BMW C400GT - Rider's Manual > Care

Care products

BMW Motorrad recommends that you use cleaning and care products available at your authorized BMW Motorrad retailer. BMW CareProducts have been materials tested, laboratory tested, and field tested and provide optimum care and protection for the materials used in your motorcycle.

ATTENTION Use of unsuitable cleaning and care agents

Damage to motorcycle parts

• Do not use any solvents such as nitro thinners, cold cleaners, fuel or similar, and do not use cleaning agents that contain alcohol.

Washing your motorcycle

BMW Motorrad recommends that you use BMW insect remover to soften and wash off insects and stubborn dirt on painted parts prior to washing the motorcycle.

To prevent stains, do not wash the motorcycle immediately after it has been exposed to bright sunlight and do not wash it in the sun.

Make sure that the motorcycle is washed frequently, especially during the winter months.

To remove road salt, clean the Scooter with cold water immediately after completion of every trip.

WARNING Damp brake disks and brake pads after washing the motorcycle, after riding through water or in the rain

Poorer braking action, accident hazard

• Brake early until the brake rotors and brake pads are dry.

ATTENTION Increased effect of salt caused by warm water

Corrosion

• Only use cold water to remove road salt.

ATTENTION Damage caused by high water pressure from high-pressure cleaners or steam-jet devices

Corrosion or short circuit, damage to labels, to seals, to hydraulic brake system, to the electrical system and the seat

• Exercise caution when using high-pressure or steam-jet devices.

Cleaning sensitive motorcycle parts

Plastics

ATTENTION Use of unsuitable cleaning agents

Damage to plastic surfaces

• Do not use abrasive cleaners or cleaners containing alcohol or solvents.
• Do not use insect sponges or sponges with a hard surface.

Fairings and panels

Clean fairings and panels with water and BMW plastic cleaner.

Plastic windshields and lenses

Clean off dirt and insects with a soft sponge and plenty of water.

NOTICE Soften stubborn dirt and dead insects by covering the affected areas with a wet cloth.

Chrome

Especially in the case of road salt, carefully clean chrome parts with plenty of water and BMW auto shampoo. Use chrome polish for additional treatment.

Radiator

Clean the radiator regularly to prevent overheating of the engine due to inadequate cooling.

For example, use a garden hose with low water pressure.

ATTENTION Bending of radiator fins

Damage to radiator fins

• When cleaning, ensure that the cooler fins are not bent.

Rubber

Treat rubber components with water or BMW rubber protection coating agent.

ATTENTION Use of silicone sprays for care of rubber seals

Damage to rubber seals

• Do not use silicone sprays or care products that contain silicone.

Paint

Washing the motorcycle regularly will help counteract the long-term effects of substances that damage the paint, especially if your motorcycle is ridden in areas with high air pollution or natural sources of dirt, e.g. tree resin or pollen.

At the same time, you should remove particularly aggressive materials immediately; otherwise changes in the paint and discoloration can occur. These include spilled fuel, oil, grease and brake fluid as well as bird droppings.

It is advisable to use BMW Car Polish or BMW Paint Cleaner in this case.

Contamination on the paint finish is particularly easy to see after the motorcycle has been washed. Remove this type of soiling with cleaning naphtha or spirit on a clean cloth or cotton ball. BMW Motorrad recommends using BMW tar remover for removing tar spots. Then add a protective wax coating to the paint at these locations.

Paint preservation

BMW Motorrad recommends applying BMW car wax or products containing carnauba wax or synthetic wax to preserve your paintwork.

When water fails to form beads on the paint surface this indicates it is time to apply wax.

Removing the Scooter from operation

• Clean the Scooter.
• Fully refuel the Scooter.
• Removing battery.
• Spray the brake lever, tilt and side stand mounting with suitable lubricant.
• Preserve bare metal and chrome-plated parts with an acid-free grease (Vaseline).
• Park Scooter in a dry room, raising it to relieve the weight from both wheels.

Putting the Scooter into operation

• Remove the protective wax coating.
• Clean the Scooter.
• Install battery.
• Observe checklist.

See also: