Looking for a reconditioned motor for my R1150

[Coyne67]

Ok guys as much as it breaks my heart to say it my previous problem was much more serious than first expected. I have blown a tensioner rod inside the motor and it is to expensive to get the new parts and repair. I am on the look out for a reconditioned/ second hand motor for the 1150. Possibly one out of a front end accident that the motor was not affected. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Or any email contacts that I could chase up. I am in the process of arranging shipping form the east coast to Australia. Hope you can help cheers Coynie

[riceburner]

Ok guys as much as it breaks my heart to say it my previous problem was much more serious than first expected. I have blown a tensioner rod inside the motor and it is to expensive to get the new parts and repair. I am on the look out for a reconditioned/ second hand motor for the 1150. Possibly one out of a front end accident that the motor was not affected. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Or any email contacts that I could chase up. I am in the process of arranging shipping form the east coast to Australia. Hope you can help cheers Coynie

Just to let you know - a front end accident tends to wreck the engine cases (because the telelever swingarm mounts directly in the cases). Don't ask how I know that....

[Keppelj]

I believe there's an '04 RR engine for sale now on eBay, 40k miles or so.

[Cohiba54]

try http://www.beemerboneyard.com/ but make sure to call because they may have one but not on the web yet

[Coyne67]

Thanks guys, saw the one on ebay enquiry already underway, trying to get it to Australia the real challenge.

[gregor]

Good luck with the new motor.
What's a tensioner rod btw?

[Soliton]

If you could post about your experiences in bringing a motor from the US to Aus it would really be appreciated. I have been wondering about it, my bike is well loved but not young and when I see engines for US$600 - 1000 if feel somewhat envious. I called a BMW wrecker in WA and they wanted $2200.

Regards,

Paris

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Possible guises for bikus diabolicus in the future - http://gallery.me.com/soliton#100020
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[AndyRR]

Have you broken a chain guide? Not sure what the tensioner rod is if it isn't the left or right side cam chain tensioner - but these are easily replaced. Seems to me you might be better off fixing what you have. Even if you find an engine for less than $1000 - it's still in somewhat unknown condition and you'll be R/R'ing the engine anyway. One way or another, you'll have an engine on the workbench. So, can you repair your engine for less than the cost of the used motor (assuming you can get one)?

[Airman]

Have you broken a chain guide? Not sure what the tensioner rod is if it isn't the left or right side cam chain tensioner - but these are easily replaced. Seems to me you might be better off fixing what you have. Even if you find an engine for less than $1000 - it's still in somewhat unknown condition and you'll be R/R'ing the engine anyway. One way or another, you'll have an engine on the workbench. So, can you repair your engine for less than the cost of the used motor (assuming you can get one)?

I'm confused about this as well. I looked at Maxbmw's fiche and don't see a tensioner rod. The whole cam chain system doesn't look too expensive, certainly not like changing an engine. It looks like you could change out the whole system without taking the motor out of the frame.

[AndyRR]

The chains and the chain guides require splitting the cases to replace - although it looks like some very clever people have replaced some (not all) of the guides without splitting the cases. We'll need some clarification from Coynie.

[AndyRR]

I'm placing my bets on CONNECTING Rod.

[Coyne67]

Sorry guys I have not been on for a while chasing the details. Ok first up I am not the most technically minded or should I say I dont get all the parts right DOH!!! Essentially the cam chain tensioner I am guessing they are now although my mechanic described them as the rods that keep the tension on the cam chain (hence my tensioner rod) have given not sure which side. He advised me they gave way and did some pretty good damage. After checking it all out he advised that with parts and labour it would actually be cheaper to get another motor if I could get a new motor. Take into account that the motor I had already did 185 000 klms. So if fixed I would still have a motor with pistons and other parts that had done big k's .

The part situation in Australia is also an issue as the appear to charge like a wounded bull over here compared to other locatoins such as the states. So I had a good look around and found a few motors over here the cheapest being $1800 (done 100 000 k's) to $2700 (33 000 k's). In comparison I bought a motor in Birmingham Al, for $ 700 US with only 40 000 miles (70 000 k's). significant saving.

I have found a couple of ways to get it here but essentially it will cost about $260 US to get the motor to the west coast and $150- $200 AUS to ship over and gst and customes fees of about $190. So all up about $1300-$1400 to get to the shop for installation. So as you can see it has actually worked out cheaper and more cost effective to replace the motor than repair the old one.

Paris I will post how I go but I have a mate helping me with the shipment, there are some guys in QLD who are the ones who quoted me $150 to get it to Brisbane. They bring bikes over all the time and it is just a matter of putting it in the container with the other bikes. Then you have to get it shipped to where you are but the guy was very helpful and had a network of transporters and couriers to take care of it. Would be glad to forward you the info if you like.

Cheers Guys

Coynie

[Coyne67]

On an updaye guys the mate with the shipping solution fell through so I am back to getting it shipped through the guy in Queensland. Will keep you posted.

[AndyRR]

The tensioners themselves (11, 14, 13, 16 and 10, 12, 15) are inexpensive and easily replaced. Is this mechanic any good? Is he misleading you? The chain guides (3, 4, 4, and 2) are inexpensive, but require significant labor to replace. If a tensioner were to fail, the bike would run poorly if at all because the timing on that side would be screwed up. I don't think that any damage would result unless the chain slapped the guide enough to make it break. The tensioners are designed so that they can't fall in.

$1300 to put a used engine on the bench isn't too bad, but balance that with how much engine work that will buy you on your current engine. A used motor is not a rebuilt motor - it may be far from perfect. You'll also have your old engine to rebuild, sell as is, or part out.

Just make sure you aren't being taken advantage of. A mechanic can tell pretty quickly if you know anything about engines or not.

[Coyne67]

Thanks AndyRR, I have to say the guy I am dealing with really does sound fair dinkum, he has given a wide range of options that started from repair, to scrap to replace. He was reluctant to replace with the Australian prices we were getting. As for the damage, well all I can say is that when it happened the engine was making a hell of a racket and it did not sound good at all.

The guy I have working on it has actually worked on it for the last 60,000 k's and I have to say seemed genuinely gutted at what had happened as the bike had been beautifully looked after from new.

As for being taken in well I have done the maths and I am actually still doing very well with the cost when you look at the comparative bikes on the market. I will end up with a 2001 with 60-70'000 k on it for less than $8,000 so all up and looking on the bright side I think I will be doing ok.

Cheers,

Coynie

[garr2]

For those in the USA a price of $8000 for a 2001 R1150R may seem extortionate. But in Australia we're used to being in an isolated market just asking to be plundered.
Using http://www.bikesales.com.au/tools/valuation.do the valuation on such a bike in Australia is as below:



As you can see the top value on a private sale is $8200 - which would be for a low km bike in excellent condition & presumably never involved in an accident.

There are reasons why this rehabilitation is a good idea but value for money would not appear to be one of them.

[Coyne67]

Hello all, sorry for my delay in getting back to you all but I have to say that the victory is sweet . I have managed to ship over the motor thanks to the guys in Birmingham Alabama they were great guys and really came through. I have had the bike back on the road for a while now and it is running like a dream, while I had the motor and all out I got a new clutch slave put in so all up the bike has cost me $7500. I now have a 2001 bike with 60,000k on it and really it feels like an old friend has come back. I do the commute to work every day which it handles with ease and took a ride up to visit a friend which was over 350 klms round trip and have to say it was a pleasure to do the ride. Thank you for all the feed back and input greatly appreciated, happy riding and ride safe