NHTSA Complaint #10205420 — 2004 BMW K SERIES

UPON ARRIVING AT HOME AND SHUTTING DOWN THE MOTORCYCLE, I COULD SMELL GAS COMING FROM THE BIKE. I CHECKED THE FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECTS AND FOUND THAT ONE WAS LEAKING FUEL. SINCE THE FUEL PUMP WAS OFF, THE FUEL WAS NOT LEAKING VERY BADLY. I ATTEMPTED TO PRESS THE QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING TOGETHER TO INSURE THAT IT WAS FULLY SEATED. WHEN I DID THAT, THE END OF THE MALE CONNECTOR, WHICH WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING, SNAPPED OFF RENDERING THE COUPLING USELESS. THIS ALSO RENDERED THE MOTORCYCLE INOPERABLE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO BMW AND THAT THEY DID ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN / RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE FAULTY DISCONNECT(S) WITH NEW ONES OF THE SAME DESIGN. HOWEVER, THE CONNECTOR DESIGN IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED IN THAT THEY ARE USING PLASTIC INSTEAD OF METAL AND ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. HAD THE CONNECTOR FAILED AT SPEED IT WOULD HAVE SPRAYED FUEL ALL OVER THE BIKE AND PASSING AUTOMOBILES POTENTIALLY STARTING A FIRE. THE FUEL DELIVERY LINE IS PRESSURIZED TO AROUND 60 PSI. I OPTED TO ORDER A 3D PARTY QUICK DISCONNECT TO REPAIR THE LINES AND INSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. *TR