R65LS Restoration p.4

[r65lsk75c]

Ok, so the more pieces I remove, the more problems I discover. Since the biggest ticket item that I've purchased for my K75C is an oil filter, I'm not tuned in to the major parts providers. The first problem that I've encountered is an inability to identify BMW part numbers. Most of the online vendors that I've visited either require you to search with a BMW number or allow you to search an online catalog but only provide their part number when you find the part. Being on somewhat of a budget, I'd like to do some form of competitive shopping. Further complicating the situation has been my inability to find a supplier of a parts book for the '82 R65LS.

Can anyone offer suggestions that might get me over this hurdle?

Thanks,
Rick T
'82 R65LS
'87 K75C
'74 Triumph Trident
'75 Norton Commando

[peteremsley]

Here's what I do...

Try and find what you are looking for in the pics here:

http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/fiche.asp

The part numbers are not complete, so try and find the real number in the PDF from BobsBMW:
www.bobsbmw.com


Now, armed (hopefully) with the actual part number, go to Chicago BMW, enter the part number and see if they are any cheaper than the others:

https://www.chicagobmwmotorcycle.com/2frames/2frame.html

good luck.

[flash412]

A&S BMW offers lots of fiche, whole part numbers and prices.
http://www.ascycles.com/illustrated_parts_catalog_main.aspx

[mrmaico]

I use www.realoem.com to search for part numbers, it's easiest to use by entering the last seven numbers of your vin #. The part numbers are correct BMW numbers.

HTH.....Barry

[Braddog]

Why not just go to a dealer that services BMW's and have them look up the part for you?

When I was looking for stuff for my R100RS (77), they pulled up the fiche, and we picked out the numbers. I wouldn't think they'd have a problem doing this, especially if you bought something while there, i.e. oil, filters, etc.

Of course, I ended up buying the few small items there, but no biggie.

Just a thought.

[dlearl476]

>Why not just go to a dealer that services BMW's and have them look up the part for you?

Because as hard as it may be to believe, It's RARE to find a tech that knows his way around the BMW-ETK*, or is willing to take the time to do YOUR research, even if his boss does have a financial stake in said research.

Rick, I feel your pain. Two things that helped me enourmously are:

Larry and David at Irv Seaver in LA. (Pomona actually, IIRC) Part Guys extrodinaire.

My OWN copy of the ETK. These are all over ebay. Basically BMW issues a new one every year or so and the old, obsolete (to a dealer anyway) versions can be had for various prices. If you're after one simply for your R65 and bikes of that vintage, you can buy a really old one for dirt cheap. It's the most recent ones that go for as much as $50-$75.
Having my own copy had several advantages. One, when I call Larry and David, I can site page/drawing numbers and when can discuss specifics. Two, I can search for obscure parts at my leisure without wasting L&Ds time. Third, I can check pages that may not have been posted on the fiche websites. Like the pages that contain the individual part numbers for the tools in the OEM toolkits and the BMW special tools. (This may have changed, I haven't seen the A&S site, but MaxBMW never posted these pages) And lastly, I also have a thing for BMW cars and the same info is there for all the autos as well. As a matter of fact, the newest one I bought actually has all of the auto factory service manuals as well. A real nice addition to my hard-bound 2002 manual as I can print one or more pages, take them to the garage with my while I work, and wipe my hand off on them and throw them away when I'm finished.

*BMW's electronic parts manual, a computer program that contains all the info.

[mrmaico]

<Why not just go to a dealer that services BMW's and have them look up the part for you?>

Because my closest dealer is 5 hours away. :-(

Why bother a dealer when you can spend all the time you want looking up things for yourself. I've found things at realoem that I didn't even realize were still available.

Barry
1986 R80RT
1984 R65