RT Rear Drive oil change interval-

[andrewsi]

(This is all about '05 and later hexhead models).

Am I correct that the current BMW by-the-book recommendation on final drive oil change is still just "do it once at 600mi, then never needed again"? I understand that many are doing it every 12 or 24k anyway out of an abundance of caution.

Assuming that to be the case "by the book", though, is there a separate recommendation on lubing drive shaft splines? I've noted several people here saying "wow those looked dry" after lubing during final drive oil replacement, but since that's not covered anywhere in the maintenance schedule that I see, wouldn't the standard company line basically be that the shaft only needed to be lubed sufficiently just the once during assembly at the factory and then never again?

[Semper_Fi]

Andy - I don't have the book in front of me but between 05 thru and up to some 08's you have to drop the drive to change the fluid, it becomes a moot point on whether to lube the splines or not - you have the drive dropped and you can check the splines for lubrication.

For those drives that do not need to be dropped, like my previous RT and current GT, I do the inital lube and then on every other engine oil change.

Luis

[Krommenoek]

When I took my '09 R1200RT in for its 600 mile service in July, my dealer said that they would be changing the final drive oil at every service interval. I don't know if it is BMW mandated, but I'm not going to argue with them.

[kthutchinson]

In an earlier thread on this forum it was stated that the current BMW service requirement for final drives is at 600 miles and every 12K miles. Refill with 180 ml of fluid.

[Polarbear]

You'll save a ton, learning the service yourself, BUT. I know many are not wrench friendly. I happen to be:). My splines get cleaned and the FD oil changed with every tire change, which is around 10000 miles back there. The job is NOT hard to learn, but the tire change may be and I highly recommend a tire machine for this. They are quite available today, see the ads in the magazines. The money will quickly return to your pocket from these investments, as the shops are pricey! Moly60 by Honda is my preferred lube for the splines and once you've been in there a few times, you'll KNOW they need cleaning:). BMW has changed the recommended cc usage in the FD to 180cc recently, for seal concerns. The 235cc before was perhaps a seal breaker/leaker thing? By their own description. A rear tire change and FD oil change/lube splines, takes me a couple hours minimum. I'm 57:). I'm a clean freak and want it clean back there and lasting years to come! GSA1200'07 here. Randy

[andrewsi]

I'm good with doing this service by myself. Got about 2K to go till the 12k service, so I was starting to think about whether to do the final drive oil. If BMW's actually recommending doing it every 12K now, I will, but I have an '09 that doesn't actually require dropping the drive, so I may just leave the splines be for now, rather than complicate the job. But if it's really a requirement, then I suppose it's not that big a deal to go the extra step.

[Semper_Fi]

Andy - check out the HEX DIY forum - everything for maintenance is there

Hexhead DIY Link (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=44)

[andrewsi]

Oh, I know. I use it frequently!

[RoboRider]

I burn a set of Z6 in about 6000 miles. I change the final drive and lube the splines, like others have posted, when I change the tires. 90% of the work is just getting the wheel off, so even though it is 2x more often than BMW states, it's cheap and easy at that point.

With 3 motorcycles, my tire changer and balancer (NO MAR) are already paid for in savings.