2008 BMW R1200 GS Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE FORWARD DRIVE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED, LOCKING THE REAR WHEEL. THE SPINNING FORWARD END OF THE UNCONSTRAINED DRIVE SHAFT DAMAGED THE SWING ARM.

MY BMW MOTORCYCLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME BUT WITH A BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT INDICATED ON THE DISPLAY PANEL ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON AND THE MOTORCYCLE ENGAGED TO BE RIDDEN THE MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, THE ABS MODULE IS COMMONLY FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE THROUGHOUT THE USA AND ABROAD. THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE REPAIR WITH PARTS ALONE IS OVER $2,000 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THESE UNITS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY THE MFG., BMW YET THERE HAS BEEN NO SUCH RECALL. BMW HAS MADE NO ACCOMMODATION TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY OR PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT DESPITE BEING WELL AWARE OF THE FAILURE RATE OF THESE ABS UNITS. OBVIOUSLY, A FAILURE OF THIS MODULE COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH WHILE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE.

WHILE TRAVELLING AT THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE LEFT LANE IN BUSY TRAFFIC, THE MOTORCYCLE QUIT AS IF I HAD SHUT OFF THE KEY. I HAD TO MANEUVER THROUGH 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I BELIEVE THAT THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR SHUT THE BIKE OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS FUEL IN THE TANK. ONCE STOPPED, THE BIKE STARTED AGAIN AND RAN NORMALLY. I BELIEVE THAT THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR CAN INTERRUPT ENGINE OPERATION WHEN IT GETS TO A POINT OF ZERO RANGE, EVEN THOUGH THE BIKE HAS ADEQUATE FUEL IN THE TANK. I HAVE ASKED BMW TO VERIFY THIS AND THEY WILL NOT. OWNERS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN AS I NARROWLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IF IT CANNOT HAPPEN, THEN I NEED TO LOOK WHAT DID HAPPEN. BMW RECOMMENDS THAT I TALK TO THE DEALER, BUT HE HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THAT HE CANNOT ANSWER THE QUESTION. THEY HAVE ALSO OFFERED TO SEND A REP TO LOOK AT THE BIKE, BUT AS CUSTOMERS, WE NEED TO KNOW IF THIS CAN HAPPEN AND BE WARNED ABOUT IT SO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE FUEL STRIP AND SINCE THEN THE FUEL STRIP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES, AND IS NOW INOPERABLE. BMW NEEDS TO ANSWER MY QUESTION BECAUSE IF THE FUEL STRIP CAN INTERRUPT ENGINE OPERATION BMW OWNERS NEED TO KNOW. WITHOUT KNOWING THIS, IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH EASILY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY WHICH PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO OPERATOR ERROR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 GS ADVENTURE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ENGINE OIL LEAKAGE FROM THE REAR DISK THAT LEAKED ONTO THE REAR TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,591.

IN HAVING THE BIKE SERVICE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS PUMP UNIT HAS FAILED AND DID SOME TIME AGO. THIS IS HAPPENING ON MANY BMW MOTORCYCLE FROM THE R AND K CLASS OF BIKES AND COULD CAUSE COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH WILL CREATE SERIOUS INJURIES

2008 R 1200GS MOTORCYCLE WITH 9218 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT RECENTLY STARTED COMING ON (SOLID) OCCASIONALLY. *BF UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN

I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW FROM VALLEY CYCLE & MOTORSPORTS IN BAKERSFIELD, CA ON 6/23/08. DURING THE 18,000 MILE SERVICE ON 04/06/11 (ODO: 17,732) , BMW OF SANTA CRUZ, CA SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICED REAR SHOCK STRUT WAS LEAKING OIL AND ORDERED A REPLACEMENT. ON 06/28/11 (ODO: 21,500) VALLEY CYCLE & MOTORSPORTS, CA INSTALLED THE REPLACEMENT SHOCK STRUT UNDER WARRANTY. ON 9/12/14 (ODO: 38,768) WHILST ON AN EXTENDED MOTORCYCLE VACATION THE REPLACEMENT REAR SHOCK STRUT STARTED LEAKING, SPEWING OIL ON THE BACK TIRE CREATING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I IMMEDIATELY RODE IT TO BMW OF SANTA FE, NM TO DOCUMENT THE LEAKAGE AND THEY AGREED IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ADVISED ME TO RIDE IT TO VALLEY CYCLE AND MOTORSPORTS IN BAKERSFIELD, CA WHERE I BOUGHT IT. VALLEY CYCLE BMW TECH. EXAMINED THE SHOCK STRUT (ALL THE OIL HAD LEAKED OUT OF IT AT THIS TIME) AND SAID HE'D OPEN A PUMA? CASE WITH BMW TO SEE IF THEY'D HONOR ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. HE ADVISED ME TO ALSO CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR A RESOLUTION. I SENT VALLEY CYCLE DATE-STAMPED PHOTOS OF THE LEAKING SHOCK STRUT TO FORWARD TO BMW WHICH THEY DID. ON 10/7/14 "GRANT" FROM BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED AND SAID BMW HAD DENIED THE CASE AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SHOCK STRUT EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS THE SECOND (2ND) ONE THAT HAD FAILED IN 35,000 MILES. THE FIRST SHOCK FAILED AT 17,732 MILES, THE SECOND SHOCK FAILED AFTER 17,268 MILES. THESE ESA SHOCK STRUTS COST OVER $2,000 EACH (EXCLUDING LABOR) AND I BELIEVE THAT COMPETE FAILURE AT THAT MILEAGE DURING SOLO STREET RIDING,IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS MOTORCYCLE IS DESIGNED AS A "DUAL-SPORT" MOTORCYCLE CAPABLE OF OFF-ROAD TRAVEL. FURTHER, THE FACT THAT WHEN THEY FAIL, OIL LEAKS OUT OF THE SHOCK AND ONTO THE REAR WHEEL CAUSING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME CONDITION ON LINE. *TR

