Stop Ride on BMW Motorcycles Just Announced
Just got this in an email today from Bob's BMW.
Quote:
Immediate Release
April 1, 2021
SAFETY RECALL
Immediate Stop Ride due to Valve Stem Cap: All BMW Models since 1923.
An urgent safety recall affecting ALL past and present BMW motorcycle models currently in use was announced April 1, 2021. This recall also mandates an official Stop Sale affecting all current unsold BMW motorcycle inventory, ALL models.
The recall is related to VALVE STEM CAPS on both front and rear wheels, with either tubeless or tube-type tires mounted. It has recently been discovered that a 0.002 mm thread pitch discrepancy between valve stems and valve stem caps installed on all BMW motorcycles manufactured since 1923 can lead to a potentially hazardous valve stem cap overheating condition. Overheated valve stem caps, caused by friction resulting from high frequency vibrations, can self-loosen and eventually fly off. This condition is considered a ROAD HAZARD because an overheated valve stem cap when airborne at highway speed can become a dangerous projectile! Additionally, the resulting valve stem core exposure due to the absence of a valve stem cap is a potential HEALTH RISK. Trapped road dirt and bacteria inside the valve stem core can become activated by slow leakage of compressed HOT AIR from within the tire, then released into the atmosphere where it can be inadvertently inhaled, leading to respiratory distress.
This official announcement, states that this critical thread pitch discrepancy (blamed on a subcontracted manufacturer’s production error) has now been ascertained to be the cause of the vast majority of missing valve stem caps reported in registered complaints to BMW Motorrad through its authorized dealers for the last ninety-plus years.
REQUIRED ACTION!
- Step ONE: Owners must immediately inspect both front and rear wheels to confirm Valve Stem Caps are still in place. DO NOT RIDE until this inspection is done!
- Step TWO: Motorcycles affected (those with missing Valve Stem Caps) should be brought (not ridden!) to authorized BMW Motorrad dealers immediately for further inspection and a professional diagnosis by certified BMW technicians. If necessary to install replacement parts under warranty, the parts for this campaign are expected to be available January 2031, along with a service bulletin and repair instructions. Important: DO NOT RIDE until authorized replacement valve stem caps are installed!
For additional details and to reserve your spot in line for replacement parts visit www.bobsbmw.com/20210331-april-fools/
NHTSA Statement
Please be reminded that it is a violation of federal law (The Safety Act) for you to sell, lease or deliver any new motor vehicle covered by this notification until the recall repair has been performed. This means that dealers may not legally deliver new motor vehicles to consumers until they are fixed or use/sell replacement equipment/parts subject to this recall. Note also that substantial civil penalties apply to violations of the Safety Act. Also, you should not sell, lease or deliver any used vehicles in your inventory subject to a safety recall until the repair is completed.
