Clutch gone at 12K miles (6k mine)

OK so I recently purchased a BMW K1200 LT, yes all those who want to say I told you so..now is your time

It's a 2007 (registered Sep 2007) so only just gone two years old.
It had 6k on it, avg speed showing as 20mph and Fuel consumption 56mpg.

Based on my riding in the subsequent 6k (Motorway riding in 5th around 4,5k revs and london riding in 2nd and 3rd, about 3/4k revs with lots of stop start)

I'm showing an avg speed of 38mph and Fuel consumption of 42mpg.

So the guy before me was even more conservative than me, and I've never red lined or had this thing close to red lining and it was fine when I got it.

Friday night pulling onto the M1 I suddenly get all revs no power and nearly flattened by an arctic because of it and can't get it much above 40.

In the hard shoulder I find if I accelearte very VERY gently I don't get a problem...it's only normal acceleartion that causes slipage so I Manage to coast it gently upto 60 and get into work that way in 4th at 5k revs andf through london by pulling away from lights very slowly....
Call break down after work, and have absolutely nothing, no drive at all but a very nasty burning smell when I tried.

Call BMW to tell them my clutch failed on my way to work and had to be recovered and they tell me that if the clutch is worn or damaged it's not covered under the extended warantee, only mechanical stuff like oil leaks, if something has failed due to physical wear it's not covered, and the cost to replace is obscene...

Now my argument is that it's only done 12k miles..even being Abused..which this clutch hasn't been..it shouldn't fail that fast that soon....do I have a leg to stand on if they try to mess me over and tell me it's wear and tear?

Id say no as you cant know yourself what the previous owner actually did to the thing, which you would know if you had owned it from new.

i think your stuffed as that's a wear and tear item.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by PsychoCannon

So the guy before me was even more conservative than me...

Originally Posted by PsychoCannon

My version of the highway code clearly states that bikes ALWAYS have right of way, white lines are motorcycle overtaking lanes and speed limits are minimums…

[Stingo]

Forget customer services. Right a polite letter to the CEO of BMW UK outlining the basics...stress how the fact that BMW is a premium marque influenced your decision upon purchase of a motor vehicle. Say how surprised are you are that something of this quality would appear to have broken down/worn out already and ask if they would be willing to meet some/all of the costs...it's worth an ask. I did it with Suzuki and got the price of parts refunded.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by PsychoCannon

Now my argument is that it's only done 12k miles.

I've seen clutches fail with less miles than that.

Originally Posted by PsychoCannon

even being Abused..which this clutch hasn't been..it shouldn't fail that fast that soon.

You don't know that, if someone sat in traffic and slipped it 'till it fried all day long that's even greater abuse than if it had been thrashed a bit.

Originally Posted by PsychoCannon

do I have a leg to stand on if they try to mess me over and tell me it's wear and tear?

Sadly no, a clutch is a consumable part, as such the terms of your warranty will almost certainly specifically exclude it. If it failed due to a fault in manufacture or due to being incorrectly fitted or adjusted, you may have a case to ask BMW to replace it - however it may be extremely difficult to prove this.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, and sorrier still that I haven't got any good news for you, warranty and consumables are a tricky business.
In your position I would contact BMW and state the facts as you can show them to be, don't bother with the numbers from your trip computer, as shown above they tell you little if anything about how the clutch had been used, and ask nicely that they at least consider your claim, however as I said above the terms of any warranty will exclude the clutch specifically, and they may reject this, at which point your best outcome may be to get a goodwill gesture of part payment - perhaps they'll pay the labour. But don't bet on it.

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by PsychoCannon

It had 6k on it, avg speed showing as 20mph and Fuel consumption 56mpg.

I guess pulling away in 6th all the time does tend to keep the average speed down....

Seriously though I'm in the camp that says that's going to be wear and tear so down to you, but I guess a letter wouldn't hurt, after all if you don't ask...

Am I right in thinking the K series has a dry clutch between the engine and gearbox a bit like a car? It's a bigger job than a conventional wet clutch but I'd have still thought it's potentially DIY.

[fastdruid]

Of course that is assuming it's not gone and had an oil leak contaminating the clutch and causing it to fail which is a common BMW dry clutch failing...

BTW my last (bike) clutch lasted 66k and I regularly it launch hard and fast, still wasn't worn out by then either[1].

Druid

[1] Was slipping when cold, replaced the clutch and it still did it, I think it's the slave cylinder as I swapped the engine and it *still* did it (with the slave/master being the only bits kept).

Thanks for the advice.
Will start writting a letter, I'm in two minds then as to whether or not I should cancle the service next week.

On the one hand they are pulling it apart for the service (getting to the clutch is a two day job apparently and reading up about it I'm not suppirsed!) but on the other if it's likely to be wear and tear then I won't be able to afford the grand plus they are quoting to replace it so I could save £460 by canning the service as the bike won't be usable anyway....Never buying BMW again >_<, at least not until I'm rich >_<

[Red Herring]

Is that £460 for a service?...at 12,000 miles! What planet are they on. What exactly are they/you expecting to have done for that?