Fuel Filler cap - not covered by BMW Warranty?

[Time Traveller]

So I spent 7 hours on the bike on Thursday in close to freezing conditions. I filled up in the morning as usual.

When I cam to fill up on the way back and undid the filler, it didn't want to spring open, so I had to force it up. (the lock itself is fine, its the spring hinge I think).

Then it was floppy the whole time I was filling it up, but had to be forced down to lock it again.


Bike is in for a service tomorrow at SBW Mottorad in Sawbridgeworth. They are telling me that the fuel cap isn't covered by the Approved BMW Warranty, and that a new cap is £75.84 + VAT plus labour.


1. Really? Not covered by warranty??? Anyone know any different?


2. Any ideas for a fix? (I've got a full full workshop here!! )...only getting it serviced because of maintaining the (now-appears-useless-as-soon-as-something-happens) BMW warranty



(I was made redundant at the end of December, so really don't have any spare cash hanging around, so its got to be a leave it, or home fix it solution)


This is my first BMW (2009 GS, 24000 miles BTW), so far the rear shock has gone, the pannier mount has had to be bodged to keep the varios on. And one or two other problems. Not really too impressed TBH.

 

[Nick dj]

Second hand

Why not ring round and try and get a used one?

Can you not fit a new spring? I am sure someone on here has the ability to fix it for you?

Moisture does collect here and freeze making it hard to open so it could have broken your spring.

Good luck don`t let it put you off.

Nick

 

[Time Traveller]

Well. There's service for you!

SBW have just called, and think they can do something about it under the warranty afterall...takes a cool person to ring back and say that


Nick. Thanks for your reply. Yes, I am an engineer and can fix it, but I will have to fiddle to repair...and if someones already done it...then I can learn any tips and have the right stuff to hand before I pull it apart - it is the only means of transport at the mo, so I can't take it off the road) ...


Anyway, that appears to have changed for the positive!

 

[Bendy toy]

The filler cap on mine froze soild just before Xmas. It had rained then frozen overnight and I hadn't bothered to cover the bike.

Thankfully I was near home so went back and sat a hot water bottle on it for 5 minutes. When I got it open, the seal rim inside was quite wet.

 

[Time Traveller]

The filler cap on mine froze soild just before Xmas. It had rained then frozen overnight and I hadn't bothered to cover the bike.

Thankfully I was near home so went back and sat a hot water bottle on it for 5 minutes. When I got it open, the seal rim inside was quite wet.

Yes that sounds a pain (I've had that many moons ago on another bike), but in this case it wasn't frozen closed. When I turned the key, it popped up - though not as fas usual. It was the tipping it back to fully open. I had to force against something mechanical - either the spring itself, or some foreign body lodged somewhere, or mystical magical forces we don't understand

Same to close, it was a hell of a push to get it to go back down (way against my instinct to force things) but had no choice - I was cold and tired on the A14, needing to get home...

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Good on SBW If you get stuck, you could try Motorworks or Sherlocks for a used one but they aren't complicated so it wouldn't be too much of a fix I would think

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I had the fuel filler cap freeze up on my 2009 Land Rover Defender. I had to get a load of hot water from the filling station tea machine to defrost it. LR replaced it under warranty.

Maybe your cap was frozen...

 

[The G Man]

I had pretty similar symptoms to the OP on a 2009 GS

It was only about 1 year old, and replaced under warrenty by Bahnstormer

The service guy described it as a "broken piece of plastic" which they replaced

Hope this helps

G