Beneath the Body Cover ... C650 GT

[Delray]

I bought my '17 C650 GT three months ago but it was put on the road in December, 2017. That's two years so I figured I'd change the brake fluid and coolant. Also changed the oil and filter.

I took off most of the body cover to make things easier, plus I wanted to see what was under there. Thought I'd share some pics here if anyone wanted to see.

The work was simple and straightforward thanks to a DVD of the service manual. And here's an example of German engineering. I removed 70 or 80 screws during my work. Guess how many screw sizes there were? Two. One big, one little. Made putting Humpty Dumpty back together again a LOT easier.

 

[LanceTokyo]

looks like it's never seen rain

Thanks, interesting, dense lumps everywhere

 

[Delray]

"looks like it's never seen rain"

Not on purpose, anyway. I hate riding in rain. I'm planning a ride from South Florida up to Rochester NY this summer, 1,370 miles each way. Hope it's sunny every day ;o)

 

[Chiro]

Where did you got the DVD of the service manual from?

 

[Delray]

"Where did you got the DVD of the service manual from?"

I got mine from a seller in the U.K. for $14 U.S.

Google "BMW C650 GT service manual" and add "eBay" or click "Shopping." You may have to poke around a little bit but you'll usually find someone selling it.

One note: the DVD will only play on a PC with Windows. I'm an Apple guy from phone to laptop to desktop so I had to buy a PC laptop and DVD player. It was worth it, though. How much do you think a BMW dealer would charge to flush brake fluid and coolant and change the oil and filter? It cost me less than $80.

Here's a DVD source I just found in Italy ...

WORKSHOP SERVICE REPAIR MANUAL BMW C600/C650 SPORT - C650 GT NEW | eBay

Find great deals for WORKSHOP SERVICE REPAIR MANUAL BMW C600/C650 SPORT - C650 GT NEW. Shop with confidence on eBay!

www.ebay.com

 

[Ceesie76]

Thanks for posting. I also replaced the brake fluid but did not take off any plastics. Also a bit weary of breaking off tabs on the panels, as so often happens with modern plastic pieces there days (mind you I am not sure our scooters have that many or even any of these).
I also bought that DVD, have not really had a need to use it yet.

 

[Delray]

"Also a bit weary of breaking off tabs on the panels, as so often happens with modern plastic pieces there days (mind you I am not sure our scooters have that many or even any of these)."

Good news there. I didn't encounter any tabs. There are slots that body panels snap into, but no protruding, vulnerable tabs to snap off. It was a relief after breaking numerous tabs on my three Honda Silver Wings and Burgman 650. I enjoy bike maintenance, but there was always a dark cloud overhead before starting a maintenance job with the Japanese bikes because of the possibility of breaking more tabs. With the 650 GT, I'm fine with taking off panels anytime -- there's nothing to break. Fitment is WAY better than the Silver Wing or Burgman.

 

[speedtoys]

"Also a bit weary of breaking off tabs on the panels, as so often happens with modern plastic pieces there days (mind you I am not sure our scooters have that many or even any of these)."

Good news there. I didn't encounter any tabs. There are slots that body panels snap into, but no protruding, vulnerable tabs to snap off. It was a relief after breaking numerous tabs on my three Honda Silver Wings and Burgman 650. I enjoy bike maintenance, but there was always a dark cloud overhead before starting a maintenance job with the Japanese bikes because of the possibility of breaking more tabs. With the 650 GT, I'm fine with taking off panels anytime -- there's nothing to break. Fitment is WAY better than the Silver Wing or Burgman.

I often end up with two missed screws.

But that's ok, the other 78 screws will hold it all on.

 

[Delray]

"I often end up with two missed screws. But that's ok, the other 78 screws will hold it all on."

Haha, it's funny because it's true (Homer Simpson).

I ended up with four small screws left over. NO IDEA where they came from. I'll sort it out next time I take off the plastic.

 

[pneuby]

Delray, awesome post for sure. Was there anything counter-intuitive, or even remotely daunting that you encountered? Did you constantly have to step inside and reference the DVD?

 

[Delray]

"Was there anything counter-intuitive, or even remotely daunting that you encountered? Did you constantly have to step inside and reference the DVD?"

Looking back, the coolant + brake fluid + oil and filter changes were easier and more straightforward than the same work on my three Silver Wings and a Burgman 650. Everything works like it's supposed to work. I reviewed the procedures on DVD before I started and then did the work, although I had my laptop in the garage and referred to it a few times, mostly for torque specs.

The coolant system took exactly 250 ml, as specified, and it was full. The oil took exactly 3.1 liters. I spilled a bit while refilling so I had to add 10 ml after I was done because the Check Oil light came on. That did the trick and the light disappeared (although, worth mentioning, with my previous '16 650 GT and this one, the Check Oil light comes on at (seemingly) random times. Each time, I turn the bike off, wait a few seconds, and start it again -- and the light disappears and does not come back. Weird. Gotta be a sensor issue because my oil level was perfect when manually checked.

As for "daunting," one thing concerned me that I read about on this forum. When you pull the oil screen (an open tube) to clean it, apparently it's easy to drop it into the bowels of the oil cavity, and it's a PITA to fish back out. I remember reading about one guy who did that who said, "It disappeared! It just vanished! I freaked out!" The solution is to remove the bolt, insert a long screwdriver through the oil screen tube, grab the edge with needlenose pliers and pull it out, with the screwdriver making sure it doesn't fall into the bike. Clean it and then replace it the same way, with the screwdriver inside the tube as you slide it back in -- keep the screwdriver in place until you are sure the screen is seated properly, then you can let go.

The work was a piece o' cake.