Fuel Strip Failure - interesting thread..

[BoxerSteve]

Was I the only one who felt a bit nervous about them using a sparking / piezo-electrical device right over a full tank of gasoline? Call me crazy but that just doesn't seem wise.

[BoxerSteve]

The fuel strip in my new bike was dead 30 miles from the dealership, at the 600 mile services it was documented, we will replace at the 6000 mile service later this summer. I like the lighter idea, if I was off warranty I would try that, well by the sounds of it I will have ample opportunity in the future.

You must be more patient, kind, and understanding than I am. I would have insisted they fix it at the 600 mile service. If not sooner. A brand new bike should have a working fuel strip.

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

Was I the only one who felt a bit nervous about them using a sparking / piezo-electrical device right over a full tank of gasoline? Call me crazy but that just doesn't seem wise.

Two things. One, the connections for the piezo are at the fuel pump flange which is under the tank, so not near any opening or fumes. Second, as long as the area of the 'repair' arcing is under the fuel, there is no oxygen available for combustion, so no risk of fire. That's why they called for an almost full tank. (You can look in the tank when it's half empty and see the top of the fuel strip.)

[Dr. Strangelove]

Oh lord! I am reading you guys... and I am lost.

Are we talking about a fix when the fuel sensor contribute to wrong estimate on the dashboard...

My R got that problem since almost now 2 yrs...
it estimate 140 miles maybe 120 until the bike stop dry dead on the freeway if I didn't preemptively refill before.

My mechanic is just all fuzzy about it...he don't look like he is excited at all to fix the mess.
He keep saying... "Sometimes it goes away by itself".... dude!

Right you are!
It is common. It is doubly bad because the low fuel light is tied into the fuel strip. You can use your odometer, but that can be not much better than a WAG to refuel. It is more than an annoyance; it can be dangerous.

This might be an interesting read for you
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=27412

you need to report it

I have contacted BMWNA and linked to them many of the threads on multiple forums, and I told them of my crash because of it--it did just what you describe. They have contacted me and I await an answer from them now before I reveal that exchange and the results of it.

John

[Newportcycle]

The fuel strip in my new bike was dead 30 miles from the dealership, at the 600 mile services it was documented, we will replace at the 6000 mile service later this summer. I like the lighter idea, if I was off warranty I would try that, well by the sounds of it I will have ample opportunity in the future.

You must be more patient, kind, and understanding than I am. I would have insisted they fix it at the 600 mile service. If not sooner. A brand new bike should have a working fuel strip.

After reading here and other forums, whats the use? Might just as well have the bike to ride and get it fixed just before the end of the riding season.

[deilenberger]

The fuel strip in my new bike was dead 30 miles from the dealership, at the 600 mile services it was documented, we will replace at the 6000 mile service later this summer. I like the lighter idea, if I was off warranty I would try that, well by the sounds of it I will have ample opportunity in the future.

You must be more patient, kind, and understanding than I am. I would have insisted they fix it at the 600 mile service. If not sooner. A brand new bike should have a working fuel strip.

After reading here and other forums, whats the use? Might just as well have the bike to ride and get it fixed just before the end of the riding season.

The fix takes about an hour for an experienced mechanic (and by this time - ALL BMW dealer mechanics are very experienced in replacing the fuel strip.) It really shouldn't tie up the bike for an entire riding season..

The dealer is being cute if they said they had to "document" it - BMW has given them carte-blanche to replace the strips. No documentation needed, and the R1200R strips are not in short supply (even though it seems as if I've used up most of them..) They order the strip (if it isn't in the dealers stock - mine now stocks my fuel strip..), you go in, give them the bike, get a cuppa coffee, oggle the new bikes, play with the display Nav-IV, chat up the parts guys, bug the salesman - and in about an hour they'll find you to tell you the repair is done (and hopefully - it's working.)

[Dr. Strangelove]

Not "carte blanche."
I had to pay $296 at 14k miles but out of warranty.
I am going to give BMW another couple of days then I will post my experience w bmwna on this

[jkhomes]

Inevitably, it appears my fuel strip sensor went out about the time this thread was revived. My Haynes manual said to take the side panels of my 08 R1200R and the fuel pump wiring connector will be on the left side of the bike. The picture in the Haynes manual looks similar to the picture on the ADV thread, but I see nothing on my bike that looks like that.

Can anyone give me some guidance as exactly where the connection for the "fuel strip repair device" is located on our bikes?

Thanks.

[dbrick]

Remove the tank from the bike. Turn it over, or pivot it forward so it rests upright. The connectors are on the circular fuel pump plate that you'll see on the inner face of the left side of the tank.

[rclbaker]

Hi,

As far as I am aware BMW - and certainly in Europe - has stopped with mounting the fuel sensor for the R1200R from March unwards.
Even if you order the BC you will find that the fuel indicator has been deleted in the dash.

Could we say: problem solved........

Cheers,
Rob

[Dr. Strangelove]

Hi,

As far as I am aware BMW - and certainly in Europe - has stopped with mounting the fuel sensor for the R1200R from March unwards.
Even if you order the BC you will find that the fuel indicator has been deleted in the dash.

Could we say: problem solved........

Cheers,
Rob

Interesting Rob, those would be the 2014 s?

But, I see your emoticon is "confused," so am I.
The "BC" is the On board Computer?
which fuel indicator? The level in the tank? The miles to empty? Both? So, then is there no gas gauge? Or??

Did they stop using the fuel sensor, and switch to a float, as I was told by BMWNA was in store for 2014? And what is your source?

The problem is far from solved for those who live and ride with it. New fuel strip failures arise every day..

What they need to do is make a fix for it, adapt the float from the 2014s or the RTs or the GSs. And they have to make an independent low fuel light. And do this fix without charge.

