Please chime in on chains

[RollaCosta]

In appreciation of the upcoming chain replacement, may I ask those who have touched on the subject:

- Have you ever replaced the final chain; at what mileage?
- Was it a 520 or 525 chain? 72 links, right?
- Any issues with plastic rail wear?
- Must you use ec$$$pensive BMW oil?
- Gasket replacement needed?
- Axle seal replaced?

 

[Delray]

My 2013 GT hit 21,000 miles but I ended up selling it before a new chain was due.

I changed the plastic chain rail at 15k, from the original #1 to #2 (of four, changed every 15k). Easy enough work. I replaced the gasket and used MOTUL Gear 300 oil (75W90).

My notes from that time are pasted below, hopefully helpful ....

CHAIN, CHAIN OIL AND CHAIN RAILS

The four chain rails, changed every 15,000 miles:

33 35 8 533 983 CHAIN RAIL - STAGE 1 0.18* 1 * $26.29
33 35 8 533 984 CHAIN RAIL - STAGE 2 0.20* 1 * $26.29
33 35 8 533 985 CHAIN RAIL - STAGE 3 0.20* 1 * $26.29
33 35 8 543 854 CHAIN RAIL - STAGE 4 0.24* 1 * $26.29

CHAIN: BMW # 33838544675

SHAFT SEAL: BMW # 33358532912 (gray ring behind cover, $35 with tax).

GASKET: BMW # 33358540920

CHAIN LOCK: BMW # 27727720938

CHAIN OIL: 75W90 500 ml. MOTUL Gear 300 1-liter 75W90, $21. Need Permatex Blue Gasket Maker, $6.99, before opening the case.

TORQUE DRAIN AND FILL PLUGS: 14.75 ft. lbs.

TORQUE FOR SWINGARM COVER BOLTS: 9 ft. lbs.

FROM THE FORUM: “As for the chainset, at about 15,000 miles the first adjuster can be installed. This will be done every 15,000 as there are 4 sizes of adjusters. At about 60,000 miles the chain and sprockets are replaced (and you go back to chain rail #1). I did my first chain adjuster last summer used Gasket Blue to seal up the castings, no leaks.”

FROM THE FORUM: “To check the chain, remove the black oval BMW plate on the swingarm. There is an arrow. Lift up the chain with a screwdriver. If the chain lifts above the arrow (½ inch) it is time for a new chain rail.”

 

[Ceesie76]

Thanks so much for this info, again, Delray. I just ordered the various items on your list to install my first (stage 1) chain rail. I am just over 13,000 miles, so it's a bit early, but then again it's had a pretty hard life with the bulk of it city (Los Angeles) driving, start-stop and so on - also I like to 'get on it' and accelerate 'briskly' as they say. The bike is on its third mechanical timing chain tensioner, and just the other day I had to adjust the rear parking brake as it was no longer holding the bike in place with the sidestand extended. Like me, the BMW is not immune to aging!
I will do the check first (last item in your post) but I am actually hoping it is due for the new chain rail, and that this will remove the slight vibration that is now (since last week) appearing over 75 MPH and gets progressively worse as I go beyond that speed. It never did that before and so I am hoping it's the chain play that starts to cause vibration at the higher RPMs. I rode the 113 miles into work this morning and a lot of it is in carpool and express-toll lanes, where you really want to be able to comfortably match the speed of the people behind and in front of you, which can exceed 80-85 MPH at times.

 

[RollaCosta]

At about 50000 Km, I've had the chain replaced with the original, which was 525. 72L spec. Used original BMW oil "HYPOID AXLE OIL G3" which cost $120 AUD for 500 ML
IDK if that was necessary but that was insurance against the plastic-metal wear, I'm told. Gasket reused, axle seal new.
Improvements are noticeable, smoother start and roll-on, smoother clutch disengagements at stop, no subtle vibes in the middle of roll-on as before.
I still don't know why some chain sellers quoted me a 520 chain for BMW C650 Sport 2017 - anybody have the 520 sprockets, perhaps on the older models <2016?