Fuel Gauge

[deilenberger]

As this seems to be a reacurring probblem, I wonder if it is the Ethenol in the fuel causing the probblem,

Nope Same problem happening in UK, Yurop and Canada where they don't mix booze with gasoline. It's not the ethenol.

[Dad2g5]

Well my fuel gauge once again took a crap. My one question is? Will BMW come up with a fix for this or will have i start paying for this repair when my warantee is up, I'm on my second strip if this continues to be a problem I will have to get rid of the bike and consider other brands.

[deilenberger]

Well my fuel gauge once again took a crap. My one question is? Will BMW come up with a fix for this or will have i start paying for this repair when my warantee is up, I'm on my second strip if this continues to be a problem I will have to get rid of the bike and consider other brands.

Just start using the odometer. Bikes didn't always have fuel gauges.

And the replacements are warrantied for 2 years (parts and labor), even if installed at the end of a warranty (like mine was) - and if the replacement craps out within 2 years.. it's replacement is covered, etc.. etc.. etc..

If they don't fix it they may go broke paying for replacing the fuel strip (I suspect the vendor is actually paying.. BMW does that sorta thing to vendors who fook up..)

[Tr250Tom]

"How far have you guys (and gals) gone on a tank without running out?"

I ran out at 280 miles when the bike was new. The gauge said 34 miles remaining, and I didn't know any better yet. I fill to just above the bottom of the filler neck, a bit more than the manual calls for but not grossly overfilled.

The dealer replaced the fuel strip inder warranty, and calibrated the new strip with a measured 1-gallon quantity of fuel (apparently, there's a documented service procedure for this.)

Now the "miles to empty" page of the computer typically shows empty at about 280 on the trip odometer, so I believe it. Fuel light comes on at about 35 miles remaining. No issues in 20k miles with the new strip.

Cheers, Tom

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

Good info Tom and websterize. I'll adjust my fill up target from 220 to 250 and see how it goes. I assume, Tom, that when you get 280 miles your fill is aroud 5.5 gal? From this info, it appears that my new gauge is pretty accurate.

Here's to getting max miles on a tank without a long walk

[xprof]

Just be careful: the miles remaining depends upon the speed you are going. I got 66mpg over 50 miles at a steady 55mph, and 27mpg at a steady 100mph. When the fuel light goes on, I now know to slow down if a gas station is not near. Don't ask how I know this, but it included pushing the bike up and over two hills...

[deilenberger]

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.

[Dad2g5]

Does the fuel strip work of resistance if it does what i plan on doing when i find out what the ohm reading is at full I will solder in a resistor of the same ohm spec before the strip that way the gauge always reads full. then I'll be happy cause that low fuel light pisses me off especially after I paid 15k for this bike. My pieco of poo 79 yamaha xs1100 never gave me any problems whatsoever

[Stef.]

Well...and I thought my bike was perfect - fuel gauge developped a problem and my bike is only 7 months young. Will be repaired udner warranty next week. Happened from one second to the next...suddenly it showed me a full tank eventhoughI knew it wasn't full. Hope nothing else goes bonkers...
Stef.

[red baron]

Four months after my fuel gauge malfunctioned and was repaired I have now the same problem again. Mine went out after a last Sunday Breakfast ride within the city. I believe the gauge stopped to work when I negoatiated a corner with a rough pavement. Anyway the shop will try to fix it tomorrow. Mine is a 08 R1200R with 20,000 miles on the odometer.
Peter

[bmwk100]

I ran out of gas with my computer saying I had 30 miles to go last week with 1300 miles on the odometer. Lesson learned.

[Mark_1]

I'll see your fuel strip and raise you two.

When I picked up the new 09 last month the fuel light was on and the indicators were not working. Got the "it will reset when you fill up" advice from the sales guys. It did not reset. Went in today to have the fuel strip replaced. New fuel strip could not be "calibrated" and did not work. Will be going back when the new parts one arrives.

The 08 also had fuel strip problems and I've learned the hard way to track the mileage and ignore the electronics.

