How To Change Oil on the BMW F800R – The Proper Way

The BMW F800R is a beautiful, versatile, European street bike that seems to be able to adapt to whatever situation you throw her into. In this week’s video and this accompanying article, I’m going to be showing you guys how to do an oil change on the BMW F800R the proper way… Because how BMW’s service manual tells you to do it isn’t completely what you’d expect.

What struck me as weird was that when I looked at other content on how to do an oil change on this bike, all the previous videos were missing something (no torque specifications provided for example), or they were doing things incorrectly (wrong oil grade being used). So I set out to make one video on YouTube that would show you how to change the oil on a BMW F800R in only seven easy steps.

Note: Everything you’re about to read can apply to any of the other F800 series BMW motorcycle like the BMW F800GS, F800CS, F800ST, and F800GT.

Click the little unmute button in the bottom left corner to unmute the video.

What you’ll need to do the BMW F800R oil change yourself

• 2.9 litres of 15W50 Semi-Synthetic or Full Synthetic Motorcycle Oil
• Oil filter removal tool
• 24 mm socket bit and/or wrench
• 17 mm socket bit may make installing and removing the oil filter easier on some oil filters
• Torque wrench that can do between 11 N-m (oil filter) and 40 N-m (oil drain plug)
• BMW OEM oil filter or equivalent
• Tray or oil drain pan to catch old oil
• Plan for disposing of old oil
• Rags and paper towel (optional, recommended)
• Gloves (optional, recommended)
• Funnel (optional, recommended)
• Table lift (optional, recommended)

Step 1) Warm engine and remove the oil filler cap and drain bolt

• Work on a warm (but not hot!) engine
• Take off the oil filler cap and put it somewhere clean and safe
• Put the oil drain pan under the motorcycle
• Use your 24 mm socket bit and/or wrench to take off the oil drain plug
• Note: Make sure not to lose your drain bolt or washer

Step 2) Remove oil filter and prepare your tools

• Position your oil drain pan to be able to catch oil from your oil filter
• Use your oil filter removal tool and a socket wrench to remove the oil filter
  • Note: You can use a 17 mm bit on the ends of some oil filters to remove them
• While waiting for the bike to drain completely, set your torque wrench to 11 Nm

Step 3) Lubricate the new oil filter O-ring and install the new filter

• Apply clean, fresh oil, to the rubber o-ring at the bottom of your new oil filter
  • Note: You should use clean gloves for this
• To install your filter you can use a torque wrench set to 11 Nm with either your oil filter tool or a 17 mm bit as applicable
  • Note: If you aren’t sure how to use a torque wrench, watch the video

Step 4) Clean and install drain plug and washer

• Set your torque wrench to 40 Nm
• Clean your drain plug and it’s washer of any oil and dirt or debris
• Put your 24 mm bit on your torque wrench and install the drain plug and washer

Step 5) Pour 2.9 litres of 15W-50 synthetic motorcycle oil

• Pour in 2.9 litres of 15W-50 synthetic motorcycle oil
• Wipe the dipstick / oil filler cap clean and reinstall

Step 6) Check the oil level

• Once you’ve completed steps 1-5 of the oil change, turn on your BMW F800R
• Let the bike idle until you hear the fan come on
• Once the fan comes on, set a timer for exactly 1 minute
• Once it’s been exactly one minute since the fan came on, turn off the motorcycle
• Remove the dip stick again and wipe it clean and then reinstall it
• Remove the dip stick a final time and look for the oil line to be between MAX and MIN

Step 7) Support free BMW F800 content by subscribing and then go for a ride

• Congratulate yourself on completing a thorough and proper BMW F800R oil change
• Subscribe to YouMotorcycle on YouTube and give this video a Like
  • Note: Both of these actions will help signal to YouTube that viewers appreciate this video and will in turn result in more people seeing the free content I put out to help motorcyclists out. If you liked these instructions, please help other riders see it too!
• Smile at your beautiful machine and then go for a motorcycle ride

BMW F800R oil change conclusions

It’s no surprise BMW has seen eight consecutive years of growth (see my thoughts on that here), whether you like them or not, they make great motorcycles. Now, between the text in this article and the video included above, you should be more than ready to know how to change the oil on any BMW F800 model motorcycle. If you do have any questions, don’t be shy. Leave your questions or comments in the comments section down below and I’ll be happy to talk to you!

COMMENTS: Was this article helpful? What do you think of the F800 series motorcycles? Leave me a comment and let me know!