BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

I've recently noticed corrosion on my my bike.

When it was in for 12k service last month I asked the dealer to raise a case under warranty with BMW. They took some pics and BMW have said they will replace the engine, rear wheel and the final drive casing.

I'm pleased with BMW's response (but not the problems), however Im worried I will just see the same problems come back within a short time period.

Has anyone else had similar problems? Did it re-occur after replacing the parts?

That looks like salt corrosion. Winter salt?

I had a new engine and driveshaft housing on my 2019 RT. My bike never went out in Winter salt and hardly ever in the rain.
It seems like poor paint preparation because looks like it affects all surfaces/joints that are machined. Not helped I think by modern alloys that have a percentage of re-cycled alloy in them. BMW Germany say it only ever happens in the UK!

I did a further 2500 miles and it did not re-occur, however I have now sold the bike.

Mine has never seen salt either. All the miles were done this summer. The previous owner hardly used it and it sat in a dealer all last winter. That's good news that it didn't come back though...

Was a common problem on early wetheads, ( a lot had new engines shaft drives etc) which is why they went to black paint for a while. Thought problem had been rectified but obviously still affects some.

Mine is a 2019 1250 and ridden all year around and I have no corrosion. 2 of our fleet 1250s (2020 and 2021 bikes) have had new engine casings. So doesn't seem to be all bikes

Casbar wrote: ↑Thu Nov 10, 2022 9:45 am Mine is a 2019 1250 and ridden all year around and I have no corrosion. 2 of our fleet 1250s (2020 and 2021 bikes) have had new engine casings. So doesn't seem to be all bikes

That's great to hear (that it doesn't affect them all). My biggest worry is that the replacement parts were made at the same time as the originals and therefore suffer the same issues. It does seem to be a common issue on silver engines and there are no issues on black ones.

Mine is black engine and only showing slight corrosion where chipped by stones but am at 56,000 miles so find quite accebtable.

You might have a point there, mine is a black engine, but the ones we had issues were are silver. My 2014 was a silver engine bike and after 60k there was no corrosion either. At least they are sorting it, is it still under warranty or is it good will offer?

It's under warranty. The dealer found more corrosion than me and they dealt with BMW. I think it will be sold once sorted though. I love the bike but maybe a black one would be easier to live with.

@ Funkstar. Do you live near the coast by any chance?

I don't, however I bought the bike in Blackpool (English coastal town). I hadn't thought of that! I remember back in the day that cars used to rust by the seaside. You might be on to something there!

I have a 19 1250RT, bought it used with 8,500mls on it blind, never again will I do that!!. I guessed the previous owner must have used it all year round on salted roads and didn’t look after it, mine has that corrosion on the engine but it’s now out of the 3 year warranty and the extended cover I took out doesn’t cover corrosion. I feel if I had the bike from new it woukd never have happened as I’m ocd with cleaning.

Panman40 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 12, 2022 7:08 am I have a 19 1250RT, bought it used with 8,500mls on it blind, never again will I do that!!. I feel if I had the bike from new it woukd never have happened as I’m ocd with cleaning.

I feel your pain. Is the bike beyond an ACF50 treatment?

beemerboy9 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:02 am

Panman40 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 12, 2022 7:08 am I have a 19 1250RT, bought it used with 8,500mls on it blind, never again will I do that!!. I feel if I had the bike from new it woukd never have happened as I’m ocd with cleaning.

I feel your pain. Is the bike beyond an ACF50 treatment?

I’ve treated a lot of the corrosion with acf 50 and a brush, nearly all the fasteners I removed yesterday to change the air filter had white corrosion from the p clips despite being stainless!, one day I may use a screwdriver tip and small wire brush for the engine case joints etc and brush on a good heatproof silver paint just to check it.