Have had problems with fuel for two years. Booked bike into Bristol BMW and left following note on bike:-
“For two years everything worked fine. When the gauge and distance remaining came close to 0 it would run out of fuel - never tried it but ran it close to zero as was leaving bike for three months and didn't want load of fuel in bike, took nearly 32 litres to fill up.
Then it malfunctioned. At about 125 miles to go the range counted down quickly to 25 miles, warning light started flashing at 95 miles. Pulled into PFS at 0 miles, tank took 23 litres so 10 litres still in tank.
BMW Hertford (on way to Greece so not practical to bring it back to Bristol) replaced fuel strip but identical problem persisted . On third or fourth replacement strip and still have identical problem. The dealers have said they will replace strip yet again but I find it hard to believe that three new strips would present the same problem. The dealer seems to be blinkered that it must be the fuel strip as they have a long history of problems.
My only logical thought was that the transfer pump was not working and although I had upwards of 10 litres it was on other side of tank to pump.
Hertford Motorrad assured me that is not the case as a fault code would be displayed. They also assured me that and I quote "whatever the range or fuel gauge was showing the bike would use every last drop of fuel before coming to halt"
Not true! They lied!
Detour on autostrada meant we could not get to service area and next one was some miles away. Same fault. Enough fuel for at least 100 miles, but range counts down quickly to zero, fuel gauge shows empty bike stops. Can hear fuel in tank if I shake bike. Am sure plenty of fuel on right side of tank. Pushing fully laden GSA to find a soft area to lay bike down not easy, nor was picking it up after (well past my prime). Fuel gauge now showing two bars. Bike starts, 15 miles to services, fill up till fuel overflows, bike still only takes 24 litres so about 9 still in tank.
Near Munich called into large BMW Motorrad. Mechanic spent some time ( they are pretty good with travellers)
He said fuel strip working OK You will not get a fault code from the sucking jet pump not working. It has no electrics and relies on the return flow of fuel from the pump to initiate the transfer of fuel from the right side to the left. If I could leave it with them for 2 days they will order and fit complete new pump and a new fuel pump controller. He also told me there was a recall on my bike to check the fuel lines into tank (BMW. UK have not told me this)
We had hotels and ferries booked so could not take up his offer, just filled up every 200 miles. Also didn't want hassle of reclaiming costs from extended warranty and would wait till I could get it back to Bristol
I hope the above will be helpful to you in fixing problem. One of the reasons for buying this bike was the tank range when in remote parts of Europe , for two years we have not had the benefit of this “
Bristol Motorrad fitted new pumps (their words) and did the recall. On run back to London all seems to be working OK. Fuel conted down to 40 miles left before I put in ten quids worth. This gave some very odd readings when fuel strip eventually recognised there was more fuel. Seemed to remember that you should fill tank right up asap when fuel strip has been replaced/refitted, so did this in London, fuel strip immediately registered full, so everything seems to be working correctly at last.
Well done Dick Lovett. All done under extended warranty. Must remove some Brownie points as they pressure washed the bike. All the electrics and Starcom and fusebloc under seat were dripping and Garmin not working. (And my ACF50 was washed away). Now I know bike was covered in dead insects and dust but it had just done 2000 miles. Sun came out on way back to London and everything dried out and works fine.