Bmw R1200C problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
15,616 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 41 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 22.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 3 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
Power Train: 7; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 4; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 3; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Suspension: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 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 (17). 15 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2002: 5; 2003: 10; 2004: 6; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 7; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10023744 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
TAIL LIGHT ASSY KEEPS CRACKING ON THE UPPER LEFT BOLT, I AM ON MY 4TH TAIL LIGHT AND IT IS ALSO BROKEN. ON THE SAME ASSY THE TURN LIGHT STALKS CAN BRAKE OFF AND JUST HANG BY THE WIRES, THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE TO ME. ON THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL THE LEFT TURN LIGHT BROKE OFF AND WAS HANGING BY THE WIRES, THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE TO ME AND IS STILL BROKEN AT THIS TIME, TEMP FIX WITH A HOSE CLAMP. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028405 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
I 0WN A 1998 BMW R1200C CRUISER MOTORCYCLE, I BOUGHT IT NEW. MY TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WICH INCLUDES BRAKE LIGHT AND BLINKERS CREATES A CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE ASSEMBLY TO EVENTUALLY CRACK IN TWO PARTS LOOSING THE LEFT BLINKER ASSEMBLY. I HAVE REPLACED THIS FAULTY PART ONCE BEFORE 2 YEARS AND APPROXIMENTLY 3000 MILES AGO. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS OUT OF WARENTY SO IT COST ME $180.00 FOR A NEW PART PLUS INSTALLATION. THE NEW PART IS CRACKED AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734658 · 2000-10-18 (October 18, 2000)
LOW IDLE/STALLING/BLUE SMOKE AT STARTUP-ORIGINAL AND BMW REPLACED MOTORCYCLE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068016 · 2004-04-28 (April 28, 2004)
I OWN A 2002 BMW R1200C THAT HAD ABOUT 5500 MILES ON IT BEFORE THE FOLLOWING FAILURE; THE BEARING ON THE END OF THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON FAILED, SPINNING THE SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON IN IT'S BORE, BURNED THE BRAKE FLUID AND BLED ALUMINUM PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH CIRCUIT. THIS RENDERED THE CLUTCH LEVER INOPERABLE AND I COULD NO LONGER PUT THE MOTORCYCLE IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE BIKE STALL IN GEAR, WHICH HAD A TENDENCY TO LOCK UP THE REAR TIRE. BMW FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARR…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068016 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231964 · 2008-06-22 (June 22, 2008)
I'VE GOT A 1999 R1200C. I RECENTLY DID SOME SERVICING ON IT WITH MY FRIEND, AND I THINK I AM EXPERIENCING THE START OF FINAL DRIVE FAILURE... WE DID VALVE ADJUSTMENTS, FUEL FILTER, BRAKE FLUIDS, AIR FILTER, OIL AND OIL FILTER, TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE FINAL DRIVE FLUID. EACH FLUID LOOKED SURPRISINGLY GOOD TO ME , EXCEPT THE FINAL DRIVE FLUID. I EXPECTED IT TO BE DARK IN COLOR, AS IT WAS OLD, BUT IT CAME OUT A GLITTERING METALLIC OOZE. I'D NEVER SEEN FINAL DRIVE FLUID BEFORE, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL UNTIL I OPENED UP THE BOTTLE OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231964 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 |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1998: 2; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0