2002 BMW K1200LT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I STARTED MY BIKE UP AT 8:00 AM ON A WARM MORNING IN MY GARAGE AS I ALWAYS DO, AND BACKED IT OUT WHILE IT WAS IDLING PERFECTLY. SUDDENLY SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE UP FROM THE LEFT FAIRING VENT. I SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND JUMPED OFF THE BIKE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE. TO MY SURPRISE, THE ENGINE BAY WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I GRABBED MY GARDEN HOSE AND MANAGED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WHOLE EVENT LASTED ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO. THE DAMAGE WAS DONE, I REMOVED THE FAIRING COVERS TO EXAMINE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. IT APPEARED TO BE A FUEL RAIL FAILURE. I FOUND WHAT LOOKS LIKE A "T" SHAPED FRACTURE NEAR THE HIGH PRESSURE INPUT SIDE OF THE FUEL RAIL. THE DAMAGE WAS MOSTLY CONFINED TO THIS HIGH PRESSURE SIDE OF THE FUEL RAIL AREA. I SEARCHED THE BMW LUXURY TOURING SITE TO SEE IF THERE MAY BE A PATTERN OF THESE "K" MODEL BIKES CATCHING ON FIRE. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WERE MANY, DESCRIBING MY EXPERIENCE EXACTLY AS MINE HAD OCCURRED. THE PLASTIC GAS TANK IS MOUNTED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE AREA THAT WAS ON FIRE. I HAD A 1/4 TANK OF GAS. THIS COULD HAVE BECOME EXPLOSIVE. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING MY RIDE THAT MORNING. I HAVE BEEN RIDING BIKES MOST OF MY LIFE. I'M 62 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BIKE FIRE ON ANY BIKE THAT I HAVE OWNED. WHAT STRUCK ME IN THE OTHER ACCOUNTS OF OTHER OWNERS OF THESE BIKES WAS THE EXACTNESS OF THE DESCRIPTION AND THAT THE FIRE WAS SPONTANEOUS.

RIDING ON RELATIVELY STRAIGHT, TWO LANE STATE ROAD IN RURAL GEORGIA ( WITHOUT HAVING ANY PREVIOUS ISSUES). RIDING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MILES PER HOUR. BIKE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A CLANKING NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEEL. RODE APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE-TENTH MILE TO STORE PARKING LOT. SHUT DOWN BIKE AND TRANSPORTED TO MY RESIDENCE ON TRAILER.

I CAN'T GET THE BRAKE WARNING FAILURE LIGHT TO STOP BLINKING. THE BRAKES WORK GREAT07

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200LT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAKE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,197. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS RIDING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH. I STARTED SMELLING A STRONG ODOR OF GAS. WHEN I GOT HOME I HAD FUEL DRIPPING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE BIKE. IT WAS ON MY BOOTS, PANTS LEG AND ALL OVER THE SIDE OF MY BIKE. IT MESSED UP MY PAINT IN SOME AREAS AND WILL NEED TO BE REPAINTED. I TOOK THE SIDE COVER OFF AND WAS ABLE TO SEE THE FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE QUICK DISCONNECT ON THE LOWER FUEL LINE. I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR