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Hi everyone,

I just picked up my bike from having the counter balance shaft seal replaced as there was a small leak coming from the rear of the engine at the bottom. Thankfully I got the repair done within 5 days of my warranty expiring as the repair bill would have been approx $1200 aussie dollars due to the hours it took to pull the whole bike apart etc.

I have looked through the past topics about dodgy engine seals and noted that quite a few of you have had the above mentioned seal replaced. How is the replaced seal holding up? Have you had problems with that seal/other seals since? Hopefully it was just a run of bad seals for a few years and now all is ok..... fingers crossed!!

As far as Im aware too, no other seals were replaced, just the counter balance seal. Hopefully my bike now realises that Im paying for all repairs from now on, and it stops breaking!!!

Thanks, Jed.

Hi Jed, which is the counter balance seal? I ask because I have what appears to be an oil leak here

I'm dreading pulling it apart but I'm dreading taking it into the stealership even worse.... lol!

jed1 wrote:How is the replaced seal holding up? Have you had problems with that seal/other seals since?

So far so good. 5k miles on my replaced seals.

Kobe22 wrote:I have what appears to be an oil leak here...

I don't think the counter balancer typically leaks at the front. The seal is at the rear of the engine.

The leaking area seems well exposed. Can you see where the oil is coming from? Clean off the oil and take a short ride to see where the oil forms. My first guess would be the sight glass, but it looks dry in the picture. Another candidate might be the oil pressure switch. It's in the 1 o'clock position of the sight glass, maybe 3"-4" from it. Looks like a sensor with wires coming out.

G'day Kobe22,

The leak on my bike was from the bottom rear end of the engine, just to the left of where the rear drive shaft joins the transmission. Im not too sure where your leak is coming from by that photo, but what hjsbmw said seems like a good place to start. By the way, I can see why your dreading that trip to the 'stealership'.... Thats magic, I very much agree with you on that one. Im afraid that thanks to you, Ill never be able to say BMW 'dealership' without sniggering quietly to myself.

Thanks hjsbmw for getting back to me too. Im relieved to hear that your replacement seal is still holding up (my wallet is very relieved too!!).

Jed.

6K on my replaced seals and no leaks so far.

Twice in one year was not enjoyable for me. First balance shaft seal was replaced at 12K. Then replaced again at 18K. Currently at 24,500 and not having a problem. Fingers crossed...

Edit: I have a suspicion that the second replacement was more from poor workmanship then a second bad seal...

takemeaway wrote:Edit: I have a suspicion that the second replacement was more from poor workmanship then a second bad seal...

+1
I suppose seals can come bad and they probably do. They can, however, for sure be installed without the needed amount of care. The latter happens in factories and dealerships.

hjsbmw wrote:I suppose seals can come bad and they probably do. They can, however, for sure be installed without the needed amount of care. The latter happens in factories and dealerships.

Agreed. Had many a discussion on the OEM single-lip seal and the ease of messing it up. Seems many people replace the seal with an aftermarket double-lipped seal when the bike is no longer under warranty.