BMW Dealer/Spares in Salta, Argentina?
 

Hi All,
Is there a dealer or somebody who sells spares/rents BMW's in or around Salta? I need an air filter.
I can't find a BMW dealer listed but I spoke to a backpacker who swears he saw a BMW dealer with bikes in Salta.

Cheers

Adam
Short Way Round

wich beemer?
 

Maybe BMW Mendoza would be a chance?Call them.
make a forum search for contacts there.
Take care
KH

Hi Adam

Let me know here on the HUBB if you got your air filter you need.

I'm leaving Buenos Aires next week and is comming up to Salta and can bring you spares from here if you want.

Johan

Thanks for your offer
 

Hi Johan,

Many thanks for your offer. I'm only returning to Salta to buy a tyre so will be gone before you arrive.

Adam

Ok, we are now just south of Salta, near Estero.
Are you heading south? We are heading towards the Bolivian border. Mabe we can meet up somewhere?
I'm looking for a partner to join us to and on the Salar in Bolivia. Not sure if that is your direction.

Johan

Bolivia bound
 

HI JC,

I am indeed Bolivia bound. However, my bike´s failure to start from cold at altitude has reared it´s ugly head again and has almost left me stranded a few times these past 10 days. I bought a new 'Yuasa' battery in Salta but could not find 10w40 engine oil (Enquires on F650.com suggest this may help). Last night I stayed in Susques with the intention of riding to San Pedro de Atacama today and then into Bolivia via Hito Cajon, past Laguna Verde etc and onto the Salar for a night.

This morning my bike failed to start again despite bump starting down the hill into town. Once at the bottom I had to wait until the sun had heated the air sufficiently for my bike to start. I´d got up at 0800 and got my bike started at 1130!
I can't take the risk of getting stranded alone on the above route and so returned to Tilcara (Ruta 9 Jujuy-Bolivia) which is where I´m typing this.

There's a lot to see SW of Salta so I think it will be several days before you get up this way.

Keep in touch and perhaps we'll meet in Bolivia. With someone to help bump start my bike in the mornings I'd be happy to head for tha Salar.

Beautiful free camping spot at the west end of the lake at Tafi De Valle, Ruta 40 Cafayate to Cachi, Enchanted Valley Cachi to Ruta 68. Quebrada de Cafayate (Ruta 68) is best seen late afternoon.

Adam

I have a 2004 F650GS Dakar (2 spark engine) and had the same trouble with cold, high altitude starting. It was consistant every time we encountered those conditions over our 6 month trip from Alberta to Panama and back this past winter.

The last time it happened I was in Toluca, near Mexico City. We happened to be near the BMW dealer, Lerma Motors. They recharged the battery and "loaded the latest version of the software for the F650GS engine". It solved the problem. We have not had trouble since, even while coming home through the Rockies at near zero degrees in April.

If you do get near a BMW Dealer I would ask them to do the sofware upgrade for you which, by the way, Lerma Motors did not charge me for.

Adam, we've decided not to go up to Bolivia, and rather turn around at the border and follow the mountains down south to Mendoza instead. We have to be in Valparaiso next month to ship our bike.
We will spend the next two weeks in this Jujuy and Salta provinces, so we might not get to see you. I hope you get your bike sorted out, as there are so much nice places on high altetudes further north in Peru and Ecuador.

cheers

johan

Bill - Thanks for your input. I had the BMS updated in Singapore in October to the current '200E' edition. A friend of mine in a BMW dealer in the UK has told me about a modified balance weight (Decompressor lever) from BMW for use with BMS '190E' onwards. Pt#11317699386. The spring for this part should be changed at the same time Pt#11312343097. I have ordered these parts from the UK.

I fitted a new Yuasa battery in Salta and rode up to Susques (3600m) but the following morning my bike still wouldn't start. As usual I waited in the sun for a few hours and she started. Unfortunately this problem is seriously affecting where I can go and I had to cancel my plans to enter Bolivia via Hito Cajon and to camp on the Salar - until I can resolve this starting problem.

Oh how I wish I bought a DR650!!

JC - No worries. You'll enjoy the area. Paso Sico was beautiful.