NOW what???

[JaimeC]

On Sunday when I wasn't able to start the scooter I wrote it off as the battery being weak after sitting so long. So I had it on the Battery Tender and the battery is fully charged, but it STILL won't start. The starter motor is cranking strongly, but the engine isn't catching. WTF?? This will be the THIRD time in two years (twice in the past four months) that I've had to put this thing on a trailer.

I had 158,000 miles on my first BMW (a 1985 K100) without a lick of trouble. My 1999 K1200LT is approaching 198,000 miles and other than some early teething pains, it has been on a trailer only ONCE in the 16 years I've owned it. If the 2013 C650GT is any indication of BMW's current quality standards, it may very well be the LAST BMW I own. Warranty is up in June... six months to decide if I'm going to keep it or not.

 

[JaimeC]

More on the saga: Even though I bought my scooter on June 29, 2013 and should be covered under warranty for another six months, there was some kind of screw up when I bought the scooter. The dealership (under different ownership at the time) didn't have the fast red color in stock, so had to get it from another dealership. For some reason, the warranty clock on that particular scooter was already running (as of December 8, 2012) so according to BMW NA, my bike is now out of warranty!! The current dealership owner is trying to get that all straightened out as they do have the paperwork indicating it was a NEW vehicle and I am the first titled owner, and didn't take delivery until June 29. Unbelievable!

 

[Paul]

My c600 didn't want to start once, opened the throttle some and it started, kinda like it was flooded. I'm thinking about a 2015 Suzuki V-strom Adventure XT, 650. Don't need three bikes, but undecided what to off.

 

[JaimeC]

You know what? I may have to try it again. The last time I rode it, all I did was drive down the driveway, U-Turn, and then put it back in the garage to park. Last time I took a short ride like that, it was hard to start in the morning too. I thought this problem had been fixed since with a software update but I may be wrong. Update tonight!

 

[Paul]

That is pretty much what happened to mine, started it in the garage one night for some reason, next morning had the hard start. Make sure you grab hold of a brake lever good and tight when you try this! My Sport has been trouble free, but you do hear about BMWs quality even in O.N.!

 

[windplr]

Make sure you grab hold of a brake lever good and tight when you try this!

Or put it on the center stand.

 

[JaimeC]

Well that was it... since the battery was fully charged I just kept cranking it and it eventually turned over. Took it out for a short (1.5 mile) spin. Hope that's enough so that it doesn't do that to me again in the morning! Just in case, I put the Battery Tender back on in case I have to crank it overly long again.

 

[Snowdog]

I have had that happen also, start the bike, but only run for a minute +- and shut it off. Try to start a few minutes later, and it just cranks. I think it fools the FI into thinking it is still a cold engine when it is partially warm and it causes a flooded condition. My SW did it sometimes also.

 

[Snowdog]

It probably leaves enough excess fuel to flood it in the morning.

 

[JaimeC]

Weird, because the FI system in my 16 year old K1200LT never behaved like that. In fact, NONE of my fuel-injected vehicles have EVER behaved like that. Only this one...

 

[Spdrush]

More on the saga: Even though I bought my scooter on June 29, 2013 and should be covered under warranty for another six months, there was some kind of screw up when I bought the scooter. The dealership (under different ownership at the time) didn't have the fast red color in stock, so had to get it from another dealership. For some reason, the warranty clock on that particular scooter was already running (as of December 8, 2012) so according to BMW NA, my bike is now out of warranty!! The current dealership owner is trying to get that all straightened out as they do have the paperwork indicating it was a NEW vehicle and I am the first titled owner, and didn't take delivery until June 29. Unbelievable!

My dealer had a 2014 and apparently BMW required money from the dealer to maintain the warranty. The dealer opted for a 2 year warranty and then sold the scooter to a guy who bought it for his wife as a gift. She is 5"4" and cant ride it. It is now back at the dealer and is for sale with 150 miles on it.

Those of us who have good dealers should be happy. Others of us with poor dealers like me should be scared.

 

[exavid]

I've had a similar problem with my '13 GT. A shot of Star Brite gas treatment in the tank cured it for a couple of months. For awhile I was using 92 octane without ethanol and had no problem at all. The $0.50 added cost per gallon was one reason I quit, that and the longer ride to get the stuff. So for the past year I've used a shot of Star Brite with every other tank of fuel and haven't seen the problem since. One thing that helped back before the BMW dealer put me on the Star Brite was to crank the bike with the throttle wide open as already mentioned. It does act like the engine was flooded but I don't really see how that can happen with EFI. I haven't tried Sea Foam but suspect it will work as well.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/16351036?...68518672&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78911556392&veh=sem

 

[TwoPort]

It strikes me that the issues with our scooters "seem" more mechanical in nature vs. weird electronic problems that defy explanation where the fix is plugging in new electronic modules.

From the issues discussed on this forum, do you think the problems relate to quality control, design, cheapest parts? Or is there no pattern?

 

[SteveADV]

When a BMW guy says he is thinking about not buying another BMW, BMW should listen.

Admittedly, my CGT.....totally trouble-free.

 

[Spdrush]

Lets see now:
Scooter-Low resale values
Recalls
Problems mechanical and electrical
Unavailability of parts
Redesign that changes very little.

If I trade up I will likely not buy another Bmw although I do love my scooter but may trade when warranty is up. Service is expensive.

 

[TN_Sooner]

I have had a hard time starting the bike on a few occasions. I seem to think its more related to a long period without riding the bike, as opposed to a short ride or just a start up and idle for a few seconds. it bothers me to do it, but I just grind on the starter until it starts to fire and then try to goose the fuel. So far, that has remedied the problem every time.

 

[Snowdog]

They are not all the same, the SW manual even had a procedure to clear a flooded engine.

 

[RollaCosta]

I know this is considered necroposting.
Anyway, I have just solved the same issue by
Cleaning the main orange 40A fuse and it's socket. It is not under cover like the small fuses and got oxidised. Looked like silver oxide, half of surface. Cleaned with special contact cleaner version of WD-40 and - voilá!
With half surface you get full voltage so Dash is happy about battery - but much less current . And it cranks OK because starter is not on fuse. But spark ignition is, and was starving of current so Bike won't start or start after many cranks or would stall on idle. Low spark energy. Check main 40A fuse contacts every time you open the right side.