BMW HP4 (2012-2013) Complete Maintenance Schedule
This is the complete maintenance schedule for the BMW HP4, released in mid 2012 (see official press release) for the 2012-2013 model years. It’s distinct from the BMW HP4 Race which was released in 2017 for that year only.
While it shares a lot with the RR race bikes, the HP4 is technically a successor to the boxer-powered BMW HP2 Sport, which in turn had more in common with the BMW R 1200 S. But the HP4 is the first four-cylinder HP bike.
Here are all the maintenance schedules for the BMW S 1000 RR and related HP4 models:
The BMW HP4 is a race bike based on the already very race-oriented BMW S 1000 RR. It shares the inline four-cylinder engine of that bike — a liquid-cooled DOHC 16-valve engine that makes 142 kW (193 hp) at 3000 rpm, with maximum torque of 112 Nm (83 ft-lb) at 9750 rpm — but with tuning to increase midrange torque.
The BMW HP4 is distinct from the RR in that it’s built to be taken to the track immediately, with much lighter unladen weight (199 kg DIN unladen), due to lighter wheels, carbon parts, and exhaust. It comes standard with a lot of tech including Race ABS, standard DDC, Launch Control, race information on the console, a shift assistant, and more.
The BMW HP4 was made for two years, and was later succeeded by the BMW HP4 Race in 2017.
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BMW HP4 Service Intervals
Overall, BMW HP4 has 10 000 km / 6 000 mile or annual service intervals.
Simplified, the maintenance schedule for the BMW HP4 involves:
- A standard service every 12 months (irrespective of distance)
- Oil change every 10,000 kms or 12 months, whichever is earlier
- Valve service intervals of 30000 km/18000 mi, at which point you check the timing and change the spark plugs, and also change the fork oil
- Changing the brake fluid every 1-2 years
That’s for regular, street use, though. If you plan on tracking your BMW HP4 (as many do), then maintenance will be more intense. See below for the track-specific maintenance recommendations from BMW.
What you need to service the BMW HP4 — Consumables and Special Tools
For the BMW HP4, the manual recommends the following specific consumables.
Consider whether you also need any motorcycle maintenance tools — things like an oil catch pan, a paddock stand, and so on.
| Part | BMW HP4 |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | Similar to the S 1000 RR, the BMW HP4 needs, 3.5L of SAE 5W-40, API SJ/JASO MA2. Additives (for instance, molybdenum-based substances) are prohibited, because they would attack the coatings on engine components, BMW Motorrad recommends BMW Motorrad ADVANTEC Ultimate 5W-40 oil. |
| Oil filter | All BMW S bikes use a BMW/Mahle oil filter, part number 11 42 7 721 779. Available from Amazon. You can also use a Hiflofiltro HF160RC as a drop-in replacement that you can tighten or remove with a normal wrench. |
| Engine coolant | BMW recommends BMW Antifreeze/Coolant, with minimum 50% mixed with pure demineralised (not tap, not mineral) water. It’s based on ethylene glycol. But importantly, BMW says to never use coolants with nitrites or amines, those that “heal” the radiator, or a number of other solutions. |
| Spark plugs | NGK LMAR9D-J. This is what the manual requires. |
| Air filter | The part code for the air filter is 13 71 7 717 842, but a popular aftermarket air filter for BMW bikes is the DNA air filter, which has part code P-BM10S10-0R. |
| Brake pads | Use the standard brake pads by Brembo, which you can order from your dealer (34 11 8 534 234 for front, or 34 21 7 722 884 for rear). Or use EBC double hardened brake pads, a double set of FA447HH for the front, and FA213HH for the rear. |
BMW HP4 Maintenance Schedule (Street)
Below is the maintenance schedule for the BMW HP4 as per the service manual, translated to a table that you can apply in everyday use.
This is the maintenance schedule for the HP4 for street use. The maintenance for race use is a lot more aggressive and involves recommendations you regularly rebuild the engine!
Notes on the maintenance schedule
- Continue the schedule in the pattern shown after the end of it.
- The running-in check is omitted (it’s usually done by a dealer as part of the warranty period)
| km x 1000 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi x 1000 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 | Every |
| BMW Service standard scope (see below) | Year | ||||||
| Change engine oil and filter (BMW Motorrad ADVANTEC Ultimate 5W-40 oil, BMW/Mahle oil filter, part number 11 42 7 721 779) | X | X | X | X | X | X | Year |
| Check valve clearances | X | X | |||||
| Check valve timing | X | X | |||||
| Replace spark plugs (NGK LMAR9D-J) | X | X | |||||
| Replace air filter (P-BM10S10-0R) | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Change oil in the telescopic forks | X | X | |||||
| Change brake fluid, entire system (Castrol DOT 4) | 2 years |
BMW Motorrad Service, standard scope (BMW HP4)
The activities in the BMW Motorrad Service standard scope (that are to be done periodically according to the service schedule above) are listed below. The actual scope of maintenance work for your vehicle may differ.
[D] Some of the below tests, including those that need the BMW Motorrad diagnostic system or re-setting the service due date, require BMW-specific equipment.
- [D] Perform vehicle test with BMW Motorrad diagnostic system
- Visually inspect the brake pipes, brake hoses and connections
- Check the front brake pads and brake discs for wear
- Check the front wheel brake fluid level
- Check the rear brake pads and brake disc for wear
- Check the rear wheel brake fluid level
- Check the steering-head bearing
- Check coolant level
- Check throttle cable play
- Check fastener of clutch lever fitting
- Check clutch cable and clutch-lever play
- Lubricate clutch mechanism
- Check and lubricate the chain drive
- Check the tyre pressure and tread depth
- Check side stand for ease of movement
- Lubricate the side stand
- Check lights and signalling equipment
- Function test, engine starting suppression
- Final inspection and check for road safety
- Check charging state of battery
- [D] Set service interval with BMW Motorrad diagnostic system
- [D] Confirm BMW service in on-board literature
BMW HP4 maintenance schedule — Race engine
If you have a BMW HP4 with a race engine (not the stock engine), you have to drop the engine and do the following maintenance.
