1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher

[2valve]

Hi JJ, If all fails to find the same style of air filter without modifying the O.E airbox , could you use the K & N BM-0300 ?, looks similar around the sealing edges of what i could see.Some pictures are listed on K & N WEB site.Hope this helps.

[jagarra]

I was looking at the fiche on the A&S BMW site and there are 2 different air filters listed for your model. The picture looks like your original but there are different numbers listed.

02 Air filter element 1 13721337080 $35.95
02 Air filter element 1 13729062492 $36.81

Maybe a call to that dealer may be in order to see if they have additional information.

[Rob]

Life's a bitch...



...and then you buy an R65.

[enigmaT120]

Bob Roller over on the R65 site says the new filters don't fit our air boxes, but while I frequently have to hold mine just right and shove some, they always eventually fit snugly and the top goes on fine. You do have to have it oriented correctly. It's a tight fit between the starter cover and the battery support bracket stuff behind the filter housing.

[montmil]

Trimming the plastic frame near each of the four spring clamps make the install go easier.

[ME 109]

Bob Roller over on the R65 site says the new filters don't fit our air boxes

Purolator must have picked up on K+N's quirky little feature of not fitting. Bloody sales gimmicks.

[jjwithers]

Here is what i figured out.
The dimensions of my old and new air filter are off by 3mm in some areas. So with everything off the bike, I still can't get the air filter to fit the airbox parts.

1980 R65 bikes (and probably other models) have a sand-cast metal airbox (that connects to the carbs) and air intake (that goes above the air filter).

Into the 1980's, BMW switched to a plastic style. The plastic airbox can fit the new plastic air filter I have.

So I could take a gamble on the $80 K&N air filter and see if it works on my old sand-cast airbox.
Or...
I could buy a newer plastic airbox for about $50 that works with the air filter BMW currently sells and not have to worry about this again.

I am doing the latter... since they are plentiful out there.

-Josh

[Rob]

I'm glad you figured it out, and the resolution is cheap (same price as a filter?).