NHTSA Complaint #10280042 — 2002 BMW K1200RS

MALE END OF FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT BROKE, SPRAYING FUEL. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS COMMON, AND THAT MINE HAD A PLASTIC MALE END, AND THAT A REPLACEMENT MALE END WAS AVAILABLE FOR TWENTY SOMETHING DOLLARS AND WAS BEING USED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON LATER MODEL BIKES.. FOR ME THIS ENDED WELL. I NOTICED IT AS I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE GARAGE. THERE ARE TWO QUICK DISCONNECTS AND I PLAN ON REPLACING BOTH MALE ENDS WITH THE NEW IMPROVED MODELS. MINE ALSO DID NOT BREAK OFF ENTIRELY, BUT CRACKED AND SPRAYED A THIN STREAM OF FUEL THROUGH HOLE IN THE BODY WORK. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER HOWEVER, SINCE BOTH CONNECTORS ARE BEHIND BODY WORK. AND ARE LIKELY TO FILL THE BELLY PAN WITH FUEL WITH AN ENSUING FIRE, PARTICULARLY IF THE END BREAKS OFF ENTIRELY. MY BIKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN RIDDEN CONSERVATIVELY ON PAVED ROADS: I DON'T THINK THAT THE DISCONNECTS WERE SUBMITTED TO ANY UNUSUAL STRESS. I SUSPECT FATIGUE AND AGING OF THE PLASTIC CONTRIBUTED TO ITS FAILURE. I THINK THAT FROM READING THE SHOP MANUAL, THAT THE QUICK DISCONNECTS ARE A FEATURE ADDED IN AROUND THE YEAR 2000. OLDER MODELS DID NOT HAVE THEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE BIKES FOR BAD O RINGS IN THE QUICK DISCONNECTS. I SUSPECT THAT THE PLASTIC DISCONNECTS ARE A BAD BIT OF WORK, AND FAIRLY DANGEROUS, UNDERENGINEERED.. *TR