2010 Tank Range Indicator, now pushing...

[Rocky Mountaineer]

I had some experience of my 2009 GS running dry at 17 mile and then 16 miles indicated range, but this morning my new-purchase 2010 30yr GS ran dry at 89 miles indicated on the dash (on my 4th journey).

Bit surprised, but it was completely dry. I added 3-4 litres, and it then indicated 84mi, but then indicated 180mi when I filled her up at Tesco's. I called BMW Dundee, they're taking her in next Thursday to have a look. They've said they've had some problems with the 2010 sensors?

On a positive note, the 2010 seemed just a bit lighter and easier to push than the 2009 model. It must be the spoked wheels...

 

[Simon_h]

my 2010 ran out with 30 miles left on the range calculator with the fuel indicator light having been on for only 8 miles. I wasn't caning it either....holding 75mph on the motorway. Obviously not as bad as your 89miles.

 

[Mr Hat]

Welcome to the club Rocky I'm on my second fuel strip and had the bike 6 months. Ran out of fuel twice due to strip failure over a period of 3 weeks leaving me stranded in lane 3 both times. Such is life.....

 

[oldnfat]

Sadly I think you will find this is a common problem that it well documented elsewhere on this site. I have a 2008 GS and my pal a 2006....both with same fuel guage issues.

What has surprised me is that BMW have issued a major revamp in the 2010 model and still haven't sorted this well known issue.

Some have said what's the problem...use the trip (and i do). My issue is that running out of fuel at 90 in the fast lane of the M4 when the problem first occured was not fun!!! Fortunately it wasn't busy and was able to pull in the clutch and free wheel to the hard shoulder and then wait 1.15 mins in the rain for the rescue vehicle.

I can only assume BMW are waiting for some poor sod to be injured or worse before they do something about it as clearly we are all still buying the GS by the bucket load.

 

[Nutty]

I haven't had any issues with mine, but know that it will do around 200 miles on a tank, so fill it up after I've done around 170 miles, as long as there's a petrol station nearby. How many miles are you getting out of a tank after filling up, before you break down? I'd have thought that you'd know how many miles it will do on a tank, rather than solely relying on the computer?
Or am I missing something here?

 

[oldnfat]

I haven't had any issues with mine, but know that it will do around 200 miles on a tank, so fill it up after I've done around 170 miles, as long as there's a petrol station nearby. How many miles are you getting out of a tank after filling up, before you break down? I'd have thought that you'd know how many miles it will do on a tank, rather than solely relying on the computer?
Or am I missing something here?

Buying a £13000 motorcycle and then expecting the fuel guage to have an error of less than 80 miles (what is was sowing when I ran out).

Stupid, stupid stupid

 

[Gromit]

I haven't had any issues with mine, but know that it will do around 200 miles on a tank, so fill it up after I've done around 170 miles, as long as there's a petrol station nearby. How many miles are you getting out of a tank after filling up, before you break down? I'd have thought that you'd know how many miles it will do on a tank, rather than solely relying on the computer?
Or am I missing something here?

Your probably missing the fact that it's a £14000 motorcycle and to expect it to work isn't expecting to much?

If it was mine I would have turned into basil faulty pulled a branch off a tree and started to teach it a lesson it would never forget.


Rob

 

[Nutty]

Your probably missing the fact that it's a £14000 motorcycle and to expect it to work isn't expecting to much?

If it was mine I would have turned into basil faulty pulled a branch off a tree and started to teach it a lesson it would never forget.


Rob

No, I agree, the computer should definitely work, but how many miles are people getting out of a tank from full when it is running out of petrol?

 

[oldnfat]

Dunno, that's why i bought a bike with a fuel guage so that I wouldn't have to keep watch.

 

[Rasher]

How many cars have you done this re-set trip lark for

When not touring I may not fill up for several days or even weeks during the winter and do not think I should have to remember when I filled up or to reset a trip counter - which is a trip, not fuel counter, these bikes cost more than many cars and I have never in 20+ years and over 500,000 miles had an issue wiith a car gauge.

I wonder how reliable BMW car fuel gauges are? I bet they do not treat their four wheeled customers with such shite components / attitude.

I think they know die-hard BMW bikes fans would buy any piece of shite they produce and sales are going up due to other buying into a brand reliability that no longer exists, or just following the the "fashion" started by McBoorman & co.

 

[Rocky Mountaineer]

Your probably missing the fact that it's a £14000 motorcycle and to expect it to work isn't expecting to much?

If it was mine I would have turned into basil faulty pulled a branch off a tree and started to teach it a lesson it would never forget.


