Technical Service Manual - 2018 - R 1200 RT

[d_e_a_n]

I am new to BMW ownership so forgive me if I should know this. I have been searching this forum and the internet in general for a technical manual for a 2018 R 1200 RT

1. JVB Productions - http://www.jimvonbaden.com/
2. Chilton/Hayes - semi generic manuals
3. BMW official DVD
- https://www.amazon.com/BMW-Motorcycle-Repair-R1200RT-R1200ST/dp/B00A7P2E02
- https://www.ascycles.com/bmw/2014/R1200RT/Technical Literature/Repair manuals.html
BMW DVD says it is ready for Windows XP... not inspiring... Does not mention if it covers newer year models 2016-2010
4. eBay - forgeries on CD or DVD - might work, but I am not into copyright infringement. I'd rather buy legit.
5. "Chris on the street" Excellent, but he doesn't have everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0UhPhg5MvI

All that I have found are the above resources but I'd like a real shop manual. And, the official BMW DVD that I am seeing stops at year 2016. I can't find a DVD or other resource that fits my year. The BMW website guides you around in circles for ever and you never get to anything other than an Owner's Guide that has basic things like how to check your oil level.

If you know where to get a real technical manual that includes newer bikes please respond.

 

[52184]

I am new to BMW ownership so forgive me if I should know this. I have been searching this forum and the internet in general for a technical manual for a 2018 R 1200 RT

1. JVB Productions - http://www.jimvonbaden.com/
2. Chilton/Hayes - semi generic manuals
3. BMW official DVD
- https://www.amazon.com/BMW-Motorcycle-Repair-R1200RT-R1200ST/dp/B00A7P2E02
- https://www.ascycles.com/bmw/2014/R1200RT/Technical Literature/Repair manuals.html
Says is ready for Windows XP... not inspiring... Does not mention newer year models 2016-2010
4. eBay - forgeries on CD or DVD

All that I have found are the 3 above resources. And, the official BMW DVD that I am seeing stops at year 2016. I can't find a DVD or other resource that fits my year. The BMW website guides you around in circles for ever and you never get to anything other than an Owner's Guide that has basic things like how to check your oil level.

If you know where to get a real technical manual that includes newer bikes please respond.

2018 R1200RT would be a K52 model, so the dvd you’ve referenced at ASCycles should be correct for your bike. Part# 01598405651. The corresponding GS manual that I use with my 2018GS is #01598405652 and can be updated for current data once installed on a computer with an internet connection. The dvd can be activated three times, but upgrading your computer system (say Windows 8 to Windows 10) requires reactivating the dvd, so you don’t want to install on more than one computer.

I would expect the 651 manual to work the same way, but can’t verify that as I’ve not purchased one.

Best,
DeVern

 

[lee]

I am new to BMW ownership so forgive me if I should know this. I have been searching this forum and the internet in general for a technical manual for a 2018 R 1200 RT

1. JVB Productions - http://www.jimvonbaden.com/
2. Chilton/Hayes - semi generic manuals
3. BMW official DVD
- https://www.amazon.com/BMW-Motorcycle-Repair-R1200RT-R1200ST/dp/B00A7P2E02
- https://www.ascycles.com/bmw/2014/R1200RT/Technical Literature/Repair manuals.html
BMW DVD says it is ready for Windows XP... not inspiring... Does not mention if it covers newer year models 2016-2010
4. eBay - forgeries on CD or DVD - might work, but I am not into copyright infringement. I'd rather buy legit.

All that I have found are the 3 above resources. And, the official BMW DVD that I am seeing stops at year 2016. I can't find a DVD or other resource that fits my year. The BMW website guides you around in circles for ever and you never get to anything other than an Owner's Guide that has basic things like how to check your oil level.

If you know where to get a real technical manual that includes newer bikes please respond.

Welcome to the forum.
The DVD from Amazon is not for a liquid cooled R1200.
I purchased from Jim Von Boden and from my BMW dealer.
If you have a dealer you plan to use, just buy the BMW DVD from them. The price on the BMW DVD does not vary much from different vendors.

 

[Boxflyer]

For the 12k/20k KM service please take a look at this series of 6 videos.
Hope they helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0exJbyMnGQg

 

[Omega Man]

Welcome to the forum!
You may have and interest in this-


https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?70623-Wetheads-Accessories-Mods-and-DIY-s

Gary

 

[lkraus]

2018 R1200RT would be a K52 model, so the dvd you’ve referenced at ASCycles should be correct for your bike. Part# 01598405651. The corresponding GS manual that I use with my 2018GS is #01598405652 and can be updated for current data once installed on a computer with an internet connection. The dvd can be activated three times, but upgrading your computer system (say Windows 8 to Windows 10) requires reactivating the dvd, so you don’t want to install on more than one computer.

I would expect the 651 manual to work the same way, but can’t verify that as I’ve not purchased one.

Best,
DeVern

I believe BMW dropped the DVD reactivation requirement and installation limit after too many people had difficulties with the way Windows 10 does automatic updates.

Personally, I think the BMW DVD is the single best choice.

Jim vonBaden produces useful guides for basic maintenance, if that is where you draw the line on DIY work.

Haynes is a little too generic for me, and sooner or later I always find needed details missing. They do (or did) include basic wiring diagrams, which the BMW puts on a separate DVD.

The official DVD will have all the procedures, torque values and specs you will need for even major work. It's expensive compared to Haynes, but the price is typical of any factory manual and less than ~1.5 hours of shop labor rates. The linked procedures are nice. If you want to replace the framistat, but the thingamabob has to come off first, the framistat procedure will take you to the thingamabob procedure and back.

