Fuel Filter

[tinytrains]

The BMW service guide does not mention the fuel filter.

Q1. Any recommendation on when to change it? 24K miles?

Q2. Is it in the tank, or under it. I cannot tell from the parts fish.

Thanks,

[MarkShelley]

I am pretty sure it is circa 20K on the 1100 and 1150 so I guess it will be similar. On the 1100 and 1150 the filter is part of the pump/sender arrangement that is inside the tank. I have just looked at the 1200 fiche and it looks like the filter is outside the tank. Much easier to change!
Some people have modded their 1100/1150 to have the filter outside.

[deilenberger]

The fuel filter is located in the tunnel under the tank.

It's held on with one-time use Oetiker clamps and a clamp to the tank itself. I suspect good quality clamps for 6mm fuel line could be used in place of the Oetiker clamps.

FWIW - I have yet to hear of one of these filters plugging up on an R1200R. The pump has a pre-filter on it, and most of the other 1200 engine bikes don't have any fuel filter aside from the pre-filter.

The fuel filter is one of those things that can last almost forever (I'll put it on my 100,000 mile things to change "just because it makes me feel good" list), or if you get a bad tank of gas - they can be plugged almost instantly. BMW (and most other auto manufacturers) has removed periodic filter change intervals on most of their cars, and I suspect the lack of a recommendation for the R1200R change interval means the same thing - change it when it gets plugged up (along with draining the tank and getting the bad gas out) - otherwise forgeddaboutit..

[tinytrains]

Thanks Don.

The only filter problem I have ever had was on my K75. A BMW filter varnished shut after about 7 years. Not a spec of stuff in it, but the paper filter looked as if it had been painted with a clear coat. Never had a problem since, so I think I will let it go awhile.