Blisters

[MattW]

I was just faffing around fitting a new tank bag harness (thanks Rob ) when I noticed a little string of blisters on the plastic tank of my 1100:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/nIaFJI-Nj_dmNirvFCGL5w?authkey=Gv1sRgCOmnnu2r_ciBuAE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/SwF-6JNLPuI/AAAAAAAACZY/LO31fciekvE/s800/tank1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/SMK9bo2any5u-qiBe0Ba8g?authkey=Gv1sRgCOmnnu2r_ciBuAE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SSn2CtCOKnU/SwF_BZ7Y_zI/AAAAAAAACZc/-Dh140iQTX4/s800/tank2.jpg" /></a>

I take it these blisters aren't good news?

Are they likely to be because of fuel leaking through the tank (I really don't want to pop one to find out)? Or will they just be blistered paint?

If it's just paint I can live with it for now, but if it's fuel then I guess a second hand tank is in order?

 

[Stewart H]

Rub some Germolene on them

Either that or dont worry, I have read that they are only cosmetic, I worry more about the ones near the seam on my steel tank

Stewart

 

[motobiker]

The early plastic tanks were very slightly gas permeable... this was one of the main reasons for BMW offering a free swap.. plastic for metal.

Perhaps there's some kind of paint or undercoat that will cure this.. I don't know.

Choices are.. ignore it. Cover t (bagster or similar) or look for a metal tank... they're not exactly expensive. I paid £40 for mine (was originally silver from an 1150)

In the meantime.. it'll do no harm. I've never heard of a plastic tank actually 'failing' ~ it's purely cosmetic.. I would bet there are very few plastic tanks that don't have this.. somewhere.

The fact that the 'recall' was completely voluntary.. up to the owner if he wanted to swap. just shows how unimportant this was.. any hint of there being a 'danger' from these tanks and you can bet BMW would have swapped em all over. every one.

 

[MattW]

Thanks Guys.

Cosmetic paint bubbles I can live with blisters full of fuel I wouldn't be so happy about

 

[Wrigsby1]

They also affected the last R100GS's plastic tanks and as I remember were as stated, purely cosmetic. Boy, some Beemer owners would find the cosmetic bit more annoying than the mechanics

The metal ones seem to have the seam probs that you see on the older R's as well. That, to me would be more of a prob so i likee the plastic 'eens. Who needs a magnetic T/bag anyhow

 

[MattW]

Well, I guess I'll just ignore them then (unless anyone tells me they're definitely something more serious). It's a 14 year old bike and while it's tidy, with the best will in the world it's never going to be showroom