Fuel strip

[finsally]

Advice needed on fuel strip,my bike is a 08 R1200R 6000miles on the clock.

I filled it up on Saturday ready for a ride-out on Sunday,when i was on my way to meet up with some mates a noticed the fuel strip went right down and the fuel warning light came on,however when we set off it corrected itself and all seemed ok.

We stopped for a coffee after having covered 150 miles,then when we left the coffee stop,it dropped again and the fuel warning light came on,within a few minutes it corrected itself and all was well.

Does this mean it will happen again and will have to be replaced and at what cost?

I live in north-east England also when it happens does the fuel range on the computer still give the correct reading?

Cheers Bob

[websterize]

Sounds as if you're out of warranty. See if your dealer will work with Motorrad on replacing the fuel strip on good faith. I, and many others here, have had fuel-strip failures.

[ammolab]

Bob: Many or nay....MOST of us have noticed that the range function of the computer NEVER gives you the "correct reading".

I ran dry of fuel with 28 miles "remaning" shortly after buying my R1200R.

Get that fuel strip replaced but remember that your computer is optimistic at best. Set your trip mileage to ZERO on fillup. If you hit
200 miles on that trip odometet, you need to find a fuel stop.

[jkhomes]

That does not seem to be correct fuel strip behavior, but my understanding is that they are temperature sensitive. Mine takes a minute to recalculate after filling up with petrol. The first fuel strip on my bike was replaced, and I never had a problem after that.

[finsally]

Thanks guys,computer says 75 miles before the tanks is empty,i have covered 206 miles since i filled up on Friday,I will fill the the tank and see if the fuel strip behaves.

Cheers Bob

[redwing]

I have watched the "miles to empty" fall 2 miles to the odometer's 1. Seems BMW could better use the computer's memory and have some usable feature than a mistake waiting to happen.

Robert

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

Finsally, As you get familiar with the bike you can make your own numbers since we all are different. But for a guide, think about 220 miles per tank and a complete fill up is over 5 gallons. From that you can feel your way, but you should be safe at 220 miles per tank. Note that I stuff the tank when I fill up. Of course, the carbon canister fell off my bike some time ago so I don't have to worry about that issue.

[Lost Rider]

Finsally, As you get familiar with the bike you can make your own numbers since we all are different.

But for a guide, think about 220 miles per tank and a complete fill up is over 5 gallons.
From that you can feel your way, but you should be safe at 220 miles per tank.

Good advice, and like you said everyone rides different. I very rarely get 220 out of a tank, more like 180 (my fuel light usually comes on around 160) unless I'm consciously trying hard to save on fuel or when traveling. I love feeling that engine go through the full range of RPM's and gears. But I look at every freeway entrance ramp without traffic as my own personal launch pad.

Fuel milage is just like tires, I can't imagine getting more than 4000 miles out of a rear tire, yet some around here get 8000+.
Like Bob said, you'll get familiar with your personal milage, using the trip meter is the most reliable way to go. The computer is a guideline, not anything definitive. Trust it and it can bite you.




-Finn

[finsally]

Thanks for all your help guys,I normally use the trip as a fuel guide, just the R1200R is the first bike I have had with a on board computer.I will trust the trip from now on.

By the way what is a Carbon Canister? we don't have them on bikes here in England,
Something do do with emissions maybe?


Cheers Bob

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

The carbon canister is a charcoal can placed in the tank vent. This prevents gas vapors from escaping to the atmosphere and is a pollution preventer. In the past, there have been problems with liquid gas getting into the canister and freeing up charcoal bits that are then sucked into the tank and plug things up. So all my bikes lose this item right away. This allows me to stuff the tank right up to overflow. Perhaps another half gallon over the normal top up at the bottom of the dip tube in the fill hole. I only do this when I will be riding another 10 or more miles to prevent gas expansion issues.

[Patch]

I was really hoping that I was OK... no such luck

I left the driveway this morning and noticed the fuel light lit. Hmmm thats odd as I'm positive I filled the tank yesterday. No bars on the gauge - but i stop and open the tank. Yup - filled to the brim.

