brand new C400X - stalls

glowingturnip

New member
Proud owner of a brand-new C400X here - well not quite so proud since the thing stalls.

Seems that after a period of engine-braking only, drifting to a stop, if I don't get on the brakes in time to allow the clutch to release, or if I don't give the throttle a mini blip, then it can stall. Especially so if it's higher than normal engine braking - eg I can reproduce it best if I coast down the entrance ramp to my underground carpark and let it drift to a stop.

Very irritating since this is a brand new bike, I've got about 700 miles on it now. I took it into the shop early for its first service, reporting the problem, but they couldn't reproduce it, didn't find anything and just rebooted the computer. Didn't fix it. I'm reluctant to take it into the shop again since I don't imagine they'd be any better second time round, and the garage is a mile each way walk to the nearest tube station.

I see from the internet that C650 owners were reporting a similar thing back in 2013, presumably the same cause. I guess I can look forward to a product recall eventually when enough people complain.

The idle speed does seem a little low to me, and a little bit lumpy, but it seems the days when you could adjust your idle with a little turn of a screwdriver on the carb are long gone.

Anyone else getting the same issues ? Any workarounds anyone knows of ? I'm learning to adjust my riding to account for it - being sensitive to rev speed, and using the brakes as a pseudo-clutch but really I shouldn't have to - none of my previous 'lesser' bikes ever stalled like this.
 

Skutorr

Active member
Congrats! you are now a Beta tester for BMW! The same thing happens with every new bike they roll out now; wait till the defects pile up enough to bother fixing them...
 

HappyRican66

New member
Over on Adventure Rider a couple of people have reported rough idling and some cutting off. It looks like it was ECU mapping.
 

glowingturnip

New member
thanks, have posted on there too now. Hopefully BMW are paying attention.

Hasn't stalled for a while now, but basically because I'm driving it almost like a manual. I can still feel it when it's *just* about to cut out though, usually when there's a bus behind me...
 

addjack

New member
Same thing happened to me..
Engine stalls over 20 time at the first day of pickup the bike from BMW... And it didn’t happen again afterwards.. Anyway, I am going back to BMW to have a check for safe...

One more thing, do you guys feel the front brake are a bit wake when compare to rear? I need to apply quite a lot of front brake pressure to to get the same braking performance as rear....
 

glowingturnip

New member
no, haven't felt anything unusual about the brakes - I'd definitely get that checked out if I were you.

Do please post up if your garage find out anything about the stalling.
 

alangrima

New member
Same here ... just over 1500km and still experiencing intermittent stalling. Dealer couldn't reproduce the problem during the first service
 

glowingturnip

New member
I've only had one stall in ages, and I think that might be because i'd over-filled it refuelling. Some of the old forum posts for the C650 suggest that the stalls might be caused by overfilling clogging the overflow valve, or something. I now refuel with it on the centre stand, and don't try to squeeze in every drop, and the problem seems to be less.

I might also be compensating unconciously with my riding style too now though, braking to a stop rather than engine braking, and giving tiny throttle blips to keep it alive at low revs.

Last time I spoke to the garage, when I got a nail in the tyre, they did say there's a new firmware update coming, though I've not received it yet.
 

Scoetter

New member
Hi Glowingturnip, my scooter also stalls. First time after 400miles and second time after 650miles and then almost every week 1 or more times. BMW first updated the software and second they replaced the hole intake manifold. The stalling seemed disappeared, but suddenly it was back. And after 6 months I can even predict it. Normally when the cludge is disengaged the motor is revving between the 1400rpm and 1600rpm. When it, almost, stalls the motor drops to 1100rpm. And that are the moments the motor can stalls. I think it is a clutch problem. But after 6 months I don't want to ride the BMW anymore. I agree with Skutorr, we are beta testers for BMW. And i'm very surprised that BMW can sell stalling scooters. Is it even road legal? In my opinion it can be very dangerous in daily traffic and I think they should stop selling these things until they solved there problems. And then I don't even talk about the other problems I have had.
Sorry I'm not positive, the disappointment was too big.
 

alangrima

New member
I took mine back to dealer and they are saying that the issue may be due to the intake manifold. They should be replacing it on the 16th. However, like @Scoetter said, I also believe that it’s a clutch issue.
 

Scoetter

New member
Mine intake manifold was replaced and wasn't the solution. I've been told that BMW is developing a new clutch for the C400. So it means that there is no suitable solution available for the time being.
 

