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

For an engine oil change, any concerns using non-OEM oil filters such as Fram, WIX, or K&N?

Do a search on this subject. Some time back Cyclerob posted about how he cut open a BMW filter and compared it to some others. Short version of the story: I wouldn't. Buck up and get the BMW.

Can be found at Advance Auto if you have them in MO.

Purolator PL10241 PureONE

NOTE: If you have the BMW filter wrench, it fits this filter perfectly.

A list of others can be found here:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131535

More opinions here:
http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/FilterXRef.html

No doubt the BMW filter is best. Sometimes you need a substitute.

Not just repeating info. I'm using this one on my bike right now.


DSKYZD

priapismic wrote:Do a search on this subject. Some time back Cyclerob posted about how he cut open a BMW filter and compared it to some others. Short version of the story: I wouldn't. Buck up and get the BMW.

+1

I know Rob, have ridden with him, watched him work on my bike. What he says goes. Order a case of filters from Chicago BMW (with their 20% discount) and Be Prepared.

Here is an old thread.

See page 2 for a post by Cyclerob.

http://www.r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=5049

nothing against the bmw, it is a fine filter. i use the K&N. i like the handy 1" nut for easy instalation and removal. toyota makes great filters also. my bike and my camry use the same filter.

i change the oil and filter often. This, to me, is far more important than brand. i have had the bike 2 years. it has had 5 oil/filter changes and (unfotunately) only 7K miles .

next year i (fingers crossed) plan on spending many days in the saddle and will keep up the frequent changes until it is finally completely broken in.


i heavily recommend all of CycleRob's advice but i am cheap and refuse to but the proprietary bmw filter wrench. i gotta be me.

Yes.

The Spokane PD motorcycles are BMW oilheads, and they use the K&N filters. I would think they would have an interest in keeping their engines running well for a long time. That's what I'm using right now with Rotella synthetic oil.

Sure you can use non-BMW oil filters. In fact, you can use oil filters for 4-cylinder BMW cars if you are so inclined. BMW filters are well-made, but super expensive. The best filter out there for these bikes, as far as I'm concerned, are the Perf-form high performance oil filters from a small firm (Perf-form Products) in Big Lake, MN. They are beautifully crafted in the good ole USA. WIX is also very good, but stay away from Fram. They are junk!

What is with the beating up on Fram filters? I don't know much about them, but I know Penzoil oil centers use them(even though the filters say Penzoil they are made by Fram). Are they that cheap/poor quality?

Check out this rather detailed report. It's one of a number I've seen that say to avoid Fram filters. They are cheaply made. If you don't believe it, cut one apart and compare it to WIX or Purolator.

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters.html

Amsoil Ea 122.
Best filter currently on the market.

Amsoil Ea 122.
Best filter currently on the market.

I've heard great things about the Amsoil filters but they are pricey and I'm not convinced they're better than the stock filter.

I'm another convert to Rotella synthetic since it is highly rated, reasonably priced and I now have to buy only one oil for the R and my cars. I figure the synthetic allows me to extend the drain interval a bit (to 6k miles) so I shell out the extra $'s for the BMW filter.

What specific Rotella are you using? T? Multigrade? 5w40?

thanks

John

I use Rotella T Synthetic 5W40 in both of my bikes.

Same as Ruddy - Rotella T Synth 5W40.

I use Royal Purple in both bikes and cars. Never heard of Rotella. Is it motorcycle-specific? Where do you get it?

Panzerleder wrote:I use Royal Purple in both bikes and cars. Never heard of Rotella. Is it motorcycle-specific? Where do you get it?

Rotella is a brand name, made by Shell Oil. Among those who know about oil and lubricating things, Rotella is a highly regarded product. It is used by a lot of motor vehicle fleets, esp. in the formulation used by diesel trucks.

I am acquainted with a now-retired petroleum engineer who worked for many years at Shell. In fact, at one time, he was the Shell Answer Man - he handled any inquiries to Shell regarding industrial lubricants. He recommended Rotella to me. He used it in an ST1100 which he sold with about 140,000 miles on it. He also used in it a K1200LT which had about 130,000 miles on it when he sold it. I think both bikes are still running somewhere ...

Bottom line: Rotella is good stuff. I would use it if I could find it near me in the 20w-50 that is recommended for our R's. I can usually find the 10w-40 and usually only in pure dino; I prefer the 20w-50 and in full or semi-synthetic.

I've seen detailed articles of several brands of oil filters, cut open and examined. There is no brand of motorcycle in this solar system that has "the best" oil filter or air filter. All of them are outsourced as are "their" oils. And BMW does NOT set higher specs than the others. I can think of several items on different BMW models where they have set lower standards than some other brands.

One test in particular was negative on the Fram filter. Emgo is a good one as is Bosch (and it ain't German) and Mobil.

One of the better motor oils that is cheap and available at WallMart is the Shell Rotella. Oils get rather personal with folks, so I'll stop before I hurt any feelings.

As Slipknot says, Rotella is available at your local Wally World, usually for about $13/gallon. I think that Pep Boys may also carry it, though I've only seen the dino type in my local store. You can also get it at almost any truck stop along the highway since, as Priapismic hints, it is formulated for diesel engines. It is however perfectly suitable for gasoline engine use as it meets or exceeds API SL, SJ & SH (BMW specifies SH). The one drawback is that it is 5W-40 which means that you take the chance of voiding the all-important BMW warranty if you run it in ambient temps over about 89F/30C.
Now that my bike is out of warranty, I use it year round: I really don't ride much when the thermometer hits 90F anyway.