1200GS DIY Servicing

[red1]

What's the situation with DIY servicing on the 1200's?
Oil and filter changes shouldn't pose a problem, but what happens with any electrical replacements? I heard that even a brake light switch would require a dealer to "tell" the cambus it had a new part.

What's the fact and fiction?

 

[patzx12]

It is only an air cooled twin so simple to service.
All the info on how to is on here if you search, print it and put it in a folder.
You will get exploded drawings, part numbers and US part prices on Max BMW
Oil and filters: Use genuine filter + Castrol Actevo 20W-50
Air filter: use genuine.
Rear Diff: Castrol Driveline 75W - 90 I think the gearbox is the same.
End float takes a few mins as with tappets once you have done them once. Just make sure you dont go too near the tight spec when setting end float.
Throttle sync is easy you can make a ballance guage, again search.
Brakes, easy take out the pads and clean the calipers with brake cleaner check the condition and grease the back of the pads lightly with copper grease.
Brake fluid change sounds complex when you read it up but dead easy to do.
If you have an electrical failure even a bulb blow it will remain in the memory as a fault code. all BMW do is wipe the fault codes. A GS-911 will do this.
Its a learning curve. read a lot and take loads of pictures.
Once you have done it your life will be enriched.

 

[namtinker]

+1 for the Gs-911

 

[Ollie GBR]

It is only an air cooled twin so simple to service.
All the info on how to is on here if you search, print it and put it in a folder.
You will get exploded drawings, part numbers and US part prices on Max BMW
Oil and filters: Use genuine filter + Castrol Actevo 20W-50
Air filter: use genuine.
Rear Diff: Castrol Driveline 75W - 90 I think the gearbox is the same.
End float takes a few mins as with tappets once you have done them once. Just make sure you dont go too near the tight spec when setting end float.
Throttle sync is easy you can make a ballance guage, again search.
Brakes, easy take out the pads and clean the calipers with brake cleaner check the condition and grease the back of the pads lightly with copper grease.
Brake fluid change sounds complex when you read it up but dead easy to do.
If you have an electrical failure even a bulb blow it will remain in the memory as a fault code. all BMW do is wipe the fault codes. A GS-911 will do this.
Its a learning curve. read a lot and take loads of pictures.
Once you have done it your life will be enriched.

+1

 

[EasySushi]

What's the situation with DIY servicing on the 1200's?
Oil and filter changes shouldn't pose a problem, but what happens with any electrical replacements? I heard that even a brake light switch would require a dealer to "tell" the cambus it had a new part.

What's the fact and fiction?

I completed the 36,000 mile service on my bike following the maintenance schedule and taking advice from people. All fluids changed including brake fluid on servo ABS, plugs, Air/Oil filter, Timing, Sync, Spokes Checked, Diags, etc. as per Schedule

The servicing is not that difficult, if you have a logical way of thinking and you take your time. I gathered all the information I needed from various sources before I started, made sure I had all the tools and I even spoke to Steptoe regarding the ABS who was very helpful, bought myself a GS-911 for fault diagnosing and clearing faults.

The entire service took me 4Hrs and I really enjoyed doing it. I have done smaller stuff on my bike but this was the biggest thing so far. The dealer wanted £450 for a 36,000 service and that also included partially changing servo brake fluid.

I went way beyond what the dealer would have done in a service, I had to buy correct tools, service parts, fluids, GS-911, Twinmax but it all cost me £370, but all those tools will be used on the next service I am already £80 better off, and got shinny new toys in the process.

If you need any help just drop me a PM



Cheers


Ty

 

[tw99]

If you come to trade your bike in to a BMW dealer, they'll certainly give you a lower valuation than if the bike has a fully stamped up BMW history. I've also heard that they're not supposed to sell non-BMW-FSH bikes as Approved Used, so have to trade them on (but may be wrong about that).

Anyway, in the case of my old bike, the cost of me doing 3x6000 miles services myself turned out to be far less than the reduction in trade-in value, so it was a win in my case. If you're only going to do one service before trading in, it may not be worth it financially.

Although you do get the satisfaction of knowing it's been done properly if you do it yourself, which is useful.

 

[Koopz]

As reported previously BMW off road have just confirmed that they will be doing an adventure maintenance course for adventure types of BMW.

As I understand from the info e mailed:

"and an all new ‘Adventure Maintenance Skills’ course - designed to teach the basic skills for maintaining your bike when travelling"

A one day course, do'nt know if it will go into enough detail to balance throttle bodies and end float though or which bikes will be covered.