Rob

I have two cars (and have had several previously, including a BMW 316i at one point). All of the range indicators could run > 0mi before sputtering.

On my 2009 1200GS the range indicator was right within 10%, so the second time I ran dry it was my fault (and I knew I was chancing it with 16mi showing). A range indicator with less than 60% accuracy is broken, and even BMW Dundee was inclined to agree (and they've offered to replace it next Thursday, free of charge).

Yes, I should wobble the bike to hear petrol and yes I should look inside the tank once in a while, but I do that with my 1959 BSA B31 and really didn't expect to need to do this with a flagship BMW product.

 

[Packer]

This thread is a perfect example of how adding complexity doesn't add functionality!

It would be far better to dump most of the complex gimmicks and carve £,000's from the price.

Ooops There, of course, is the very reason that we have all these electronic doodahs on modern bikes. Add a 50p chip and a bit of wire and charge £100 for it, easy money.

Even my luddite 1150GS has a wiring loom like a spaghetti factory. At least it has a light that manages to illuminate when the fuel is low and gets tested at every engine start. Experience and experimentation whilst carrying spare fuel shows that I have at least 30 miles worth of fuel at a steady pace when the light appears. I don't need anything more sophisticated.

 

[Rasher]

Ooops There, of course, is the very reason that we have all these electronic doodahs on modern bikes. Add a 50p chip and a bit of wire and charge £100 for it, easy money.

Very true, but I would rather pay £110 for a 60p chip that worked.

 

[tunnie]

Never had any issues with mine (56 GS) who actually uses the range? I zero my trip after every tank, after 150 miles I tend to stop at next fuel station I come across.

Enough stations about, besides good excuse for a Mars Bar and a can of drink....

 

[Horse1200]

I wouldn`t believe my fuel gauge from one day to the next. I know i can 240 miles from my 2010 GSA if i cain it, and about 300miles if cruising on a long trip, the gauge is far to erratic to trust.

 

[pribus]

Off course the computer and fuel gauge should work on such expensive machines.

But, since an incident many years ago, involving a lengthy push of a HD Electra Glide to a gas station , I have found myself always using the trip meter rather than the fuel gauge. Same procedure for cars and bikes. I've had a fuel gauge in a car act up too, once.

 

[Balders1450]

why bother with the fuel guage, use the trip, I had a 3 sensors fitted in the first 6 months, they are a waste of time. OK on a £15000 bike it should work, but to keep going back to dealer every few weeks is time and money, so I don't bother now, just get it changed every service!

 

[Rocky Mountaineer]

I had some experience of my 2009 GS running dry at 17 mile and then 16 miles indicated range, but this morning my new-purchase 2010 30yr GS ran dry at 89 miles indicated on the dash (on my 4th journey).

Bit surprised, but it was completely dry. I added 3-4 litres, and it then indicated 84mi, but then indicated 180mi when I filled her up at Tesco's. I called BMW Dundee, they're taking her in next Thursday to have a look. They've said they've had some problems with the 2010 sensors?

On a positive note, the 2010 seemed just a bit lighter and easier to push than the 2009 model. It must be the spoked wheels...

BMW sorted today in Dundee, including the embarrassing Honda plate (few other options in Aberdeen). There was some dirt in the sensor, the 2010 has the updated widget. Dunno how there was dirt in the tank, but fingers crossed now. Have also set trip-meter to get a second chance.

 

[Pukmeister]

I got lucky today with the fuel. Last saturday the bike cut out unexpectedly, apparently plenty of fuel in the tank. Restarted fine.

Rode it again today, died on first start up a few times then seemed ok. Fuel sloshing in tank, range 121 miles according to computer.

Got to the M27, into the fast lane, died again. Quick lifesaver and coast into the hard shoulder, cycled the ignition, bike restarted but seemed to run a bit odd, kinda short on power, then went to 2 bars and fuel warning triangle.

Went straight to Tesco at Bursledon and filled up with petrol but only got about 23 litres into the tank (GSA), bike ran like a rocket again without hassles.

Maybe I'll garage it on the centrestand in future to let the fuel calculator read properly.

 

[StumpyFingers]

My F800 has a fuel countdown But I also use a program on my iPhone and computer.
On the iPhone I use Vehical and on the PC I use a program that comes with Works.
I use these as a backup to give me an indication of MPG.
Knowing the expected MPG and therefore the expected range means I can choose when to fill up.
Never rely solely on one type of monitor until you are 100% sure you know the worst consumption figures your bike does.