Fuel pump controller issue - update on escalation

[Tim Cullis]

As some of you will be aware we now have well over 200 documented instances of fuel pump controller failures within the UK over the last five years. The instances climbed steeply during 2008 partly due to the sheer number of R1200GS/GSA bikes on the road and partly due to increased publicity about reporting failures on this thread.

I had a series of email exchanges with BMW UK in August and September 2008 which divulged some information but the exchanges were obviously not going anywhere so I decided to escalate the issue to Vehicle and Operator Safety Agency (VOSA) which is the government body charged with vehicle safety.

A (regretably) small number of owners who had experienced failures completed VOSA incident forms and these were forwarded in October and November 2008.

In January 2009 I received an update from VOSA saying that BMW UK consulted with BMW Germany who have referred the case to their Safety Comittee. Prior to Christmas, the safety Comittee responded to BMW UK who have asked further questions of the Safety Comittee regarding their response.

I spoke to VOSA today. The situation is complicated by the fact that there seems to be two forms of failure, one in when the unit gives warnings, and one of a single catastrophic failure. Also that some failures might be attributed to water whilst others clearly are not. And it's complicated further by the sheer number of iterations of the FPC from multiple manufacturers.

However the officer said that BMW seems determined to get to the bottom of the issue and to find a solution to the problem.

I have invested so much time on this that I will not willingly let go of the problem. Should VOSA ultimately not come through there are potentially other avenues to explore.

Tim

 

[Kneeslider916]

Good for you, 'keep buggering in' as the saying goes. These bikes are too bloody expensive for BMW to release 'beta' models that are under developed and expect us to do the testing for them.

 

[jeff garnett]

HI
good work

 

[Decster]

I have invested so much time on this that I will not willingly let go of the problem.
Tim

Well done on your efforts so far.

Goodluck.

 

[nozza]

foc

Sterling work Sir
Nozza

 

[neil 23]

Thanks Tim, not had a problem as yet, but good to see people who will just not lie down !!

 

[Off Piste]

Pump Controller

Well done Tim

Just had to buy a spare for next trip.

Tim

 

[Big Lee]

Good stuff Tim Your time and effort is much appreciated

 

[Dainese Brave]

Well done for all you've acheived so far

And a collective thanks from all of us is well deserved

 

[POG]

A big thank you on behalf of us all on your tireless crusade.

Well done

 

[SPL]

Well done that man!!

Not had a failure myself (tempting fate there) but it is at the back of my mind whenever I set off on a long trip.

 

[claw]

Well done, keep nipping at their heels, it'll become so annoying they'll eventually have to do something about it. What the something will be we'll have to wait and see.

 

[jack.pe]

Good work Tim, I'm quite new to the 1200 but was shocked that BMW were failing to address the FPC issue, the repercussions of this and the Final Drive issues have moved well outside these forums with the 1200 regularly being talked about as an unrealiable bike...

 

[Snoopy]

I'd be careful with "failure over time" it sounds like a cop-out excuse. The FPC fails because of two reasons, both addressed by BMW and they can hardly deny it because they brought out the fix.

1. water past seal, causing short and black burnt section under rubber
2. alloy corrosion preventing heat transfer. Vreg burn out (invisible)

Is VOSA aware that BMW have already corrected the issue? If you're going for the safety aspect I presume the target is to get free FPC's for all 1200GS's? If not, then the whole exercise seems rather pointless...

 

[Tim Cullis]

Brought out the fix? Perhaps you'd like to share it with us all? Although BMW has introduced several iterations of the FPC, as far as VOSA is concerned there is at this stage no definitive fix.

What I am hoping for is

- in the short term: recognition that this is an ongoing problem that should be dealt with free-of-charge by BMW whether or not the bike is still under warranty. Dealers have the ability to submit a request for a goodwill consideration to be made by BMW and whilst I have no specific promise in writing I have been told by BMW Technical Management that the parameters for goodwill gestures for FPCs are being looked at.
[And if this fails to produce the goods I suggest you sign up for Which Legal Service which will happily advise you on how to obtain satisfaction on out-of-warranty claims.]

- also in the short term: reduction in the cost of a standby FPC for those who wish to carry a spare whilst travelling. As one dealer opined, "you have to admire BMW, they identify the part that fails most and double the price. Great profitability."

- in the longer term: identification of a proper fix and the recall of all affected bikes (2004 through 2008 and maybe later) to have this fix installed free-of-charge.

Tim

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

Well done Tim

 

[BeemerBaz]

Well done that man, The pic of you as an avatar looks like a bulldog that wont let go of its favourite blanket, in this case the blanket is BMW

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Keep up the good work Tim - this is the one issue which really bugs me.

 

[Pukmeister]

Well done Tim, champion of the 1200 owners.

I'd love to see a definitive answer from BMW as to whether the problem is now rectified with the new part.

 

[Snoopy]

Brought out the fix? Perhaps you'd like to share it with us all? Although BMW has introduced several iterations of the FPC, as far as VOSA is concerned there is at this stage no definitive fix.

Tim

Check out the black FPC with thicker seal introduced this year. It solves the two issues as far as I'm concerned and I'm no longer carrying my spare plug 'n' wire.

Stops 1. corrosion of the alloy fins and 2. water getting past the seal.

Has anyone had a black FPC fail???

As for the price, I agree the 50% extra is a rip-off but it will be more expensive to produce as it's powder coated, plus they may have changed suppliers and had to pass on the increase.