NHTSA Complaint #10627087 — 2007 BMW R 1200 RT

AT THAT LOW MILEAGE A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF THE MOTORCYCLE I WAS ALERTED TO "BRAKE FAILURE" LAMP ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER (WHO WAS IN NEW JERSEY - BIKE WAS SHIPPED TO CHICAGO) THAT THIS FAULT WOULD PROBABLY DISAPPEAR AFTER SOME MORE USE OF BIKE. I WAS ASSURED THAT BRAKE FUNCTIONS WERE NOT AFFECTED. THE FAULT CODE SUPPLIED BY A LOCAL DEALER WAS AT 232 MILES AND IT WAS 005 DFO PUMP MOTOR VOLTAGE SUPPLY. I HAD THE BIKE STORED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THAT AND IT NOW HAS LESS THAN 400 MILES ON IT. THE FAULT IS STILL THERE AND I AM TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ABS MODULE ($2000 PLUS FOR THE PART AND $500 FOR THE LABOR) THE LATEST FAULT CODE READING AT 288 MILES WAS "009309 KOMBI UNDER TENSION" DUE TO THE LAPSE OF TIME SINCE PURCHASE I UNDERSTAND BMW'S HESITANCY OF WARRANTY REPAIR, HOWEVER AFTER CONVERSING WITH OTHER BMW R1200RT OWNERS OF BIKES OF 2007-2012 VINTAGE, I SEE THAT VIRTUALLY ALL R1200RT BIKES WERE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. I AM TOLD, THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS INTERNAL ABS MODULE FAULT IS THE FACT THAT THE BRUSHES INSIDE THE PUMP MOTOR DO NOT HAVE STRONG ENOUGH SPRINGS PUSHING THEM AGAINST THE PUMP ROTOR. THIS CAUSES PITTING ON THE ROTOR, ETC. THIS CLEARLY IS A MANUFACTURER'S FLAW AND SINCE ABS BRAKES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE RIDING SAFETY OF THIS BIKE, IT IS DEFINITELY A CAUSE OF CONCERN. *TR