fuel guage

[PhilBolton]

the Englishman - no it's the drain for water, and any fuel that expands past the cap seal when the tank is brimmed

Phil

 

[Eastriding2002]

I for one take the gauge with a pinch of salt. Mine certainly remains full for anything betwen 90 and a high of 130 miles before dropping to 1/2 full, it then procedes to drop to the point that the alert comes on at anything between 190 and 220 miles. It has however in 8500 miles remained constant in it's performance, enough so for me to trust its indication if needed. I personally use the fuel remaining indication as a guide, but use the odometer which I reset at every fill up. Getting to know your bike and how it uses fuel when your riding is much more use than a gizmo which may or may not be accurate. I managed to ride from Edinburgh to Hull, 243 miles on one tank, 8 miles remaining where showing and I managed to shoehorn 20.7 litres into the tank, this hasn't been modded as well.

 

[NLS]

Seems some gas stations steal with the pump?

 

[Eng]

FUEL REMAINING

I have the same problem with my new (07) GS. The warning light comers on and I can only fit 10 lts in at the pump. My dealer (who are excellent) says that they genuinely do not know of a fix, software or other? Is there a BMW service procedure for this??

Cheers
Eng

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Warranty issue

Eng

Had the same issue with mine when it was new and my dealer changed the sensor in the tank under warranty with no problem. The guage is now deadly accurate as is the trip computor.

I would take it back to your dealer and ask nicely that they put it right because there is a fix!!

 

[Eng]

FUEL GAUGING "FIX"

Have spoken to a number of dealers and the BMW UK customer services. They say that there is not a definitive guaranteed fix just yet, and that BMW (Germany) are working on it. The dealers did stress that I/we/you should complain to BMW (UK) customer services direct!! I did and they were very helpfull and have assured me that this has been "registered" as a complaint and will be staffed accordingly! The more people who register their complaints, the more pressure it puts on BMW (Germany) to fix it!!!

Tel no: 08705-050160

Cheers
Eng

 

[riderbob]

My fuel gauge hasn't worked for months. I've stopped using it but I wish I could turn the flashy thing off!

 

[mikepg]

On thinking about this a bit more......there are proabably some gremlins in the computer thingy, but is it not the case that the 'range' function is calculated based on your speed at that time - so, if you are going at 100 mph (heaven forbit!) the range thing will show a lower reading than if you were poodling along at 50?

 

[Gizmo]

Update

Software reloaded, filled up the 06 GSA with best unleaded , zeroed the odometer and set off at a steady 120 kmh. Each block segment on the fuel guage disappeared after each successive 50Km (approx) was completed. Hope sprung that it was fixed, then ...................... at 250 km on the odometer the guage dropped rapidly to show empty. ( no warning light)There was still 18 litres in the tank.

Continued to drive and chickened out at 456km. The range meter reading was going up at one stage but spent most of its time frozen at 134km left.Reckoned I could end up stopped at the side of the road.

Estimated that I was using 6litres per 100km so the tank should take approx 27.36 litres to fill. Filled it up with....... 27.8 litres.

Odometer and estimating works fine, original kit supplied by BMW a genuine piece of S..T.

Back to dealer today to order a new tank sender unit.

PS I would imagine the range is calculated on the basis of fuel cunsumption against contents remaining in the tank, thereby eliminating "speed" as the defining factor.( In effect though speed = higher fuel consumption=less range for any given tank contents. But then we have all known this for years before BMW raised our expectations with gadgets that dont work!!)

 

[mikepg]

Sounds like its fecked............I really can't stand these gizmos and still prefer to look at the oddomenter and flip the cap and shake the bike to listen for the juice!

 

[Old CD]

Thanks for all the replys, not a happy rider as you can tell, a recent e-mail from BMW say in a word "tough", and Rainbow, just go along with anything they say, so this morning after I am taking the bike back to Rainbow, and using the "sale of goods act, not fit for purpose" asking for a replacement bike or my money back. Should be interesting

 

[Howard Millichap]

Thanks for all the replys, not a happy rider as you can tell, a recent e-mail from BMW say in a word "tough", and Rainbow, just go along with anything they say, so this morning after I am taking the bike back to Rainbow, and using the "sale of goods act, not fit for purpose" asking for a replacement bike or my money back. Should be interesting

That's typical from BMW. Good luck with that.

