My new R1200GS has sprung a leak in less than 2 weeks and at under 500 miles (well OK at under 20500 miles in total, but under 500 with me on top).

R1200GS FD Seal (RHS) Oil Leak

The Final Drive RHS seal looks like it’s gone, and if a search on UKGSer.com is to be believed (and I suspect it is), this is a pretty common fault, happily one that can be fixed in about 30 minutes and for a few quids worth of parts.  Unhappily it also appears to sometimes to the forerunner to an imploding FD unit.

I’ve arranged to talk to the (non BMW) dealer tomorrow to see about replacing it under warranty.  The oil at least doesn’t stink or look black so that’s something that might be worse.  There’s no play in the rear wheel at the 3 to 9 position and only the usual sub 1mm play at 12 to 6 so hopefully that doesn’t mean impending doom, but I’d rather the dealer sorted it just in case.  Also as “some” oil has leaked out, how much does it need topping up?  No I don’t know either, which means draining the “sealed for life unit” and replacing the oil with the correct amount.  Not something that I fancy going for since it means all but removing the FD to drain the oil.  I’ll save that for next time when I expect my already limited warranty to be out.

Other than this the bike is great.  Effortless to ride, great to look at and otherwise in total A1 shape.  I think I might put off a tour of the local green lanes another week or so to see what happens with the seal.