S

 

[EasySushi]

As reported previously BMW off road have just confirmed that they will be doing an adventure maintenance course for adventure types of BMW.

As I understand from the info e mailed:

"and an all new ‘Adventure Maintenance Skills’ course - designed to teach the basic skills for maintaining your bike when travelling"

A one day course, do'nt know if it will go into enough detail to balance throttle bodies and end float though or which bikes will be covered.

S

What is an End Float ?

 

[Slowdown]

Yea but no but yea but no but...

If you come to trade your bike in to a BMW dealer, they'll certainly give you a lower valuation than if the bike has a fully stamped up BMW history

Like you say, if you do a high mileage (like actually use the bike instead of polishing it every Sunday and riding to the local bike meet ) the service history starts to become irrelevant in the case of where it was done - it's more 'if it's been done' - if someones got a 70000 mile bike with a wadge of paperwork it's a big plus point - at least in my experience.

As reported previously BMW off road have just confirmed that they will be doing an adventure maintenance course for adventure types of BMW.
S

Looking at what's actually offered, it extremely basic - my feeling is that if you don't know or can't figure out how to change the oil on your own then you should be served with an ASBO for Halfords..... IYSWIM

 

[cookie]

What is <s>an</s> End Float ?

it's the lateral clearance of the rocker arms on their shafts. a bit fiddly to set IMLE as it entails loosening one head bolt. when this is retightened, any gap set tends to be reduced as the rotating nut moves the carrier

leave well alone if within tolerance is my advice

 

[Steptoe]

I went way beyond what the dealer would have done in a service,

What is an End Float ?

 

[EasySushi]

it's the lateral clearance of the rocker arms on their shafts. a bit fiddly to set IMLE as it entails loosening one head bolt. when this is retightened, any gap set tends to be reduced as the rotating nut moves the carrier

leave well alone if within tolerance is my advice

Oh!!

Yep done and checked on when I done the 36,000

Cheers


Ty

 

[EasySushi]

Steptoe give a guy a break.......

I did follow the maint schedule and yes I did go beyond what the dealer would have done. Its Just BMW call them Rocker arm endplay and not end float.

Hey but know I now

Ty

 

[Red Rock]

It's pretty Simple stuff. This is for an RT but it's the same. He makes it all look a bit complicated finding TDC and using a torque angle metre to measure a 'half turn' on a bolt!

 

[Steptoe]

Steptoe give a guy a break.......

Sorry, forgot it's the 1200 section. I thought it might be a bit more easy going in here now Tim has an 800

 

[Jon P]

If you come to trade your bike in to a BMW dealer, they'll certainly give you a lower valuation than if the bike has a fully stamped up BMW history. I've also heard that they're not supposed to sell non-BMW-FSH bikes as Approved Used, so have to trade them on (but may be wrong about that).

Anyway, in the case of my old bike, the cost of me doing 3x6000 miles services myself turned out to be far less than the reduction in trade-in value, so it was a win in my case. If you're only going to do one service before trading in, it may not be worth it financially.

Although you do get the satisfaction of knowing it's been done properly if you do it yourself, which is useful.

If you do the job youself - just buy the parts from your dealer - you should use genuine parts anyway. Keep all the bills together. Your dealer shouldn't really penalise for this, providing that you can show history. Of course, it helps if the dealer knows you and can see that you keep the bike in good condition.

I have had 10 BMWs since 1991 and have never had a problem either trading a bike in or selling it privately.

As someone else said - these are air cooled twin cylinder motorcycles.........they are pretty simple. Sure there are some complicated extras but they don't normally need anything doing to them amyway.

It is very satisfying to do the work yourself and I am convinced that if you have a sensible degree of mechanical experience, some good tools, the appropriate motivation, some spare time that you can do a better job than the dealer.........ooohhhhh - that might upset some dealers but..........the guys in the BMW workshop have to work on the clock - sure they, are kept up to date with the latest requirements and they have more experience but do they alwayas have the right motivation.............do they love your bike like you do?

For me the reason for doing the work myself is not to save money but to know that the work is done properly - of course that's not to say that I do still sometimes take my bike to a dealer for certain things.

I reckon that the bext thing is still to maintain a good relationship with your dealer, I always let them supply and change the tyres and always buy parts from them and any other clothing extras that I might need.

 

[EasySushi]

Sorry, forgot it's the 1200 section. I thought it might be a bit more easy going in here now Tim has an 800

But you hurt my feelings


Ty