EARLIER IN THE WEEK THE ABS FAILURE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING EFFECTIVELY. THERE IS A BACKUP "RESIDUAL BRAKING" OF ABOUT 15%. I SURVIVED BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC AND DID NOT NEED A SERIOUS STOP. I HAD IT "FIXED" AT THE DEALER ON SATURDAY. THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THE BRAKES WORKED FOR ABOUT 4 ON OFF …
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EARLIER IN THE WEEK THE ABS FAILURE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING EFFECTIVELY. THERE IS A BACKUP "RESIDUAL BRAKING" OF ABOUT 15%. I SURVIVED BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC AND DID NOT NEED A SERIOUS STOP. I HAD IT "FIXED" AT THE DEALER ON SATURDAY. THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND THE BRAKES WORKED FOR ABOUT 4 ON OFF CYCLES. THEN THEY FAILED AGAIN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE. I THEN RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND IT IS RAMPANT. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED. MOTORCYCLES HAVE CRASHED OVER AND OVER. BMW IGNORES IT AND WANTS OVER $2,400 FOR THE PART REPLACEMENT ALONE. BUT THE DESIGN IS UNSAFE! WHEN THE ABS FAILS IT SHOULD GIVE FULL NORMAL BRAKING POWER. IT DOES NOT. MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE KILLED BY THESE SYSTEMS. BMW CLAIMS TO HAVE TESTED THE RESIDUAL BRAKING AND FOUND IT SAFE. THEY ARE LYING! NO ONE COULD SURVIVE AN EMERGENCY STOP EXPECTING NORMAL FUNCTION AND GETTING ONLY 15% WITH A TEN TIMES HARDER BRAKING EFFORT. FURTHER SOMETIMES THE FAILURES CAUSE THE BRAKES TO LOCK AND THE MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST OFFER FREE REMOVAL OF THIS SYSTEM. IT CAN BE DONE AND MAKE THE MACHINES SAFE.
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING IN FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED AND LEAD TO A FUEL LEAK. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS. ALSO, ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED. IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED. IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE07031 · Motorcycle Fires
Opened Jun 21, 2007 · Closed Oct 23, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
UNLIKE MOST MOTORCYCLES, WHERE A SIGHT GLASS IS USED TO DETERMINE ENGINE OIL LEVEL, THE SUBJECT, AIR-COOLED, MOTORCYCLES ARE BUILT BY BMW WITH A POLYMER (PLASTIC) SIGHT GLASS THAT, IN SOME INSTANCES, MELTS DUE TO HIGH ENGINE/OIL TEMPERATURE.THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATED CONTRARY TO BMW'S OWNER MANUAL ADMONITION: WARNING:DO NOT KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS AT A STANDSTILL -- RISK OF OVERHEATING AND FIRE.EACH OF THE ALLEGED FIRES OCCURRED WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING.ODI IS UNAWARE OF ANY STRUCTURE FIRES WHERE A MELTED SIGHT GLASS IS THE ROOT CAUSE.OF THE EIGHT KNOWN FIRES, ONE OCCURRED IN 2000, THREE IN 2004 AND AGAIN IN 2005, AND ONE IN FEBRUARY, 2007.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE AN ELEVATED FIRE-RELATED INSURANCE CLAIMS HISTORY. BASED ON THE LOW INCIDENCE RATE, IT APPEARS BMW'S WARNING IS EFFECTIVE AND NO DEFECT TREND IS IDENTIFIED.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES APPEARS UNWARRANTED.THIS INVESTIGATION'S CLOSING DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A NHTSA FINDING THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS AND WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
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