Air filter removal

[wascoman63]

Well, I appear to be even denser (more dense) than I previously imagined.

I'm trying to remove and replace the air filter on a '90 K75 and I'm having a hell of a time.  I've removed the three clips and I can, with great difficulty, pry the rear of the airbox open far enough that I MIGHT be able to remove the air filter.  Not so in the front.  At most I can raise the front up about 1/4" to 3/8".

The Haynes manual says that air filter removal is a "one wrench" operation - the easiest, suitable for a 4th grader with ADHD.
I read and re-read Frankenduck's post on air filter replacement.
I watched and re-watched Chris Harris' Youtube video on air filter replacement where he slides a filter in and out with ease.

But I can't do it.  I need help.

Do I have to remove the gas tank?  Do I have to remove the rubber hose on the front of the airbox that connects to airflow meter?

Anyone?

[TimTyler]

 The top and bottom halves of the air box act like a clam shell. The filter slides out straight and flat to the right side of the bike. Don't try to wiggle it to the front or rear of the bike. The filter has grooves that mate with the airbox.

The filter's rubber sides are probably stuck to the plastic airbox. Use a flat head screwdriver to pry it loose but don't break the plastic airbox. Maybe spray a little WD40 where the filter meets the plastic.

[wascoman63]

Thanks for trying to help but my issue is very different from the air filter being stuck.  It appears to be impossible to separate the top of the airbox far enough from the bottom in order to slide the air filter out.

At this point I have simply decided to live with the old air filter.  Someday, when I take the bike to someone else for service, I will ask for help in opening the airbox.

I love BMW bikes and 95% of the time I am impressed with the thought, engineering, and design put into the various parts and pieces, but this airbox/air filter design sucks big time.

[TimTyler]

Thanks for trying to help but my issue is very different from the air filter being stuck.  It appears to be impossible to separate the top of the airbox far enough from the bottom in order to slide the air filter out.

Remove the three clips and slide the filter out with some force.

[Laitch]

. . . this airbox/air filter design sucks big time.

Not nearly as much as walking through a forgotten minefield in Laos.

Hitch up your britches, review Chis Harris's instruction video, follow Tim Tyler's suggestions, drink a protein-rich smoothie with plenty of banana to calm yourself, tie a bandana around your head, grit your teeth, quit wringing your hands, buck up, get on with it and pry that sucker out of there.

[Elipten]

I was thinking the same thing.  Man up and jerk it out of there.  Thousands have done it.

[duckhawk]

Just got back from up North and found my new UPS delivered air filter waiting in the garage.

I'll try the install tonight and get back with the results, or any additional insights.

Planning on some heavy miles the next few days with the new/used kick-a**  Parabellum fairing.   :riding:

If I get stuck or frustrated, I take a break and do something else and then come back to it...

[duckhawk]

The filter change didn't take too long, 20 minutes.

Of the 3 clips that hold on the cover, the rear left should be un-clipped at the top but not removed at the base, ( kind of a pain to reinstall, but doable with a flashlight on the other side).

Long nose needle nose pliers helped. Real long nose hemostats would be perfect.

Since the air box and breather tube are hard plastic, I just rattled the exposed filter back and forth until it loosened up, like the Chris Harris video.  I was not worried about destroying the old "UNI" filter with the black foam prefilter that had disintegrated.


If it was stuck, I would have sprayed some silicone spray with the red straw into the gaps on the right side between the air box and filter.

If it was really stuck, I would have screwed two  1 1/2"drywall screws into it laterally to ease the removal.

I took a crevice tool and vacuumed out the bottom of the air box gently.

Get'er done. My old filter was past due. With the new spark plugs, fairing and air filter I expect an increase in MPG.

Good luck.