2014 R1200RT warped fuel tank

[ldhardy12]

I have a 2014 R1200RT that has a warped gas tank near the fuel cap. The plastic is so out of shape that a new tank is required and the cost of this replacement is very steep. Very Steep.

I contacted my dealer and was told there are no recalls for this although there is a new part number of the tank that corrects the issue. That's the rub. BMW Motorrad Customer Service has told me that I am out of warranty and that I will have to buy the replacement tank. I was, and am, willing to split the cost with them but was told they were not interested in doing this.

Has anyone else had issues with their fuel tank doing this?

Thanks.

EDIT: There is no replacement p/n for the tank. The same tank has been used since 2014.

 

[omega man]

Perhaps you could change the description? The problem as you describe doesn’t show anywhere, that I could find, on the internet.
How did it happen or start?
Are you the original owner?
Were there attachments on the cap assembly?
How about a picture with straight edge reference?
What is the actual problem- cosmetic or functional?
Let us know. Maybe we can help.
OM

 

[Geekmaster]

@ldhardy12 take a look at this thread:

RT gasoline smell, filler neck leak

I have a 2014 RT in the shop that had a persistent gas smell on the test ride. Turned out the filler neck assembly was not sealing to the tank at the front. The top of the plastic tank is flat, and there's a rubber gasket on the bottom of the filler neck that seals to the tank. The front of the...

forums.bmwmoa.org

I also had this problem, but was able to fix it with some Permatex sealant. Details in the thread.

 

[ldhardy12]

It looks like the issue is that the tank has warped between the filler neck and the top of the plastic tank. I am the original owner and the bike has 63,000 miles on it. My local BMW dealership noticed this beginning to happen a couple of years ago and they just recently told me that no gasket would be to fix or mitigate this situation.

I can't provide a picture because it would require removal all the bodywork around the filler cap.

Not really cosmetic because you can't see it leaking from the filler. Fuel has been leaking from the warped area and I have seen fuel trails coming down the side of the engine. Not a good feeling seeing that.

I will let you know if anything further develops .

 

[r0ckrat]

Was "a couple of years ago" inside the warranty window? If so, I would get that info into the communications with BMW if you haven't already...

 

[omega man]

It looks like the issue is that the tank has warped between the filler neck and the top of the plastic tank. I am the original owner and the bike has 63,000 miles on it. My local BMW dealership noticed this beginning to happen a couple of years ago and they just recently told me that no gasket would be to fix or mitigate this situation.

I can't provide a picture because it would require removal all the bodywork around the filler cap.

Not really cosmetic because you can't see it leaking from the filler. Fuel has been leaking from the warped area and I have seen fuel trails coming down the side of the engine. Not a good feeling seeing that.

I will let you know if anything further develops .

Great, more information.
The dealerships nowadays are reluctant to let a vehicle out without everything being “just so”. This is a liability kinda deal and taking a “short cut” generally doesn’t work in the dealerships behalf.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t do something on your own, if you are mechanically inclined.
On things like this I have doubled the original gaskets and sometimes in the prep, have found the original gasket flattened, ripped in original installation or missing.
Good luck with your repairs.
OM

 

[88bmwjeff]

One solution is a used gas tank. According to the parts fiche, the gas tank on the 2014 R1200 RT is the same though the R1250 vintage, so any used gas tank from 2014 on should work. Used gas tanks on Ebay are a couple hundred bucks, which is a lot cheaper than a new tank.

 

[ldhardy12]

I contacted BMW Motorrad Customer Service and they had initially said that the warranty covers 3/36000 and that my RT was past the BMW warranty. They were sorry but there was nothing they could do.

I went a different route after their denial and I will let you know how that turned out. Things are looking up.

 

[PGlaves]

I contacted BMW Motorrad Customer Service and they had initially said that the warranty covers 3/36000 and that my RT was past the BMW warranty. They were sorry but there was nothing they could do.

I went a different route after their denial and I will let you know how that turned out. Things are looking up.

It appears to me that a fuel tank that leaks and cannot be sealed by normal means is a fire hazard and a safety hazard because burning motorcycles going down the roadway are dangerous to the rider and the school bus the motorcycle collides with. This would appear to be an issued that the NHTSA might be interested in. However they often fail to respond to hypotheticals so might wait until there is a pattern of flaming motorcycles interfering with traffic safety.

 

[ldhardy12]

Just found out that the tank alone is $1700. Ouch!

 

[dravnx]

Have an independent mechanic remove the fuel cap assy, inspect/replace the gasket and seal with a fuel tolerant sealant. Done, go ride.

 

[ldhardy12]

That looks like the way it will go. BMW Motorrad is not going to do anything to even partially help with the cost of this. My local dealer said they would give me break and do it for $2100. That is still steep.

I've sent this leaking tank issue to NHTSA and thought they might be able to put some pressure on BMW to take care of this.

 

[ldhardy12]

@ldhardy12 take a look at this thread:

RT gasoline smell, filler neck leak

I have a 2014 RT in the shop that had a persistent gas smell on the test ride. Turned out the filler neck assembly was not sealing to the tank at the front. The top of the plastic tank is flat, and there's a rubber gasket on the bottom of the filler neck that seals to the tank. The front of the...

forums.bmwmoa.org

I also had this problem, but was able to fix it with some Permatex sealant. Details in the thread.

I have and I'm going give the Permatex a shot.

 

[omega man]

Anton’s thread with example pictures-

RT gasoline smell, filler neck leak

I have a 2014 RT in the shop that had a persistent gas smell on the test ride. Turned out the filler neck assembly was not sealing to the tank at the front. The top of the plastic tank is flat, and there's a rubber gasket on the bottom of the filler neck that seals to the tank. The front of the...

forums.bmwmoa.org

OM

 

[omega man]

I have and I'm going to the Permatex a shot.

I would be hesitant to try a sealer used in a caulking method like one would caulk a bathroom to wall. With Anton’s pictures I have a better idea of the problem. I would stack and seal gaskets to seal and then run a finishing bead of sealer around the sealed area.
OM

 

[ldhardy12]

I would be hesitant to try a sealer used in a caulking method like one would caulk a bathroom to wall. With Anton’s pictures I have a better idea of the problem. I would stack and seal gaskets to seal and then run a finishing bead of sealer around the sealed area.
OM

I am open to looking into that as well.

 

[Geekmaster]

I would be hesitant to try a sealer used in a caulking method like one would caulk a bathroom to wall. With Anton’s pictures I have a better idea of the problem. I would stack and seal gaskets to seal and then run a finishing bead of sealer around the sealed area.
OM

Hopefully the stacking and sealing will do the trick. If gasoline gets past that, the finishing bead won't do anything.

 

[omega man]

Hopefully the stacking and sealing will do the trick. If gasoline gets past that, the finishing bead won't do anything.

The finishing bead was for esthetics. Especially helpful if there is something that interferes with direct placement such as if a cut had to be made rather than a complete disassembly.
Example- three gaskets with an access cut in different locations in the circumference alternated, stacked and sealed can, in this instance, can skip a complete disassembly……..hopefully.
OM

 

[ldhardy12]

It looks like 8-9 years is the life span on the gas tank. Same tank is used on the 1250 as well so be prepared for replacement or repair.

 

[ldhardy12]

Just for grins, I called a few BMW shops here in SoCal and every one that I called has done the tank replacement. ≈ cost $2100-$2500.