1999 BMW K1200LT Powertrain (other) Problems

I'VE OWNED THIS BIKE SINCE 2002 AND SILL HAVE IT. DURING THAT TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCE TWO REAR DRIVE FAILURES AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. AT THE TIME BMW WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT THE ISSUE OR CLAIMED THAT IT WAS RARE. WELL, I KNOW 6 PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME MOTORCYCLE AND WE'VE ALL HAD THE REAR DRIVE FAIL. I AM THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE IT FAIL TWICE. I BELIEVE BMW HAS SUPERSEDED THAT LARGE BEARING IN THE REAR DRIVE WITH A NEW PART NUMBER AND IT'S HOLDING UP BETTER. ANYWAY, THE FROST TIME MY REAR DRIVE FAILED THE BEARING HAD "PAULED" AND AS IT CAUSED [XXX] DRAG THE CAGE AROUND THE BALL BEARINGS CAME APART AND TOOK OUT THE SEAL. ONCE RELIEVED OF IT'S OIL IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE THE BEARING FAILS. THE REAR LOCKED AND I CAME TO A STOP MORE RAPIDLY THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED. I DROPPED THE BIKE TO THE RIGHT AND DID A LITTLE BODY DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SADDLE BAGS. I WAS OK BUT STRANDED WEST OF FRISCO COLORADO. I WAITED MOST OF THE NIGHT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME UP FROM DENVER. I SLEPT ON THE SIDEWALK OF THE BMW DEALER THAT NIGHT AND HAD TO RENT A CAR AND "CAMP" WHILE WAITING FOR REPAIRS. MISSED MOST OF A WEEK OF WORK TOO. ANYWAY, THE SECOND FAILURE I CAUGHT EARLIER AND BOUGHT THE PARTS AND ASSISTED ION THE REPAIR SO IT COST MAYBE $600 COMPARE TO THE BMW REPAIR OF $1700. IN TOTAL THAT AND $100 RENTAL AND $50 CAMPING AND WHO KNOWS WHAT A WEEK OF WORTH COST ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586220

Incident

Jun 19, 2002

Mileage

15,750 mi

SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. THIS SAME PART HAS FAILED THREE TIMES DURING THE LAST SIX YEAR, OR APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586154

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

59,000 mi

LEAKING REAR END LUBE STARTED INVESTIGATION. ULTIMATE CAUSE OF LEAK WAS PENDING FAILURE OF CROWN GEAR BEARINGS ON BIKE WITH PARALEVER STYLE FINAL DRIVE. REPLACED BEARINGS AND SEALS AS NO DAMAGE TO GEAR(S) WAS APPARENT. DONE ON TRIP OUT WEST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10542006

Incident

Aug 28, 2003

Mileage

33,000 mi

THE FINAL DRIVE LEAKED FLUID ON THE REAR WHEEL, THE REAR DRIVE BEGAN TO GRIND AND SEIZE. END OF RIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499770

Incident

Jul 15, 2010

Mileage

30,000 mi

REAR DRIVE SEAL AND BEARINGS FAILED, LEAKING OIL, LOOSING BRAKING POWER, WITH TIRE WOBBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479832

Incident

May 15, 2012

Mileage

42,000 mi

THIS IS SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. MY 1999 K1200LT HAS HAD THE FINAL DRIVE REBUILT TWICE AND REPLACED TOTALLY ONCE AT BMW DEALERSHIPS. THE FIRST TIME WAS A REBUILD ON 9/25/2004 AT 37290 MILES AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE STARTED GRINDING. THE NEXT WAS 9/12/07 AT 54929 MILES WITH THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. THE MOST RECENT WAS 8/28/2012 AT 73001 MILES AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED COMPLETELY, LEAKING DRIVE LUBRICATION ALL OVER THE REAR WHEEL AND DISK BRAKE. REAR BRAKES SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED AS WELL. THIS HAPPENED AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS OF 75MPH. COSTS FOR REBUILDS RUN $400-600 AND THE LAST REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT OF FINAL DRIVE AND BRAKES WAS $2023.00. MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT THE DRIVES ONLY LAST 20-30,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THE BIKE WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THE FINAL DRIVE HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THESE FAILURES HAVE ALL BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAULTY ASSEMBLY OF THE FINAL DRIVES, WHICH REQUIRE A VERY CAREFUL MEASUREMENT OF A TAPERED WHEEL BEARING PRELOAD. MOST REBUILDS BLAME THE FAILURE ON TOO MUCH PRELOAD. NEWER DESIGNS BY BMW HAVE REPLACED THE TAPERED BEARING WITH A BETTER DESIGN THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE EXACTING STANDARDS FOR PRELOAD. FAILURES ON THESE UNITS HAVE BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10474049

