Is it safe to Buy an S lens That has not had the AF motor replaced

[rollsman4]

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Should all Leica S lenses have the AF motor replaced

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[ropo54]

I would have said, yes, it is safe to buy the lens (at a great price!) until recently.  Previously, it took a couple of months to send the lens in and have it returned.  

But, I've recently had an issue with my S 35 lens and Leica advised that there's an average repair time of 9 months from the date of the estimate!  I'm going on 1.5 months with no estimate so far.  The lens is in Germany waiting on someone at Leica to diagnose it. Cannot say when it will come back, nor the cost of repair, but it certainly seems that Leica is completely under-sourced for handling and maintaining Leica S lens repairs.  

Extraordinarily disappointing service.  

(I'm hesitant to investing any more $ in any Leica product based on this experience, despite their superb build and image quality).

Edited September 13, 2024 by ropo54

[rollsman4]

I hear you. The Problem I see now is I already have a S 70mm with AF replaced.  When I look for a another S lens none mention that the AF motor has been replaced.

Was there a cutoff date that Leica replaced the AF motors?  

[Jeff S]

Leica Miami will not sell a used S lens without a new motor, or sell any used gear without a thorough inspection and any necessary pre-sale service.  They currently list several used S lenses with new motor and CLA from Germany. Why take a chance?

Jeff

[HuntingSand]

vor 12 Stunden schrieb rollsman4:

Should all Leica S lenses have the AF motor replaced

Why don't you write to Leica Wetzlar about the supposed "cut-off date" for S lens AF motor replacements? No one here can give you that info (precisely anyway, down to the serial number for each lens type), and it takes only a few minutes. When you have an answer, post it here.

[rollsman4]

Will do.  Thank you

[Pieter12]

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As I see it, you have a couple of options. First, buy from a shop or individual who can provide proof the AF motor is the newer one--either through replacement or original. Second, if you have your eye on a particular lens send the serial number to Wetzlar for a service history. They seem to be pretty good about that. Third, if the lens has never been serviced, send it right on to Wetzlar for AF motor service. And last, take your chances. I have 3 AF lenses, only one has needed servicing over the three or so years I have owned them. I had sent an inquiry to Leica about the one that ended up failing, it had the old AF motor and never been serviced. I took a chance anyway and the AF ended up giving up the ghost 18 months later.  I did not make any inquiries about the other 2. So it goes.

[rollsman4]

If you buy a lens and Wetzlar says it was never replaced. Can you send it to them and if so is it FREE or it will cost to have it done.

This way one has piece of mind that it was replaced and easier to resell it at a later time. The options are good.  TY

[Pieter12]

33 minutes ago, rollsman4 said:

If you buy a lens and Wetzlar says it was never replaced. Can you send it to them and if so is it FREE or it will cost to have it done.

This way one has piece of mind that it was replaced and easier to resell it at a later time. The options are good.  TY

Assuming it is not a lens under warranty--and it wouldn't be if it has the old AF motor, the service is not free. I see you are in New Jersey, so maybe you could take it directly to Leica USA, they will send it to Germany. You don't pay for the shipping, but you will have to pay for the service. About $300 plus tax.

[rollsman4]

Ok thats NOT too Bad.  Thank you for sharing this   

[BernardC]

9 hours ago, rollsman4 said:

Ok thats NOT too Bad.  Thank you for sharing this   

Keep in mind also that this fee includes full servicing on a very expensive lens that might be 10 years old. It's a reasonable fee.

[LeicaR10]

Rollsman4,   All the previous posts gave you very sage advice on how to handle the AF motor replacement.  When I owned the S system, eventually all the AF motors were replaced and Leica Wetzlar did a great job with each lens.  The wait time and cost is IMO, worth it.  You will be able to use the S lenses for many years to come too, to include the S4 due out sometime late this coming year.  Right now, previously owned S lenses are a true bargins especially those with AF motors replaced and of course those have total CLAs and come back in almost new condition.  I would not purchase any used S lens unless it has the official Leica paperwork proving Wetzlar replaced the AF motor and completed the CLA.  r/ Mark

[davidmknoble]

I just had 2 AF motors replaced.  Old CS lenses that I had a CLA done in Wetzlar.  So, reasonable to expect right now, but I could not predict 6 months or a year from now.

[Pieter12]

So has anyone found out when Leica started using the newer AF motor? For some reason, there seem to be people who are connected to the powers that be and can tell everyone all about the upcoming S4, but no one seems to be able to get an answer to a simple request about the AF motors. 

[John McMaster]

My first motor replacement was 2015 or 2016 AFAIR...

john

[Pieter12]

But was that the year of manufacture or the year the motor was replaced? One could assume new motors were available then, but does anyone know when the new motors were first introduced into the production of the lenses?

[davidmknoble]

You still won’t know for sure without asking Leica about a specific serial number.  So many have had AF motors replaced.  I asked them and they found out they had not been replaced.  It took a bit, but clean through and through - no dust, rubber is beautiful.  I picked up a bunch of CS lenses because they were so inexpensive.

[BernardC]

I don't think the motor is different. It's the nylon gear attached to the motor shaft that got brittle and failed.

As others have said, you'll need to contact Leica. There was a press release five or six years ago stating that they were using a new part, but they may have switched to the new part before then.

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[John McMaster]

18 hours ago, Pieter12 said:

But was that the year of manufacture or the year the motor was replaced?

If that was towards my comment, it was the earliest I had a 'motor' fixed.  I had a 2013 120/2.5 that the 'motor' went on, for some reason Leica could not fix it and sent me a different lens back...

john

[Pieter12]

I just acquired an S 45 that was manufactured in late 2014. After an inquiry, Leica promptly replied that the motor was updated in 2021.