2000 BMW R1100 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2000 BMW R1100, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure133.3%
- Powertrain (other)133.3%
- Transmission133.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
2000 BMW, R1100RL. THE MOTORCYCLE CONTAINED A DESIGN FLAW IN THE FINAL DRIVE GEAR LUBE SEAL WITHIN THE CHASSIS OF THE MOTORCYCLE.*AK *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001: BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE. MY 2000 BMW R1100R FINAL DRIVE HAS FAILED THREE TIMES IN 150,000 MILES. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED DURING MY AFTER-MARKET WARRANTY PERIOD AT 58,378 MILES ON 5/7/2003. DUE TO THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILURE, THE REAR WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, AND THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT WAS LEAKING OIL. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED BY SAN DIEGO BMW MOTORCYCLES (AT THE TIME: BRATTIN BMW) BEFORE THE UNIT FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. THE SECOND FAILURE (THE ONE THE DEALER INSTALLED AS A REPLACEMENT) OCCURRED AT 114,000 MILES IN NOVEMBER, 2008. AGAIN, THE REAR WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AT THE BEARING, AUDIBLE GRINDING SOUND COULD BE HEARD FROM THE FAILING UNIT, AND IT WAS LEAKING GEAR OIL. I SENT THAT FINAL DRIVE UNIT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR REBUILD. THE THIRD FAILURE (OF THE REBUILT UNIT) OCCURRED AT 143,663 MILES ON 7/16/11. BY THIS TIME, I HAD BEGUN PERFORMING MY OWN ROUTINE SERVICE, AND HAD OBSERVED AN INCREASE IN THE SIZE AND AMOUNT OF METAL FLAKE ON THE FINAL DRIVE DRAIN PLUG OVER THE COURSE OF ~18 MONTHS. AT THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT, I COULD FEEL A SLIGHT GRINDING IN THE BEARING WHILE ROTATING THE REAR WHEEL, AND OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE INPUT SHAFT SEAL. ANY TIME THAT I ASK A BMW DEALER ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF FINAL DRIVE FAILURES, THE QUESTION IS BLOWN OFF. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SEAL OR THE SEAL INSTALLATION PROCEDURE IS DEFECTIVE. THIS SEAL ON MY TRANSMISSION HAS LEAKED FOR THE PAST 7000 MILES. BMW ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS LEAK BY REPLACING THIS SEAL UNDER WARRANTY AT 15K MILES. THE NEW SEAL HAS BEGUN TO LEAK. THIS SEAL IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS - ESPECIALLY R1100S OWNERS. ANY LUBRICANT LEAK ON A MOTORCYCLE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MANUFACTURERS MUST BE FORCED TO RESOLVE KNOWN REPETITIVE LEAKS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .