BMW R1150 R Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints across the 2 model years of the BMW R1150 R (2003–2004) that have at least 5 complaints. 2004 has the most, with 9. Across all years, the part named most often is fuel system (10 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All R1150 R model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 9 | 11,000 | 1 | 5 | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 5 | 7,700 | 1 | 5 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Fuel system10 63%
- Transmission and drivetrain2 13%
- Engine cooling2 13%
- Electrical system1 6.3%
- Brakes1 6.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2003: “I own a 2004 Bmw r1150r motorcycle. This morning on my way to work I smelled a gasoline odor. I couldn't see anything obvious since it was dark out. When I arrived at work it appeared that about a pint of raw gasoline had leaked out of my fuel lines onto the right side of the transmission, then dripped down onto the hot exhaust.”
NHTSA complaint #10054272, filed 2004-01, 7,700 miles2004: “After coming home from work 10 miles away, I parked my cycle in the garage and immediately my wife could smell gas on me and fumes in the garage. I checked the bike and could see yellow fuel stains on the right side of the engine. I could only find the leak when the key was on and the fuel pump forcing fuel through lines behind the shield. I removed the shield and found one quick disconnect separated. I attempted to connect it but soon realized it was broken. I called the dealer who stated they had a metal replacement to the original plastic one that always breaks. …”
NHTSA complaint #10398391, filed 2011-05, 8,835 milesOther BMW models
3,165 complaintsBMW 328I
2,576 complaintsBMW X3
2,016 complaintsBMW 325I
1,377 complaintsBMW Z4
1,271 complaintsBMW 3 Series
832 complaintsBMW 528I
830 complaintsBMW 330I
813 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology