BMW won't start - servicing in CT

SallyCT,

I guess all the dealers will service "older" model BMW's just give them a call and find out.

Hi Sally

Is that your bike in your avatar?  With sidecar?  Nice!

Whereabouts are you - if in Southern Suburbs you can try Biketique in Diep River - they know of a local ex-BMW-dealer mechanic who has set up shop in Retreat.

If in the northern suburbs, then Hamman is your dealer.  Contact Steve the Bike Collector to have your bike collected and taken through (072 929 2198).

But if it is the battery, then just charge it yourself.  It will work out cheaper - buy an optimate bike battery charger and hook it up overnight.  The Optimate will also keep your battery in top condition and extend its life by several years.

You can tell it is the battery (and not the spark plugs), if the engine doesn't even crank when you try to start it.

HTH

That is my bike indeed! It does crank so could be the battery. In Southern Subs so will try the diep river guy! Thanks!!

If it is the battery, it will not crank.  I hope you only made a typo in that post, not a fundamental fault-finding error

If your bike is cranking, it is not the battery, it is something else.  In fact, there are only 3 things an engine needs to run:

1. Spark - remove one spark plug and hold its body against the cylinder head and see if it sparks when you crank the engine (leave the high-tension lead plugged in to the top of it).
2. Air - make sure your air filter is clean and that air is getting through the carbs.
3. Fuel - make sure there is fuel getting to the carbs.  Also, with the spark plug removed you should see and smell petrol vapour coming out the hole when you crank the engine.

Anyway, you can find biketique at http://www.biketique.co.za/

Well for the southern suburbs give Andrew a call on 072 811 7969, he will collect if necessary.

He's the ex-BMW mechanic in Retreat I spoke about - Andrew.  A stirling chap.

A dead give away of your roots and age group sire! I picture the tartan cap, the Jaguar.............. I can't contribute to the thread though, but this was valuable.

You are all awesome! Sorry not only am I am biker newbie but I am blond and know nothing about mechanics! Will give Andrew a call thanks!!

Charles, though I think Afrikaans is your Mother-tongue, I do see you (quite rightly) correcting others English spelling/Grammar on this Forum...

Now it's my chance! :  I do think you menat a STERLING chap, and not a stirling chap?!

...and thanks for the compliment!  You must think I am a native afrikaans-speaker because I speak it so well , truth is I am an english-speaking South African: though my ancestors hail from the Free State and were originally boers.

I am quite jealous of that bike !!

Stirling or sterling take your pic - he got my bike started!!!

So what was wrong and how did he fix it?  And Skippy wants to know when he can come on a breakfast run in a sidecar? He is even saving up for a leather helmet and goggles...