Double trouble in Lima.

[Colban]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=650877
Link to a thread on ADVrider.
2 new F800GSs,with the same engine failure while travelling in Peru.
I'll be interested in seeing how BWM respond to the situation.
In the meantime,if anyone can help i'm sure they would appreciate it.

 

[forry]

What a shame for them can't believe BMW have built A ROUND THE WORLD bike than can't run on poor quality fuel

 

[wilbjr21]

Did you read all of the thread? The opinion seems to be bad fuel. Why should BMW respond in any way whatsoever?

Nothing to do with a ROUND THE WORLD BIKE Martin.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

What a nighmare.......!

The low octane fuel sounds like a real problem for this model of bike. If they've bought 'bad gas' I suppose BMW wouldn't be responsible for the repairs but i'd have thought bad fuel wouldn't have caused as much damage on a bike that's supposed to be ridden anywhere.

I hope they can get the bikes repaired by BMW under warranty as some sort of goodwill gesture or even a reduced repair bill would help their situation.

Really makes you think about your choice of bike if your travelling in the 'third world'!

FP.

 

[turnipbmw]

maybe they put 'INCA COLA' in them

 

[forry]

Did you read all of the thread? The opinion seems to be bad fuel. Why should BMW respond in any way whatsoever?

Nothing to do with a ROUND THE WORLD BIKE Martin.

Surely BMW's should be able to run on poor fuel ......?

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Surely BMW's should be able to run on poor fuel ......?

What is 'poor' fuel though?

Is it just 'lower' octane than recommended or is it contaminated with diesel, kerrosene or something much worse!

I would have thought 'bad' fuel would have blocked the filters and the engine wouldn't have kept running causing as much damage or does the fuel injection system keep compensating for such bad fuel that it wrecks the rest of the engine.

If you were on an old C90 would it just have coughed, spluttered a bit and kept going?

The end result is a catastrophy, two wrecked engines and potentially a huge repair bill.....!

Hope they can get it sorted.

FP.

 

[wilbjr21]

Surely BMW's should be able to run on poor fuel ......?

Surely it depends on the level of poor fuel; with perhaps a nice additive such as water, diesel, dirt or other such sh*te thrown in - but please don't let unsubstantiated gossip and conjecture (mine included) stand in the way way slagging off a BMW.

 

[wilbjr21]

Now I don't want you two ganging up on me.

 

[GunZenBomZ]

u3

 

[forry]

Now I don't want you two ganging up on me.

As Chris says you'd have thought the filters would've clogged etc before the engine started falling apart surely.I understand how pinking can harm the engine over a long period of time.Hope BMW Canada help them out !
They don't make them like they used too

 

[turnipbmw]

do they have fuel filters ?

1200 doesnt

 

[StumpyFingers]

It has got to be fuel related.
Both bikes same fuel,just because they were remapped for lower octane fuel, does not mean they were getting the correct grades.
Either the fuel as worse than expected or the remapping was wrong.

 

[Greggers]

I'm tending to agree with the fuel being the problem ...

Is it possible to remap the 800 or not?

If they thought the bikes had been remapped when in reality they hadn't then maybe the pre-ignition problem had been there all along, but not acknowledged as such ... Maybe what they're seeing is the result of thousands of miles running on low grade fuel with a high grade fuel map...

Bloody odd coincidence that both bikes gave up at the same time, unless the last batch that they both had was just too much for either to tolerate...

Bummer either way

G

 

[forry]

do they have fuel filters ?

1200 doesnt

Doesn't it you learn something every day

 

[wilbjr21]

Of course the 1200 has a fuel filter ..... its in the tank but doesn't need changing at regular intervals.

 

[v8legend]

When you read the full report, both bike were affected at the same time, after refuelling. However, although bought at the same time, both bikes have different mileages.

This does seem to point to a common problem, probably fuel related. How bad can the fuel be over there? A 'trip of a lifetime' turns in to 'the nightmare from hell'. These problems are always worse when the wife's with you.

Although the rings are cracked, the piston doesn't look scored. This leads me to think the crown isn't damaged? Something I'd expect with pre-ignition. I'd suspect overheating. Land Rover had a similar problem with the 4.6 Range Rover running lean on part throttle under load. This lead to the liners coming loose. I know this isn't quite the same thing, but does seem to be heading in the same direction.

Before everyone gets carried away, and shoots BMW, lets see what they actually have to say.

I'm not BMW's biggest fan at the moment with 2 out of warranty experiences that didn't go too well, despite extended warranty! However, I would like to see their response before I 'shoot them'.

Hopefully we'll get their response soon.

 

[Micky]

Of course the 1200 has a fuel filter ..... its in the tank but doesn't need changing at regular intervals.

Same for the 800

This is bad news whatever the reason. I do question that remapping they had done though!

 

[rml]

For those of you haven't been following their story looks like
BMW Canada have done the decent thing:

"Good news!
BMW Canada has stepped up and in particular Island BMW from Victoria.
We got an email today from them saying 'engine will be covered under goodwill warranty by BMW Canada'

I am sure they were well aware of the consequences of turning their backs on us. The ADV community's support surely helped.

Today has been a rollercoaster of a day. All the way down...all the way up.
We can't wait to get back on the road again ...........
"
Good to see BMW Canada have done the decent thing and hopefully their adventure will continue.

 

[conceptninja]

I have been Following this ride report closely too and i'm very pleased those two will be able to get back on the road after quite a fatal engine problem, which was caused by poor fuel.....all the computer/sensors in modern day engines and it can't say no to poor fuel....hmmmm

Really pleased that BMW Canada is covering the Engines, rare failure i'm sure but nevertheless and important victory for the Adventure motorcyclist