The GS12 I rented in the US had the same fault. Trouble was I didn't know until it had me panicking. I'd done 40 miles on the tank and the remaining was displaying 180 miles left. I was facing a 140 mile stretch of road (Klamath river road) that I was told didn't have a lot of life along it so I wasn't expecting any filling stations. So, I thought it'd make it until, with 110 miles on the odo, the miles remaining dropped like a stone, about 2 to 1. The fuel light started flashing at 50 miles left with 80 miles of the road still to go!! I found a "gas" station that only had 87 grade. The tank only took 3.3(US)gallons, that's about 13 litres. Bastards.

 

[Eng]

Fuel Gauging Problem

Further to my last post on this issue, my dealer had the bike in and appears to have fixed it. Something to do with dry calibration or something. The range left now decreases as the miles done increases, and no problem yellow triangle illuminating!
Cheers
Eng

 

[teejay]

New to all this only had the bike since July
1. What is the tank mod to get more in?
2. My guage reads full for ages and then suddenley drops to half, the warning light and count down seem to be about right, again is the norm for them to read full for ever and then drop?
3. Used to Yam FJR which reads bang on accurate all the time!!

Teejay

 

[SMcGirr]

Mine has the same problem.07 GS, goes from gauge full to 1/4 with no stesp between and then only takes 10 litres to fill. Doesn't bothe me that much though as its a novelty to have a fuel gauge on a bike. Will however ask the dealer to have a look at the next service.

SP

 

[rdover]

My 06 12GSA was ok then it was serviced with a software update and it became unreliable then it was serviced again and the top half of the bars all merged together, read full for 175 miles then drops to 2 bars and stays that way for another 125 miles.

The real answer is only rely on the mileage. I've had the same issues with Jap bikes, Brit bikes and cars. Fuel gauges are inherently unreliable but if you get to know your vehicle then you'll know how far you can go.

Returning a bike because the fuel gauge is inaccurate is a fairly petty reason and I think you don't have a leg to stand on without there being a 'danger' issue. Lets get real here - my father has a Bentley continental GT and it's fuel guage is not 100% accurate, my Honda Accord shows the warning light with over 120 miles of fuel left, my 1975 Volvo 6x6's gauge is 100% accurate unless you go round a corner.

Somehow bikes become individuals within minutes of being made so get to know it, quit stressing about nonsense and get on with wearing it out!

 

[GSwadd]

My 06 model has always had the first half off the gauge merged together and doesn't move until the tank goes down to half. It then moves in bars and seems pretty accurate. I thought this was normal and just a BMW thing. Can't for the life of me work out why you would do it this way but the Germans did lose the war after all. Only pisses me when you want to go for a ride not knowing if you have a full tank or near half a tank, then having it drop to half full 5km past the servo. I just rely on the odo as well.

 

[Old CD]

The trouble with accepting the faulty fuel guage, is that the flashing orange light for low fuel could be hiding another fault from showing. And no doubt BMW will try and get away with shoddy parts until we stand up to them. My fuel guage has again been "repaired" by Rainbow and is " within the limits set by BMW" it is after another run over 130% out, pretty wide limits .If your happy to let BMW walk all over you, fair enough, I'm not. I have had numerous BMW over many many a year, and this is by far the worst.

OLD CD

 

[NLS]

And you plan to do?...

 

[Old CD]

Have e-mailed BMW again (no phone calls, e-mails give written proof of statements made) to ask them to confirm Rainbows statement that even at being over 130% inaccurate the fuel guage is in the limits set by BMW, just really to see if they will admit to such rubbish equipment. The problem will be if they do !!,but either way, going on holiday,so everything will be up in the air for awhile.
As a point of interest, I have sent copies of all e-mails I have sent to BMW, to Rainbow,but they seem to have their hands tied by BMW.
The saga drags on