Mark_1

[dav]

Mine started playing games after 9months after leaving the dealer's floor, (new).

I did't worry about it until the next service (20k's). I mentioned the fuel strip with the service manager/master tech & he said they recalibrate the strip first & then go from there, that was 2 months ago & 3000k's later & all is still good.

[Stef.]

Four months after my fuel gauge malfunctioned and was repaired I have now the same problem again.

That's bad news Peter and I thought once they replace/ repair it the problem will be sorted forever??? Anybody else here who had this problem reaccuring?
Stef.

[deilenberger]

Stef - unfortunately - it seems very common for it to repeat, especially (and why I have no clue) on certain bikes. There are people on another hexhead forum I'm on who have had 4-5 replaced just under factory warranty. I had one replaced since mine acted up one time shortly before the warranty ran out - so far that one has been in about 8,000 miles and I've had no problems with it (knocking on formica oak-pattern phoney wood desktop..) I managed to keep the old one, and it had gotten better after the strange single incident (indicating full with a 150 mile tank... then slowly dropping back to reality. It was a hot day and I'd gotten a particularly cold tank of gas that AM..)

[Ric]

Well my fuel gauge once again took a crap. My one question is? Will BMW come up with a fix for this or will have i start paying for this repair when my warantee is up, I'm on my second strip if this continues to be a problem I will have to get rid of the bike and consider other brands.

Does the fuel strip work of resistance if it does what i plan on doing when i find out what the ohm reading is at full I will solder in a resistor of the same ohm spec before the strip that way the gauge always reads full. then I'll be happy cause that low fuel light pisses me off especially after I paid 15k for this bike. My pieco of ----- 79 yamaha xs1100 never gave me any problems whatsoever

XS1100....Ha ....what a pig of a bike that was. Lets see, what was available....the new Suzuki GS1000, the new Honda CBX....ummm.....Say, I don't remember, did that 630 pound behemonth have a fuel gauage and computer to give out miles to empty ?

But you're right, a 15k dollar bike shouldn't have a fuel gauge issue. And, it should have been taken care of by BMW a long time ago. But it doesn't make the bike a worthless piece of crap. However, if you're unhappy, I'd throw the POS out on the curb. Someone will pick it up.

[hjsbmw]

Stef - unfortunately - it seems very common for it to repeat, especially (and why I have no clue) on certain bikes. There are people on another hexhead forum I'm on who have had 4-5 replaced just under factory warranty.

Just my speculation: could it be those people have habits or add-ons that lead to the failure repeatedly? I don't know what could go wrong, but with sensitive electronic equipment strange things can happen. One thing I noticed is that, at least sometimes, if I switch the ignition on and off without allowing the self-check to complete, the average mpg are reset. So the sequence of doing things must have some effect on what happens in the electronics.

I have not had a problem so far, and mine seems reasonably accurate. I don't rely on the 'so and so many miles left' information and keep an eye on the miles since last fill up. I think the most I have gone on a tank was around 230-240 miles, and the most I had to add then was somewhere between 4.5-5 gallons.

[websterize]

I don't rely on the 'so and so many miles left' information and keep an eye on the miles since last fill up. …

Words to motor by on this bike. If you do, you'll never get stranded.

[oalvarez]

new leftover 2009 r1200r here.....will need a new fuel strip just like my new (at the time) '09 GS needed.....

and yes, never rely on your fuel gauge.....never.

[Stef.]

Just my speculation: could it be those people have habits or add-ons that lead to the failure repeatedly?

hjsbmw- I have not altered my bike in any way. The only thing that I have done is attach a cable to the battery to work with my heated vest. That cable has been on for a couple of months and all worked fine until the other day, when I had to get my bike to BMW to change my back tyre which had a nail in it. The moment I picked up my bike, the fuel gauge went bonkers. Tomorrow they will repair it and I sincerely hope that I do not have issues with it again. I love my bike and this will not diminish my love but I find it irritating if my fuel gauge gives me readings that are all over the place.
Stef.