Carb Rebuild Kits

[BPT]

I know not to order direct from Bing due to cost.  I know that BMW is supposed to have the same Bing stuff for less.  How about the aftermarket kits?  Any that are good or absolutely avoid?  It seems like the diaphragms are the most sensitive to quality issues.

I've seen good things written about EUBMW.  Great prices and quality stuff.  Anyone here have experience with their carb kits?

Looks like I need to get into mine and figured I should have the stuff on hand.

[Justin B.]

I haven't checked for a while but Capital Cycle's prices don't seem too bad - just avoid the aftermarket diaphragms...

[BPT]

I looked at Capital and their prices are low.  I was wondering if they're too low to be the "real" diaphragm?  $36 for the kit and $14 for the diaphragm alone.  They don't give much for details  about them, just Bing 32mm. I can email them and see what they say.

[Barry]

Motobins do both genuine and pattern rebuild kits. The genuine kit is double the price of the pattern kit.   The suspect part in pattern kits may be the diaphragm. Some say they work fine and some say they don't.

https://www.motobins.co.uk/bmw-parts.php?model=R%20Series%202%20valve%20Twin

[BPT]

That's what I've discovered, Barry.  The general consensus seems to be no problem with the gaskets and o-rings. And that makes sense.  I know the diaphragms are the critical/finicky part.  On ADVRIDET I saw most of the good reviews of the EUBMW kit.  And nobody said bad things about the diaphragms there.  I'll do some digging, maybe I can get a cheaper kit to save some money but get OEM diaphragms separately.  I was hoping maybe someone here had some real world experience with some of the aftermarket ones.

I called the local BMW place and they don't have any in stock.  So I figured if they have to be ordered anyway, I may as well try to find a better price, if possible.

[marcmax]

That is what I did when I rebuilt mine. Bought a pattern kit and oem diaphragms. Don't know if the pattern diaphragms would have worked but I have heard too many people having issues over the years to want to chance it.

[wilcom]

I think the cheap diaphragm would be good to have as as an under seat emergency kit.

[BPT]

So where did you all get your OE diaphragms?  My local place didn't have the kits but I forgot to ask about the diaphragms separately.  They're probably on the high side pricewise anyway.

[Tony Smith]

Motobins do both genuine and pattern rebuild kits. The genuine kit is double the price of the pattern kit.   The suspect part in pattern kits may be the diaphragm. Some say they work fine and some say they don't.

https://www.motobins.co.uk/bmw-parts.php?model=R%20Series%202%20valve%20Twin

This is a favorite topic of mine....
30 years ago when shops dedicated to the repair of carbs still existed I used to use Stromberg diaphragms in the 40mm bings on my R100.

I had no problems.

More recently I have fitted the non OEM diaphragms that come with the Motobins kit to both my R65 and the wife's R65/80

I had no problems.

It is my considered view that the "problems" experienced by some people and blamed on non-OEM diaphragms were entirely of their own making and that better attention to detail the first time they put their carbs together would have prevented the problems from occurring in the first place and that the diaphragms non-OEM or OEM status had nothing to do with it.

Save your money for spending on OEM parts that actually are better than the non-OEM alternatives - like valves, valve springs, timing chains, gears etc.

[Justin B.]

I have read some folks "thought" the Stromberg diaphragms were a bit "stiffer" than the Bing, but who knows.  Cautionary tale - Never buy anything from BMW of Ft. Worth unless it's in stock and an absolute emergency.  The few items I've bought/ordered were List plus 20-30% so never again.  Last thing I bought was an oil filter a few years ago and I think at that time list price was between $12 and $13 and from those yahoos I barely got change back from a $20!

[mrclubike]

 If I were rebuilding the carbs just for routine maintenance and the bike was running fine other wise
I would try the pattern kits and if the bike didn't run the same after that you could always put in genuine parts 

[mrclubike]

Just remember to change the Needles and needle jets
They do wear against each other and need replacing
It does not take much to change the mixture
You will want to take the carb apart and get the numbers off of them to make sure you get the same ones 

[BPT]

You're right Justin, if you are talking about Freedom Powersports.  I've heard about other places where the local BMW dealer has old airhead parts in stock and for a good price.  I guess we're not so lucky here.  I've called a few times and they never have anything in stock. And just as you said, their prices are always higher than BMW list.  Only once did I get anything from them, an oddball gasket. It was a hard to find item so anywhere else would have been high with shipping so I went with them.  They wanted $85 for the rebuild kit and a minimum of 4 days to ship. 

MrClubike - I'm still chasing problems and need to look at my carbs now.  One of the possibilities is a problem with the diaphragm so that's why I was asking for recommendations on the various kits.