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

When doing a brake fluid change on an ABS R1200R is the procedure the same as with earlier ABS models
Simply suck out old fluid in reservoir and refill and keep full whilst bleeding out the calipers or is it necessary to bleed from the ABS pump as well

Depends on what "earlier ABS models" you're talking about. If you mean pre-whizzy brakes - then yes, it's basically like flushing any brake system.

DO NOT use a vacuum bleeder on this system. Doing so risks ruining the ABS modulator - which has no rebuild parts, and new costs a good fraction of the cost of the bike.

R1100RS and K1200RS both of these I simply did as you would with out ABS new fluid in reservoir and pump through with the leaver or foot brake until new fluid has completely replaced old.

deilenberger wrote:DO NOT use a vacuum bleeder on this system. Doing so risks ruining the ABS modulator - which has no rebuild parts, and new costs a good fraction of the cost of the bike.

I've read the same on the MOA forum, but only after I had already used a Mightyvac or whatever it's called. That was around 6000 miles ago. How would a ruined ABS modulator manifest itself? Is there a test to verify its proper workings? I do have a GS911.

Herald,

Dunno - except perhaps an error message when it goes to initialize. Apparently the vacuum bleed/flush can pull one of the seals inside out, meaning it no longer seals the bore of the piston it's in. Probably no external signs - so one would have to rely on something like the GS-911 to determine if there is a problem report stored.

deilenberger wrote:Herald,

Dunno - except perhaps an error message when it goes to initialize. Apparently the vacuum bleed/flush can pull one of the seals inside out, meaning it no longer seals the bore of the piston it's in. Probably no external signs - so one would have to rely on something like the GS-911 to determine if there is a problem report stored.

Thanks. No error codes, blinking lights, or such. I did go back and found what prompted me to use the vac device in the first place:
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=36364
Does the '07 RT have a different ABS where using a vacuum will not create problems?

hjsbmw wrote:I did go back and found what prompted me to use the vac device in the first place:
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=36364

I contacted the author of this DIY writeup. He stated that a danger to ruin the ABS modulator exists only if you apply a vacuum directly to it, not when using a vacuum device to extract fluid from the reservoirs and calipers as outlined in his procedure.

So, how did the people who ruined their ABS units do it?

Harald,

No idea. But I'd suggest using: http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=38825

It's specific to the R12R.. and you know where you can ask questions if needed.