Changing gearbox oil on a 1200

[Mouse]

Could someone help me out please?

I'm planning to change the gearbox oil in my 1200GS, partly because the box is a little sticky and some people have reported that using a fully synthetic oil can improve matters, and partly just as a bit of cheap preventative maintenance.

The thing is, I have no idea where the drain and filler plugs are Could someone post a brief description or even better a photo please? I assume the general area to look is behind the engine ...

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dutchman]

Changing Gear Oil.....R1200GS

Hi Mouse

The gearbox is originally filled with Castrol SAF XO gear oil, and I'll be replacing mine with Castrol MTX Full Synthetic gear oil, as I've had on several previous BMW's.....

I drained the gearbox yesterday at just 7195 miles and it was very thick & jet black. There is no magnetic drain plug.

Cheers

Dutch

 

[Bert]

gearbox oil......

I am told does not need changing until 24000 miles
Right hand side of bike, follow the shaft roughly above back brake and back a bit and up you'll see a single nut vertical on its lonsome, that is the filler and the 'full' mark is level with the thread.
The drain is a few inches below.
If you do change it, make sure you can open the filler first!!!!

 

[Dutchman]

And a better picture......

......of the drainplug.....

........BTW, undo DRAIN plug first, oil will only dribble out.....and just slacken filler plug to regulate oilflow, need to place funnel underneath so it misses the exhaust.......

.......BTW, BMW service schedule says change @24000 miles.....dirty black oil tells me to change beore then.........

Cheers

Dutch

 

[Mouse]

Many thanks guys, that's exactly what I needed.

 

[Mouse]

I couldn't find any Castrol SAF XO (as spec'ed in manual) or MTX (as suggested) gear oil.

So instead, I bought "Halfords part synthetic EP 85W/90 - meets requirements of SAE 75w/90 and API GL-5".

Is this acceptable? The manual doesn't say anything about the weight of oil required, or the spec it must meet.

 

[Dutchman]

The only place I could find Castrol SAF XO was on the Castrol New Zealand website.........where it also gives the specs.......

I use MTX Full Synthetic as it exceeds the gear oil requirements for BMW motorcycles.......

Not easy to find in the shops, but I get mine here:

http://www.castrolclassicoils.co.uk/ClassicMOD_mc_gr_m.html

I asked my dealer if changing the gear/final drive oils would affect the warranty.......

They said that as long as the replacement oil was a 'proprietory brand' and that it's spec met BMW requirements, it would not be a problem.

Wonder who will be the first to figure out how to drain/refill the final drive............?

Cheers

Dutch

 

[Mouse]

Right, I've found on Castrol's website that SAF XO is "fully synthetic SAE 75W/90 - meets API GL-5 and ZF TE-ML 05"

So it's not cut and dried but I reckon this stuff I have will be ok. I plan to change it at the next service (another 6k) anyway.

For reference, the old oil was not black but was definitely full of tiny metal particles - it had that sparkly grey sheen to it.

Thanks for the help Dutchman.

(edit - just noticed that I typed "85W/90" above when I meant "75W/90" - the oil I bought IS 75W/90)

 

[Mouse]

Well I changed the gearbox and engine oil together. I dunno if it's my imagination but the bike sounds and feels a bit smoother and happier

 

[The Foolish Fellow]

feel better

we normally all feel better after getting our gearbox oils changed

 

[nadeem]

Guys what's the torque settings for the drain plug / filler plug?

 

[Mouse]

Both 30Nm.

See here: http://www.r1200gs.info/misc/torque.html

 

[nadeem]

Thanks Mouse