AI Damage1998 BMW BMW Motorcycle: common problems
Owners of the 1998 BMW BMW Motorcycle filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 50% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 25% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Struck a large pot hole on a city street. As expected the front suspension compressed but the front fender (trailing section) caught in the engine cowling as the suspension decompressed. This makes the steering restricted to movements of about +/- 10 degrees with significant friction in the steering over this range.
The final drive on the motorcycle leaked oil out of ring gear seal, and bike suddenly made grinding noise. After tear down and inspection it was found that the large radial bearing had failed causing the seal to fail, replacement of bearing and seal was done. Same failure as described in odi no.
Three hundred miles from home a grinding sound started being audible from the rear of the bike. I stopped after it continued and failed to see anything wrong. The wheel and tire were dry and no apparent leaks anywhere. I continued and the grinding became louder.
Electrical component (hall ignitions sensor assembly) failure.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the BMW Motorcycle has 4 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 BMW BMW Motorcycle?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (50%), oil leak or consumption (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 BMW BMW Motorcycle?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 BMW BMW Motorcycle from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.