2003 Bmw F650 CS: complaints, problems and recalls

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 DE…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043800 at NHTSA ↗

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 Y…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073309 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074376 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082678 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 6,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156915 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 17,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159252 at NHTSA ↗

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. …

Owner-reported narrative. 15,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245369 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536447 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-05-20 (May 20, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SCREWS THAT ATTACH THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER TO THE REAR SWING ARM WERE NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY DURING ASSEMBLY. THE SCREWS COULD LOOSEN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND EVENTUALLY FALL-OUT, ALLOWING THE REAR CALIPER TO SEPARATE FROM ITS MOUNT.

Consequence: IF THE CALIPER BECOMES TRAPPED BETWEEN THE REAR WHEEL AND THE SWING ARM, IT COULD DISCONNECT FROM THE BRAKE LINE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF REAR BRAKING CAPABILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TORQUE OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER ATTACHMENT SCREWS AND RETIGHTEN THEM TO THE PROPER VALUE IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2002-07-23 (July 23, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE WHEEL COULD DEVELOP A CRACK. OVER TIME, THE CRACK COULD WORSEN TO THE POINT THAT THE WHEEL FAILED AND THE DRIVE BELT DERAILED.

Consequence: THIS WOULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF DRIVE CAPABILITY AT THE REAR WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR DRIVE BELT WHEEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #4.

Reported: 2002-07-23 (July 23, 2002)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HEX NUT THAT SECURES THE WHEEL TO THE GEARBOX OUTPUT SHAFT WAS TIGHTENED INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT, THE NUT COULD LOOSEN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BELT WHEEL WOULD ITSELF LOOSEN ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE INTERNAL SPLINES OF THE WHEEL AND TO THE EXTERNAL SPLINES OF THE OUTPUT SHAFT AS THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED.

Consequence: OVER TIME, THE SPLINES COULD BE DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE OUTPUT SHAFT WOULD NOT LONGER OPERATE THE DRIVE BELT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF DRIVE CAPABILITY AT THE REAR WHEEL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HEX NUT TORQUE AND ADJUST THE TIGHTNESS IF NECESSARY, AND SECURE THE NUT WITH LOCTITE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #4.

Reported: 2004-05-19 (May 19, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE PLASTIC FUEL PUMP FLANGE COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF ACID OR CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS CONTAINING ACIDIC ELEMENTS, SUCH AS BATTERY ACID OR CERTAIN CLEANING PRODUCTS.

Consequence: THE FLANGE COULD BECOME BRITTLE, CRACK, AND ALLOW FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE FUEL TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ACID-RESISTANT CAP OVER THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 10, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.