Service bulletins related to the frame, forks, wheels, brakes will be listed here. You will see some that are no longer relevant, but they are included for historical purposes.
Warning, you will see inconsistencies in how BMW named, numbered and dated these service bulletins.
Just because your bike is 20-30 years old, don’t assume that owners, mechanics or dealers made these corrections. I have seen 50-year-old factory faults still not fixed.
Balance R68 wheels, June 1952
Rubber gators for forks, Sept 1952
Telescopic fork thread grease, frame, fork grease June 1954
Telescopic forks with full hub brakes Jan 1954
Sidestand modification,frame, sidestand Oct. 1955
Earles fork shock modification, frame, swing arm shock Oct. 1955
Adjustment and lubrication of front and rear swing arms March 1956
Update on adjustment of both swing arms from the above article Oct. 1956
R25, R25/2 front wheel hub change, frame, wheel hub June 1952
Tighten spokes, all models, frame, wheel spokes Sept. 1954
The first wheel bearing seal for R25/3, Sept 1954
Wheel bearing seal, R25/3, June 1955
Wheel bearing adjustment June 1956
Wheel bearing seals, R25/3 – R69 April 1959
Pg 1, swing arm grease nipple added, frame, earles swing arm pg 1 Jan 1964
Pg 2, swing arm grease nipple added, frame, earles swing arm pg 2 Jan 1964
Pg 3, swing arm grease nipple added, frame, earles swing arm pg 3 Jan 1964
Sidestand mounting bolt change, frame, sidestand June 1964
Solo seat increased suspension, frame, solo seat Feb. 1965
R27 seat mounting change, frame, R27 seat May 1965
Earles swing arm seal change, frame, swing arm seals Oct. 1965
Tapered bearing race puller bulletin 5-79-6NS
1970-71, /5 fork mod bulletin 029 M
Shock tightening 128 M, June 74
Fork bottom seal ring 055 M, Ded 1972
Disc Brake on the /6 092 m, Dec 1973
Approved fork fluids 117 M, May 1974
Driveshaft coupling bell change 118 M, May 1974
Michelin Tires for the R60, 1008R, Oct 11, 1977
Adjusting steering bearings, 1011 R, July 1977
Wheel & Tire damage 1026 R, Dec. 1977
Rear brake master cylinder splash guard 1030 R, Sept. 1977
Tire pressure and tread depth, 1036R, May 1977
Fork oil type and reduced capacity, 1038R, Nov. 1977
Fork to cockpit covers 1044R, June 1978
Alloy wheel tire mounting procedures, 1050 R, June 1978
New sealing procedure, 1052 R, June 1978
Tach installation, 1063 R, May 1978
Rear Drive ratios, 1064 R, Nov. 1978
Wheel and Disc brake runout, 1065 R, June 1978
Driveshaft Torsion Damper, 1067 R, Nov. 1978
Seat-tank interference, 1069 R, July 1979
R65 fork oil, 1072 R, July 1979
Dunlop tire approval, 1073 R, July 1979
Fork damper noise, 1077 R, Sept. 1979
Types of rear shocks, 2004, Sept. 1979
Winter or off-road tires, 2005, Sept. 1979
Excessive front brake lever travel 145 M, November 1974
Rear tire sidewall defect, 020R Oct. 2001
Leaking Front Brake Master Cylinder, 727 Sept. 1996
Damage to wheels and tires, 1026r June 1983
Michelin tires for the R80 G/S, 2032 June 1981
Nivomat rear shock failures, 2033 June 1981
R65 series delivered with wrong tires, 2044 Feb. 1982
Front fork noise, 2046 July 1982 This one is useful, check 2190 below
Mounting decals on the R65LS, 2053 March 1982
Seat fuel tank interference, 2057 March 1982
Approved wheels and tires, 2059 March 1982
Pirelli Tires approval, 2060 March 1982
Nivomat improvement kit, 2062 June 1982
Disc brake bolts may be loose, 2063 Nov. 1982
Valve stem nut position, 2066 Jan. 1982 This applies to all wheels
Continental tires for the R80C/S, 2067 Jan. 1983
