BMW Airhead Circlip Modification Explained

[@altuspienaar7679]

Great video with vital info every airhead owners should see.

[@panagdimi]

OK, nice video, ...but! I have searched extensively on the Internet and discussed this with local (Chicago area) mechanics and there is no consensus on: 1) If this was intentionally done by BMW or they somehow messed up. 2) What is the best course of action evaluating if a BMW bike "suffers" or will suffer from that. 3) What is best: to preemptively perform the modification on ANY bike at ANY time or wait until the "signs" are clear that the transmission is about to go. 4) What are these "signs". 5) What is the cost doing that before problems start and what when failure is imminent. Thank you for your help with this, I am in the market for a R100R and since I found about this I am having second thoughts. I simply cannot accept (not without proof) that BMW basically botched this just to save the cost of a machined (output) axle and retaining circlip.

[@tedporter58]

The discontinuation of the clip and then the subsequent reintroduction of the clip were well covered in service bulletins from BMW. Professional BMW mechanics such as myself who were working in the industry during those years are well versed in this topic. Yes BMW intentionally removed the clip stating that it was no longer necessary as described in service bulletin #2217 dated June 1986. Then they realized it was indeed necessary and described bearing damage caused by the missing clip in the second bulletin on the topic #2805 in December 1997. They also put the clip back in production for the last of the new Airhead models starting with gearbox number 240765 somewhere in the 1995 model year. I believe there is solid consensus on this issue, sounds like your resources are not well informed. The longer you wait to replace the missing clip, the more damage could occur and the more costly the repairs. Therefore I always recommend preemptively getting the work done BEFORE additional damage happens.

[@lastairhead]

Great! Mine is “92! So...no circlip :) It’s only 45 000km and so far only transmission output seal failed.

[@panagdimi]

A question for Beemershop: What would be the difference of your shop's cost to fix that with the bike there or with just the parts shipped in? Thank you!

[@tedporter58]

We only do component repair, we don't take in whole bikes for service work.

[@subagon]

I have a '93 GSPD. I was told that it may or may not have the circlip. Opinion?

[@stephanthiel4358]

The 1993 model did not have the circlip. BMW reintroduced the clip at some point in 1995 starting with gearbox number 240765.

[@panagdimi]

Excellent point, are you basically quoting from "snowbum's" website?

[@tedporter58]

No, I don't have any reason to go to Snowbum's site, although I have contributed to it. I do know him, we've chatted occasionally and he has brought his motorcycle to our shop for service when we were still doing whole bike service. I believe he has quoted me on his cylinder head page and I have provided other technical info when it's been useful. He's done a great job gathering data from so many sources and putting it all in one place for Airhead rider's to consume. That's a lot of work and my hat's off to him, but as a pro BMW mechanic, I don't have much need for visiting his site. My responses here are from doing this work for a living for the last 40 years and counting. :-)