2007 BMW R Series Recalls & Complaints

Incident: November 20, 2012 · Filed: November 20, 2012

PROMPTED BY AN ARTICLE RELEASED REGARDING THIS VEHICLE MODEL'S FUEL PUMP/PUMP COVER OUTLET BOSS AND FITTING ASSEMBLY FRACTURING AND LEAKING FUEL I INSPECTED MINE. ABOUT 3/4 OF THE BOSS IS VISIBLE FOR INSPECTION. IT IS CRACKED IN SEVEN PLACES. CRACKS ARE VERTICAL, STARTING AT THE BOSS BASE TERMINATING AT IT'S RIM. THIS BIKE HAS ALWAYS HAD A SLIGHT SMELL OF FUEL THOUGH I'VE NEVER LOCATED THE SOURCE. AT THIS TIME I DON'T THINK I HAVE A LEAK AT THE PUMP BOSS (YET). THE LIGHT COAT OF DUST DOES NOT SHOW DISRUPTION BY FUEL RESIDUE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY FUTURE SAFETY. I EXPECT THE COMPONENT TO FURTHER DETERIORATE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF REPAIR AS THERE ARE NO INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS FOR CORRECTING THIS ISSUE. PUMP AND CAP IS OVER $500. MUCH TO PAY FOR A SMALL BIT OF PLASTIC TO FAIL. *TR

Incident: May 12, 2008 · Filed: May 29, 2008

MOTORCYCLE SHIFTED FROM 1ST GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND CLUTCH RELEASED WHILE WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE. TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR TO MOVE OFF WITH DEPARTING TRAFFIC, RESULTED IN TWO NEAR REAR END COLLISIONS WITH FOLLOWING CARS. RETURNED TO DEALER FOR 600MI RUN IN SERVICE, FAILURE OF MECHANIC TO PROPERLY REINSTALL THE ABS BRAKE SENSOR IN THE REAR WHEEL, PINCHED O-RING, CAUSED FINAL DRIVE OIL TO COAT REAR WHEEL, CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL IN CORNER, NEAR HEAD ON IMPACT WITH OPPOSIT FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER OWNER AND SALES REPRESENATIVE, AFTER THE SALE, THAT THE FAILURE TO SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL TO 1ST GEAR IS NORMAL, HAPPENS IN SOME BIKES OF THE SAME MODEL AND NOT IN OTHERS, AND WILL DISAPPEAR DURING BREAK IN BY 6,000 MILES. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE KNOW PRIOR TO THE SALE. THE DEALERSHIP OWNER CLAIMED SAME OIL LEAK HAPPENED TO HIS BIKE AND HE FIRED THE MECHANIC AND HAD HIS REAR TIRE REPLACED DUE TO OIL IMPREGNATION. THE DEALER PICKED UP THE MOTORCYCLE AT OUR HOME, MADE REPAIRS AND RETURN DELIVERED IT TO OUR HOME. I INSPECTED AND FOUND THE DEALER USE A CAUSTIC CHEMICAL TO CLEAN, WHICH RESULTED IN CHEMICAL ETCHING OF THE PAINT, INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE RIM REVEALED A THIN FILM OF OIL REMAINING ON THE RIM, STREAKS OF FLUID RADIATED FROM THE WHEEL RIM/TIRE JOINT REVEALED THE TIRE HAND NOT BEEN REPLACED AS PROMISED ON THREE OCASSIONS BY THE DEALERSHIP OWNER, THE FLUID RADIATING FROM THE RIM/TIRE JOINT WAS OIL, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ANOTHER INCIDENT OF REAR WHEEL TRACTION LOSS. THE DEALERSHIP OWNER AGREED TO BUY BACK THE MOTORCYCLE AND REFUND, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR RETURNS OF THE $4,902.98 DEPOSITS AND SERVICE FEE PAID. *TR

Incident: May 1, 2008 · Filed: May 20, 2008

I PURCHASED A 2007 R1200RT BMW MOTORCYCLE WITH A SAFETY PACKAGE OPTION THAT INCLUDES A TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPM) THAT WAS TOUTED AND ADVERTISED AS A SAFETY FEATURE TO HELP PREVENT AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE WHILE RIDING. THE SYSTEM HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE SYSTEM IS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A TIRE PRESSURE READING ON THE FRONT TIRE AND CONTINUALLY DROPS OUT AND IS UNREADABLE. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM ON FOUR (4) SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER A TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIOD AND THEY HAVE FAILED. THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON OTHER BIKES AND HAVE REPLACED THE COMPUTER, BUT ON MINE THEY HAVE REFUSED AND ONLY RE-PROGRAMMED THE SYSTEM. WHEN THE SYSTEM WORKS, IT ALLOWS THE RIDER TO MONITOR THE PRESSURE AND IF THERE IS ANY SUDDEN CHANGE IN PRESSURE THE RIDER IS MADE AWARE OF THE DROP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. BMW SAYS THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ELSE EXCEPT TURN OFF THE TPM SYSTEM. THEY ADVERTISE THE TPM SYSTEM AS PART OF A SAFETY PACKAGE AND YET IT PROVIDES NO MARGIN OF SAFETY AT ALL UNLESS IT WORKS. I HAVE COPIES OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE DEALER, AS WELL AS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. I HAVE COPIES OF ALL WORK ORDERS AS WELL. AT THE VERY LEAST THEY ARE FRAUDULENTLY MIS-REPRESENTING THEIR PRODUCT IN AN EFFORT TO SELL MORE BIKES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY GIVING PEOPLE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THINKING THE BIKE WILL ALERT THEM TO ANY POTENTIAL TIRE PROBLEMS, WHEN IN FACT IT WILL NOT! SHOULD SOMEONE COUNT ON THE SYSTEM TO ALERT THEM TO A LOSS IN PRESSURE VISUALLY AND THE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE A READING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE DISASTROUS ENDING IN DEATH. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST TWELVE (12) MONTHS. *TR

Incident: October 8, 2007 · Filed: October 18, 2007

MOTORCYCLE RAN OUT OF FUEL JUST 9 MILES AFTER LOW FUEL WARNING ILLUMINATED. TRIP COMPUTER INDICATED 34 MILES REMAINING TO EMPTY, AND FUEL GAUGE SHOWED APPROXIMATELY 1/8 TANK. STATED CAPACITY OF TANK IS 4.8 GALLONS, AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY IS APPROX. 50 MPG ACCORDING TO TRIP COMPUTER. *TR