Incident

Sep 24, 2004

Mileage

37,290 mi

FINAL DRIVE HAVE BEING REBUILT ONE YEAR EARLIER & AGAIN I LOST CONTROL REAR TIRE WHILE RIM START IT WOBBLING OUT CONTROL, BIKE WEIGHT 840 POUNDS VERY DIFFICULT AND WITH MY WIFE ON BOARD THANKS GOD WE ARE ALIVE. GOLD STAR BMW DEALER IN QUEENS DETERMINE THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW FINAL DRIVE,I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE; FINAL DRIVE IT WAS TOTAL BLOWN AWAY INTO LITTLE PIECES . REPAIR COST AROUND $1500.00 DOLLARS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10463510

Incident

Jul 17, 2009

Mileage

20,500 mi

ON JUNE 17, 2011 THE FINAL DRIVE OF MY 1999 BMW K1200LT STARTED LEAKING GEAR OIL FROM THE CROWN BEARING SEAL. THE SUSPECTED CAUSE IS THE CROWN BEARING FAILURE PUSHED THE SEAL OUT OF PLACE AND ALLOWED THE GEAR OIL TO LEAK ON THE REAR BRAKE DISC AND REAR TIRE. THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE REAR BRAKE TO FAIL DUE TO OIL ON THE BRAKE PADS AND THE REAR TIRE TO BE UNSTABLE WITH OIL ON IT. I REPLACED THE REAR DRIVE IN JANUARY 2012. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449181

Incident

Jun 17, 2011

Mileage

46,000 mi

1999 BMW K1200LT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS POWER TRAIN FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILURES BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DPI 12001 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE FINAL DRIVE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN GEAR LUBE OIL LEAKING ON TO THE HIGHWAY. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED, THE FINAL DRIVE SEIZED WHEN THE BIKE WAS BEING UNLOADED FROM A TOW TRUCK AT THE REPAIR FACILITY. AGAIN, THE REAR SEAL, O-RING, ROLLER BEARING, GASKETS AND GEAR LUBE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED, THE REPAIR FACILITY STATED THE FRAGMENTS OF THE CRUSHED BEARING HAD DAMAGED THE GEARS IN THE POWER TRAIN FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY. THE REPAIR INCLUDED REPLACING THE GEARS IN THE FINAL DRIVE, THE GASKETS, O-RING, BEARING AND GEAR LUBE OIL AGAIN. THE FOURTH FAILURE, THE MECHANIC STATED IT WOULD BE BEST TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DRIVE TRAIN, FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY WHICH CONTAINED ALL NEW GEARS, GASKETS, SEALS, O-RING, BEARINGS AND THE HOUSING WHICH HELD ALL OF THE PARTS. WHEN THE BEARING FAILURE HAPPENED, THERE WAS A MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AND THE REAR WHEEL WOBBLED DANGEROUSLY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BEARING WAS NOT ADEQUATE TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT, TORQUE AND OTHER DEMANDS OF THE MOTORCYCLE *JB

NHTSA ID

10448710

Incident

Feb 2, 2006

1999 BMW K1200LT. CONSUMER STATES MOTORCYCLE SUFFERED THE BEGINNINGS OF A FINAL DRIVE FAILURE TO THE POWER TRAIN AND LEAKED GEAR OIL. *TGW THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE MOTORCYCLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10448679

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

MY 1999 BMW K1200LT HAD A MYSTERIOUS VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL. I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE A FLAT TIRE. STOPPED CHECKED PRESSURE, AND ALL WAS FINE. RODE BIKE APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES WHEN THE REAR WHEEL BEGAN SLIPPING AND REALLY FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. I DEPRESSED THE REAR BRAKE LEVER, BUT IT COLLAPSED COMPLETELY (I LATER LEARNED WHY), NO REAR BRAKES. I MANAGED TO GET THE MOTORCYCLE STOPPED, AND I COULD IMMEDIATELY TELL WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THERE WAS FINAL DRIVE OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE OF THE MOTORCYCLE ONTO THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER, AND ONTO THE REAR TIRE. THIS WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THE WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS 'COMING OFF'. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE REASON THE BRAKE PEDDLE HAD TO BE 'PUMPED UP' WAS THAT THE REAR WHEEL WAS VIBRATING BACK AND FORTH OPENING THE CALIPER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. THE PREVIOUS FINAL DRIVE BEARING WAS REPLACE APPROXIMATELY 14 THOUSAND MILES EARLIER, BY A BMW MECHANIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227768

