BMW UK is considering whether to refund owners who have paid to replace a part at the centre of a recall of 367,000 motorcycles.
The firm announced last week that it was recalling K and R series models produced during a period spanning almost eight years. The rear wheel flange may crack as result of brake disc bolts or wheel nuts being over-tightened, BMW says.
Now a BMW UK spokesman has said the firm is considering whether to refund customers who’ve already paid to replace the wheel flange. ‘We are at the very start of the recall process and this particular customer situation is being considered,’ he said.
He said he could only comment in regard to UK customers.
Visordown sought clarification after being contacted by BMW owners who had already replaced the wheel flange at their own expense.
One UK-based BMW owner wrote in an email: ‘I read your article about the BMW R and K series rear wheel flange recall. Could you please tell me when the recall was announced, because I went to the BMW garage to change that part and I picked up the bike on the same day as you posted the article. And they charged me a lot.’
The recall applies to R and K series motorcycles produced between November 2003 and April 2011. It's understood to affect 367,000 bikes globally including 23,000 in the UK.
Models include the phenomenally successful R1200GS.
BMW says cracks occur as a result of bolts being over-tightened, and wheel flanges are to be replaced free of charge with a 'more robust part as a precaution'.
Last week's recall announcement said: 'As part of a technical campaign involving motorcycles of the R and K Series produced between 11.2003 and 04.2011, BMW Motorrad will replace the wheel flange of the rear suspension as a precaution.
'BMW Motorrad will inform all owners of the motorcycles affected. For customers the technical campaign is free of charge.
'Based on ongoing quality analyses, it was found that in the case of incorrectly carried-out maintenance work excessive torque may be applied to the brake disk bolts or to the nuts when changing wheels, contrary to the values specified in the BMW Motorrad repair instructions or operating instructions.
'Cracks and damage can occur in the wheel flange as a result of excessive torques. BMW Motorrad has therefore decided to exchange the wheel flange with a more robust part as a precaution.'
One reader posted a picture under our earlier story of a cracked wheel flange on a 2006 R1200S, one of the affected models. Herb wrote: 'Checked my 2006 R1200s today, and the flange in question is cracked at one of the wheel bolt holes. Bike has 12,000 miles and is self serviced. Wheel bolts have only ever been tightened to spec with a high end torque wrench.'
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