R1200RT rear drive oil

[CVA-42]

Just bought a mint 2005 R1200RT with 13,500 miles. One-owner, dealer serviced, and in immaculate condition with the Level 2 option package plus quite a few very nice owner-installed farkles. It had the 12,000 mile service done at the dealer but that was in spring 2010. I always like to start out on a level field so I've changed the oil/filter and the transmission oil. The brake and clutch fluids are next. Being an '05 model, it does not have a drain plug on the rear drive which contains the "permanent " oil. As we know, BMW has since backed off their "permanent" position and installed drain plugs on the rear drives of models '07 (I believe) and on. In order to drain the rear drive of the '05's and '06's, one must dis-engage the rear drive and tip it downward 90 degrees so the oil can run out the filler hole. There's a lot of internet info on that procedure but I'm wondering if anyone has had any success actually sucking the rear drive oil out of the filler hole itself while leaving the rear end intact. That may/may not be as good as actually draining the oil in terms of getting any/all crud out. On the other hand, if it is done while the oil is still hot, perhaps it doesn't matter. I've been doing it for decades on my old Volvos and their differentials are still sound after hundreds of thousands of miles.

[Major Softie]

Very little experience with that bike among our members. You'd probably find quite a bit of experience over on http://www.bmwrt.com/


I would think your solution is a good idea, but the critical thing would be clearance for the tube. Those rear ends don't have nearly as much clearance space as your Volvo rear-ends. You may have to use a pretty tiny tube.

[macdaddy]

Yes! I have done it many times, it helps if it is hot, and you will need some small vent line (1/8"?) we used a tall oil vac. Hope you have a good compressor. you also want the latest fill spec. 170cc I THINK?

[CVA-42]

Aha! Yes - - thank you. I was thinking about some sort of vacuum deal to do it with. For sure, the opening is a lot smaller than the fill hole on the Volvos and a pretty small tube would be called for on the bike. I was only citing them as an example of drawing the old oil out of the filler hole when a drain hole is absent.

[the quinner]

Aha! Yes - - thank you. I was thinking about some sort of vacuum deal to do it with. For sure, the opening is a lot smaller than the fill hole on the Volvos and a pretty small tube would be called for on the bike. I was only citing them as an example of drawing the old oil out of the filler hole when a drain hole is absent.

Do it the "right" way...it's quick and easy and avoids a few potential pitfalls.

[Major Softie]

Do it the "right" way...it's quick and easy and avoids a few potential pitfalls.

What would those be?

[the quinner]

Do it the "right" way...it's quick and easy and avoids a few potential pitfalls.

What would those be?

Not getting the swarf out of the FD...are you certain that your tube is bottomed and that you are pumping fast enough to remove it all?

Not getting all the fluid out...followed by an overfill (a BMW bulletin was released that implied overfilling the FD is bad)...again, is your evacuation tube bottomed? ...not curled a bit so 20cc remains behind?

It's so easy to tilt the FD back...it's not worth doing it any other way.

[the quinner]

BTW...changing the oil in the final drives without the drain plug is a 30 minute job...that's according to BMW's flat rate DVD.

Final drives have been a BMW weak-point longer than I've been alive. Taking your time and drinking a lot of beer will maybe make it a one hour fifteen minute job. That's not so bad. Read about them...look at one...look at the insides of one if possible...look how much (little) fluid they use...add it all up. Personally, I'd take the little bit of extra time and/or effort.

[CVA-42]

Quinner - - You bring up some valid concerns. Actually, I've already wondered about those same things. I may yet just pull the final drive. Just trying to consider any alternatives.

[macdaddy]

I've done it both ways. It depends what else I'm doing to the bike, I've also checked my work a few times after sucking it out by dropping the FD, not a drop came out. I've sucked it out probably more than 100 times, no problem.