Water Pump Leaking Bad

Hi All,
         This is my  first post. I have spent the last month or so reading and getting familiar with the site. I ran into a problem with my 2001 F4i. The water pump is leaking from the pee hole and I took the bike to the dealer and they comfirmed it. My question is has anybody changed their water pump. According to the dealer you have to drain the oil from the bike before you can change the water pump. I looked at the service manual and it says otherwise. It does not mention anything about changing the oil. Is the dealer trying to get my money or what? and can I do the job myself?
Thanks for all your help in advance.

Anytime you dissassemble the bike, you will pretty much have to drain the oil.  Change a clutch, replace a tranny. Its the basic foundamental to any work on a bike. Its easy to do. 10 minutes to change oil.
 

Have not had to change mine.  But the WP shaft does go direct into the crankcase so...its possible it might be better to drain the oil.
Might be a good excuse to change the oil and filter anyway.  Maybe change the hoses and thermostat too.

you need to drain the oil just a bit...the bike should be leveled and not on the sidestand. the pump shaft sits transects the bottom portion of the case and pretty much is bathed by oil in the pan. if you don't drain out a bit or keep the bike leveled, then oil will literally pour out of the hole that the pump inserst into. it's pretty straight forward procedure, combined with changing the coolant, bleeding for bubbles etc.

Thanks I will drain the oil and then change the water pump. I think I am due for an oil change. I will attempt a write up on "how to change water pump" and post it this weekend.