Fuel Gauge Error

[willem_dafoe]

My 06 GSA fuel gauge has never read correctly. Had the level sensor strip changed by BMW twice now, which made no difference whatsoever. Am I right in thinking it must be the instrument? Has anyone else seen this? I've read the threads and the dealer (cannons of braintree) said they hadn't seen this before.

Reads full for first 120 miles, then jumps to 4 bars.

Bike has done 40k

Thanks in advance

 

[turtleossie]

MY 2006 GS, 28K miles does the same. I put it down to poor design. Is it actually supposed to work then?

I'm sure I read elsewhere that this was a fixable issue - having said that I just zero my dial every time I fill up and watch that tick up north of 170 miles - then I start looking for fuel.

Would be interested to know what is wrong.

 

[Danny88]

my dads 2010 gs does this, 10,000 miles on the clock and started oct last year bmw reset it and it was ok untill he filled up again then it did not work but fill up again and it did work this pattern is still happening.

 

[bmwbikeruk]

My previous 07 GSA was absolutely spot on throughout my 42 month ownership, be it fuel range or average mpg. Also amounts of fuel filled matched digital readings against the distance travelled between fill-ups. However, my current 2010 GSA has gone haywire with less accurate readings. Once I ran out of fuel with 12 miles left on range! Also average mpg readings are off the mark by as much as +2mpg! I hope my dealer can do something when my bike is due in for her 6000 mile service soon. Really disappointing that BMW have ditched the 2007 accurate parameters for rubbish 2010 readings!

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

trip meter

i use LPG on the car, gas fuel guage might as well not be wired in.
You soon get used to the feel of how you have been driving that tank and what range you can pull.

If BWM aint gonna fix it, give up, cos it aint ever gonna work the way you want. BWM couldnt give a rat's @ss anyway so no point stressin?

 

[Dainese Brave]

I've had an '06 and a '10 Gsa...and both the fuel guages seem the same...ie irratic!

I think overall a tankful mine have sort of worked out right, and you get used to them. I sort of use them as a guide only full to middle, then take more notice when the 50 mile warning comes into play...and really that's the only time it's imperitive you know what's in the tank.

I've just sort of got used to mine. It's a bit ridiculous when you can show a range of 180 miles etc, then do 80 miles, and still show 180 miles to go!...but I just wait for the 'empty' portion and ignore it until then.

I've never really seen an inaccurate fuel guage as the end of the world...annoying yes...but livable....bit maybe others bikes are a lot more inaccurate than mine?....but I'd certainly not call mine accurate.

 

[Wapping]

What Dainese the prick*, said

Useful as a guide, nothing more. I have got used to it over 54,000 miles.

Mine counts upwards sometimes, for no apparent reason, then back down again.




* That is no inference on his character, I am running out of jokes to needle him with

 

[Dainese Brave]

What Dainese the prick*, said

* That is no inference on his character, I am running out of jokes to needle him with

I guess under certain circumstances being famous for a prick could be an advantage...especially with the ladies!!

 

[claw]

On my first GSA it was spot on accurate, the one on this one has totally failed, got the fuel warning light flashing all the time saying its empty when its full
I'm due to get it looked at.

I've been told they're going back to a float mechanism in the tank instead of the stupid electronic sensor, its another 'known problem'

 

[Rasher]

Mine counts upwards sometimes, for no apparent reason, then back down again.

Does this coincide with a £20 - £30 transaction at a petrol station

 

[willem_dafoe]

Seems like it's quite a problem with this bike then. I'm not sure if I should try a secondhand instrument panel, or let the dealer have another look. Panel is 200 quid. Dealer probably a lot more.

 

[LOLGEOFF]

Seems like it's quite a problem with this bike then.

And so it begins.........

 

[AberdeenAngus]

I'm not sure if I should try a secondhand instrument panel, or let the dealer have another look. Panel is 200 quid. Dealer probably a lot more.

Don't think it's the instrument panel. Reckon its a problem with the 'sender' in the tank.

 

[willem_dafoe]

Don't think it's the instrument panel. Reckon its a problem with the 'sender' in the tank.

I've tried 3 senders now, with the same result each time. No one seems to have fixed this issue, nor has anyone tried a new instrument cluster. Seems worth a try..

 

[claw]

If your bikes out of warranty, does the replacement part come with a g'tee for any period?

 

[willem_dafoe]

If your bikes out of warranty, does the replacement part come with a g'tee for any period?

Yes the dealer guaranteed the part for a year I think, and replaced it a second time for no charge. But time off work and all the hassle means I don't want to keep going back when it's obviously not fixing the problem.

 

[snerkler]

.

Didn't know we'd got a celeb on the site

 

[bumpmuncher]

Yes the dealer guaranteed the part for a year I think, and replaced it a second time for no charge. But time off work and all the hassle means I don't want to keep going back when it's obviously not fixing the problem.

just get used to riding it. fuel guages are a reletivly recient encumbrance on motorcycles. My machine has a device whereby it runs a little rough once this occours you turn a little tap and you get to cain it for another 30 miles before it runs out. If you are realy clever you refill it thus avoiding having to call for recovery. And to think this device has no electical parts, how can it possibly work I hear you say I believe it has something to do with the dark arts and the devil, all i know is it works

 

[snerkler]

just get used to riding it. fuel guages are a reletivly recient encumbrance on motorcycles. My machine has a device whereby it runs a little rough once this occours you turn a little tap and you get to cain it for another 30 miles before it runs out. If you are realy clever you refill it thus avoiding having to call for recovery. And to think this device has no electical parts, how can it possibly work I hear you say I believe it has something to do with the dark arts and the devil, all i know is it works

I think you're missing the point. Whilst we can all read our odometer and work out how far we should get before we need a fill etc, the point of a fuel gauge is so that we don't have to keep an eye on things and perform mental arithmetic whilst riding. When you pay this kind of money the devices on the bike should work, full stop.
That being said I've not had an issue with mine. It might be that I'm lucky, or that I fill the tank full everytime. From reading the various threads it appears that a lot who have had issues have only done a splash and dash, or put a 1/4 tank in etc.

 

[bumpmuncher]

I think you're missing the point. Whilst we can all read our odometer and work out how far we should get before we need a fill etc, the point of a fuel gauge is so that we don't have to keep an eye on things and perform mental arithmetic whilst riding. When you pay this kind of money the devices on the bike should work, full stop.
That being said I've not had an issue with mine. It might be that I'm lucky, or that I fill the tank full everytime. From reading the various threads it appears that a lot who have had issues have only done a splash and dash, or put a 1/4 tank in etc.

I think it is 1200 riders that are missing the point mostly (yes there are exceptions) 1200's are far too needy IMO (the machine which in turn gets passed on to the operator) But then again I have an airhead and smell of wee