BMW R1100RT Final Drive Fluid Change 

It is also a good practice to remove the fill plug first so that the component will drain better and more thoroughly. But most importantly you are less likely to forget that the component (transmission, rear drive, engine, coolant, etc.) is empty if the fill plug is not in place. I've seen tech's forget and think that the rear drive is full because the fill plug is still there. When in doubt, check again. Better time management would avoid the possibility and remove the fill plug first. Thanks

This is more common than you might think, especially with hollow hex plugs, such as those used by BMW. The problem affects not only motorcycles, but cars as well. Rear differentials and transfer cases seem to be particularly prone to this. It may have something to do with the dissimilar metals (aluminum case and steel plug) causing galvanic corrosion, but I’m not sure. In the case of a car, judicious use of a torch will often free the frozen plug, but I’d be reluctant to try this on my RT.

Thanks for the excellent video! I have one tip that might save you or someone else a future headache. Loosen the fill plug first, before you drain the oil. Occasionally you'll run into a situation where the fill plug is frozen, due to corrosion, or possibly a heavy-handed mechanic that preceded you. This often requires that you drill the plug out and then use a multi-spline extractor to remove it. If you've already drained the oil, you could be stuck while you wait for a replacement plug.

You should never remove the drain plug first. Too often I've run into trouble with stripped fill plugs. Then you're stuck with a strained bike and no (easy) way to fill it.

Thanks for the input Sparks (can I call you sparks?) That's good to know.

Thanks for this vid, so great being able to see it (not just pics or diagrams).

That's a great point to make... luckily I've never found myself in that situation. Thanks for the advice!

Great video thanks and keep them coming cheers.

is there anything really wrong with using Valvoline gear oil?

Thank You......very well done