2000 BMW K1200RS Recalls, Complaints & Safety

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. A SPRING-LOADED THERMOSTATIC ELEMENT IN THE OIL THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS HELD IN PLACE BY A COVER THAT IS RETAINED BY A SNAP RING. THE SNAP RING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED DURING PRODUCTION. DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE SNAP RING COULD UNSEAT, ALLOWING THE COVER TO LOOSEN OR DETACH, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ENTIRE OIL VOLUME.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SNAP RING INSTALLATION AND IF THE SNAP RING IS NOT FULLY SEATED, THE COMPLETE OIL PUMP INTERMEDIATE FLANGE WILL BE REPLACED.

2,368 vehicles affected

WHILE RIDING ON EXPRESSWAY ENGINE QUIT AND I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FUEL WAS BEING PUMPED OUT ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND MY SHOES AND CLOTHING. ON INSPECTION FOUND A BROKEN FUEL LINE CONNECTOR ON THE HIGH PRESSURE SIDE OF THE FUEL LINE GOING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM ON THE MOTOR. AT A LATER DATE THE LOW PRESSURE SIDE OF THE SYSTEM ALSO FAILED AND AGAIN FUEL RUNS OUT ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND ONTO CLOTHING JUST WAITING FOR A SPARK FOR IGNITION. TO ME THIS LOOKS LIKE A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT JUST WAITING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN. IN RESEARCHING THIS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO DEALERS THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON ON THIS AND OTHER MODELS OF BMW MOTORCYCLES. THE REPAIR CONSISTS OF REPLACING THE BROKEN PLASTIC MALE PART OF THE CONNECTOR WITH A METAL PIECE THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE. IT CERTAINLY APPEARS THAT BMW IS IGNORING THIS PROBLEM PRETENDING THAT IT DOESN'T EXIST EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF IT.

THE MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCED AN ABS FAULT WARNING WHILE RIDING ON HIGHWAY. NO LOSS OF CONTROL OR DAMAGE BUT THE PARTIALLY LINKED ABS BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAULT CODE AS "FAULTY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE MODULATOR PUMP" THE DEALER RESET THE ALARM CODE AND THE ABS SYSTEM OPERATED FOR ABOUT 300 MILES WHEN IT FAULTED. A SECOND RESET AND CODE READ REVEALED SAME FAULT WITH HYDRAULIC PRESSURE MODULATOR. *TR

1) I HIT 2 POTHOLES IN THE ROAD, ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. 2) THE FRONT WHEEL FENDER GOT LODGED BETWEEN THE RADIATOR AND THE FAIRING. 3) TOOK BIKE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY APPARENTLY COMPRESSED THE SHOCKS ALL THE WAY TO PULL THE FENDER OUT. NO PARTS WERE REPLACED. DEALER REPORTED ALL PARTS IN GOOD CONDITION. *TR

DIFFERENTIAL CROWN WHEEL BEARING FAILED TWICE. FIRST FAILURE 8/21/01 @ 47200 MILES SECOND FAILURE ON 8/15/02 @ 73800 MILES. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON FIRST FAILURE OTHER THAN THE SMELL OF REAR DIFF. LUBE. SECOND FAIURE OCCURED AT FREEWAY SPEED AND ALMOST CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE. MANUFACTURER COVERED EXPENSE OF FIRST FAILURE. WAITING FOR AN ANSWER ON SECOND FAILURE. FIRST FAILURE REPAIRED BY DEALER IN SAN DIEGO, SECOND FAILURE REPAIRED BY DEALER IN POMONA CA. SELLING DEALER WOULD NOT WORK ON BIKE AT FIRST FAILURE AND HAD TO TRAILER BIKE TO SAN DIEGO FOR REPAIRS. SECOND FAILURE OCCURED IN CALIF. AND DEALER IN POMONA WAS THE MOST CONVIENENT.*AK