That was fun while it lasted

I have had my R18 less than a week. Went for a cruise today, the engine is blown. Left cylinder pouring black smoke and the valve train is playing the devils tattoo in the exhaust. Yikes. Calling the dealer tomorrow with the unhappy news.
 
Well… just went for a ride. I bought the demo bike so I’m past break in and the first service was done. Just went for a cruise. Got home it was smoking so badly that it was still smoking after shutting off the engine :). Terrific racket amplified by the fishtail.

400,000 miles on BMWs with never a serious issue and I decide to relax and the motor blows up out of the crate
 
Well...you got home, so there's that. I'd not monkey with it (harder than it sounds) and make it the dealership's problem tomorrow. They should pick it up, diagnose things, fix it, and get it back to you. Any less and I'm sure they have a non-demo R18 that they could offer.

oh and sucks that this happened.
 
Last edited:
Yup. Listen, if something is going to fail it’s going to do it right out of the box. I just want to get my riding season in :). Hopefully they will loan me my GS until it gets fixed. My Pan America is back ordered :)
 
Yup. Listen, if something is going to fail it’s going to do it right out of the box. I just want to get my riding season in :). Hopefully they will loan me my GS until it gets fixed. My Pan America is back ordered up
 
My condolences to the OP. Not fun.

Looking forward to following this. BMW has gone to a mostly modular design. The transmission, for example, is not repairable; a complete new one is the fix for any problem. So I am very curious as to what their resolution is.

I seem to recall this issue happening to another owner. To the other owners dismay I believe they were just replacing the damaged side.

Thanks for sharing
 
Love the OP's positive outlook given the situation, I don't think I'd be as calm about it...
It sounds weird, but you can’t worry about the little things in life. This is my fourth brand new BMW bike and I’m not worried at all about a resolution. The tow truck is on the way :). It would have maybe made it to the dealer. I’m not stranded, nobody is dead and the police aren’t here.
 
My condolences to the OP. Not fun.

Looking forward to following this. BMW has gone to a mostly modular design. The transmission, for example, is not repairable; a complete new one is the fix for any problem. So I am very curious as to what their resolution is.

I seem to recall this issue happening to another owner. To the other owners dismay I believe they were just replacing the damaged side.

Thanks for sharing
I’m not sure about going to a modular design… the boxer engine is an old design and if only side is broken, that’s the side you fix :). I’ve heard about this situation as well, the only difference is I’m reasonable. However, I’m not a gambling man but I may bet you I have a brand new bike tomorrow. This bike still smelled of the crate :)
 
I'm really sorry to hear this. I'd hold out for a new bike. BMW is a premier brand, and the R18 is an important model for them. I think they'd want happy customers.

Is your dealer acting very sympathetic? He should be pushing hard for you!

Hang in there.
 
So the bad news, the bike will need a new left piston. This is becoming a known issue and BMW is going to have a part for a service bulletin and has an open PUMA.

the good news is in the grand scheme of things is that for the time being “it just does that”. I am an old school airhead rider and can tell you that if you put the bike on a side stand the left cylinder will smoke a bit when you light it back up.
I have a great tech who did the breakin and when he changed the oil he made sure there was plenty to fill the filter. Well the jugs on this thing are massive. New airheads would
Always have oil seep to the piston tops when new.
well with lots of oil… and a gigantic cylinder… you get the picture a lot of oil :). It still smoking some. It was so much smoke it looked really bad. Like smoke screen bad.

On the other hand the bike will need a new piston. We are awaiting the part and we’ll do it and the turn signal recall this fall.

the best news is that video where the guy claims the catastrophic failure is silly. It looks really bad but it’s not so bad and we can get the new cylinder and problem solved
 
Jut my thoughts.

Black smoke is from fuel. Blue is oil.

Injector stuck open, washed cylinder wall, piston lost lube and stuck which then stuck the rings....

Internet diagnosis.
David

I hope you get it back soon with no more hassle.

When I test drove one at MAX, the one next to it ran like crap. It even left a small puddle of gas on the ground. I took a picture.
 
Jut my thoughts.

Black smoke is from fuel. Blue is oil.

Injector stuck open, washed cylinder wall, piston lost lube and stuck which then stuck the rings....

Internet diagnosis.
David

I hope you get it back soon with no more hassle.

When I test drove one at MAX, the one next to it ran like crap. It even left a small puddle of gas on the ground. I took a picture.
you may have missed the previous; it was oil :) It was new oil :) so it was whitish smoke :)
 
Back
Top