2013 BMW R 1200 R — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I have read on the BMW forums that the plastic cams that are attached to the throttle bodies will crack. If a crack is spotted the cams need to be replaced because they can fail causing the motorcycle to stop running. This spring while doing my spring maintenance I inspected the cams and found both of the throttle body cams cracked. I replaced both of the cams with after market aluminum cams that cost me over $450 in just parts. I replaced the cams before i has a catastrophic failure while I was riding the motorcycle. Other people have been stranded on the side of the road with this problem. I did not want to be one of them.

The component that fails is called the Fuel Strip (BMW part number 16147697815) and is used for measuring the amount of fuel in the fuel tank. This component is historically known to fail often and this problem is well known by BMW motorcycle dealers and motorcyclists that use this fuel strip. The failure of these Fuel Strips is a safety issue because it can cause loss of power, by running out of fuel, in traffic and/or at speed. Additionally it is a safety issue because it can leave the driver stranded in an unsafe location. The failure can occur at any time including shortly after installation of a new fuel strip. The Fuel Strip has a design flaw that causes these chronic failures.

There is a faulty fuel pump, but the dealership cancelled my service because their location is being consolidated and the next-closest dealership is over an hour away. Can another shop not do this fuel pump replacement?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW R1200 R. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO EURO CYCLES OF TAMPA BAY (8509 GUNN HWY, ODESSA, FL 33556, (813) 926-9937) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HAP'S CYCLE SALES, INC. (2530 17TH ST, SARASOTA, FL 34234, (941) 365-3443) FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A METAL RING WAS PLACED ON THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH DID NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.*DT

FUEL GAUGE STOPPED RESPONDING, LEADING TO RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WHILE MOVING. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON MANY BIKE MODELS FROM BMW FROM 2005-2013. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 5 TIMES SO FAR, AND EACH TIME THE FUEL LEVEL MEASURING STRIP IN THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION SINCE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM RUNNING OUT OF FUEL CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE. THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE FIRST INSTANCE OF WHEN IT HAPPENED.