Maintenance Intervals

[Mike Gehl]

O Learned ones of the group,

In exploring the joys of S-dom, my bike managed to accumulate 1.2K miles and still hasn't seen the official 600 mile service. I did change oil and filter at 631. No abuse, followed breakin procedures (mostly), and no inordinate valve clatter or vibration. I live 125 miles from the nearest overbooked service facility, but would like to ride a bit in the meantime. Rear drive oil gets changed Saturday.

Questions:
1) Has anyone experienced warranty issues with self-service? I am a competent mechanic and am well-stocked with "official" BMW bits, service manuals, carb stix, etc.
2) What, in order of importance, are the most crucial items to service?
3) What the hell does a MoDiTeC do?
4) Is there such a thing as a "certified independent" BMW mechanic? Anyone know of one in the Colorado high country?

TIA,

Mike

[lennie]

Mike,

I purchased my bike and ran it in with a single ride.

Took it back to the dealer for an oil and filter change. I did not have time for the official first service and proceeded to rack up a 1800km the following weekend on a ride. I had booked for the service before hand and the dealer was ok with this. No problems for me when I had gearbox oil seal problems under warranty.

I suggest you call the local (nearest) dealer and discuss the situation with them to make sure there is not a problem. Sounds like a couple of Saturday rides there to hang out may get you to the 600mile mark anyway.

Regards,

Lennie

[Conrad (RAD) Sudduth]

Mike

From my understanding one of the critical procedures performed at the 600 mile service is the re-torquing of the heads. This is a more complicated procedure than it first appears.

Rad

[guccione]

I used to be a bmw mechanic. I recommend that you don't take chances like that. Not because "you should treat bmw's better" but because I've seen them break too often. At 1200 miles your valve clearances may be too tight and burning right now. I'll try and answer your other questions asap.

[guccione]

you may need a whole mess of special tools to do your own work, for example, the ignition timing should be checked (only once, it is digital but you know, "factory tolerances", it can be a little off from the factory), and to do that you need an electronic tool which I forget the name of and special tool that lines up the flywheel. I'm assuming that you know about the head re-torque using angle-torque instead of ft/lbs., BMW states that the angle torque must total EXACTLY 180 degrees, which you'd need the special tool for, but I think that's a crock, just do it by eye and shoot for 175 because they have a nasty habit of popping the threads in the block if you fall over and hit the head on the ground.

I think there's more but I can't remember...sorry!

I'm not sure but I don't think they can deny warranties when you work on your own bike, as long as you have some evidence that it's been maintained. Double check that though.

MoDiTec is the "brains" of your bike, it's also the diagnostic computer at the shop used to service your bike. It's not absolutely neccesary for tune-ups.

I've never heard of a "certified independent BMW mechanic", he'd have to pay his own way thru BMW school every 2 years($3000.00?), buy all the special tools($20,000) and pay for the MoDiTec($100.00/mo.) and know how to fill out warranty claims. You should probably go to the dealer every once in a while, (get the timing checked) they may have re-call stuff to do or other new information.