Immobiliser removal - F650GS

[BlackDogZulu]

I've recently picked up a 2004 650GS which I am very pleased with. One thing puzzled me - the toolkit was in the useful little stash space in the tailpiece, when the manual showed it being located under the seat. I thought there was no room under the seat until I read a post on F650.co.uk showing where it should be. In the place where the toolkit should go, there is a little black box which I am sure is the immobiliser black box (fitted shortly after purchase by the original owner). It's a Meta M53T.

This is yet another reason to get rid of the damn thing. I don't like immobilisers anyway for a lot of reasons, but this one is spectacularly inconvenient for the rider. To get the bike operational, you first have to tap the brake pedal, then wipe the little fob thing against an area of the dash. Only then can you put the key in and start it. Of course, if you didn't tap the brake hard enough, or wiped the fob in slightly the wrong place, it won't start, and it's back to square one. It's driving me mad already, and I've only had the bike a couple of days.

Anyway, rambling as usual, I need to remove the immobiliser. If I had a circuit diagram, or a copy of the installation instructions, my wiring and soldering skills are good enough to let me attempt it. Of course, it's impossible to find these on the web, both for security reasons and because the M53T is now discontinued. Can anyone help with this? I have (or will have) the V5 in my name, and I have the installation certificate and invoice from when it was fitted, so I can prove it's a genuine case and not some scrote trying to fix a stolen bike.

I'm tempted to find a BMW dealer (none near here) and get them to reinstate the original wiring. The hazard switch on the bars has been removed to make way for the immobiliser LED, which is a shame. It might be easier and more reliable to get a dealer to do the job (if they will), but as someone who tries to all his own work on bike, it goes against the grain a bit.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[McCrankpin]

A few years ago I had to remove a Meta M357T from my Honda Dominator. It was misbehaving a lot and threatening to permanently disable the bike.

I ended up at Abacus Alarms, who sell documentation for various alarms. I bought the installation manual, with which I was able to remove it.

I just looked at their website - couldn't see the M53T listed. But maybe contact them, here:
Contact Us

Cheers

[BlackDogZulu]

Very helpful, thank you. I've been told (since I posted the above) that it's fairly easy to remove, just trace the wires to where they cut into the bike's harness, remove and resolder the original wires. If that's all it is, I can do it. But I have a sneaking suspicion that it won't be that easy. A circuit diagram (or install instructions) would help. Next day off, I will have good look at the installation and see if it is DIY-able. If not, I will follow up your suggestion. Much appreciated.

The M53T is discontinued, which is probably why it doesn't appear on the website.

[Walkabout]

You don't mention the previous owner: what paperwork etc does s/he have for the Meta??

[Walkabout]

So, I've done a bit of googling and come up with these:-

Meta Alarm Removal - ::. UKGSer.com .::
That one says it is easy to remove a Meta alarm - just one wire? - but they don't say which Meta is being removed.


meta alarm manual - Page 4 - Workshop - Visordown
That one is potentially very useful; it has the phone no and email address for "bikealarm man" who is offering to provide advice about how to deal with alarms

South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum • View topic - Meta Alarm Removal
And a bit of banter on the subject that might convince you to get a professional installer to remove it - I don't think you need a BMW dealer for this by the way; big bucks bills from them!!

I hope this helps.

[BlackDogZulu]

Dave, thanks for these.

The bike came with the installation certificate and original invoice for fitting, and a photocopied page of instructions which repeated what the seller had told me about how to start the bike. I think the installing firm have gone out of business. Can't find them on the web, anyway. I have these bits of paper, plus a spare fob and the plastic thing with the code on, so it should be OK to convince anyone I haven't stolen the bike.

I had found Bikealarmman in various threads, but the latest I saw was from 2005 or so, and I wasn't sure he was still around. But I see he's been around so I might give him a call.

Those threads are useful - I found one of them in a search but not the others, perhaps because I was searching for the specific alarm M53T and some mentions are generic. Anyway, plenty to go at there. I'm off work next weekend, so I will have a go then.

It helps a lot, and thank you for taking the time to reply. From what I read, removing the alarm should be within my abilities. Famous last words ...