BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Advice needed please. Is a Brake Fluid Change within the scope of a competant home mechanic or is there weird procedures to be followed. Although my Haynes Manual is for the Hexhead model it specifically warns against attempting this task and that it is a dealer job.
Thanks.

The Haynes Manual for the TC 2010 to 2012, gives a "Degree of difficulty" as "Fairly difficult", suitable for the Competent DIY mechanic.

No specialist tools or procedures are required.

Thank you David, I'll see about updating my Haynes to the TwinCam edition.

Left Click on the photo, then Expand to actual size makes them more legible,
(Top right-hand corner Box with arrow, next to X).

On a 1-10 scale, 10 being the most difficult
Brake flush is 3-4
No special tools
A length of correct clear tubing
Unopened can of correct DOT fluid, plastic clear container for old fluid and correct size bleeder wrench
Going it alone give yourself a hour, with a extra set of hands 20 min
Older bikes with servo brakes I wouldn't touch though

For anyone with a 2005 or 2006 bike with servo brakes don't even think about it. If you do it will be a van job to a dealer to fix.

Wow, that's great David, thanks a lot. Read that through three or four times now and all seems pretty conventional for except the removal of the pads to minimise system volume and the "extra" bleed nipple at the Front Master Cylinder. I have ordered the "Twin Cam" Haynes Manual and expect to carry out the job during my regular winter deep strip and clean.
Thanks again.

Just an up-date to my Brake Fluid change task. Job completed now and everything ok. What I did notice was that there was about 2 to 3 mm of yellow "gunge" in the bottom of the Front Reservoir. My bike was supposed to have had a complete "all fluids" change when I bought it about 8,000 miles ago. Anyone else noticed this ?.

It should be as clean as a whistle in there. 
A good reason to do it yourself I think 

+1 on that.

Our Gee wrote: Advice needed please. Is a Brake Fluid Change within the scope of a competant home mechanic or is there weird procedures to be followed. Although my Haynes Manual is for the Hexhead model it specifically warns against attempting this task and that it is a dealer job.
Thanks.

You could try to reverse bleed the brakes by using a large hyperdermic syringe forcing the liquid back through the bleed nipple

+1 on the reverse bleed. Just did this on my '15 and it saves a lot of time and hassle IMHO.

Our Gee wrote: Just an up-date to my Brake Fluid change task. Job completed now and everything ok. What I did notice was that there was about 2 to 3 mm of yellow "gunge" in the bottom of the Front Reservoir. My bike was supposed to have had a complete "all fluids" change when I bought it about 8,000 miles ago. Anyone else noticed this ?.

Did you find a reason for the "gunge" ?  I noticed the same on mine, I put it down to the rubber boot on the reservoir being worn out (squashed around the edges) and moisture getting in either from rain or washing the bike? I replaced the boot with a new one and it's not done it since.


Sorry for raising an old thread  ???  but no one had replied to your question with any reason or solution.

No, can't say I really found out the reason for the gunge other than I don,t think the fluid had been changed since the bike was new.  As an update I intend to have the abs pump gizmo flushed as soon as possible either at a BMW dealer or a good recommended independant as although I have changed the front and rear fluids myself I didn't know that until recently the abs gizmo needed to be done as a separate job and involves dealer tools.
Update. A.B.S. unit along with both front and rear circuits to be flushed next week at a local "independant" who talked me through the procedure on the phone yesterday. £45.

My 2012 TC RT is due a brake fluid change this year (2017),  have decided it's one job that I will get the BMW dealers to do. (The bike is covered by an Insured Warranty).

One of the reasons for this decision is, that I've been told by a BMW dealer, they were having a chew on with BMW Warranty over the replacement of a failed ABS unit, on a bike which had not had the brake fluid changed as recommended, every two years, after year one.

The BMW dealers want £61 (labour only) to change the F&R brake fluid, on this occasion, seems like a reasonable insurance policy over the cost of an ABS unit at £1,150.01.

(The brake fluid could be either £6.70 for 500ml or £11.93 for 1000ml depending on how much is used).