Can I install a new starter, 2004 BCR?

[SeanCJ]

Just got bad news that my 2004 R1100S Boxer Cup Replica needs a new starter. Surprised as it only has 9100 miles on it.
BMW dealer wants $450 for an OEM BMW starter or $400 for a Valeo starter, price includes install.
I've found a new Valeo starter for $209 at Beemerboneyard.com plus shipping. I'm not a mechanic but I know how to use a wrench
Can I tackle this or should I fork out the extra bucks and let the experts do it?
I need to call them back tonight or tomorrow to get started.
Thanks.
Sean

[signit98]

No experience needed... just use your eyes... remove the plastic cover and then take a good look, everything else is more or less self-explanatory!

[pmc847]

Piece of cake. You can do it in 30 min. Check out the manual and have a go at it.

Philip.

[Jeff Williams]

sean,
i broke the pinion gear on my starter on my 03 bcr.
Google the starter name and model and you can get parts for the starter.
I picked up a pinion gear for $36 and it cost me $40 for a shop to install the gear.
Ralf is correct. its just a couple of bolts and a couple of cables.
Try and not do it on the side stand, you can but its more of a hassle.
jeff

[SeanCJ]

Thanks guys!
I've never ordered from them before and forgive the question, but can I trust the 'new' one from beemerboneyard to work?
http://www.beemerboneyard.com/12412306700n.html
I'll give them a call.

[signit98]

They are usually quite good...

[AntonLargiader]

Originally Posted by SeanCJ

BMW dealer wants $450 for an OEM BMW starter or $400 for a Valeo starter, price includes install.

The BMW starter is a Valeo starter. For that kind of money, buy the Nippondenso from Motorrad Elektrik.

[Highlander179]

What are the symptoms? If it is the loud SCREECH, then you probably only need to grease it.

Its a stupid easy job. I had my eight year old son do it.
http://www.bmwforums.net/forums/index.php?topic=3731.0

here's the grease job, since it comes up from time to time
Starter Motor Sounds

good luck!

[SeanCJ]

Originally Posted by Highlander179

What are the symptoms? If it is the loud SCREECH, then you probably only need to grease it.

http://www.bmwforums.net/forums/index.php?topic=3731.0

The last times I've gone out, the bike was very difficult to start. It would essentially not turn over, lights would flicker, and with increased attempts, eventually nothing. After between 4 and 8 or so attempts, it would eventually start. Once running, the bike seemed fine.
At first I thought it might have been the battery or something with the fuel feed, but BMW dealer diagnosed a bad starter. They informed me that it would cost me $200 to rebuild my starter plus the $35 to install it so I'd be better off just buying the new one.
I'll pick up the bike tomorrow and order the starter from the boneyard asap.
Thanks again everyone for the help and encouragement to do this on my own.
After $450 for new tires, an $80 oil change (which I'll never do again at the dealer ), and the $75 'diagnostic fee', I appreciate the savings replacing the starter myself will get me!!!

[SeanCJ]

Originally Posted by Jeff Williams

sean,
i broke the pinion gear on my starter on my 03 bcr.
Google the starter name and model and you can get parts for the starter.
I picked up a pinion gear for $36 and it cost me $40 for a shop to install the gear.
Ralf is correct. its just a couple of bolts and a couple of cables.
Try and not do it on the side stand, you can but its more of a hassle.
jeff

Thank you Jeff.
I'll ask the techs at the dealer tomorrow if they can tell exactly what is wrong with the starter. If I can find the exact problem, I may just do what you did and try to fix this old one.
Thanks again for sharing your experience.

[signit98]

Buy a new battery first.... or at least hook one up with jumper cables.... the lights should not flicker with a bad starter. Take the battery out, and have it load-tested...

Could also be a bad ground - that would be my first guess... corrosion, maybe. Before you start sinking all that money into the bike, do a more intense job diagnosing the problem...

The $80 oil change indicates that you are getting HOSED!... Not sure I'd trust that dealer... maybe it's time for a nice long ride down to Arkansas???

[SeanCJ]

Originally Posted by signit98

Buy a new battery first.... or at least hook one up with jumper cables.... the lights should not flicker with a bad starter. Take the battery out, and have it load-tested...

Could also be a bad ground - that would be my first guess... corrosion, maybe. Before you start sinking all that money into the bike, do a more intense job diagnosing the problem...

The $80 oil change indicates that you are getting HOSED!... Not sure I'd trust that dealer... maybe it's time for a nice long ride down to Arkansas???

Thanks for the tip signit98!
The guys at this dealership are all very nice and courteous. Only one of them has a 'haughty attitude' but he's the parts and accessories guy so I don't deal with him much. The service guys all seem pretty down to earth and spent quite a bit of time with me, so my first reaction is to trust them when it comes to their diagnosis.
They told me the first thing they did was test the battery and its fine. I'll ask them tomorrow for some more info on their diagnostic.
Embarrasingly, I'm not very 'mechanically' literate so I won't be able to figure this out on my own. I'm learning as I go. With the help of the repair manual, I think I can replace the starter without too much trouble, but diagnosing things is way out of my league.
I know what you mean about the oil change: $35 for oil, $20 for filter, $21 labor plus tax!!! Yeah, kinda pricey .