Clutch plate cracked. Had to replace all parts to the final drive
2003 BMW K1200LT transmission problems
13 complaints (62% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 35,800. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 13
- of this car's complaints
- 62%
- typical mileage
- 35,800
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Manual transmission2
- Manual transmission: column shift assembly1
- Driveline: driveshaft1
- Driveline1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
BMW K1200LT transmission problems in other years
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
M/C final drive ball bearing failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition requesting that it open an investigation into model year (MY) 1998-2009 BMW KLT series motorcycles for final drive bearing failures.The petitioner asked the federal safety agency to issue an order that [BMW] be required to recall the affected models for inspection ofcomponent wear and proper assembly of the [final drive] bearing.ODI has reviewed the petition, assessed relevant consumer complaints, and gathered other data in the course of investigating this issue.Based on its review, ODI does not believe that a safety-related defect trend currently exists for final drive bearing failures in the subject motorcycles.Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency's limited resources to accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.However, the agency will continue to monitor information related to this issue and will take further action if warranted.For detailed information, see the Federal Register notice: https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-13779.
DP12001
What 2003 BMW K1200LT owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Drive shaft had break, dangerous. Caused the final drive gears to break, dangerous. On the road.
Brake lines leaking and replaced. $1002. In repairs. Final drive leaking and all gear damaged.
The final drive differential failed, locked up the rear tire, cause catastrophic loss of control, ejection from the motorcycle at highway speed, and total loss of the machine. The rider suffered moderate injuries, mostly abrasions and bruises, and broken bones. The tire pressures and final drive fluid level had been checked that day, and were correct. A $10,000 machine was totaled because of a cheap part that is a known defect, has occurred over and over, and bmw has not been ordered to fix this safety issue!
Felt a strange vibration. Exited the road at the next exit about a mile down the road. Upon slowing below 20 MPH, the vibration increased. Braking was diminished and used down shifting. Pulled over into a parking lot and inspected the motorcycle. Found oil running from the final drive down the brake rotor and rim/tire. Called for a tow truck to take it to the local bmw dealer. Dealer said the final drive bearings had failed and the entire final drive needed to be replaced. Since there was a known issue with the pre-2004 final drives, the dealer replaced with a final drive from a 2006.
Tl* the contact owns 2003 bmw k1200 lt motorcycle. The contact was driving 70 MPH when the rear wheel bearings caused the vehicle seize. The contact noticed oil leaking from the final drive unit onto the rear wheel. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the bearings, o-rings, and rear wheel shaft was replaced. The contact had not experienced any further issues with the vehicle since the repair. The failure mileage was 30,876.
Bmw k1200lt 2003 motorcyle I purchased used with 8700 miles on the bike. At 18646 having all the maintenance done by the dealer, I experienced a rumbling sound traveling on an interstate at 65 MPH. I pulled over thinking it might be a bad tire and noticed oil dripping on the rear tire/rim. Oil on the rear brakes did hamper my slowing down. Bmw repaired the final drive saying the outside bearing failed causing the oil seal to fail. At 25,423 miles the final drive failed again. This is a high priced bike and I was surprised at this mechanical failure which I believe now that it wasn't assembled correctly and during the repair no change on the new bearing was done so it failed a second time. I finally purchased a used final drive to continue riding. I now have 129,025 on the bike and the used final drive is still performing ok so the issue was with the original drive on this bike. A new final drive wasn't in my budget. I wonder what would have happened had I been in a hard curve when this failure occurred. Not good, I'd say. Bmw can/should do better during assembly.
I had the same failure as described in odi no. 10439549, and currently being investigated under campaign dp12001. While doing 70 MPH on the kentucky parkway I felt a severe vibration and slight wobble in the rear wheel of the motorcycle. I slowed to the shoulder and stopped. After checking the rear tire I found a lot of gear oil on the tire, rim, and rear drive. I was extremely lucky that I did not lose traction and crash.
Final drive failure on 2003 bmw k1200lt motorcycle. Loss of hypoid fluid caused loss of control on motorcycle. Was able to stay upright.
2003 bmw k1200lt motorcycle final drive bearing failure.
Questions about the 2003 BMW K1200LT transmission
Does the 2003 BMW K1200LT have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 13 complaints about the transmission of the 2003 BMW K1200LT, 62% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2003 BMW K1200LT transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 35,800 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2003 BMW K1200LT transmission?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the BMW K1200LT have bad transmission?
The BMW K1200LT model years with the most transmission complaints are 2000 (40 complaints), 1999 (37 complaints) and 2002 (23 complaints).
Other 2003 BMW K1200LT problems
Fuel system 6Suspension 2Brakes 1Electrical 1Engine 1
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