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1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 1:42 pm
by jjwithers
This is my first R65. It is a 1980 with the rectangular air filter.
I have a brand new air filter and the old one. Both have the same part numbers.
The old one is foam/rubber.
The new one has plastic surrounding it.
The new one does not fit properly into the bottom, or top section of the air filter 'sandwich' parts.
The plastic is too big and it leaves gaps at the bottom near the 4 clips.
Max's fiche shows the new kind with the plastic.
Is this a known issue and is there a solution?
I wish I kept the old one in better shape before my son poured dirt all over it and let it sit in the rain...

Re: 1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 2:21 pm
by Rob
Sorry JJ, I was a round-filter guy.
Weird and not good. Have you called the dealer you bought it from?
Re: 1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 4:52 pm
by jjwithers
Rob wrote:Sorry JJ, I was a round-filter guy.
Weird and not good. Have you called the dealer you bought it from?
The new filter came with the bike. But what is seen on MAX bmw as a new filter is the same as what I have. My new one and Max BMW both have the plastic around them.
I'm considering cutting the plastic and shaving down the areas that do not fit.
But if I can buy the proper version, I would. It makes no sense that they both have the same part numbers yet have different foot prints and materials.
Re: 1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 5:09 pm
by Rob
Get registered on this forum:
http://www.bmwr65.org/
They will have an answer. Although the airbox is probably the same as the 247s.
Edit: after looking at RealOEM, I don't see any difference between the drawings, even as far as they are ALL unavailable (the bottom piece).
I think it is a hinky filter. Did the PO say where it came from? Weird about the number.
Re: 1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 6:09 pm
by jagarra
I did some nosing around. I just could not get the Purolator part number to come up anywhere. The only filters I found were by doing a Goggle search with the year and model. Just to be on the safe side I would order one from a BMW dealer.
found a complete air box on e-bay, the filter with it looks like your example that doesn't fit. Could it be your air box has been changed in the past?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-BMW-R65-Ai ... 7e&vxp=mtr
Re: 1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 8:11 pm
by Bamboo812
Rotate it 180 degrees, front to back..?
Re: 1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 1:45 am
by jjwithers
The box the new airfilter came in is a BMW box with BMW part numbers.
I asked the R65 forum as well. no luck yet. Not much traffic over there.
I might heat up the air filter so the plastic gets soft and see if I can massage it to fit.
The bike only has 5000 miles on it so I am guessing the filter on the bike was on it when new in 1980.
But the foam footprint fits the top and bottom halves perfectly. The plastic does not.
Re: 1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 1:53 am
by Major Softie
jjwithers wrote:I might heat up the air filter so the plastic gets soft and see if I can massage it to fit.
Belt sander?
Re: 1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 1:57 am
by jjwithers
Major Softie wrote:jjwithers wrote:I might heat up the air filter so the plastic gets soft and see if I can massage it to fit.
Belt sander?
ha! I wish. There is a groove/footprint that is the problem. Although grinding away that plastic sounds fun... I doubt it is the solution.
Re: 1980 R65 Air Filter headscratcher
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 4:02 am
by SteveD
Cut the guts from the old foam one. Silicone some wire mesh inside it and then some foam sheet over that. Then cut a cleanable sheet of foam as the bit to lightly oil and place that on the fixed foam. Homemade reusable filter.
No worries!

Or, try turning the new one upside down. There was a batch that was printed wrong way up!