2003 BMW F650 CS Recalls & Complaints

Incident: August 18, 2013 · Filed: August 21, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW F650 CS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE RPM READING BECAME ERRATIC AND INCONSISTENT WITH THE THROTTLE POSITION. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V236000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500. *TR

Incident: September 2, 2008 · Filed: October 14, 2008

I WAS ON A MOTORCYCLE TRIP TO BANFF, AB. ABOUT 50K NORTH OF CROWSNEST PASS, AB ON GRAVEL HIGHWAY 40 I HAD A BIT OF A WOBBLE THAT MOVED ME INTO THE SOFT GRAVEL SHOULDER. IT WAS SAFER TO RIDE INTO THE DITCH SO THAT IS WHAT I DID. JUST AFTER COMING UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DITCH THE FRONT FORK BROKE ON A SMALL BUMP LAUNCHING ME THROUGH THE AIR, AND TOPPLING THE BIKE BEHIND ME. I WAS PROBABLY GOING ABOUT 40MPH AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. I DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER AND TORE SEVERAL TENDONS IN THE INCIDENT. THE MOTORCYCLE IS A BMW F650 GS DAKAR. THE FAILURE IS VERY SIMILAR TO... CASE: IVOQ- 2002 BMW MOTORCYCLE CASE NUMBER: 28597. *TR

Incident: May 27, 2006 · Filed: June 7, 2006

A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP/FILTER ASSEMBLY "CAP" ON TOP OF THE TANK WHICH ALLOWS FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK AND POOL UNDER THE SEAT CREATING A FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REFERRED TO IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V236000 REGARDING THE CS MODEL. PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT DEALER WILL ONLY PERFORM AT OWNERS COST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GS MODEL. *JB

Incident: May 3, 2006 · Filed: May 6, 2006

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON A 2003 F650 GS BMW MOTORCYCLE IS LOCATED ON THE STEERING HEAD. THIS SWITCH HAS A LOOM OF FOUR ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT CONNECT TO IT AND GOES TO RELAYS THAT OPERATE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ONE OF THE WIRES, A GREEN ONE, IS A 16 GAUGE COPPER WIRE WITH 19 STRANDS. THIS WIRE IS THE LINK FOR ALL THE ELECTRIC CURRENT TO OPERATE THE MOTORCYCLE. WHEN THIS WIRE FAILS, THE ENGINE DIES, THE LIGHTS GO OFF, AND ALL THE POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE IS LOST. THE WIRE LOOM CONTAINING THIS GREEN 16 GAUGE WIRE IS DESIGNED TO FAIL BECAUSE EVERY TIME THE HANDLEBARS ON THE BIKE ARE MOVED, THE WIRE LOOM FLEXES AND OVER TIME THIS GREEN WIRE BECOMES BRITTLE, DUE TO MOLECULAR CHANGES IN THE COPPER, AND BREAKS. THIS WILL HAPPEN ON EVERY BIKE THAT HAS THIS 16 GAUGE 19 STRAND WIRE, AS THIS WIRE IS NOT ENGINEERED TO BE FLEXED CONSTANTLY. IN FACT, THIS WIRE WILL BREAK BY HOLDING IT STATIONARY IN ONE HAND, BY A CONNECTOR, AND BENDING IT WITH THE OTHER HAND. IT WILL BREAK WITHIN 30 UP AND DOWN BENDS AND THIS IS THE WIRE THAT TRANSMITS ALL THE POWER TO OPERATE THE MOTORCYCLE. MY MOTORCYCLE IS A 2003 MODEL THAT WAS PUT INTO USE AT 06/16/2003 WITH 6230 MILES. THAT IS WHEN I LOST POWER MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE MOTOR STOPPED AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. LUCKILY IT WAS DAYTIME AND NO TRAFFIC. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. I REPAIRED THE HARNESS BY REPLACING ALL FOUR WIRES WITH A 16 GAUGE 62 STRAND COPPER WIRE THAT IS ENGINEERED TO FLEX. I HAVE THE OLD WIRES AND PICTURES OF THE WIRE LOOM BEFORE I REPAIRED IT. I WILL FURNISH YOU WITH THE ORIGINAL WIRES AND PICTURES UPON REQUEST. *NM

Incident: April 1, 2003 · Filed: July 26, 2004

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY 2003 BMW 650 CS HAS CONTINUALLY BROKEN DOWN--STALLED (OFTEN TIMES WHILE THE BIKE IS ACTUALLY IN MOTION). I HAVE BROUGHT THE BIKE TO HONDA OF HOLLYWOOD OVER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND EACH TIME, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE LOCUS OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND IT GENERALLY DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN THE BIKE IS WITH THE DEALER, SO THEY CANNOT FIX IT.*AK