I WAS RIDING ON THE CENTRAL FREEWAY ON THE BAY BRIDGE APPROACH WHEN I BEGAN TO FEEL HEAT ON MY LEFT INNER THIGH. I ALSO NOTICED A BURNING RUBBER OR PLASTIC SMELL. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN MERGING TO THE RIGHT AS I WAS APPROACHING THE LAST SAN FRANCISCO EXIT BEFORE THE BAY BRIDGE. I FOUGHT MY WAY THROUGH THE HEAVY TRAFFIC ALL WHILE LOOKING DOWN TO SEE WHAT LOOKED LIKE EMBERS DROPPING OFF THE LEFT SIDE. I PULLED INTO A SHELL STATION, JUMPED OFF AND PULLED THE BURNING SEAT OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND PATTED IT OUT. I FOUND THAT THE FRONT SEAT RAIL HAD BECOME DISLODGED (IT IS ONLY HELD IN PLACE BY A RUBBER STRAP THAT IS LOOSENED TO ADJUST THE SEAT HEIGHT) AND RUBBED THROUGH THE PROTECTIVE COVER OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND ARCED TO THE FRAME. THE SEAT AND THE SEAT BRACKETS WERE MELTED. I WAS ABLE TO COVER UP THE DAMAGED WIRING AND BATTERY ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO SAFELY RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE TO HAVE THE DAMAGE EVALUATED BY A SHOP (BAVARIAN CYCLE WORKS IN SAN FRANCISCO.) THE DAMAGE WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AND I AM AWAITING PARTS TO ARRIVE FROM GERMANY TO CARRY OUT THE REPAIRS. I HAVE LOCATED A MACHINE SHOP THAT SELLS A KIT TO MODIFY THE SEAT TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING AGAIN. THE KIT ELIMINATES THE SOLID METAL BAR THAT RUNS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE SEAT. IT USES TWO SHORTER RODS ONLY WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED TO LOCATE THE SEAT IN ITS FRONT HOLDER. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I ORDERED ONE RIGHT AWAY. *TR

ON 17 AUGUST 2014 AT NEWCOMB'S RANCH IN THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST EAST OF LOS ANGELES AT APPROXIMATELY 10:15 AM I DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH DETENT MECHANISM HAD FAILED ON MY 2008 BMW R1200GS MOTORCYCLE. I WAS ABLE TO FREELY ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY BETWEEN ON AND OFF, SO THAT THE SLIGHTEST TORQUE FROM A KEY FOB OR WIND COULD TURN THE KEY TO OFF, WHICH WOULD SHUT THE ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OFF, PERHAPS UNEXPECTEDLY DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILED IGNITION SWITCH DETENT CONDITION APPARENTLY OCCURRED DURING MY ONE HOUR RIDE ON L.A. FREEWAYS AND CA 2 TO NEWCOMB'S RANCH. A FELLOW RIDER AT NEWCOMB'S ON A BMW K1200S INDICATED THAT HIS MOTORCYCLE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM (FAILED IGNITION SWITCH DETENT), AND THAT HE RODE WITH THE KEY FOB REMOVED. I RODE HOME WITH TWO BAR STRAWS TIED BETWEEN THE KEY AND THE HANDLEBAR CLAMPS. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED A MISSING METAL RETAINING PLUG IN A HORIZONTAL HOLE IN THE FRONT OF THE STEERING LOCK HOUSING, AND A SPRING STILL IN THE HOLE. BMW MOTORCYCLES OF LONG BEACH REPLACED MY DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK HOUSING (BMW PART # 51257700072) AND THE IGNITION SWITCH DETENT MECHANISM NOW FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, ALTHOUGH THE NEW PART SEEMS TO BE OF THE EXACT SAME DESIGN AS THE DEFECTIVE PART. IN 2008 MY R1200GS HAD ITS IGNITION RING ANTENNA REPLACED UNDER RECALL. WHILE AT LONG BEACH BMW MOTORCYCLES, THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED TO ME THAT DURING AN DURING AN ANTENNA RING SERVICE THAT HE PERFORMED SOME YEARS AGO, THE SAME RETAINING PLUG FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH DETENT SPRING POPPED OUT WHILE REMOVING THE STEERING LOCK HOUSING. ACCORDING TO BMW, PART # 51257700072 IS USED ON 6 MODELS AND 161 VEHICLE VARIANTS MADE BETWEEN 2003 AND 2014. A FAILED IGNITION SWITCH DETENT COULD RESULT IN AN UNRECOVERABLE SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE, OR A RECOVERABLE SHUT DOWN BUT WITH HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED AND TURNED OFF INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V129000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN UPDATED 08/29/2014 *JS