In the meantime report all failures to the NHTSA.
Look forward to your info though...thanks

John

[websterize]

I would happily submit my bike for a complimentary TSB that deactivates the fuel level sender and its dash warning lamp when it malfunctions, the residual range chicanery and those insincere fuel-level bars on the LCD. Fill up, reset the tripmeter, motor for 200 miles, rinse and repeat.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Aw, Bill, the level bars are insincere?
Dang! As that was the last measure I was following, I hoped they acted indepednetly of a failing fuel strip. I hoped so much for that I had JUST put three dots of paint, yellow/red/yellow that correspond w 3+, 2, and 1 bar so I can see with a glance where that (now insincere) level is without squinting to count the bars.
John
PS I went dry at 180.8 once.

[Catchina]

The fuel strip failure I've had which appears similar to what a lot of folks report is that it suddenly just stops working. Fine one minute then nothing, gas gauge shows empty and the fuel light is on. It stayed that way until the strip was replaced. But when it is working it seems fine to me, no insincere bars or miles to empty that seem way off. I fill up at 200 miles and miles to go show around 50, close enough for me.

[Martyn]

Hi,

As far as I am aware BMW - and certainly in Europe - has stopped with mounting the fuel sensor for the R1200R from March unwards.
Even if you order the BC you will find that the fuel indicator has been deleted in the dash.

Could we say: problem solved........

Cheers,
Rob

Interesting Rob, those would be the 2014 s?

But, I see your emoticon is "confused," so am I.
The "BC" is the On board Computer?
which fuel indicator? The level in the tank? The miles to empty? Both? So, then is there no gas gauge? Or??

Did they stop using the fuel sensor, and switch to a float, as I was told by BMWNA was in store for 2014? And what is your source?

The problem is far from solved for those who live and ride with it. New fuel strip failures arise every day..

What they need to do is make a fix for it, adapt the float from the 2014s or the RTs or the GSs. And they have to make an independent low fuel light. And do this fix without charge.

In the meantime report all failures to the NHTSA.
Look forward to your info though...thanks

John

It is my understanding that although the GS & RT models have gone back to a float, the 1200R is not being so changed - relatively low volume model is I suspect the reason. I suspect the dreaded strip will see the 1200R out until the end of production, presumably to be replaced with a liquid cooled version in due course. I had a demo. model ride 3 weeks ago, on a brand new bike whilst mine was being serviced, & it had both the BC & the fuel level gauge.

[deilenberger]

Not "carte blanche."
I had to pay $296 at 14k miles but out of warranty.
I am going to give BMW another couple of days then I will post my experience w bmwna on this

This REALLY depends on the dealer. One of those hidden secrets of BMW land. I had lunch with a service manager of one of the very leading dealers on the east coast (I can't say who, but this was last week..) and we discussed the fuel strips. His comment was "I don't understand why dealers make problems with replacing it. BMW almost always extends warranty for a bike within a year of the warranty running out, and it doesn't count against the magic warranty/sales formula that BMW judges a dealers warranty claims by."

Horses mouth. This guy processes them. If the dealer says "no" BMW backs them up. If a dealer says "yes" - BMW backs them up. BMW will only once in a blue moon over-ride what a dealer asks for in warranty good-will. I've only heard of BMW doing this when a dealers warranty claims get way out of skew for the number of bikes they sell.

Is BMW being unreasonable with you? I'd say yes - but I suspect the root of the problem started with your dealer denying the claim.

[rclbaker]

As I already said, the fuel strip has been deleted in Europe.

See http://www.bmw-motorrad.de/de/de/index.html
For you who don´t understand German, see:
- Service,
- Betriebsanleitungen,
- R1200R. There you can download the service manual for the latest R1200R in Europe, in any language. In the manual you only will see a N for neutral in the dash (page 20).

Cheers, Rob

[Catchina]

As I already said, the fuel strip has been deleted in Europe.

See http://www.bmw-motorrad.de/de/de/index.html
For you who don´t understand German, see:
- Service,
- Betriebsanleitungen,
- R1200R. There you can download the service manual for the latest R1200R in Europe, in any language. In the manual you only will see a N for neutral in the dash (page 20).

Cheers, Rob

Yep, looks like its gone. It only has a light when the reserve level is reached, no bars for fuel display or miles to empty.

[hjsbmw]

That looks to be the same for the US model, but there still ought to be a sensor to detect you reached reserve level. I can't find a '13 fiche to see what type they employ.

[websterize]

Same thing for the U.S. manual. And, apparently, no more engine temperature bars (Those symmetry freaks.)

2013 U.S. owner's manual, Feb. 2013, p. 23, under the "Fuel reserve" section

The fuel level at which the reserve warning lamp actually lights up will vary according to dynamic riding conditions: substantial in-tank fuel motion (from frequent changes in lean angles when cornering, frequent braking and acceleration) makes it more difficult for the system to determine when the fuel falls to the reserve level. However, the quantity indicated as the fuel reserve on the rear cover represents the minimum in the tank when the lamp initially lights up.

The programmed minimum is 3.2 quarts (3 liters).

After the fuel warning lamp is switched on, the distance driven since this point in time is indicated.

Sounds like a tripmeter.

The distance, which can still be driven with the reserve quantity, depends on the driving style (on the consumption) and on the fuel level when the warning lamp was initially activated (see the explanation above).

Find fuel quickly, but don't ride like you stole it.

The odometer for the fuel reserve is reset if the fuel level after refueling is greater than the reserve quantity.

By refueling, the bike deactivates the warning lamp until whatever sensor now installed measures the 3-liter reserve. Seems so simple, so non-BMW. A complimentary retrofit would be lovely, Motorrad. Don't need the fuel bars or residual range, but I would miss the engine temperature readout.