Incident: May 27, 2004 · Filed: May 27, 2004

WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED GAS FUMES. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. A TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD CRACKS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Incident: May 27, 2004 · Filed: May 28, 2004

I LOVE MY BMW F650CSA WHEN IT IS WORKING. REPEAT THE WORD : WHEN! THE 2003 MODEL HAS HAD A SERIOUS BRAKE FLUID LEAK WHICH CAUSED A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL WHILE RIDING. IT REQUIRED THE ENTIRE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE WIRING HARNESS THAT IT CORRODED. A SECOND WIRING HARNESS IN THE FRONT CONTROL PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING. THE FACTORY BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE ACCESSORY AUDIO POD HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN THE LOCK BARREL FELL APART. THE HEAD TO TOE RIDING SUIT WAS REPLACED AFTER 1 YEAR WHEN THE ARMOR AND LINING AND STICHING FELL APART. THE LUGGAGE BAG ALSO WAS SENT BACK FOR REPAIR AFTER ITS STICHING CAME APART. NOW THE BIKE IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR THE 2ND TIME ON THE SAME ISSUE OF THE REAR WHEEL LOCK NUT COMES LOOSE. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A PIN THAT IS SUPPOSE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE, THE REAR WHEEL FEELS REALLY SQUIRRLY WHEN RIDING IF THIS NUT IS FINGER LOOSE. SO FAR THEY HAVE TIGHTENED IT TO SPEC TWICE AND IT IS LOOSE AGAIN. I USE THIS BIKE TO COMMUTE THROUGH THE CITY 12 MILES EA. WAY TO WORK. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE POOR QUALITY OF THIS BMW MOTORCYCLE AND ITS ACCESSORIES. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY PROBABLY WENT OVER BUDGET DESIGNING THE THING THEN REALIZED THEY BETTER START SELLING THEM BEFORE THEY DID MUCH TEST DRIVING. LIKE I SAID, ITS A GREAT BIKE WHEN ITS WORKING. IT HAS ENDANGED MY LIFE MORE THAN ONCE DUE TO PARTS DEFECTS. COME ON GUYS, MOTORCYCLE RIDING IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOUR REAR WHEEL IS GOING TO JAM ON YOU WHILE RIDING! *LA

Incident: October 7, 2003 · Filed: October 28, 2003

MY BMW F650CS HAS HAD SEVERAL INTEGRAL PIECES OF THE BIKE SHAKE LOOSE OR EVEN FALL COMPLETELY OFF IN THE 18 MONTHS I HAVE HAD IT. THE SIXTH AND FINAL INCIDENT WAS ON 7 OCTOBER 2003 WHEN ONE OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME DURING REGULAR RIDING. THIS LEFT SEVERAL PARTS OF THE MOTORCYCLE INCLUDING THE SIDESTAND AND THE LOWER MEMBER OF THE FRAME DANGLING ABOUT WHILE RIDING AND SERIOUSLY AFFECTED THE MOTORCYCLE'S ABILITY TO MANEUVER. THE SAME MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE SHIFT LEVER FALLING OFF FOUR TIMES (WITH THE DEALER UNABLE TO PERMANENTLY RE-ATTACH IT UNTIL THE FOURTH TIME) AND FOR THE DRIVE BELT SPROCKET SHAKING LOOSE AND AFFECTING THE VEHICLE'S RIDE.THE SHIFT LEVER INCIDENTS ALL HAPPENED IN BUSY CITY TRAFFIC AND I HAD TO PUSH A NON-FUNCTIONAL MOTORCYCLE ACROSS MULTIPLE LANES OF BUSY TRAFFIC AND ENDED UP BURNING MYSELF REATTACHING THE LEVER TO RIDE THE BIKE TO THE NEAREST DEALER AS PER THE DEALER'S INSTRUCTIONS.BMW MOTORCYCLES OF NORTH AMERICA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING BUT INSTRUCT A DEALER TO PATCH UP THE LATEST PIECE TO FALL OFF THE BIKE (THE ENGINE MOUNT AND BELT DRIVE PULLEY IN THIS CASE) AND TIGHTEN THE AFFFECTED BOLTS TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. EVERY PIECE THAT HAS FALLEN OFF WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS WITHIN THE LAST 3000 MILES.I EXPLAINED THAT I FELT UNSAFE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT I TRADE IT IN ON A MORE EXPENSIVE BMW MOTORCYCLE.*AK I KNOW THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED OR KILLED ASIDE FROM BEING BURNED TRYING TO RE-ATTACH DEFECTIVE PARTS BUT THE MOTORCYCLE PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER COUNTLESS TIMES WHILE THE MANUFACTURER HAS DONE NOTHING PROACTIVE TO HANDLE THE SITUATION. THE MOTORCYCLE IN QUESTION IS CURRENTLY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A BMW MOTORCYCLES REPAIR SHOP IN ST. LOUIS, MO.