This is adapted from the service manual, but re-formatted into one table. You have to do some checks every race, and then service the bike by dropping the engine every 4500 km or 25 hours of use.
Legend for the below:
- C = Check
- R = Replace
- Cl = Clean (just one item)
- A = Adjust
| km x 1000 | – | 4.5 | 9 | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Every (period) | Race | 25 hours | 50 | 100 |
| Check/Replace selector star | C | R | R | R |
| Check/Replace complete selector shaft | C | R | R | R |
| Check/Replace clutch | C | R | R | R |
| Replace shift forks | R | R | R | |
| Replace spark plugs | R | R | R | |
| Replace air filter | R | R | R | |
| Replace engine oil and filter | R | R | R | |
| Replace timing chain | R | R | ||
| Replace chain tensioner rail | R | R | ||
| Replace chain slide rail | R | R | ||
| Adjust ignition timing | A | A | ||
| Replace top slide rail | R | R | ||
| Replace camshaft sensor | R | R | ||
| Replace valves, valve stem seals, top and bottom valve spring retainers and valve collets | R | |||
| Replace camshaft sensor | R | |||
| Clean all conrods | Cl | |||
| Replace conrod bearings | R | |||
| Replace complete piston | R | |||
| Replace crankshaft bearings | R | |||
| Replace gearbox input shaft and gearbox output shaft with shift forks, selector drum and selector star | R | |||
| Replace oil pump | R | |||
| Replace complete oil pressure control valve | R | |||
| Replace complete oil thermostat (oil thermostat cover and oil thermostat with spring) | R | |||
| Replace drive chain, gearwheel and chain guide for oil pump | R |
BMW HP4 Tire size and pressures
The following are tire sizes and tire pressures for the BMW HP4.
Of course adjust the pressures according to conditions, your weight, and style of riding. Being a track-focused bike, most people fit very sport-oriented tyres to their HP4 bikes, if not slicks.
| Wheel/Tire | Size | Pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70 ZR 17 | 2.5 bar (36 psi) |
| Rear | 200/55 ZR 17 | 2.9 bar (42 psi) |
About the BMW HP4
Seeing that the BMW HP4 is heavily based on the BMW S 1000 RR, to the extent that it shares the same motor, would make one naturally wonder: Why choose the HP4 over the S 1000 RR? Or why not modify the S1KR to make it an HP4 of your own?
Both the BMW HP4 and the S 1000 RR are based on the 999 cc liquid-cooled DOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine, with a chain-and-sprocket drivetrain and regular (inverted, though) forks as suspension. In other words, they’re both what you expect from an I4 superbike.
But the BMW HP4 is much more track-focused.
Here’s what’s different between the BMW S 1000 RR and HP4 in a nutshell. The BMW HP4 has:
- More mid-range power. The same peak power and torque, but an engine tuned for more power between 6000 and 9750 rpm. The engine also has the same throttle response and full power output in all ride modes (but other characteristics change, like ABS/traction control).
- Less weight: 199 kg wet weight (90% DIN unladen), compared to 206.5 kg for the 2012 BMW S 1000 RR (both including ABS). This came primarily via lighter 7-spoke forged alloy wheels, a lighter sprocket carrier, a titanium exhaust system, and a lighter battery.
- Standard Dynamic Damping Control (DDC). This became available in the 2015 BMW S 1000 RR, a few years later. The damping parameters automatically adjust based on road characteristics and riding style.
- Race ABS with an enhanced “Slick” mode — the “IDM” setting configures Race ABS with specific parameters, obtained from experience on the track, to optimise the HP4’s ABS for track use.
- Larger rear tyre — a standard 200/55 ZR 17 tyre. The S 1000 RR has a standard 190/55 ZR 17 tyre.
- Launch control — a feature which also came later to the S 1000 RR
- Lots of aesthetic changes, e.g. different windscreen, LED turn signals, various stickers, carbon fibre bits, etc.
In 2014, BMW started letting you retro-fit cornering ABS to the HP4 from 2012.
The Competition package added a few more nice bits, like a spoiler, different wheel colours, and hinged levers.
Aside from that, the BMW HP4 is what you expect: a race bike that you can still register and ride on the roads.
If you’re bamboozled by all the above, the important thing to note is that the Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) is what makes the HP4 stand out from its contemporary, the 2012-2014 BMW S 1000 RR.
The DDC adjusts rebound and compression damping as you ride. It detects how bumpy the road is and also how you’re riding and adjusts the damping for maximum traction.
The DDC system doesn’t just measure speed and acceleration/ deceleration. It takes input from an IMU that can also feed it information about pitch and lean angle. Because the BMW HP4 has an IMU already, BMW offered in 2014 the ability to retrofit these bikes with cornering ABS (ABS Pro in BMW nomenclature).
The HP4 was the first bike to race with front and rear electronic damping. This is now a de rigueur feature on high-end sportbikes.
Just in case you’re wondering — yes, the BMW HP4 has heated grips. But no cruise control.
Manual for the BMW HP4
The above information was gleaned from the owner’s manual for the BMW HP4, also consulting parts fiches for specific part numbers, and also the BMW shop manual, which you have to buy. Screenshots below.
You can download the original manual from BMW’s website here.
