If you just bought a 2012...
If you just bought a 2012 BMW S 1000 RR, better check with your dealer to see if the conrod bolt recall affects you ASAP.
BMW Motorrad is issuing a recall on a number of 2012 S 1000 RR sportbikes for a potential connecting rod bolt issue. According to NHTSA recall documents, an anti-corrosive agent applied to the connecting rod bolts in the engine apparently affected bolt torque, and because of a “manufacturing process error for torque control”, the bolts can come loose at high rpm and/or high temperatures. Should that happen, an obvious catastrophic engine failure can occur…
The official recall is affecting 1414 units in the U.S. produced between Sep. 1, 2011 and Apr. 10, 2012, but documents say that approximately 900 of the recalled S 1000 RRs are still in BMW inventory, so those will be obviously fixed before going back out for sale. That leaves a potential 514 new BMW superbike owners who will be officially notified by mail in May that they need to get their S 1000 RR over to their nearest dealer immediately for free replacement of the connecting rod bolts. S 1000 RRs with a VIN sequence starting ZL16475 or higher are not affected by the recall.
Possible affected owners are advised to call their local dealer as soon as possible, or call BMW Customer Relations and Services at (800)525-7417.
From the NHTSA safercar.gov website recall page:
Make: BMW Model: S 1000 RR
Model Year: 2012
Manufacturer: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC Mfr's Report Date: APR 19, 2012
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V177000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1,414
Summary:
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 S1000RR MOTORCYCLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 10, 2012. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROCESS ERROR, THE CONNECTING ROD BOLTS MAY BECOME LOOSE DURING HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES AND/OR HIGH ENGINE OPERATING SPEEDS WHICH COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE.
Consequence:
IN THE EVENT OF ENGINE DAMAGE, ESCAPING OIL COULD CAUSE HANDLING ISSUES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTING ROD BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
From the official BMW Motorcycles Facebook page post:
BMW has issued a delivery hold and is recalling 1,414 2012 model year BMW S1000 RR motorcycles to inspect and correct a potential problem with loosening of the connecting rod bolts. As a result of a manufacturing process error, the bolts could loosen and fall out. If this happens, the engine may fail, seize, and/or leak oil. Approximately 900 of the affected motorcycles are still in BMW or dealer inventory and will be inspected and corrected prior to customer delivery. Owners of potentially affected motorcycles will be notified by mail in May advising them to bring their motorcycles to an authorized BMW Motorcycle dealer to have the recall performed. The connecting rod bolts will be replaced and installed with a thread locking agent.
Please contact our Customer Relations team at 1-800-525-7417 if you have additional questions.