Just finished my "Sticker recall."

[Mack]

Seems my dealer gave me a black sticker to replace the old one in the left front cowling as part of some recall thing.

The new one shows the valves being set "tighter" than the old one.

Old one:
Intake: 0.15-0.25mm (.006"-.010")
Exhaust: 0.25-0.35mm (.010"-.014")

New sticker:
Intake: 0.14-0.20mm (.0055"-0.008"
Exhaust: 0.20-0.26mm (.008"-.010")

Wonder if this is some recent change? They say it was a "Misprint" but I wonder. If it is a change, that's 16 of those little "Adjusting plates" at $4.80 each that need to be changed out...maybe.

Mack

[evl_twn]

What's the manufacturing date on your bike? Mine has the same (older spec) sticker, built 3/2010. I just checked my FSM DVD, it shows the newer "tighter" clearances. My service manual is dated 6/2010. I'm still due for the breather/drop sensor and owner's manual mods/updates, so maybe I'll get a new sticker for mine as well.

Does anyone know if the service manual gets updates online, or does it just read what's on the DVD?

[Mack]

Originally Posted by evl_twn

What's the manufacturing date on your bike? Mine has the same (older spec) sticker, built 3/2010. I just checked my FSM DVD, it shows the newer "tighter" clearances. My service manual is dated 6/2010. I'm still due for the breather/drop sensor and owner's manual mods, so maybe I'll get a new sticker for mine as well.

Does anyone know if the service manual gets updates online, or does it just read what's on the DVD?

Mine's probably the same date as yours in March 2010. It'll be interesting to see if the newer ones show the new "tighter" setting numbers if it was truly a misprint. They had a plastic sack full of those black stickers though so it may be recent ones sold as well.

I don't know if they update the REPROM DVD online for us mortals. Probably just another version gets sold to us. I have one for my other bike, but when it was bought new it had no wiring diagram in that edition. Later versions did - supposedly. The dealer's version is a bit different too and they could print out stuff mine didn't have (e.g. wiring diagrams.).

On my other BMW (2006 K1200GT), I just got a letter from BMW NA about the recall for the "Rear shock link lever." I guess that one was a big one, but I already had it done a month or two ago. It's way out of warranty and I surprised they issued a "paid recall" for its replacement. Someone must have fatally crashed with a bad link someplace. New one looks a bit thicker than the old one.

Sometimes it pays just to stop by your dealer and let them run the VIN numbers to see what the heck is being recalled or some "Advisory" that needs to be checked on (My GT had a "Centerstand advisory and check" too.). Maybe even clear some out that still remain on the Motherland computer that you have had done as well. I've never got a mailing from corporate on the 4 on the S1000RR so far (i.e. Breather hose. Drop Sensor. Owner's manual. New black "Valve settings" sticker.).

Mack

[V8M3]

Mine is an 06/2010 build date and the numbers on the front cowling are the older numbers. Is there a wear issue with the older valve clearance or misprint by BMW?

[Mack]

Originally Posted by V8M3

Mine is an 06/2010 build date and the numbers on the front cowling are the older numbers. Is there a wear issue with the older valve clearance or misprint by BMW?

That's what I'm wondering too.

Moreover, since a few cams gotten eaten early on and setting them "tighter" doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I was expecting to see it looser if anything, and not tighter. So here's to hoping the old label is a misprint and the valves are set from the factory according to this new sticker and settings.

Where's Nigel at?

Mack

[markjenn]

My service manual has the new/tighter clearances reflected in the new sticker. I just had the recall done during a routine service. (I didn't even know this information was published on a sticker on the bike.) Assuming BMW never published the old/looser clearances, I'm inclined to think that all the bikes were built to the tighter clearances and the only issue is that a sticker was printed with erroneous information.

I would be slightly concerned if someone can find BMW service publications from early 2010 which show the looser clearances. This would indicate that perhaps the early bikes were built to a spec that is no longer recommended. If this is the case, then BMW should be recalling the bikes to have their clearances checked/reset, rather than just swapping a sticker.

The new/current spec is pretty tight on the limits (.06mm range). Anybody know what the increments of the shims available are? On Japanese bikes its 0.05mm which if the same on the BMW, means you may be forced to shim a valve that is just out of spec tight to almost out of spec loose and vice versa.

- Mark

[Mack]

Originally Posted by markjenn

......The new/current spec is pretty tight on the limits (.06mm range). Anybody know what the increments of the shims available are? On Japanese bikes its 0.05mm which if the same on the BMW, means you may be forced to shim a valve that is just out of spec tight to almost out of spec loose and vice versa.

- Mark

From the Max BMW site, looks like they go from 2.00mm to 2.40mm in 0.02mm steps (21 different shims at ~0.0008" each increment.) so little less than half the Japanese max. specs. That's a boatload of shims at $4.80 each if a dealer has to stock all of them to do a valve adjustment times 16 valves.

I did check a new floor-room bike late today and it showed the new sticker valve setting numbers. Don't know when the sticker changed.

Does look like they reduced their tolerances quite a bit though, and 0.06mm (or 0.002") limit window seems a bit picky. No doubt the service places will have a field day with adjustments when someone here hits that magic mileage number and has it done.


Mack

[Stang10189]

what is that magic number for the first valve adjustment

[markjenn]

Originally Posted by Stang10189

what is that magic number for the first valve adjustment

30K km according to the service manual.

- Mark

[viperclaw]

It is just a misprint of the specs on the sticker. The clearances have always been the tighter number.

The ECI is the "emissions" sticker and every bike and automobile will have one. Ususally in an accessible location. Has valve clearances, engine idle speed, and other "tuning" information.