BMW R1100RT, R1100RS, R850, 1100GS, R850, 1100R Service Manual 1994–1999 (P/N 01 71 7 654 296, 01 71 9 799 171)

• Covers BMW R 1100 RT, R 1100 RS, R 850 GS, R 1100 GS, R 850 R, and R 1100 R. This is the 464-page Repair Manual R259 PDF, published by BMW Motorcycle After Sales; the imprint identifies UX-VS-2 and states “Produced in Germany 02/00.”
• Engine sections document removal and installation of the air-cooled four-valve boxer with oil-cooled exhaust ports. Internal repair coverage includes cylinder heads and valve gear, valve guides, cylinders and pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft and bearing checks, timing chains, auxiliary shaft, oil pump, radial seals, reassembly, and ignition timing.
• The single dry-plate clutch, five-speed gearbox, and BMW Paralever rear drive are covered through clutch centering, shaft and selector work, bearing and seal replacement, gearbox shimming with and without BMW's Clean Bearing method, input bevel pinion and crown-wheel service, backlash and tooth-contact checks, and driveshaft/rear-swingarm work.
• Chassis chapters cover BMW Telelever fork and leading-link service, front and rear suspension struts, steering cables and damper, brake calipers and master cylinders, ABS unit and relay-base work, ABS sensor-gap adjustment, wheel bearings, static balancing, and spoked-wheel centering.
• Motronic MA 2.2 and fuel-system work includes throttle bodies, injectors, air cleaner, fuel pump, filter and level sender, fuel distributor and pressure regulator, and pump-pressure testing. Engine-electrical chapters add ignition-coil checks, alternator and starter repair, Hall-effect gate service, central electrical equipment, relay and fuse assignments, instruments, lights, and model-specific harness routing.
• Production-change notes identify R 1100 RS gearbox and final-drive differences between the 1993 build and 1994-on production, including M94 gearbox procedures. The manual also distinguishes the 1995-on Hall-effect gate arrangement, 1996-on cylinder-head specifications, ABS-specific sections, and cast-versus-spoked wheel procedures.

From Engine Removal to Final-Drive Setup

BMW organizes the manual into 19 construction groups and follows a workshop sequence of removal, disassembly, repair, assembly, and installation. It is not limited to service checks: the engine chapter includes the support fixtures and chassis separation required for removal, then continues through measurement, inspection, sealing, assembly, and final installation. Gearbox and rear-drive work continues through shaft-bearing measurement, bearing preload, shimming, tooth-contact verification, and operational checks. Model tags such as [RS], [RT], [GS], [R], and [ABS] keep different layouts and procedures separated.

Service Data, BMW Tools, and Reference Views

The front matter includes the BMW 1,000 km inspection, 10,000 km service, 20,000 km inspection, and annual service, plus the pre-delivery check, Inspection I-IV references, operating materials, and separate tightening-torque tables for RS/RT and GS/R configurations. Component chapters add capacities, approved lubricants, wear limits, clearances, bearing and shaft measurements, fuel-pressure data, ignition and charging tests, brake specifications, wheel runout, and model-specific adjustment data.

BMW tool callouts are built into the work descriptions. Representative examples are the Synchrotester No. 13 0 800, TDC pin No. 11 2 650, gearbox measuring plate No. 23 4 600, rear-drive measuring fixture No. 33 2 600, and diagnosis tester No. 61 1 510.

Named reference drawings include the Sectioned Drawing of Engine, Lubricating Oil Circuit, Cooling Oil Circuit (with Oil Thermostat), Gearbox - Sectioned Drawing, Rear Wheel Drive - Sectioned Drawing, and left/right wiring-harness views for the RT, RS, and GS.

Model-Specific Limits and Repair Traps

The frame and equipment chapters extend well beyond powertrain work. They cover RT and RS fairing and windshield systems, GS front bodywork and luggage rack, R rear trim, frame and rear-frame removal, stands, footrest plates, seats, locks, instrument clusters, and model-specific headlight removal and adjustment.

Electrical coverage is component- and routing-focused: relay positions, fuse assignments, the ABS frame harness, and model-specific harness views are included, but they do not form a complete circuit-diagram set. BMW directs parts identification to separate parts microfiches; this publication is not a complete parts catalog. The manual also references separate Motronic and Synchrotester diagnosis instructions for deeper fault analysis. Coverage is keyed to model tags and model-year changes; the publication does not provide a VIN or chassis-number range.

Two factory cautions show why the correct chapter matters. The throttle-body section warns that disturbing the sealed stop screws loses the factory basic idle-flow setting and leaves the unit requiring a manufacturer reset. During Clean Bearing gearbox measurement, striking the shaft can move the bearing off its locking ring and invalidate the shimming setup. Engine removal, fuel-system, and brake/ABS work also require stable support, electrical isolation, and controlled handling of fuel and brake fluid. BMW states that the procedures apply to standard motorcycles or genuine BMW accessory configurations, not modified machines.