Incident

May 8, 2008

Mileage

43,700 mi

REAR DRIVE FAILURE. IT'S A PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE. YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS OF THE ONLINE FORUMS NOT-SO-SCIENTIFIC RESULTS HERE: HTTP://WWW.BMWLT.COM/FORUMS/SURVEY.PHP?&DO=RESULTS&SID=28 IT SUCKS. I HAVE TO FORK OUT A BUNCH OF DOUGH TO FIX SOMETHING THAT BMW SHOULD HAVE NEVER MADE THAT WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210877

Incident

Oct 26, 2007

Mileage

76,178 mi

FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW K1200LT 1999 MODEL. 37,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197957

Incident

Jul 27, 2007

TWO BEARINGS IN THE REAR END ASSEMBLY OF MY 1999 BMW K1200LTC FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 37K. THE DEALERSHIP IN SEATTLE THAT REPAIRED THE BIKE WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR COSTS INVOLVED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161225

Incident

Jun 14, 2006

Mileage

37,000 mi

REAR END FINAL DRIVE FAILED ON MY '99 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. THERE WAS NO REAL WARNING OTHER THAN A SEVERE GRINDING NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO RIDE HOME (SLOWLY) AND THEN NOTED THE REAR TIRE WAS NO LONGER STRAIGHT UP BUT HAD A SEVERE WOBBLE. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO FIXED IT. BOB, PLS NOTE, THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS AN APPROXIMATION - IT'S BEEN A WHILE. (I HEARD YOU SPEAK AT THE RA RALLY IN SHELBYVILLE - VERY GOOD JOB!) *NM

NHTSA ID

10139222

Incident

Apr 8, 1999

Mileage

5,000 mi

DT: THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WENT OUT ON THE MOTORCYCLE. GEAR OIL LEAKED OUT ALL OVER THE REAR TIRE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BEING DRIVEN HOME FROM THE STORE. THERE WAS A RUBBING SOUND, THEN THERE WAS A WOBBLE IN THE REAR TIRE. THE OWNER STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE IMPENDING FAILURE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10135225

Incident

Sep 2, 2005

Mileage

57,400 mi

(1) 110 MILES BEFORE FAILURE, NOTICED A GROWLING SOUND. RODE THIS MOTORCYCLE WITH A PASSENGER TOWARD DEALER 100 MILES AT 50 MPH, THEN 10 MILES AT 40 MPH AS GROWLING INCREASED. STOPPED WHEN REAR WHEEL STARTED WOBBLING, 30 MILES AWAY FROM DEALER.*AK (2) REAR DRIVE OF MOTORCYCLE FAILED. BECAUSE I HAD HEARD PROBLEM AND WAS AWARE, REAR WHEEL DID NOT LOCK UP AND CAUSE ACCIDENT. (3) ENTIRE REAR DRIVE REPLACED, AFTER WAITING 11 DAYS 3000 MILES FROM HOME FOR BACKORDERED PART TO ARRIVE FROM GERMANY.

NHTSA ID

10088613

Incident

Jul 24, 2004

Mileage

32,843 mi

BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE FAILURE. REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045830

Incident

Nov 7, 2003

Mileage

46,165 mi

BEARING FAILURE IN REAR DRIVE ASSEMBLY OF 1999 BMW K1200LTC MOTORCYCLE

NHTSA ID

10038900

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

Mileage

42,299 mi

BMW K1200LT REAR DRIVE FAILURE. 32000 MILES REAR CROWN BEARING FAILED ON EXTENDED TRIP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037193

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

32,000 mi

1999 BMW K1200LTI REAR DRIVE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032809

Incident

Aug 8, 2003

Mileage

43,700 mi

REAR DRIVE FAILED ON BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. BEARING IN REAR DRIVE OF SHAFT DRIVE MOTORCYCLE HAS FAILED CAUSING GRINDING NOISE, MAKING VEHICLE UNRIDABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10032796

Incident

Aug 13, 2003

Mileage

42,500 mi

REAR DRIVE FAILURE, K1200LT BMW MOTORCYCLE. THE REAR DRIVE ON THE MOTORCYCLE FAILED, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO BE INOPERABLE. THE BEARING COLLAPSED FROM INSIDE OUT. THE RACE HOLDING THE ROLLERS BROKE IN SEVERAL PLACES. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10032546

Incident

May 15, 2001

Mileage

47,000 mi

BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE - FINAL DRIVE WENT OUT. THE FINAL DRIVE STARTING MAKING NOISE THEN DUMPED ALL FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKE AND TIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10030246

Incident

Jul 27, 2003

Mileage

85,000 mi

SUFFERED A REAR DRIVE ASSY FAILURE ON A 1999 BMW K1200LT-C, BETWEEN 14-16K MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025494

Incident

Jul 16, 2001

Mileage

16,000 mi