 

[Rainman48]

I believe BMW dropped the DVD reactivation requirement and installation limit ...

Absolutely correct, and it is updated on-line on a regular basis.

Last update was available on March 10, 2020, indicating it is the April 2020 update.

 

[52184]

I believe BMW dropped the DVD reactivation requirement and installation limit after too many people had difficulties with the way Windows 10 does automatic updates.

That’s great if they did, but is that only on newly purchased DVDs or will the restriction also no longer apply on existing DVDs? I still get the warning message when I start the application, even after the April update.

DeVern

 

[ccolwell]

It depends on how much you are going to do yourself. I'm new to wet/hex/shift heads but I found that the Haynes/Chilton for airheads were generally enough for basic maintenance and well beyond. Early days but I suspect my own work on the new one will be limited to oil changes, valve adjustments (maybe) (ok, almost certainly as I will shame myself into it) and chassis maintenance.

 

[cap]

+1 to the Boxflyer videos for the 12k major service.

I also own the BMW DVD and can assure you that it can be updated online. As others have noted, it has more information than most owners will need. But that owner-needed information goes well beyond oil changes. For example, replacing a burned out headlight bulb might be something an owner would attempt. The DVD has the step-by-step procedures for removing about half the front end of the motorcycle to get to the headlight pod, so that you can replace the twin high beams on the RT. Or, another example, something as simple as changing the front wheel, the DVD shows the correct procedures that include exercising the front forks before final tightening of the axle nut. The DVD has an infuriatingly-bad user interface that you will eventually learn to navigate. I only use the DVD when I can't find reliable information from other sources... but I am really glad that I have it when I can't find what I want elsewhere.

Cap

 

[Rainman48]

That’s great if they did, but is that only on newly purchased DVDs or will the restriction also no longer apply on existing DVDs? I still get the warning message when I start the application, even after the April update.

DeVern

The release of restrictions must apply to old versions as well as newly bought. I bought mine at the same time as I bought my brand new '16 RT. I don't exactly recall the solution that I used to whatever "warning message" you are referring to. If it's the one that asks you to reactivate your copy from the DVD, then do that. I run mine from my hard drive and following the last reactivation with the DVD on both my computers, it never balks again. There is still the message screen about how to perform activation, re-activation, and revoking activation, limits, blah, blah, blah after the title screen, but they are not enforced anymore, and probably the last two years of Windows updates don't cause activation problems any more.

 

[52184]

The release of restrictions must apply to old versions as well as newly bought. I bought mine at the same time as I bought my brand new '16 RT. I don't exactly recall the solution that I used to whatever "warning message" you are referring to. If it's the one that asks you to reactivate your copy from the DVD, then do that. I run mine from my hard drive and following the last reactivation with the DVD on both my computers, it never balks again. There is still the message screen about how to perform activation, re-activation, and revoking activation, limits, blah, blah, blah after the title screen, but they are not enforced anymore, and probably the last two years of Windows updates don't cause activation problems any more.

Thanks, that’s useful information!

DeVern

 

[Dann]

The release of restrictions must apply to old versions as well as newly bought. I bought mine at the same time as I bought my brand new '16 RT. I don't exactly recall the solution that I used to whatever "warning message" you are referring to. If it's the one that asks you to reactivate your copy from the DVD, then do that. I run mine from my hard drive and following the last reactivation with the DVD on both my computers, it never balks again. There is still the message screen about how to perform activation, re-activation, and revoking activation, limits, blah, blah, blah after the title screen, but they are not enforced anymore, and probably the last two years of Windows updates don't cause activation problems any more.

From the DVD

Repair Manuals activation

This DVD is copy-protected and can be activated on three different Windows computers. Existing activations are lost when the operating system is upgraded (e.g. upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10). Consequently, activation must be reset on each computer before its operating system is upgraded.
The DVD must then be reactivated (as for the initial installation) after the upgrade.
Activation can also be reset manually: do this by running Repair_Manuals.exe from the DVD using the parameter /revoke.

Resetting activation

Prerequisite: Internet connection and serial number (printed in the DVD booklet)

Start the installed Repair Manuals application (not from the DVD).

•Carry out an update procedure (in the usual way): Do this by pressing the Repair Manuals Update button in the main application view.
•Call up the Settings from the main window and click on the Reset activation button:
A new dialogue box appears:

•Click on the Start Online Revocation button.
•Once the process has completed, you will see a message stating that the licence has been successfully removed. Confirm this by pressing the OK button.
Reactivating the Repair Manuals application

•Start the installed Repair Manuals application (not from the DVD).
•The activation dialogue box appears on screen. Activate the application in the usual way, using the DVD's serial number.

Resetting lost activations and assistance in the event of problems

•Please send an email to support@securom.com if you have lost activations as a result of operating system upgrades because the activations were not first reset.
•Include the following data with your email so that the support specialist can get back to you promptly with a solution:
◦Serial number of the Repair Manuals DVD
◦Screenshot of the fault message

 

[Dann]

It depends on how much you are going to do yourself. I'm new to wet/hex/shift heads but I found that the Haynes/Chilton for airheads were generally enough for basic maintenance and well beyond. Early days but I suspect my own work on the new one will be limited to oil changes, valve adjustments (maybe) (ok, almost certainly as I will shame myself into it) and chassis maintenance.

It's useful even for simple things

I bought a used OEM tank bag and looking at the DVD a saw that the screws for the attach points on the bike had to be changed from the original ones on the bike to screws of a different length (Which are normally included with a new bag)

YMMV