- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2003 BMW F650 CS Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2003 BMW F650 CS with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system (3) and the electrical system (3). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 1 injury. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in May 2004 for the fuel pump. For comparison, the 2004 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical F650 CS year, for its age
#243 most complained-about 2003 vehicle
- Complaints
- 8
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2003 BMW F650 CS problems
Share of all 8 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2003 BMW F650 CS recalls 4
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This would result in a loss of drive capability at the rear wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
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8 complaints about the 2003 BMW F650 CS
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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
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
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
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...
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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
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
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...
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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
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
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...
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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.
BMW F650 CS: every year compared
All F650 CS years2003 BMW F650 CS vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 BMW F650 CS | 8 | 4 | F | |
| 2003 BMW 3 Series | 489 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 2003 BMW Alpina Roadster | 414 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2003 BMW M3 Convertible | 141 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 2003 BMW M3 Coupe | 141 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2003 BMW 5 Series Sport Wagon | 119 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2003 BMW 7 Series | 97 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2003 BMW K1200LT | 21 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 2003 BMW M5 | 18 | 1 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2003 BMW F650 CS
Does the 2003 BMW F650 CS have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2003 BMW F650 CS: fuel pump (May 2004); lugs / nuts / bolts / studs (July 2002); wheels (July 2002); service brakes, hydraulic (May 2002). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW F650 CS?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the fuel system (3), electrical system (3), wheels & tires (2).
How many complaints has the 2003 BMW F650 CS had?
8 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 28, 2003 and the latest on August 21, 2013. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 1 injury and 0 deaths.
Is the 2003 BMW F650 CS a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 4 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical BMW F650 CS year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which BMW F650 CS years have the most complaints?
2003 (8), 2005 (1). See every BMW F650 CS year compared.
What should I do if my 2003 BMW F650 CS has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data