BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Hey All,
Does anyone here have any experience / feelings regarding the Bosch "premium" oil filters Bob's BMW sells? After chocking up $19 for OEM at Atlanta BMW, $9 sounds a lot more reasonable. The bike is still under warranty until April 2008.

Thanks, Tim

In quantity even cheaper.

geo

I'm pretty sure the OEM BMW filters are made by Bosch - wonder if there is really is any difference between OEM and the Bob's filters? Should not be any issues with warranty, assuming that the "premium"Bosch filters don't differ in any significant functional way from OEM. BMW can't force you to use a specific brand, they can only make a recommendation.

BTW, your dealer really should kiss at least you before he does that to you. Even my dealer only had the nerve to charge $13.25 for the filter - though they did get an extra buck for the crush washer.

Charlie

http://www.Beemerboneyard.com

You can buy Bosch oil filters by the case. I am not sure if they are "premium", but how much of a real difference does that make?
I change the oil every 3000 miles.
Doug

challey..... DAMN.....no kiss...all I got was a smile

Looks like that might be the deal. Thanks to all..
Tim

I use Bob's all the time. I trust what they say as they have been doing a great job for years. Many BMW parts are just labeled for BMW, Bob's knows this and cuts out the extra fee. This dealership is what most dealers want to be!

I think someone should do the hacksaw comparison test, before we all go jumping to conclusions!

I'm pretty sure BMW filters are made by Mahle. There was a time when we could buy them in bulk, but that was some time ago.

geo

cyclerob did a hacksaw comparo of the BMW and some other filters, not sure if the Bosch was in the group.

What he found in essence is that the BMW filter had a low pressure bypass (in case that the filter element would plug) where the others didn't.

Certainly there are a couple of issues regarding filters:

One is the filter element material
The micron size
If the filter rating is nominal or absolute
and of course the issue of the low pressure bypass

Well that's my 2 cents.......

I am using the Bosch now. I must say they weigh less the the BMW filter, and seem to have a thinner outer wall. But hey, I am cheap to the point of saving money, but not to the point of using Fram filters.

OU812 wrote:I am using the Bosch now. I must say they weigh less the the BMW filter, and seem to have a thinner outer wall. But hey, I am cheap to the point of saving money, but not to the point of using Fram filters.

I would be concerned about using a Fram in a K bike that has the filter up in the oil bath with a cover over it for fear that the paint or coating would come off in the hot oil. For those bikes BMW filters could be a good idea.

geo

OU812 wrote:I am using the Bosch now. I must say they weigh less the the BMW filter, and seem to have a thinner outer wall. But hey, I am cheap to the point of saving money, but not to the point of using Fram filters.

Yeah baby. Bosch... 3330? 3030?... Ya cheap bastad...

Ves wrote:

OU812 wrote:I am using the Bosch now. I must say they weigh less the the BMW filter, and seem to have a thinner outer wall. But hey, I am cheap to the point of saving money, but not to the point of using Fram filters.

Yeah baby. Bosch... 3330? 3030?... Ya cheap bastad...

72161 actually, and they say: made in USA. I got these from Bob's BMW.

I go with the superior stock BMW oil filter, Castrol Syntec 5W-50 ($5.86/Qt @Wal*Mart) and run it the full 6,000 miles. If you do short trips, the 6,000 mile interval is too long. The BMW filter has an additional ultra fine mesh plastic filter that cleans all oil bypassed by the filter's internal pressure relief valve when the paper filter cannot filter the high flow rate of the too thick oil. ALL OTHER oil filters do NOT have that bypassed oil filter protection. Oil will be bypassed UNfiltered in all other filters if you rev a cold engine past an unknown RPM that varies with the oil thickness and temperature. For 20W-50 oil on a 25degF (3.8C) start-up, that RPM could be only 2,000. Are you feeling lucky?

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 89899-O-LB
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 89902-O-LB
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 89868-O-LB

Chicago BMW is 20% off of BMW retail and getting 4 oil and 2 air filters will last you a long time. Call them at 1-800-262-9150

Maybe it is the spring that adds the weight to the filter. The Bosch does feel lighter.

I've used AC,Prolator,and Fram oil filters, use dino oil with changes q 3mo. or 3000M.I've used the same crush washer for 3yr. I have had no probles. The tops of the cylinder head is clean as a whistle.
Yes I am thrifty!

That is what our first dealer tech once told me. Said BMW owners are a thrifty bunch !

geo