do I need to worry ??

[RoLoo]

Hi group; can anyone tell me the cause of these little “look-like-cracks-but-are-not” ?
I’ve seen older bikes that don’t have any, and I’ve seen these (rear wheel) covers with a lot more.
Is it harmless?
Or need I to worry ?
For your information: this bike/cover on the picture is mine.

(BTW: how do you call this cover -even in my own language I don’t know it’s name….-)

Ron.

[repoe3]

not really, but you could argue manufacturing flaw in finish and ask for replacement...it you are THAT anal about it. but it will do nothing to the operation of the bike.

repoe3

[RoLoo]

...thanx repoe3 ; I had this fear that there was to much strain (or so) on the material...

Ron.

[Skippy]

He Ron I think they call that the Cardan Housing or Clock or something like that.I would worry about those cracks cause I fear that the coating/finish will come off eventualy esspecialy with our climate and winter salt on the roads.As your bike isn't very old and I think the pictures show a finish that is not to be expected of any BMW bike I would pick this issue up with the dealer as soon as you can.If dealers refuse to help I would go and try to contact the importer in my own experience they are at least quite helpfull and maybe they can also tell you more about the cracks even if they don't want to do anything about it.It looks to me that the part wasn't degreased properly or the degreasent wasn't dried up totally when they aplied the coating.I had the same thing with 2 Fiat cars both times on the front bumper and both times it was repianted under warranty.The cars where about 6 months old when the problem occured but I think your bike is also young enough to not have sutch problems witch are a result in my eyes at least of a fabrication/finishing flaw.Good luck and keep us posted how things develope.

[RoLoo]

...thanx Skip, in the near future I will do a demo-ride on the K 1200 R,
and ask the guys at the dealership to look at these "cracks".

Ron.

[tiefflieger]

My 2004 BCR looks just like that. I'm interested to hear what your dealer thinks about it.

[wswartzwel]

My 02 Prep is the same... wouldn't be too concerned.

[rob_wijhenke]

I had that on my late S, it was worse even. I was about to have it replaced under warrantee! Cracks!!!!!!!

[roger albert]

In any event, they're just flaws in the paint, not the metal.

[pwillikers]

I agree there is no structural concern. Is the crackling limited to that one part or is it evident on other aluminum castings? If it's just that part, I'd say you all have an argument for warrantee replacement. My '99 with 40k miles has no such crackling.

[acidburn]

my 04 BCR is exactly the same, wasnt going to take any action, they will want to replace the entire assembly under warranty and i dont want "them" screwing with a perfectly good motocycle.
Good excuse to powder coat it black later, if it gets bad, looks like clear coat issues to me.

[foobeemer]

one thing's for sure.......your macro function on the dig cam works GREAT!

[718Rider]

My S did the same thing about 6 months after I bought it. The dealer wouldn't replace it under warranty - said it was 'cosmetic' damage.

[Skippy]

I wouldn't go along with that cause it seams to me that the damage is caused from inside or underneath and not by an outside influence.If it stays with these little cracks I wouldn't mind very mutch but if the hole thing starts peeling of in about a year I would be pretty anoyed and I think you could/should expect/recieve better quality from a BMW.If they think this is normal on a 6 month old bike why the hell are you paying a premium price for their product compared to Japanese bikes.Also I think you guys should have a better case for warranty right now as it seams to happen a lot on the same part and on a lot of the same year bikes as well.Mine's a 98 and I have no sutch problems on that part.

[Dr. Curve]

No where on my 99 (made in 98) looks like that. Would not worry too much however.

[Luca]

Hi Ron, mine has exactly the same problem, in the same place: my BMW dealer said me it's a paint known issue, but they didn't recognize me the warranty (...because maybe I've used a too much agressive shampoo, and other similar bla bla bla... ).
Meanwhile, I'd try to contact your BMW dealer in Holland.

Ciao, Luca

[pdonnell]

Usually its the clear coat cracking in response to the underlayment (paint, powder) not curing sufficiently. This is more common on poorly paint vehicles.
.
There has to be no vapor being expelled prior to clear coating. I have heard though that it can be a result of poorly mixed clear coat (two part mix) or inferior clear coat base.
.
If people recall GM and Ford had massive clear coat delamination on some of their vehicles. This was due to perfecting clear coat materials to meet more stringent EPA VOC guidelines. It took a few years but they've obviously figured it out. My neighbors 8 year old wood floor had the same problem. Water based clear coat bubbling up. Just gotta sand it (very lightly) and re-do it.

[1100s nut]

No worry`s,
I`ve had this on all 3 bmw`s I have owned. My guess is that they don`t use any flex agents in the paint or epoxy which ever It is. My transmission on my gs`s did the same aswell. Also If you spill gas on this paint It will brown. Most paint will not do that, I have spilled gas on my cars paint and It has never damaged It. I call It a bmw quirk!

Regards,
Lane

[RoLoo]

Originally posted by foobeemer
one thing's for sure.......your macro function on the dig cam works GREAT!

...Fuji Finepix S 5500 does the job...

Ron.

[RoLoo]

Originally posted by pwillikers
...is the crackling limited to that one part or is it evident on other aluminum castings?...

...no ; it's just this part.

Ron.