So I got 8300 miles out of my 1st fuel strip. Oh well... I never use the gauge anyway as I always set the trip computer. Time to hit the dealer for strip #2.

[finsally]

Well I filled the bike up today,guess what?..fuel warning light on, computer showing nil fuel range,fuel strip showing no bars,guess its kaput.

Rang my local stealer, £190 to fix,bike has only done 6000 miles,BMW will show goodwill but the repair has to be over £250....so looks like i will have to fork out some cash,will the new part be warrented for a year and does that include labour?

Thanks Bob

[websterize]

Paying $300 to replace a part with a known high-failure rate is, what's that English word, bollocks? I'd raise a stink.

http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/contact-us/

[diethornig]

as i travel long distance i will full tank my gas so that no disturbance will going to happen...

[finsally]

Update on fuel strip,
well I e-mailed Bmw customer service U.K.
The reply I got basically said I should have taken out their extended warrenty,
and as far as they were concerned there was no major issues with the fuel strip according to feedback from their dealers.

They seemed more interested in what made me think that significant numbers of other owners had a problem, and where I got my information from. It seems that they do not look at this forum!

BMW has a reputation for quailty and good customer service but they are letting us down on this one. I will think twice about buying another one.

cheers, Bob

[websterize]

They seemed more interested in what made me think that significant numbers of other owners had a problem, and where I got my information from. …

From the interwebs, of course.

I might have given you bad advice about calling 1800 PISS-OFF, otherwise known as customer service. It seems some R1200 U.K. riders out of warranty with malfunctioning fuel strips have gotten Motorrad to pay parts, while the owner pays labor. But you have to go through your local dealer, not customer service.

For more details on these fuel-strip failures that rarely occur, check out case studies at http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/u ... 975&page=2

[finsally]

Its o.k I had already spoke to my local dealer,he did'nt want to know.I think if you have not bought a bike from dealers they don't want to know when something goes wrong with your bike.

Don't get me wrong
the r1200r is a great bike,but I think you really need to take out a BMW extended warranty for peace of mind,lesson learnt I think.
May be BMW get their custom to easily.


Cheers Bob

[deilenberger]

Dunno if it's different in the UK, but in the US - extending warranty coverage for an item outside of warranty (Good-Will) is about 99% up to the dealer (provided they don't do it excessively and cost BMW a buncha bucks..) If the dealer makes the case that you've been a good customer, had the bike serviced by them and are likely to buy another one - BMW-Motorrad doesn't give them grief on supplying a free part (it may not cost BMW anything, some defective parts go back to the part manufacturer and they eat the part cost.) Usually you end up paying the labor for the fix.

That said - the trick with the fuel strips is to be on the 23 month plan as I apparently am. My first strip started acting up (odd readings, sometimes full when it wasn't..) when the bike was about 33 months into the 36 month factory warranty. It got a new fuel strip courtesy of the BMW warranty. ANY new part installed by a dealer in the US is warrantied (part and labor) for 24 months (no mileage limit..) Mine made it to 23 months when it decided to play dead and stop reading anything.

Got the new one yesterday.. asked the service manager if the rumor of a new supplier was true.. his response: "Nooo.. BMW has decided to just handle it this way.." (meaning replace for eternity..)

[Gemse]

Just lost the fuel strip on my 2011 R12R, at about 4800 miles. Dealer said "The fuel gauge in the R1200R is fairly reliable, but does occasionally fail". Well, evidently it does. I decided to get it repaired during the 6k mile service, which comes up soon and until then ride by milage to judge when to tank. I usually get reliably 200 miles from a full tank.

[Catchina]

Just lost the fuel strip on my 2011 R12R, at about 4800 miles. Dealer said "The fuel gauge in the R1200R is fairly reliable, but does occasionally fail". Well, evidently it does. I decided to get it repaired during the 6k mile service, which comes up soon and until then ride by milage to judge when to tank. I usually get reliably 200 miles from a full tank.

I'm at 9k on mine...so far no problems.