1998 BMW R1200C Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other R1200C years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 BMW R1200C. That is the most of any R1200C model year in the database (6 years). The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (5 complaints, 36%), typically at around 4,400 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 5 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 14owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 BMW R1200C problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 36% | 4,400 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 36% | 7,280 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 14% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 7% | 15,231 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 7% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 BMW R1200C recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Structure:frame and members
Problem: Vehicle description: motorcycles equipped with chrome-plated frames. Copper residue can remain in the tapped hole where the upper fork bridge attaches to the frame. Moisture can cause corrosion to occur between the copper residue and the aluminum frame. The stress of the connecting bolt attaching the upper fork to the frame could then decrease, leading to loosening, and ultimately, breakage of the bolt.
Risk: If this happened, the dynamic stability of the motorcycle would be affected and a loss of control could occur.
Fix: Dealers will ream the hole in the frame head and install a helicoil thread insert and a new bolt. Owner notification began december 13, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117, option #4.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: Vehicle description: motorcycles. The adjusting screw for the pressure point of either the brake or clutch levers may not be sufficiently tight, due to grease contamination of the threads.
Risk: The screw(s) can back out over time while the vehicle is being operated causing a change in the pressure point of the master cylinder for the clutch and/or front brake increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will check the adjustment screws of the front brake and clutch levers for movement. If the screws are tight, no further action will be taken. If a screw is found to be loose, it will be removed, cleaned and reinstalled with new loctite.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 bmw r1200c motorcycle. The contact was traveling 35 mph when the tail lights failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the tail light assembly was cracked and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not…
The final drive started leaking gear oil all over my rear disc brake and rear tire and rim. It is unsafe to ride like this. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 bmw r1200c. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 mph and trying to decelerate, he noticed that the brakes were failing. He placed the gear into neutral and coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and they advised him that…
The hose connecting the fuel unit to the left side of the engine collapsed, causing immediate lost of power. The incident occurred at coos bay, oregon while i was on a multi-day trip. I had to rent a u-haul truck to transport the bike to the portland bmw dealership. The mechanic at the dealership…
Fuel leaked from fuel distribution spider directly onto the catalytic converter and onto the rear tire. Discussed the problem with the dealer who said the motorcycle is out of warranty and charged me for the parts necessary to fix it. Updated 04/19/06. *nm updated 04/28/06. *nm
Other BMW R1200C years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 R1200C | 13 | 0 |
| 2002 R1200C | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 R1200C | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 R1200C | 4 | 1 |
| 1999 R1200C | 4 | 1 |
| 1998 | 14 | 2 |
See all BMW R1200C problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 BMW R1200C?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 BMW R1200C?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 BMW R1200C a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other R1200C model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.