Page 4 of 96

i
2
Introduction
General information and 
controls
Model overview ..................... 4
Optional extras/accessories .. 5
General view, left side ........... 6 
General view, right side ......... 7 
Safety elements .................... 8 
Cockpit ................................. 9 
Instrument cluster ............... 10 
Telltale and warning lights ... 11 
Odometer ............................ 12 
Clock .................................. 13 
Ignition switch and 
steering lock ................ 14 - 15
Switch array ........................ 16 
Hazard warning flashers ...... 17 
Left handlebar fitting ........... 18 
Right handlebar fitting ......... 19 
Wiper and washer system ... 20 
Front fairing panel ............... 21
Seat .................................... 22 
Backrest.............................. 23 
Stowage compartment ........ 25 
Rear seat ............................ 26 
Luggage rack ...................... 27 Safety check
Checklist ............................. 28 
Coolant ............................... 29 
Engine oil ..................... 30 - 31
Fuel .............................. 32 - 33
Brakes ......................... 34 - 38
Windscreen wiper ............... 39 
Lights ........................... 40 - 43
Washer system ............ 44 - 45
Tyres and rims ............. 46 - 47
Accessories and 
loads ............................ 48 - 49
Contents
 
     
        
        Page 9 of 96
111
7
General information and controls
General view, right side
9Stowage compartment 
(
b25)
– Battery***
– Documentation
10 Lap-and-shoulder seat belt 
(
b67)
11 Windscreen wiper with 
cleaning nozzle (
b20)
12 Oil filler neck, engine, 
engine oil dipstick (
b31)
13 Seat belt buckle, right 
(
b67) 14
Coolant expansion tank 
(
b29)
– Toolkit***
– Fuse box***
– Repair kit*** for tubeless 
tyres
*** (Service and Technical  Booklet, b Chapter 2)
( ) Figure in brackets bpage 
number for description
131412
10119
  
     
        
        Page 13 of 96
111
11
General information and controls
13476
9
5
8
2
1Flashing turn indicator 
repeater, left,  green 
s 
2 “Seat belt ” telltale light,  red 
1 (b66)
3 Telltale light, high-beam 
headlight,  blue 
q 
4 Warning light, engine oil 
pressure,  red 
p 
5Warning light, coolant 
temperature,  red 
\b (b29)
– lights up for approx. 5 sec 
after ignition is switched 
on 6
Warning light, fuel 
level/approx. 2.5 litres
(4.4 Imp. pints) remaining in 
tank, orange 
m (b32)
7 Flashing turn indicator 
repeater, right,  green 
t 
8 Warning lights, ABS check, 
red  
l (b78)
9 Warning lights, ABS check, 
red  
l (b78)
( ) Figure in bracketsbpage number for 
description
Telltale and warning lights
  
     
        
        Page 30 of 96
2
28
Safety check
Use the safety checklist – 
before every journey
Please perform the safety 
check accurately. This is to 
ensure that your BMW C1 com-
plies with road-vehicle use and 
safety laws. 
Your vehicle must be in perfect 
technical order: this is a basic 
prerequisite for your safety and 
the safety of other road users.
If you encounter any problems 
or difficulties, it is always best to 
contact your authorised BMW 
dealer. He will provide the nec-
essary advice and assistance. For this reason, check the 
details in the following sections 
before you start the journey: 
–
Coolant level
– Fuel level
– Windscreen wiper
– Handbrake levers
– Brake pressure
– Brake fluid levels 
(front and rear)
– Lights
– Condition of wheels and 
tyres, tread depth and tyre 
pressures
– Load, gross weight 
Check at regular intervals 
(each 2nd/3rd stop for fuel):
– Engine oil level
– Brake pads
Checklist
  
     
        
        Page 31 of 96
2
29
Safety check
Coolant
Checking coolant level
e Important:
Always keep the fluid level 
above the minimum mark. Add 
coolant only when the engine is 
cold.
 Place the BMW C1 on its 
stand 
– after making sure that the 
ground is level and firm
 Open the seat
 Check coolant level in expan-
sion tank:
MAX  Maximum level
MIN   Minimum level 
( ) Figure in bracketsbpage number for 
description
e Important:
Never overfill the expansion 
tank.
 Top up the coolant if neces-
sary (Service and Technical 
Booklet 
b 24)
 Close the seat
\f Note:
If the expansion tank is full and 
coolant temperature is high (as 
indicated by red warning light 
\b 
b 11) or coolant consumption 
is excessive, consult a special-
ist workshop, preferably an au-
thorised BMW dealer.
MAX
MIN
  
     
        
        Page 72 of 96
33
70
Starting – Riding – ParkingIn an emergency only:
• Move switch 1 to the 
V 
position.
– The electrical circuits for the  BMS engine management 
system, fuel pump and starter 
motor are deenergised
Switching on the ignition– Kill switch 1  in the run 
position
U
 Deactivate the alarm system*  (
bRider's Manual,  optional 
accessories)  The ignition switch should 
be ON
N (b15)
– The following warning lights 
are on:
– Engine oil pressure 
p 
(
b72)
–Coolant temperature
j, 
goes out after 
approx. 5 sec (
b73)
– Fuel level 
m (b73)
– ABS telltale lights* go out  when the self-test com-
pletes successfully (
b79)
*Optional extra
( ) Figure in brackets
bpage number for 
description
Before you start
V
U
1
  
     
        
        Page 75 of 96
33
73
Starting – Riding  – Parking
Coolant temperature
e Important:
If the red
\bcoolant tempera-
ture warning light  2 comes on 
during the journey, take the fol-
lowing action as soon as traffic 
conditions permit: 
 Bring the BMW C1 safely to a 
halt
 Switch off the ignition to stop 
the engine
 Check coolant level in the 
expansion tank (
b29)
If the expansion tank is full, but 
the warning light remains on, or 
if coolant consumption is ex-
cessive, always consult a spe-
cialist workshop, preferably an 
authorised BMW dealer!
Fuel levelThe  orange  mindicator light  3 
lights up when there are 
approximately 2.5 litres (4.4 
Imp. pints) of fuel left in the tank 
(
b32).
ABS check*– ABS warning lights  4, 5
(
b79)
* Optional extra
( ) Figure in brackets
bpage number for 
description
Telltale and warning lights
23
45
  
     
        
        Page 92 of 96
ii
90
Index
AAnti-lock brake system (ABS)Check, 79
Notes, 78
Self-diagnosis, 79
Troubleshooting, 80
BBMW Service, 85
Brake fluidChanging, 35
Checking level, 35-37
Brake pads, checking, 38
Brake pressure, checking, 34
Brakes Handbrake levers, 34
Warnings, 77
CCatalytic converterSafety instructions, 54
Clock Setting, 13
Cockpit Overview, 9
Coolant level
Checking, 29
EEasy-lift mechanism, 55-61
Emergency off (kill) switch for ignition, 19
Engine oil, 30 Filler neck, 7 Engine oil pressure
Warning light, 11, 72
Equipment, 87
FFront brake Brake fluid level, 37
Handbrake lever, 19
Front fairing panel, 6 Installing, 21
Removing, 21
Fuel
Filler cap, 6
Fuse box, 7
GGeneral view Left side, 6
Right side, 7
HHandlebar fittingLeft, 18
Right, 19
Hardtop, 24
Hazard warning flashers, 17
Headlight beam setting RHD/LHD traffic, 40
Headlight beam throw,  adjusting, 40
Headlight flasher, button, 18
High/low beam switch, 18
A  – H