2003 BMW K1200LT

THE FINAL DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, LOCKED UP THE REAR TIRE, CAUSE CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF CONTROL, EJECTION FROM THE MOTORCYCLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND TOTAL LOSS OF THE MACHINE. THE RIDER SUFFERED MODERATE INJURIES, MOSTLY ABRASIONS AND BRUISES, AND BROKEN BONES. THE TIRE PRESSURES AND FINAL DRIVE FLUID LEVEL HAD BEEN CHECKED THAT DAY, AND WERE CORRECT. A $10,000 MACHINE WAS TOTALED BECAUSE OF A CHEAP PART THAT IS A KNOWN DEFECT, HAS OCCURRED OVER AND OVER, AND BMW HAS NOT BEEN ORDERED TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

FELT A STRANGE VIBRATION. EXITED THE ROAD AT THE NEXT EXIT ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. UPON SLOWING BELOW 20 MPH, THE VIBRATION INCREASED. BRAKING WAS DIMINISHED AND USED DOWN SHIFTING. PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND INSPECTED THE MOTORCYCLE. FOUND OIL RUNNING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE DOWN THE BRAKE ROTOR AND RIM/TIRE. CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER. DEALER SAID THE FINAL DRIVE BEARINGS HAD FAILED AND THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE PRE-2004 FINAL DRIVES, THE DEALER REPLACED WITH A FINAL DRIVE FROM A 2006. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 BMW K1200 LT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS CAUSED THE VEHICLE SEIZE. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT ONTO THE REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BEARINGS, O-RINGS, AND REAR WHEEL SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FURTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,876.

BMW K1200LT 2003 MOTORCYLE I PURCHASED USED WITH 8700 MILES ON THE BIKE. AT 18646 HAVING ALL THE MAINTENANCE DONE BY THE DEALER, I EXPERIENCED A RUMBLING SOUND TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. I PULLED OVER THINKING IT MIGHT BE A BAD TIRE AND NOTICED OIL DRIPPING ON THE REAR TIRE/RIM. OIL ON THE REAR BRAKES DID HAMPER MY SLOWING DOWN. BMW REPAIRED THE FINAL DRIVE SAYING THE OUTSIDE BEARING FAILED CAUSING THE OIL SEAL TO FAIL. AT 25,423 MILES THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS A HIGH PRICED BIKE AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH I BELIEVE NOW THAT IT WASN'T ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY AND DURING THE REPAIR NO CHANGE ON THE NEW BEARING WAS DONE SO IT FAILED A SECOND TIME. I FINALLY PURCHASED A USED FINAL DRIVE TO CONTINUE RIDING. I NOW HAVE 129,025 ON THE BIKE AND THE USED FINAL DRIVE IS STILL PERFORMING OK SO THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE ORIGINAL DRIVE ON THIS BIKE. A NEW FINAL DRIVE WASN'T IN MY BUDGET. I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN IN A HARD CURVE WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. NOT GOOD, I'D SAY. BMW CAN/SHOULD DO BETTER DURING ASSEMBLY. *KB

I HAD THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. WHILE DOING 70 MPH ON THE KENTUCKY PARKWAY I FELT A SEVERE VIBRATION AND SLIGHT WOBBLE IN THE REAR WHEEL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I SLOWED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. AFTER CHECKING THE REAR TIRE I FOUND A LOT OF GEAR OIL ON THE TIRE, RIM, AND REAR DRIVE. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT I DID NOT LOSE TRACTION AND CRASH. *KB