NHTSA Complaint #10278451 — 1999 BMW R1100 RT

I OWN A 1999 BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE. I WAS RIDING HOME AND NOTICE THAT MY REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK, AS I TURNED ONTO MY HOME STREET. WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICE A PUDDLE OF OIL QUICKLY FORMING UNDER THE SHAFT DRIVE AND ONTO THE REAR WHEEL. THIS LEAK STARTED ON THE HIGHWAY, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY. UPON FURTHER DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION I FOUND THE OIL SEAL HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND RIPPED BY A BEARING FAILURE IN THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW MOTORCYCLES, AND CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO POOR ASSEMBLY AND QUALITY CONTROL AT THE FACTORY. THE BEARING FAILURE DESTROYS THE OIL SEAL, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE WHEEL, TIRE, AND BRAKE SYSTEM. I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, BUT I'M NOW STUCK WITH THE BILL. I HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY LOOKING FOR A DEALERSHIP OR MECHANIC TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FINAL DRIVE SYSTEM. I HAVE OPTIONS INCLUDING REPLACING WITH NEW, USED, OR REBUILT FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLIES. THE ASSEMBLY MAY OR MAY NOT NEED FULL REPLACEMENT, BUT IT IS QUITE EVIDENT THAT THE BEARING AND ITS CASING HAVE SHATTERED INTO PIECES AND HAVE CREATED A MESS INSIDE THE UNIT. *TR