deilenberger wrote:One important thing - Miles to Empty (Range) - depends on the average MPG (which can change obviously), apparently in the GS manual they stress for accuracy the average MPG should be reset with every fillup.. Since I've taken to doing this - the Range readings seem a bit more accurate.
Don
I know I've thanked you for this tip - works a treat on my '07 (2nd fuel strip). I now have occasion to thank you again!
Off touring to the MotoGP and back, with an '09R12GS (and a Street Triple .. what a mighty little bike!) and my GS mate kept pulling us up coz he was out of fuel - only to take slightly more fuel than my R12R. I passed on your tip, and hey pesto - we're back to decent fuel range again. (O'course, he wouldn't take my tip - ignore the gauge and reset the trip meter.)
cheers
Bill
Naturally, it occurred to me that it was a reset issue in Heathcote, Victoria ... which the Aussie soaks among us will know is home to the biggest, most glorious shiraz (aka syrah, herimtage) on the planet .. you septic tanks can ask Robert Parker Jnr for confirmation ...
Thanks! I've just gotten in the habit of get gas, reset odometer, reset average MPG, reset average speed. Once it's a habit, it's one less thing to worry about. Mine seems to get much more accurate as it nears the end of the tank. The beginning of a tank it barely moves, then the countdown starts, by the end of the tank it's about mile per mile... and if I take it down to 20 or so (after the light turns on at 40 miles left) - the tank takes almost 5 gallons (meaning there is about 1/2 gallon or so left..)
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
Last Friday I had my inoperable fuel strip changed, but the mechanics could not "calibrate" the new one and the warning light stayed on. Yesterday I filled up and guess what? The warning light went out and the fuel strip seems to be working. Not sure if it will need to be re-calibrated to be accurate, but at least the warning light went out. I will still reset the trip mileage at each fill up.
Mark_1
"... Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union." Frank Lloyd Wright
deilenberger wrote:… I've just gotten in the habit of get gas, reset odometer, reset average MPG, reset average speed. Once it's a habit, it's one less thing to worry about.
Root Cause Analysis.....has anyone seen their bad fuel strip after it's been taken out ? Has anyone's dealer offered up a root cause for the failure ?
Anyone here getting theirs replaced, tell the dealer you want your bad part. In the automotive business a failed part is likely to be sent back to the factory for a Root-Cause-Analysis, particularly with electronic parts. Isn't this being done by BMW ?
If we knew the root cause...well, then we might be able to fix it.
I just fail to understand why this problem seems to be ignored by BMW. I can understand a devise having say a 5% failure rate, but such a part should be replaced with a redesigned part that doesn't fail. BMW knows exactly what the root case is, they're just trying to get by with the cheapest way out for them.
Anyone here work for FOX News, maybe we can get it blasted over the media from coast-to-coast in order to get BMW's attention. Maybe we could all start inundating the cycle rags with tips for future BMW buyers.
From Cycle Worlds long term ride report on the 2009 F800GS.....
We ran out of gas four times due to a faulty fuel-level sensor. The unit was replaced with a similar design from another manufacturer and accompanied by a software update during the 6000-mile service at our local dealer, Irv Seaver BMW in Orange, California.
Similar design from another mfg ???
Software update ?
Anyone know anything about these ?
Ric wrote:I just fail to understand why this problem seems to be ignored by BMW.
Things fail - everyone's things fail - but BMW doesn't talk about it. Airhead valve seat recession? Oilhead surging? Rear drive failures? R1200 ignition switch antenna ring? Fuel strip? I'm sure they work on fixing this stuff, but there's never acknowledgment or public discussion.
They're Cherman. Alle schweigen. Vielen Dank.
David Brick
Santa Cruz CA
2007 R1200R
priors: R50, R50, R69, R69S, R65, FJ1200, K75S, R1100RSL
There have been rumors of a new vendor for the fuel strips.. but not confirmed. Dealers no longer have to give the dead strips back to BMW, so simply asking a dealer will probably get you a bunch of them. Several people have disassembled some looking for anything obvious (including moi) - but nothing conclusive. Most likely a problem in the strip termination/junction to the wires for the connector - but that's potted in plastic so about impossible to easily examine. The strips themselves have looked quite healthy, nothing at all suspicious looking.
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
dbrick wrote:Things fail - everyone's things fail - but BMW doesn't talk about it. Airhead valve seat recession? Oilhead surging? Rear drive failures? R1200 ignition switch antenna ring? Fuel strip? I'm sure they work on fixing this stuff, but there's never acknowledgment or public discussion. They're Cherman. Alle schweigen. Vielen Dank.
I was a design Engineer for Daimler. I can tell you that any electrical failure of this kind with them is going to have a design change in the works within a few weeks and replacement parts out the door to dealers in a month or so.
If their working on fixing this, it's sure taking them some time as I understand this problem to be several years old. Am I wrong ?
There have been rumors of a new vendor for the fuel strips.. but not confirmed. Dealers no longer have to give the dead strips back to BMW, so simply asking a dealer will probably get you a bunch of them. Several people have disassembled some looking for anything obvious (including moi) - but nothing conclusive. Most likely a problem in the strip termination/junction to the wires for the connector - but that's potted in plastic so about impossible to easily examine. The strips themselves have looked quite healthy, nothing at all suspicious looking.
I was just throwing out the Fox thing as an example idea. I wrote Cycle World & Cycle Guide last night. Yeah I know, it won't do any good....right.
I really do not want to jinx myself, but I have an '08, not one dealer visit for this issue---and I for 'carbon-copy' do the Deilenberger:
"I've just gotten in the habit of get gas, reset odometer, reset average MPG, reset average speed. Once it's a habit, it's one less thing to worry about. Mine seems to get much more accurate as it nears the end of the tank. The beginning of a tank it barely moves, then the countdown starts, by the end of the tank it's about mile per mile... and if I take it down to 20 or so (after the light turns on at 40 miles left) - the tank takes almost 5 gallons (meaning there is about 1/2 gallon or so left..)"
When I mentioned this to my dealer in the So Cal (to be left nameless so I may still be allowed to talk to them), I was told this crap will go on for quite some time. BMW is already switching back to floater balls. I really don't know what to think, but I am following Deilenberger's system, and I always have. My odometer does not lie, and I fill-up when I get to one third tank. Gives my ass the break it needs at the same time!
'11 BMW F800R
'08 BMW R1200R
'07 BMW R1200S
'84 BMW R100
It looks like I am another person who has problems with the fuel strip. Going to work today I looked down and I had 3 bars on my gas gauge showing. Coming home I look down and see the fuel light is on. My trip odometer shows 169 miles and my MPG reading is 47. Somthing is not right. Did I have a fuel leak? I am on the freeway, in the rain, thinking am I going to run out of gas. I pull off the freway get gas and put 3.5 galons in the tank. With the tank full I have no bars on the fuel gauge and the fuel light is still on. The bike is a 08 with 2732 miles on it. I bought it used in December. I need to call the dealer and have it changed under warranty.
How long does it take to change the fuel strip? Has BMW found a fix for this? I will contine to use the trip odometer to verify my fuel level and start looking for gas around 220 miles.
