BMW S1000R (and XR and RR of certain years) camshaft / camchain noise. Fitting the updated silver (from black) cam tensioner cap at 16395 miles

BMW S1000R (and related engines for RR and XR)

Many describe S1000R engines as noisy
I think my engine sounds like a bag of spanners, certainly compared to any of the Japanese inline fours. (probably one of the very few 'negatives' of an S1000R when parked up with your mates on a rideout)

Probably my biggest complaint of this bike, but in reality I dont think theres anything really wrong and it still performs really well.

In this case the 'noise' is related to

1. Noise from around the cam/chain area on startup (oil drain from the tensioner?)

2. Noise from general engine running (stretched cam chain)

3. (if you have a noise/tick that persists as you rev the bike up to 4krpm, then this is an indicator you have an issue that would NOT be solved by this updated cap.) From the videos Ive seen this can indicate camshaft lobe failure. (especially if you have a early Gen 1 S1000R)

4. the clutch's can also be noisy. try pulling in the clutch lever to see hwo much if any difference to the overall noise it makes (as this has nothing to do with timing chains!).  search for noisy clutch basket, or clutch basket failure

For my own engine S1000R 2017 Gen 2 Ive owned it from 9,000 to 16,000 miles(today) and the noises have never changed in that time.

1.  I can definitely hear a few seconds additional noise on startup when the bike is left for > week without running (assumed to be the tensioner filling with oil)

2. engine seem noisy but im not entirely sure how much is cam chain

(every other S1000R Ive met in the flesh on rideouts has sounded the same or worse!)

BMW have never issued a recall.
BMW did issue a statement and an alternative part but many dealers are not aware of this. (for the USA really)

All you can do is check your own bike

Heres the USA note on the issue
BMW PuMA measure 54380454
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10154766-9999.pdf

States that at around 9000 miles the cap can be replaced from black to silver IF you have a noise.

BLACK cap is OE fitted at build : Part No 11317718069
SILVER cap                          : Part No 11318534849

Silver cap (only) is £29
https://www.motorworks.co.uk/timing-chain-tensioner-screw-plug-ena34849-1.html

NOTE : Do not fit the silver cap if you have a low mileage bike
NOTE : If you fit the silver cap and there is no change in noise, you should probably put the black one back in
NOTE : silver must be replaced back to black if you get chain etc replaced (on my bike Im expecting this at 36k miles)

In reality all this cap does is place more pressure on the tensioner which is transferred onto the chain

Alternatives

Instead of just swapping plugs (with fixed distance push on the tensioner), you can go for a 

manual tensioner
https://www.camchaintensioner.co.uk/product/bmw-1000rr-manual-cam-chain-tensioner/
£57

this allows infinite adjustment but is a little trickier to setup to make it tension just the right amount (not too little or too much)

My biggest suggestion would be watch lots of videos and listen to other bikes

videos

startup noise

a continued ticking noise at 4k rpm indicates cam failure and was seen in early RR's?


Fitting Silver cap

I fitted the silver cap at 16395 miles to my bike.

I bought 24mm spanner  (£10) specifically to remove and refit.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09XB9GN8F
I didnt remove any fairings to get access, but it is tight to get access.
I re-used existing o ring

• Unscrew bolt
• Take o ring off black cap and fit to silver cap
• Screw silver cap in (you will have to push it to get the threads to catch)

Of note theres another o ring inside around the tensioner (its bigger than the diameter of the tensioner so i presume its a secondary seal for the cap itself.

It did definitely take away some chain noise from the background 'clatter'

Of note its still a noisy idling bike, so by no means quiet but quieter.

Mine AFTER the silver plug installed