Air,
Excerpts from Snowbum's web page...
"For the later wheels where access is had withOUT heating, BMW nicely changed the design, and access to the wheel bearings is generally just a simple matter of prying out the grease seal and its lipped metal spacer, which is often just called a Top Hat Spacer. Â Â The lip, or hat if you will, on that spacer is INside the seal if assembled correctly." Â "The wheel seals are not overly critical to being installed squarely and exactly to proper depth. Â They DO last longer and work better if installed squarely. Â You do NOT need special tools for removing and replacing the seals." Â Bob has recently included a very nice Wheel Seal Chart. Have a look...
http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/section4.htmI still measure the old seals, identifying them "L" or "R", "Front" & "Rear" and mention to the parts guy their dimensions, number of wiper rings, whether they have metal or plastic jackets...just to make sure. Â Unless you have a lot of confidence in who you are ordering from. Â The Real OEM Microfiche pages have been known to have errors in this area.
[size=12]BUT-[/size]If replacing the seals is absolutely no option...
Remember the "brim" of the top hat should be inboard of the seal, if you're very careful with a blunt wide blade screwdriver (or similar tool), and you're slow and deliberate - you may be able to save and reuse the seals.
Maybe
-Mike V.