BMW Airhead Oil Changes are Hilariously Overcomplicated

I've done a good bit of work on BMW airheads, but I wouldn't call myself an expert. I've gone about as far as possible into the airhead engine as there is to go, but I haven't worked on every single variation that is out there.... and there are a lot!
People tend to group the whole lot of models (perhaps as many as forty) into one big cuddle puddle we like to call 'airheads', however there were several changes made to them over the several decades that BMW had them in production. A great example of the chaos that this can cause is trying to figure out just how the oil change process goes for a particular model, and just what parts are needed to do it correctly.
It's not that the process is that difficult, but it's both confusing getting started and, frankly, sort of a pain-in-the-ass dealing with getting that dang plate off.
Listen, if you've read this far just watch the video my wireless keyboard is flashing its battery light at me which means it's abou
_________________________________________________________________
I'm on Instagram @roodlum / roodlum
_________________________________________________________________
00:00 Intro
00:57 Draining the oil
01:29 Wait, what parts do I need?
04:34 The 'Junk' that makes this annoying
05:19 Disassembly
06:55 The Filter
07:37 The White O-Ring of Death
08:47 A Confession
09:40 Reassembly
10:08 Priming the System
12:02 Final Remarks

[@alanhassall]

I rode a Pacific Coast. It was an extremely good motorcycle. My dad has three Airhead BMWs and he uses the hinged filter on at least two of them.

[@roodlum]

I had one too! Excellent bike, if a little unexciting. I wasn't kidding in the video, except for that unfortunate trouble with the regulator/rectifier.

[@bradcrossman5068]

Love the PD. Hard to find examples of them around here and if you do, they're $$$. Cheers from Eastern Canada! 😀

[@albertzuger3178]

Nice bike BTW. I’ve been in love with the r80gs and r100gs for over 20 years. Never knew the oil change was such an ordeal though.

[@roodlum]

Thanks! It’s worth the effort, at least.

[@ChunkehMunkeh]

Hey Rich, what's that bike beneath your flow chart?

[@roodlum]

That's a 1970 Honda CL350, it's actually the first bike I ever owned, though it didn't look anything like it does now. Eventually I want to make a video with it, but I have to order a lot of copper rod and sheet first!

[@ChunkehMunkeh]

@@roodlum thought I'd not seen any video of it.

[@meowingon]

You are nice! :)

[@roodlum]

no u

[@norberthaase1697]

Bist du sicher,dass dein Ölfiltermantelrohr nicht schon umgebördelt ist?Dann gehört die Stahlscheibe nicht rein.

[@BlackArtBMX]

Some beginner confusion & differences in parts which is to be expected and the shimming procedure seems unnecessary but all in all, not that bad. Then again I'm getting used to changing 19 filters and cleaning 20 magnetic plugs with their mesh screens, filling 7 different hard to reach ports with oil and then airing the system on my LC4, and still having to change worn out rocker bearings yearly... Too bad I didn't get an airhead a couple years ago when they were 3 grand. Now they are upwards of 6 with none for sale that aren't wrecked into cafe racer garage ornaments. Thanks for the clear vid, will be useful in the future.

[@roodlum]

Yes, there's nothing difficult on the airhead, it's just a lot of silly pain-in-the-ass stuff to get through. Perhaps I over-dramatized a bit... seems like the Austrians have the Germans beat on over-complicated engineering. Certain models, at least in my area, can still be had for a deal. For whatever reason, the /7's are still usually cheap here. I did get pretty lucky with the PD, those have gotten expensive in the past few years. Thanks for watching man-

[@BlackArtBMX]

@@roodlum That Dakar model is going to be unobtainium in a few years. I already thought they were.

[@ughidontcareok]

all the best bikes are holongonmitized

[@albertzuger3178]

Would pulling the plug wires work for priming the oil system?

[@roodlum]

It would, though by draining the carbs, you won’t risk flooding the cylinders with fuel which can wash down past the rings and contaminate your brand new oil :)

[@shortattentionspangarage1312]

Or pull the plugs entirely, so the engine wouldn't flood the cylinders with fuel. And it's easier on the starter.

[@roodlum]

that's a good option too.