What other maint should I ask them to do while replacing battery? (99 R1100S)
 

I'm taking my 1999 R1100S in to the BMW shop to get a new battery installed. While they are "in there" under the tank what other maintenance should I have them do? Air filter? Gas filter?

Kind of depends on mileage and time and miles since last service. What is the history on the bike?

some major reason you're not doing it yourself?
you can get a better battery than the BMW OEM unit. Panasonic or Odyssey are the current faves (pun intended), and typically less money. not a technically difficult job- just some very-minor nuisance-level stuff, that gets way easier the more you do it.

but on to your question- anything near/under/in the gas tank that is due would be appropriate- air filter & fuel filter are most obvious, maybe even an ABS system bleed. new throttle cables could even be considered if mileage is enough (up around 60K+ I would think)

Fuel filter should be changed every 20 to 25,000 miles depending on quality of the fuel, And air filter while your at it, also have them bleed the ABS unit since they will have the tank off the bike. Also have them add quick disconnects to the fuel lines.:D

Sorry. The bike has only 15K miles. No ABS.

Time. I don't have much of it. And I'm not the most skilled mechanic either. I printed out the instructions from the CD manual and also a thread or two I found here and it looks to be not that difficult. One thing that put me off was the procedure to "synch up" the computer. Looked like something I could screw up easily.

that sounds like replace the battery, and ur good to go. do a visual on the AF, but it's probably fine.
about hte best price on the PC i've seen lately
Odyssey PC680 [Odyssey PC680] - $98.55 : Portable Power Systems, Got Batteries?

Here's the 12K schedule http://www.ascycles.com/pdf/ServiceSchedules/R1100S_12K.pdf

Here's all schedules
A&S BMW Motorcycles ::: BMW Motorcycle Service and Maintenance Schedules

I agree about the batteries. I have purchased two Odyssey batteries for my other bikes, which were far easier to install.

fortunately, you don;'t need much for this job.
maybe 20 minutes to yank the fairing, remove the intake snorkel/air box connection. another 20 to lift the tank, yank & replace the batt. another 20 or so and you're all back together. and that is giving times for not having done it before- with experience its even faster.
to synch the Motronic- you just "turn ignition key on, go WFO on the throttle 2x with engine off, then start as normal." that's it. I don't even think its required on a battery change, but it can't hurt anything to do it.
think of it this way- if you do the labor yourself, the battery is FREE!

If I screw this up, can I do it again? Or do you just get one shot to get it right?

how can you screw up "turn key, whack throttle to the stop 2x, then start engine"?

and yes, if you somehow manage to do that wrong, you can just start over and do it right. (fighting at avoiding making the smart ass comment that would normally go here)

Bear with me please. So, to redo the procedure does the battery have to be disconnected again? If not, then can I go out in the garage and do this procedure right now?

You guys are beginning to shame me into doing it myself - a good thing.

Tim,

Along the lines of what CKCARR said, when was the 12K done? How long has the bike been sitting? If you have it done where are you going to take it, Iron Horse?

I can't remember the guy's name but the guy that runs ZMW Adventures is a BMW trained mechanic, and I have heard great things about him, not sure about his pricing. I met him and he seems like a good guy, and I have some friends who exclusively use him for their BMW motorcycle maintenance. Here is a link to his web site. ZMW Adventures - Z's Motorcycle Werks - Services

Lightfighter migh know more about him.

Or if you can get it running ride it down to Sierra Vista with your new battery and I will help you swap it. Sunday I am doing yard work.

The 12K has not been done yet. I've changed the oil/filter and the trans fluid myself - several times. I bought the bike with 9K miles a couple of years ago. The oil has only 500 miles on it but it was changed (along with filter) almost a year ago - long time I know. (I know, haven't ridden it much this year - many things happened this past year).

Yeah, I was planning to take it to IronHorse - have a tentative appt for the week after next. I will check out the ZMW guys - thanks for the tip.

pull the old batt, install the new one, button it all up, do the synch procedure.
seriously- save the $, DIY. This is one of the piece of cake procedures.

