I (and many others) have never had an 'old style' FPC failure. So I'm not sure that the 'new' one proves anything at all. It may just be coincidence?
As to the rest? Just guesswork on your part.
Well done, Tim. If nothing else it passes the time.
Fuel pump controller issue - update on escalation
- Thread starter Tim Cullis
- Start date
I (and many others) have never had an 'old style' FPC failure. So I'm not sure that the 'new' one proves anything at all. It may just be coincidence?
As to the rest? Just guesswork on your part.
Well done, Tim. If nothing else it passes the time.
Maybe, but then would you be so cocksure if I asked you to fill the cavity with water before every rideout?
The fact you've never had a failure means nothing more than you might have a bagster on your tank or don't ride in rain.
I am cocksure about nothing. Indeed quite the reverse. So much so that I posted up the 'work around' - now a stickie - thread, so that should anyone be unfortunate enough to have a fuel pump controller problem they might be lucky enough to get home.
I, and I might suggest anyone here (including you, quite possibly) have no exact reason as to why some of the damned things failed. But fail some of them did. BuMW certainly didn't answer my thrice emailed questions as to why the pumps failed and / or whether the 'work around' might in anyway damage the pump - as it would run continuously - the controler being absent (see thread).
Why might I acquiesce to filling any part of my motorbike with water?
How my motorcycle is ridden is, of course, open to conjecture and guesswork. You have guessed wrong.
PS If it's any comfort. I gave Tim a hard time over his quest at the time he started it. I did though try to help him with a very long answer from a friend of mine who worked as an engineer for the fuel injection section of Visteon / Ford research division.
AC, having a Baglux tank cover fitted does nothing to protect the FPC, my bike had a Baglux tank cover when I bought it and the FPC lasted for four years before failing (on yet another sunny day in Australia). I don't think my failed FPC had ever seen rain.
I think what Tim is doing is a good thing, BMW should be issuing the new FPC to all 1200 owners for free. As you say, the reasons for failure are still speculative but BMW changed two parts on the new controller and these have continuously been speculated as the reason for failure.
In my case, my 1200 had a bagster on all it's life. When I bought it I took it off. First wash-out two weeks later and the FPC failed.
I too carried a plug and wire for a while, but having fitted the new FPC unit and tested it by flooding the "well" I'm confident it'll hold up, so I no longer carry the lead and IMHO say the FPC issue is 'fixed'.
In my case, my 1200 had a bagster on all it's life. When I bought it I took it off. First wash-out two weeks later and the FPC failed.
I too carried a plug and wire for a while, but having fitted the new FPC unit and tested it by flooding the "well" I'm confident it'll hold up, so I no longer carry the lead and IMHO say the FPC issue is 'fixed'.
i'm not at all sure how corroded fins might cause component failure. maybe if it got hot, but i've seen no evidence that it does, and powder coating is not going to do anything to keep it cool.
it would be interesting to know why they fail.
I think what Tim is doing is a good thing, BMW should be issuing the new FPC to all 1200 owners for free. As you say, the reasons for failure are still speculative but BMW changed two parts on the new controller and these have continuously been speculated as the reason for failure.
In my case, my 1200 had a bagster on all it's life. When I bought it I took it off. First wash-out two weeks later and the FPC failed.
I too carried a plug and wire for a while, but having fitted the new FPC unit and tested it by flooding the "well" I'm confident it'll hold up, so I no longer carry the lead and IMHO say the FPC issue is 'fixed'.
And there is the problem.
(a) You want something for nothing for everyone. Something that rarely happens, if ever.
(b) Speculation is fun but ultimately pointless. It only serves to confirm that nobody outside of BuMW know why the units are failing. If they know, they ain't saying. Annoying but that's life.
(c) BuMW can and will point to tens of items they have changed, from the fuel pump controller, to the suspension system, to the cross bar on the handlebars, to the shape of the tank.... all (or none) of which have anything much to do with anything. Indeed, they could if pushed simply say that they have changed their entire flagship GS model from an 1150 to a 1200 and every component in between.