Bleeding rear disc brake, R100RS, R100RT, 2071 Feb. 1983
Modified side stands, 2076 May 1983
Telescopic fork oil change, 2079 July 1983
Adjustable seat supports R80GS, R80ST, 2081 July 1983
Telescopic fork noise, 2082 Aug. 1983, still trying to fix it
Paint cracks on composite wheels, 2084 Aug. 1983
Nivomat shocks for all models, 2085 Oct. 1983, a sales pitch
Brake fluid maintenance, 2091 March 1984
Pulsating rear drum brakes, 2092 April 1984
Tire clearance error, 2094 Feb. 1984
Front cast alloy wheel recall, 2117 Aug. 1984
Front cast alloy wheel recall, 2117 Alternate Aug. 1984
Front cast alloy wheel recall procedure, 2123 Oct. 1984
Brake shoes and pads, many models, 2119 Aug. 1984
Continental tire approval, 2124 Oct. 1984
More continental tire approval, 2131 Dec. 1984
Double disc brake hose routing, 2148 March 1985
Metzler front tire ME 33 approval, 2153 March 1985
Glue those handlebar grips, 2155 March 1985
Don’t mount a sidecar, 2159 May 1985 this one is important
Frame and fork straightening, 2161 April 1985. They are hypocrites, as I witnessed BMW straightening many bent frames at the factory. After a frame was made, it had to be straightened. Included with the new frames were several frames from dealers from all over Europe. Several good frame straighteners are in business in the USA.
Nivomat improvement kit, 2062 June 1982
Water in hydraulic brake systems, 2165 June 1985
Rear wheel lug bolts, 2179 Oct. 1985 this is still important today
Front brake noise, 2190 Jan. 1986 still trying to fix this noise
Michelin tire clearance issue, 2205 April 1986 Oops, previous testing failed
Dunlop tires for the R80G/S, 2210 June 1986
Brake squeal, all models, 2220 July 1986
Fork seal leaking oil, 2221 July 1986
Modification to top fork spring support, 2222 July 1986
Rear drum brake squeal, 2230 Jan. 1987
More rear drum brake squeal, 2296 March 1988
Tire valve stem change, all tubeless models, 2236 Jan. 1987
Damaged front brake rotors, 2262 Dec. 1987
Disc brake squeal, all models, 2266 March 1988 They can’t even spell disc.
R100GS engine plate coming loose, 2302 April 1988
R100GS fender stiffener, 2307 April 1988
Leaking fork seals R80 & R100, 2320 Aug. 1988
Dual seat locating arm breaks on R100GS, 2321 Aug. 1988
Fairing fuel tank chafing R80RT & R100RT, 2325 Sept. 1988
Noisy upper fork spring support in 85 models, 2326 Sept. 1988
Softer rear suspension on R100GS, 2339 Feb. 1989
Motorcycle tire suggestions, 2363 July 1989
Loctite front wheel bearing cups, 2379 Dec. 1989
Asbestos-free brake shoes, 2395 Feb. 1990
R100GS front fender issue, 2405 May 1990
Sidestand repair for R models, 81-84, 2419 Aug. 1990
Michelin tires are available, 2439 Dec. 1990
R100GS shipped with the wrong fender, 2451 April 1991
R100GS 1990 fender with engine spoiler, 2452 March 1991
Brake pipe recall, 2466 June 1991
More brake pipe recall info, 2467 Aug. 1991
More approved tires, 2470 Aug. 1991
Later approved tire list, 2762 date not clear
Leaking front fork seals, all models, 2479 Sept. 1991
Rusty sidestand spring shackle 1991 R100GS, 2480 Sept. 1991
Tires & wheels information pamphlets, 2491 Nov. 1991
1991 R100GS rear shock number rub off, 2506 Jan. 1992
Brake pad recall, 2537 July 1992
Fork oil capacities, all models, 2547 Aug. 1992
Brake bleeder system, 2559 Nov. 1992 also check the tool section on this issue.
R1100RS handlebar recall, 2655 Nov. 1994
Modification to front brake and clutch systems, 2850 Nov. 1998
Cleaning of anodized wheels, 3600102 Jan. 2002
Updated 12 Nov. 2019