You know I just found this on a google search.
" Poly V-Belt funny story
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Here is my Poly V-Belt story, started last WE where i took the occasion of a bad weather forcast (it happen sometime) to start my 60000km inspection on my Y04 R1150GSA.
I did the fuel filter change (i wanted to start with the worth part), this was a pita as usual but finally was ok.
Next step was the alternator belt, first time i changed it on this particular bike. My first thinking was "this will be a story of 30 minutes", 3 days after i do think differently .
In November last year (2007) as i just wanted to be ready with any possible early issue with my belt, i went to the dealer and purchased a brand new belt.
From the S/N of the bike (that i purchased at this dealer) they sold me the following reference : 12.31-7681841-692337 4PK592
Sunday , in my garage after removing my old belt, i wanted to install the new one but: It was far to short ,no way to have it installed.
I then checked the reference of the old belt, guess what, the reference was different to new one, old belt ref is: 11.28-7681841-692637 4PK592
This does not look much different in the ref and this is not much difference in the lenght of the belt, but this was enough to have the new belt not matching the bike pulleys at all.
Monday, dealer is closed, so here we are on tuesday morning at the dealer shop.
Me: Sir, the belt you sold me is not the right one!
Him: There is no other possible reference for your bike than this one i sold you
Me: Yes , except the one i do have here in my hand and that i removed from my bike that i purchased in your shop!
Him: I see but your belt reference in "unknown" to BMW.
Me: But on the belt it is written BMW ref bla bla bla.....so this must be a BMW ref!
Then after a while:
Him: I will ask our wrencher
A couple of minutes later:
Him: Our wrencher says it happened to him already that the belt they should install was to short (despite the fact it was the right ref), he then installed a longer one (with another ref).
Me: I am very happy to know that you know things about issues on your products and that to continue to sell parts without being sure they match the bike. This belt was supposed to be a spare part for the case it would failed in the middle of nowhere, if that would have happened i would still be there on the side of the road!
Me again: I want a new longer belt.
Him: Try this one ref is: 11.28-1341779-692337 4PK611
Went back home (in the evening cause i got a f..... job).
Bring my tools and went in the garage with that new belt. 30 minutes later the engine was running fine with a new belt that is not the same then former one nor the same then BMW says to be the right one! "
This sounds exactly like my experience. What a PITA....Has anyone else had this particular experience.?