(d) You have no way of knowing whether the removal of your Bagster had anything to do with the failure at all. I guess (though I may be wrong) that you bought the bike second hand? How do you know the failure wasn't the second time? It may have failed under the care of the Baglux owner, or been simply waiting for delivery date plus 'x' minutes to fail. It could well be nothing more than coincidence. To find out you would have to investigate every failure and correlate them against Bagster fitment (and removal) and then washing and then water build up. Even that may well be inconclusive proof of anything. You may as well include the wearing of socks of a certain colour while you were at it it, if only to exclude the possibility.
Great though that you are happy with the new controller. That I agree is a good thing. By all means fill the recess with water as often as you like from today onwards. Ultimately your guess as to the cause may prove as right as anyone's. You may also be right that the new issue fuel pump controllers do indeed render the fault obsolete but for entirely a different reason. Or even if it is a water problem, yours was still only a self-confessed speculative guess. So there are no winners.
itchywheels
Registered user
AC1200
If your not using you plug and wire thing can I buy it ? I've tried my local dealer and they haven't got any knackered ones
P.S. I've got a 2004 used it off road, riden in ALL weathers, its done 31,000 miles but all this scare mongering is getting to me.
If your not using you plug and wire thing can I buy it ? I've tried my local dealer and they haven't got any knackered ones
P.S. I've got a 2004 used it off road, riden in ALL weathers, its done 31,000 miles but all this scare mongering is getting to me.
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pathfinder
Registered user
Sterling work sir,BMW have changed the design of the fuel tank on the 2008/2009 gs/gsa,I wonder, is this their response to a known fault and will it work in the long run?
GSband
Registered user
Well done Tim, I'm immensely grateful to you and your tenacity. 
Good work Tim, thank you
itchywheels
Registered user
The old one still works
I like to keep weight to a MINIMUM so don't want to carry a spare + can't afford a new one 
I'm taking the bike to South America for four months Jan 2010 
jeff garnett
Registered user
Hi
Good work Tim, thank you
Good work Tim, thank you
diver1
Registered user
FPC- Price Hike!!!!!!!!
FPC from James Sherlock up from £68.15 incl' vat to £82.54 incl' vat.
JS said its the manufacturers who have increased the price to them and they have to pass it on.
Outrageous by the manufacturer or what?
Regards,
John
FPC from James Sherlock up from £68.15 incl' vat to £82.54 incl' vat.
JS said its the manufacturers who have increased the price to them and they have to pass it on.
Outrageous by the manufacturer or what?
Regards,
John
Has this been sorted yet, as a newbie looking to maybe buy a GS I am shocked at the amount of common issues!
My dealer tells me "ALL" faults have been fixed and affected machines recalled and sorted by BMW, this was in response to questions around:
Imobilisers
Fuel Pump Control Units
Final Drives
He told me all these faults had been fixed on bikes built from 2007 onwards and on a 2008 model I would be OK - and by coincidence he had a 2008 model in stock!
My dealer tells me "ALL" faults have been fixed and affected machines recalled and sorted by BMW, this was in response to questions around:
Imobilisers
Fuel Pump Control Units
Final Drives
He told me all these faults had been fixed on bikes built from 2007 onwards and on a 2008 model I would be OK - and by coincidence he had a 2008 model in stock!
diver1
Registered user
FPC
Cookie,
You are very lucky guy........................So you wont mind letting me have one then?
Regards,
John
i thought they gave them away
i've had 2 free. not had one fail.
Cookie,
You are very lucky guy........................So you wont mind letting me have one then?
Regards,
John
i thought they gave them away
/QUOTE]
I would think they have now changed all the faulty ones they identified and replaced so will longer be offering a warranty replacement. From that, you can presume that they are confident in the replacement FPC and the problem has gone away
I'm guessing they might be right because I've not heard of a failure for a while
i thought they gave them away
/QUOTE]
I would think they have now changed all the faulty ones they identified and replaced so will longer be offering a warranty replacement. From that, you can presume that they are confident in the replacement FPC and the problem has gone away
I'm guessing they might be right because I've not heard of a failure for a while
If only; 2 weeks ago, 2007 R1200RT, 24K, died at the roadside.........
