2009 BMW R1200 RT Power Train Problems

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL (FINAL DRIVE). THE DRIVE BEGAN MAKING GRINDING AND SQUEALING NOISES. I THEN FELT THE REAR WHEEL LOOSING TRACTION. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY. I NOTICED AT THAT TIME A BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MY REAR BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. UPON EXAMINING THE DRIVE AREA THERE WAS GEAR OIL ALL OVER THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER, DISC AND REAR WHEEL, INCLUDING THE TIRE. THE FINAL DRIVE WAS SERVICED APPROXIMATELY 1200 MILES PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, IT HAD BEEN FILLED WITH THE CORRECT VISCOSITY OIL AT THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF 180CC. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO METALLIC SHAVING OF ANY KIND VISIBLE IN THE OIL THAT WAS DRAINED FROM THE DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TEXAS STATE HIGHWAY 6 IN A RURAL AREA.

THE BMW MOTORCYCLE WAS BEING RIDDEN AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS WHEN IT BEGAN TO DEVELOP A VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED AND THE FIRST AVAILABLE EXIT WAS TAKEN. BY THIS TIME THE REAR WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO LOCK UP. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STOPPED AT THE FIRST SAFE PARKING AND A WRECKER WAS DISPATCHED. THE REPAIR FACILITY INFORMED ME THAT THE DRIVESHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT HAD FAILED AND WAS BEATING AGAINST THE SWING ARM WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL FAILURE. THE DRIVESHAFT IS NOT A TEARDOWN AND INSPECT ITEM AND THEREFORE LEAVES THE RIDER WITH NO WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW R1200 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED GREASE COVERING THE BRAKES AND REAR WHEEL. THE GREASE CAME FROM A BROKEN REAR DIFFERENTIAL/FINAL DRIVE. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE RIGHT ANGLE GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,580.

IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO REPORT THESE TO THE NHTSA, I AM ADDING MY OWN INFORMATION: DURING A TIRE-CHANGE SERVICE, THE DEALER'S MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE BEARING IN THE REAR WHEEL FINAL DRIVE HAD BECOME "CRUNCHY" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON POINTING OUT THE PROBLEM, I WAS ABLE TO DETECT THE RESISTANCE IN THE WHEEL MYSELF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BEARING UNDER WARRANTY AND ON COMPARISON WITH A NEW BEARING, THERE WAS DEFINITELY RESISTANCE AND A LACK OF SMOOTH FUNCTION IN THE ORIGINAL BEARING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PARALEVER FINAL DRIVES HAVE ENCOUNTERED SERIOUS BEARING FAILURE RENDERING THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY UNABLE TO PROCEED NORMALLY, SOMETIMES WITH A MAJOR LEAKAGE OF THE FINAL DRIVE LUBRICANT. I BELIEVE MINE WAS SIMPLY CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH TO AVOID A MORE DRAMATIC FAILURE. *KB