Mineral-oil-based clutch fluid - R1200GS

[Nick V]

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't actually know what brand and kind of clutch fluid is used in BMWs made after 2003... All I know is that it's some kind of low-viscosity mineral oil.

Can someone shed some light on this query?
Also, if one had the need to refill and bleed the clutch (say, after discovering that a previous accident had weakened the clutch cylinder banjo union to the point where it sheared off), is there a cheaper alternative to the fluid I'd have to re-mortgage the bike to pay BMW for?

Might Castrol LHM (as used in Citroen hydraulic suspensions) work?

 

[Pukmeister]

Vitamol V10.

 

[Nick V]

Pukmeister, thanks for the suggestion!

Are there any other alternatives? Might be good to build a database of alternative fluids one could use, just in case some of them aren't available in some territiories.

'ALTERNATIVES' EDIT, SOME TIME LATER: I've just searched for alternatives on the internet.
Some say that the hydraulic fluid in use until recently by BMW was Magura Royal Blood hydraulic fluid, re-packaged as a BMW item. Can anyone confirm that this is in fact the case?
This particular fluid is also used in some bicycle hydraulic brakes, so it would probably be easy to get from a good bicycle shop... even here.

Since Aral Vitamol V10 is recommended in the BMW RepROM, this is presumably compatible with Magura Royal Blood? ...Slight confusion here!
I've never seen this stuff in it's original bottle, so I'm wondering if someone might have confused it with the Magura fluid.

I also see mention in some places of a new-spec, red hydraulic fluid that has superseded the old blue fluid specified by BMW. Anyone have any details on this...?

I also see mention (again!) of some people using lightweight fork oil (and in some cases, automatic-transmission fluid) in Gas Gas, Honda and KTM hydraulic clutches requiring mineral oil. Interesting alternatives - but would there be any long-term adverse consequences?

I see Steptoe mentioning in ADVRider that "The fluid is the same as used on the older citroen car Hydraulic systems" (Thread: 'Can the 1200GS clutch be bled?')
That would be Castrol LHM, yes?...
If so, that is definitely an option for me. It is fairly commonly-available in parts stores here - and relatively cheap.

 

[KSMITH]

have heard one can use a 2.5w fork oil

but the BMW one is the beez neez

clutch feel much lighter after changing it with the stuff i got from BMW

it was a bit of moola , but got it as it is the "right stuff"

Nicky V i have got some- come over to me one day and you can have some and I will help you bleed it through.

part # 81 39 2 150 020

250mls- only approx 100mls required

 

[Shep]

Go careful i had a BMW garage fit the wrong clutch oil at a repair/service and it messed the lot up, both master and slave cylinder seal kits needed to be replaced

 

[Nick V]

Go careful i had a BMW garage fit the wrong clutch oil at a repair/service and it messed the lot up, both master and slave cylinder seal kits needed to be replaced

Shep, you sure they didn't use brake fluid in the clutch circuit by mistake?
It would be an easy enough mistake to make - especially for a shop maccy who wasn't paying attention.

I presume the dealer carried the full cost of that particular foo-paw?...

 

[Nick V]

have heard one can use a 2.5w fork oil

but the BMW one is the beez neez

clutch feel much lighter after changing it with the stuff i got from BMW

it was a bit of moola , but got it as it is the "right stuff"

Nicky V i have got some- come over to me one day and you can have some and I will help you bleed it through.

part # 81 39 2 150 020

250mls- only approx 100mls required

K, thanks for the offer!
It's going to be difficult to get the '06 to Kempton Park at the moment... since it doesn't currently have a clutch hydraulic line, it be go nowhere. But I must still drop round to have a look at your brakes... What's your mobile number?

 

[Shep]

Shep, you sure they didn't use brake fluid in the clutch circuit by mistake?
It would be an easy enough mistake to make - especially for a shop maccy who wasn't paying attention.

I presume the dealer carried the full cost of that particular foo-paw?...

I think that was the issue and yes they did sort it but without even a sorry or oops or any thing, that was the last time i ever used NOG

 

[KSMITH]

NICK V

zeeeerroooo zeven nune agt nune 4 agt ses zeven 4


get it ???


but not this weekend as off to swaziland for swazi rally

cheers

 

[Nick V]

Great stuff! Chat soon...

 

[KSMITH]

back rally was not so lekker, ride there and back was good.

did 2 in one weekend the swazi and the staffie in pilgrims rest- nice mountain roads

was bitterly cold wind, but sunny-

did 1153 km overall!!

 

[adventuredon]

and the definitive answer to the OP question re which fluid is.....?I would like to change my clutch cable and am looking for the fluid..thankx

 

[AberdeenAngus]

and the definitive answer to the OP question re which fluid is.....?I would like to change my clutch cable and am looking for the fluid..thankx

Erm.......

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Never changed it but if I was going to I would go the Citroën route purely because it is easy to get.

 

[Grim Reaper]

You may want to investigate Shimano mineral brake fluid (Mountain Bike Hydraulics) or Pentosin CHF 7.1 (which I believe is the stuff BMW used to use in their own branded bottles, this may have been replaced by FEBI M 6162 or 06162.)
A thinner alternative would be Aeroshell Fluid 41 which has a viscosity of 13mm2/s @40C, and only 600 @-40C.

 

[Steptoe]

Go careful i had a BMW garage fit the wrong clutch oil at a repair/service and it messed the lot up, both master and slave cylinder seal kits needed to be replaced

BMW have changed the specs of fluid a few times on the 1200... And you can't mix them, even though they are badged the same.
You can tell by the colour of the fluid. The first fluid was yellow, then blue, then red. Not sure what the current colour is.
But it's fine to use different types as long as you don't mix them and flush the old fluid out completely.
Otherwise you'll suffer the same problem that Shep had.

 

[adventuredon]

Yeah, mine I think is a a darkish colour (if i remeber without looking now)
When you say flush completely, is it just a case of get as much out as you can? or is there a special flush liquid cum cleaner after emptying the original and before the new?

 

[Bendy toy]

Just pump the new fluid through the system until it runs clean. If you want to be really (OCD) sure take off the clutch slave and push the piston right back to move fluid up the system. Then suck out excess from the master cylinder with a syringe. Take care to not overflow the master cylinder pot.

 

[MarioGS]

Only costs about a tenner for 250mls from a dealer. You do have to stick to the colour you have already got in usually blue or red.