Skutorr

Active member
Mine intake manifold was replaced and wasn't the solution. I've been told that BMW is developing a new clutch for the C400. So it means that there is no suitable solution available for the time being.

....and they built an even CHEAPER scoot out of China than the C650, and everyone trusted them???? It took 7 YEARS with the C650/Sport to address/recall/redesign/upgrade/repair most of the problems and inherent pricepoint-based shortcomings of their BIG scoots. Why should the cheaper "400" be any different? In comparison, the Piaggio 350's all were redesigned years ago with (expensive) WET clutches. They perform flawlessly, and aren't Chinese...
 

exavid

Member
Been awhile since I've been here. I really liked the '13 C650GT I had but sold back in August. It was a great bike to ride, excellent performance but lack of available shop manuals, poor parts support online and a couple of gripes were some of the things that drove me away from the bike. Not to mention having a knee replaced. Physically I'm doing much better so decided to keep on riding for a few more years. I went back to the Honda Silverwing 600. It's too bad Honda ner imports them or a good replacement scooter. But parts are easy to find for even long discontinued Honda bikes so I feel I can keep this one running as long as I will ever need it. Complete shop manuals actually written in English are easily available too.

I would have kept the BMW, we have a good dealer here, but it appears that corporate BMW doesn't want a mere rider to work on their bikes, It was fun, I'll miss the performance in the twisties but the Silverwing is a good easy to work on workhorse, no real problems with them. This is my third one and most likely the last but it's nice to be back riding without depending on a dealer, good one or not, having to do most of the work on my bike.

It's been fun to be on this forum, and I enjoyed my GT for about five years or so but it's time to move on.

Keep riding my friends!
 

alangrima

New member
Mine intake manifold was replaced and wasn't the solution. I've been told that BMW is developing a new clutch for the C400. So it means that there is no suitable solution available for the time being.

Same here, stalling issue got worse. I have now been informed that BMW have redesigned the clutch springs. Dealer has just ordered my replacement springs, which should be available in about 2 weeks time.
 

Benggolf3

New member
Getting our 2020 C400GT next week. Wonder if all the existing known defects have been rectified?

Not satisfactory if they release new inventory knowingly that current product recall notices have not yet been performed.
 

glowingturnip

New member
I got a product recall notice for dodgy brake calipers, apparently the type they have can corrode in wet weather when there's salt on the road - so that's nice to know. Have been locked down since so haven't done it yet. Not had any product recall to address the stalling though
 

Donnus

Member
I have a c 400 gt with 3000 km on it. Bought in June 2019.
in february 2020 i had the latest software installed with new clutch springs fitted by BMW, as my scooter occasionally stalled.
Unfortunately I have to report that the other day going slowly in traffic my 400 gt stalled, and i was forced to quickly move over. Thank goodness I was only doing about 20-30km/hr, Otherwise it could have been dangerous.
nothing has been solved !
my idle speed is always rough between 1300 and 1500... a disappointing engine by BMW
 

straight_bat

New member
I bought a C400GT back in May 2019. Had the stalling issue happen in the first week and then maybe once or twice a week after that. Would always stall as the bike was slowing to a stop and switching into an idle mode - bit scary when the light goes green and there is car right on your tail as happened a couple of times! Took it to the shop and they updated the software. This made no difference. Over time the issue gradually got worse and would happen almost every other ride. Took it back to the shop for the caliper recall and had them check the stalling issue again. Once again they checked/updated the software but couldn't find anything wrong. Rode for another couple of months with this happening on and off and then took it back again where they took apart the manifold, found no issue, put it all back together, updated the software, and ever since the bike has been running normally.
Frustrating but fortunately it seems to be ok now - although I don't have complete confidence it won't happen again as they could never work out what the actual problem was...
 

davidh

Member
This is a very interesting thread and something I've just started seeing on my 2013 C650 GT. The dealer diagnosed a bad O2 sensor which they said would cause a run-lean condition, causing the stall. Then, when that didn't solve it, they said it was a variator/roller issue when "coming out of high gear." Uh huh. The one thing that makes me think it's NOT that is a rough idle an occasional stall at idle. In that condition, the clutch should be totally disengaged. I guess I next attempt is to verify the clutch (it's a new clutch; but the stalling happened before I replaced it), and then run the engine with the belt off altogether. If still rough/stalling, it's engine-related (fuel/air/spark) and should be easier to diagnose.
 
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