Section 1: 19 inch Wheel Recall
©
article 54, section 1,
19inchrecall.htm
This article deals with the
19" CAST aluminum wheel Federal recall program;
that is, cast wheels that use a 19" size tire.
NOTE:
ALL 1981 R100S models with polished spoke
wheels were recalled and
exchanged for cast wheels,
during the time of shipment from Germany. This was not a Federal
mandated recall or official recall program. I think the
reason was due to possible interference with the Brembo calipers,
under some conditions. It is
extremely UNlikely any of the R100S models with those
initially-shipped polished spoke wheels were sold; or, otherwise got to the public.
These wheels were replaced with the CAST wheels. The 19" FRONT
CAST wheels were officially recalled, and you should refer to what follows for
THOSE, as well as all the
other CAST FRONT 19 inch wheels.
Now and then I still hear of an old recalled wheel that is still in service. There was a BMW factory recall on the FRONT 19" cast snowflake wheels, and only those! Supposedly a U.S. Federal Recall Campaign never goes out of date. I believe that this is world-wide, and there are specific recall campaigns in various countries.
A good time to do this wheel exchange is right away if you are safety conscious, or at tire replacement time if you are not overly concerned. The wheels were recalled due to some hairline cracks appearing in the hub when the wheels were subjected to rather severe use.
Only 19 inch front CAST ALUMINUM wheels were recalled, not front nor rear 18 inch wheels. This means a 19 inch size for the tire....this has NOTHING to do with any other measurement on your front rim. The RECALL does NOT apply if you have a steel spokes wheel and it also does NOT apply if you have a 18 inch front tire/wheel.
The Federal Recall is #84V-092
The original BMW bulletins are: 36-022-84 (2117); and, 36-023-84 (2123).
The 36-022-84 specifically notes USA and Canada.
The recalled wheels could be from model years 1977 well into 1983.
The following chart is
directly from BMW's 36-022-84 (2117) page.
DO NOT think that if your bike is NOT in
this list that it could not be affected! CHECK your
wheel!...see below on how.
I have confirmed that this recall is in other countries. In Australia, the defect code is 00 00360 800; the SI covering the recall is 87/01 (002) of July 1987
The 'good' wheels have support
ribs between each main spoke and the hub at the hub area.
By support ribs I mean that of the 8 MAIN
SPOKES, from approximately the point where the X ribs
intersect those main spokes (about half way out to the rim from
the center, very roughly), to the hub, the main spokes are
slightly widened in their mid areas....like a duckfoot web...in
other words, they are broadened at the center thickness, but not
as thick as the spoke itself. The web that was added
is more or less shaped like a U, if one includes the portion of
the hub they are connected to. This is all VERY easy
to see at a quick glance.
Wheels
with other numbers of main spokes have been reported.
There is a manufacturing date code stamped into the side of 'a spokes crossover point'. IF the date code is 9/82 or before, AND, there are no support ribs, then see your BMW dealer for a new tube, new bearings, seals, ...and a new wheel! The dealer is paid in full by BMW for all this, and demounting your old tire and remounting it onto your new wheel, is included, as is balancing.
NOTE: There can be two types of stampings in the crossover areas. The one YOU are looking for is in normal Arabic numerals...there are NO Roman characters...if yours is stamped with Roman characters, find the other stamping.
VERY!! IMPORTANT!!.....BMW
has been shipping the replacement wheels without grease, or
minimally greased, usually only oil if anything, on the bearings inside the
wheel. Be absolutely SURE that the dealer
DOES DO a
preload test (done on oiled bearings, seals removed) adjusting the
shimming if needed. AFTERWARDS....be sure that the dealer
removes the inner (that is, movable portion) bearings (keeping
them separated, left-right), and cleans off the oil, greases them, and
installs seals. NOTE that a really qualified mechanic
can adjust preload by feel, but it is really much better to
measure it. I have an article on how that is
done. click for that article here:
section4.htm
The replacement silver wheel is
#36-31-1-238-959; and the replacement gold wheel is
#36-31-1-238-960
There is NO cost for labor or parts...except if your tire is worn out, the dealer will NOT give you a new tire, but in any case you DO get a new tube. Mind that IF you have the nut on the valve stem screwed down to the rim, it does NOT belong in that position...it should be missing; or, up against the cap.
Even the rim cleaning is included.
NOTE: BMW honors this recall WORLDWIDE.....so no matter where you are, where the bike was sold, no matter who owns it, ETC....it is a free new wheel, etc....courtesy of BMW.
Revisions:
04/22/2010: Review all prior updates, review article, minor
changes.
05/11/2010: Clean up article somewhat; also remove one bad
link.
© Copyright, 2010, R. Fleischer