2003 BMW K1200 S

Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, FREQUENT SHORT TRIPS PARTICULARLY DURING COLD TEMPERATURES, CAN CAUSE WATER TO ACCUMULATE IN THE OIL TANK, AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, ESCAPING WATER VAPOR CAN CONDENSE ON THE OIL TANK AIR BLEED VALVE. IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THIS WATER COULD FREEZE AND BLOCK THE AIR BLEED VALVE.

Risk. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A PRESSURE BUILD UP IN THE OIL TANK COULD CAUSE IT TO RUPTURE, ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE REAR TIRE. AN OIL LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE. OIL ON THE REAR TIRE COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW OIL TANK CAP CONTAINING A VALVE TO PREVENT OVERPRESSURE IN THE TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE (MOTORCYCLE), NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THE SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES (TWICE WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD (3/36) AND ONCE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. (2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE CONNECTORS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL RAIL CRACK AND LEAK FUEL. ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE PERSONAL AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. (3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE): THE FACTORY (PLASTIC) FUEL LINE CONNECTORS WERE INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT TO BUY THE REPLACEMENT CONNECTORS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD I SHOULD BUY STEEL CONNECTORS, THAT THE PLASTIC ONES BREAK ALL THE TIME. YES, I HAVE THE OLD FUEL LINE CONNECTORS (FROM THE LAST REPAIR). *TR

CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHILE PULLING OUT OF AN INTERSECTION, THE CLUTCH ON THE 2003 BMW K1200GT MOTORCYCLE FAILED, CAUSING ME TO BE UNABLE TO PULL OUT AND ACCELERATE. ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS FORCED TO SWERVE TO AVOID KILLING ME AND CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT. MINOR RESEARCH TURNED UP THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE OF OIL LEAKING ONTO THE CLUTCH CAUSING TOTAL FAILURE. *AK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE BIKE WILL BE FIXED SHORTLY, BUT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AND ONCE FIXED, THE ORIGINAL PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE. *AK SINCERELY, TOM VICKERMAN