brain and eye injuries atm).... pulled the sides off and there it is, a worn cam. I put all my eggs into my basket to buy the bike. It was meant to be a reward to myself for getting through some mental health issues and keeping myself alive. I can't afford to fix it... If BMW don't take pity on me and help me out, thats it. ill have to sell it for scrap. No bike, no money, nothing to show for my struggles and nothing to help me through this hard time with my daughter possibly brain damaged. Im gutted in so many ways and I just don't know what to do. The bike was bought 2nd hand with no service history as the previous owners husband was a mechanic and did his own work before passing away a year ago and the bike has largely sat since.

Otra cagada de esas que está cometiendo últimamente BMW.Cardan oxidados, válvulas de excape que se gripan y tienes que cambiar todo el colector, balancines con un tratamiento que se desprende... Todas estas averías, debería de cubrirlas en garantía.No son averías por mal uso de la moto o por exceso de kilometraje. ¡Señores de BMW! ¡Pónganse las pilas porque en caso contrario, mi siguiente moto será una japonesa!

I’m seeking some R1200Rs for sale in numbers

I expected great service from my local San diego dealer, nope, ended up just disregarding warranty and tried making money off me, i said f that give me my bike back ill fix it

BMW not only knows about this, but they do it on propuse. They put shit parts so we have to spend on parts and maintenance. I own an 2016, R1200GS and I bought it new, the list of problems is long as the bill for fixing them, at this point I’ve changed the motor one part at the time and it’s pointless to sell it. It has 116000 Km. I hear from my mechanic that the R1250 and the R1300 will be way worst. I’m keeping my bike for sentimental reasons but I’m never buying a BMW ever again, neither cars nor motorcycles.

Ewan and Charlie have a lot to answer for. Superior German Engineering my ass!!!!!!!

Bmw customer service is pretty poor. Also their head in the sand attitude towardsc known problems is an issue. For example, fuel strip issues older bikes. In the US you got them replaced for free, over here in the UK they deny its an issue and we have to pay £300 a time.