OK. I'll give it a try.

Question: Can the synch procedure be done over and over again without disconnecting the battery between synch attempts?

OK. Given the times that you state for each phase of the job, I think I might be able to do it - given one full day. :)

Blimey you do read some stuff on here!!!!,i must have had my battery off 20 times,i take it off clean the bike and various other things and put if back on and thats it,motronic sync, never done it,never needed to,but hey i've only had it ten years.

Any time the battery is disconnected you need to turn key on, turn throttle twice then turn key off. Bike is ready to ride like normal. If the clutch fluid hasn't been bled in two years I would make that a "must do". I've read that could be a major contributing factor in clutch slave cylinder failures.

Bad luck with batteries, eh? :)

Thank you sir!

Tim, happy to help you swap a battery if you need a hand (though you'll be just fine!). Just drop me a PM or an email.

Bob

to be honest, i'm on my 2nd battery, have changed batts in my g/f's R11S as well, and have only done the re-synch one time- and that was after changing my Motronic chip.
i do not think it is actually required for a battery change. but then again- given how simple it is to do- there's nothing to lose in taking those few seconds to do it.

Bob, I really appreciate the offer but I should try to do it myself.

But maybe I can pick your brain some on another topic: My rear tail light/brake light/licence plate light are out so I'm assuming its the fuse. Now, the Clymer manual says to access the left or right fuse boxes, the side plastic has to come off. The IBM svc manual PDF hints that this is true. Is this true? Or can they be reached from the top by the frame?

Also, my bike has one of those pulsing brake lights. Is this stock? Or did the previous owner install that?

Agreed!

howz this- you'll be taking the fairing off to do the battery, so check the fuse then.
pulsing brake light is add-on. stock is just a regular 2 filament brake/tail bulb.

Nothing to do with batteries,the only way to clean a bike is to strip it,and because it's taken apart so often,it's easy to do.

Good idea o' Lord! (From Monty Python - The Holy Grail)

Now you're supposed to say "Of course It's a good idea!!!"

Thought so. Thanks!

Even though the air filter is not due to change I would do now. On the other hand.. if you are only riding 500 miles a year you can wait on the next battery change in 5-6 years and your airfilter will still be good. One thing to look for when taking off fairings are the small fasteners in the frount around the oil cooler and a couple up and in further and also the turn indicater wires. Not a bad job.

Lane

Here's a couple useless pictures for you that may or may not help. You want to make sure the goofy mushroom shaped grommets don't fall out and you know where they go.

I always take digital pictures of stuff as I do it the first time. The next time it may not matter after you realize how simple it is, but the first pass through can sometimes be a little intimidating.

The box is just to hold the tank up, it's not part of the bike. :)

http://ckcarr.smugmug.com/photos/738753821_5ckR6-L.jpg

http://ckcarr.smugmug.com/photos/738753832_FifnC-L.jpg

I thought the Box was an R&D Cover up!

I hope you're not poking fun at the amount I rode last year. I think I mentioned that this past year I only rode it 500 miles and it was due to some family problems that kept me home. Sorry, but family responsibilities come before cruising around the countryside on a motorcycle. Besides, I have four other bikes that I also ride.

I do appreciate the tips you gave me though. Thanks.

Very helpful. Thanks!

[QUOTE=AZ_Tim;5065408]I hope you're not poking fun at the amount I rode last year. I think I mentioned that this past year I only rode it 500 miles and it was due to some family problems that kept me home. Sorry, but family responsibilities come before cruising around the countryside on a motorcycle. Besides, I have four other bikes that I also ride.

I do appreciate the tips you gave me though. Thanks.[/QUOTE

No no..not poking fun. Just pointing out a fact. I have the a weekend car with 2 air filters and 2 batteries and have changed the batteries but not the air filters and about to replace the batteries again (5 years). I drive it a 1000 miles a year. I hope things are going well.

Lane

Thanks for all the helpful replies! Haven't replaced the battery yet - other things keep getting in the way and I want to dedicate an entire day - due to my ineptitude.

That's just a little cleaner than I need. :eek: