Bmw R100 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
52,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1977 to 1994 model years. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 6 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 16.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Wheels:Rim | 1 |
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Wheels:Rim: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
1996: 2; 2000: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10445982 · 2012-01-31 (January 31, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 BMW R100GS. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY RATTLED AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT THREE TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 03/09/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN TOOK THE TRANSMISSION APART, HE DISCOVERED THE GEARS WERE DESIGN…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447105 · 2012-02-08 (February 8, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 BMW R100GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO RATTLE. THE GEARS LOCKED AND RELEASED TEMPORARILY, BUT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD TO BE DOWNSHIFTED AND SHUT OFF BEFORE THE GEARS WOULD FULLY RELEASE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10447105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10410927 · 2011-07-07 (July 7, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1979 BMW R100RT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE REAR BRAKES WERE ENGAGED, FOLLOWED BY AN EXTREMELY SLOW RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE REAR BRAKE, MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE LINES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410927 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1978 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 |
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
1978: 1; 1979: 1; 1980: 1; 1981: 1; 1982: 1; 1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 1; 1993: 0; 1994: 0