HOW TO CHANGE THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IN A 1200GSA

[Bendy toy]

No offence to other posters meant at all here but threads like this just wind me up now as I just don't get how BMW obviously know this fuel strip is not fit for purpose but yet BMW seem to discriminate against certain markets like the UK where they deny the issue exists and yet BMW accept the issue in other markets like the USA where BMW replace the fuel strips free of charge.

Are we just 'softies' who just roll over and accept it in the UK?

in a word ....

Of course we are. The road safety nazis are now pushing for 20mph in towns and 40mph everywhere else. They have no real evidence that it will save any lives but cyclists and pedestrians "will feel safer". So the country grinds to a halt and everyone just doffs their caps.

It's the not feeling safe that keeps people safe. Some years ago Derby went mad with speed bumps and the pedestrians became jay walkers - because they could. The bumps eventually got removed because delays and bouncing about were killing ambulance patients - some no doubt had just been hit by cars they'd j-walked in front of.

 

[fatbaldbob]

I had one done at the stealer on Thursday, they were doing a major service and the recall replacement of the fuel pump connection so where in there any way, cost of the part was on the bill as £94 + vat! Also listed was calibration and software update for it.

 

[Beemerman59]

I had one done at the stealer on Thursday, they were doing a major service and the recall replacement of the fuel pump connection so where in there any way, cost of the part was on the bill as £94 + vat! Also listed was calibration and software update for it.

Out of interest, how much did they charge you for the calibration?

 

[fatbaldbob]

Out of interest, how much did they charge you for the calibration?

Replace fuel sensor and calibrate £21

Update software status £10.50

Parts, sensor £94.20, gasket £4.71

With discount the total was £125.47, as it was done as part of a major service, also they had the bits off anyway to do the recall work for the cracked fuel pump connection.

 

[Beemerman59]

Replace fuel sensor and calibrate £21

Update software status £10.50

Parts, sensor £94.20, gasket £4.71

With discount the total was £125.47, as it was done as part of a major service, also they had the bits off anyway to do the recall work for the cracked fuel pump connection.

That probably saved you an hours additional labour charge.

 

[RobbyGSA]

For the Record, first the bad news, having owned my 2009 GSA from new I have just had the fuel sensor replaced for the fifth time! The good news however with a little pushing of BMW's goodwill they have met the cost fully yet again. The fuel gauge & trip computer (a significant cost option at time of purchase) has never worked properly and a proper fix never achieved and this has always been my point. This time they did offer me to pay £50 towards the cost in exchange for a two year warranty, I politely declined and suggested that they have never provided a unit fit for purpose and that they should meet the full cost to which they agreed.

 

[Bendy toy]

Some last for ages others - some (erm...) don't. I do wonder if part of the problem is rough handling.

Has that sensor always been replaced by the same dealer?

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

I have wondered about frequent replacement, are the strips being correctly installed with the bottom end correctly seated in the notch at the bottom of the tank??
If not then the strip will only be held by the top end allowing it to flex about too much?

 

[Buckingham]

I thought the bottom was fixed to the bottom of the fuel pump assy?


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[Beemerman59]

I thought the bottom was fixed to the bottom of the fuel pump assy?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, the bottom of the strip fits into a groove at the bottom of the tank - the only connection to the fuel pump assembly is a connector.

 

[Bendy toy]

They also have a hard epoxy style compound at the top connector end so any flexing will strain the same area. If its handled roughly the new strip could already be heading home even before the job is boxed up.

Ive been putting up with the yellow warming for months. I must get around to piggy lighter piezo zapping it.

 

[trainman]

No offence to other posters meant at all here but threads like this just wind me up now as I just don't get how BMW obviously know this fuel strip is not fit for purpose but yet BMW seem to discriminate against certain markets like the UK where they deny the issue exists and yet BMW accept the issue in other markets like the USA where BMW replace the fuel strips free of charge.

Are we just 'softies' who just roll over and accept it in the UK?

I would think their exposure in the US is much smaller then Europe, setting a precedent here would cost a lot and I imagine EU law would mean they have to treat the whole EU the same - not and excuse but a possible reason. I do wonder how much it would have cost to offer a retro fit float switch type design?

 

[blusbroder]

Hi,
I just found this old post but unluckily I cannot see the pictures of the tutorial, yes, I am having this xxxxx issue for the first time in my 9 year old gs... is there a way to show the photos?, thanks.
ja

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

The OP would have to move and repost the pics or pay a sub. Photobucket are being dicks at the minute

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Hi, I was struck with sensor failure a few weeks ago. I took the thing apart, could see a small black mark on the film. Phoned Motobins and Motorworks. one had the replacement unit for around 160.

2 issues:

New sensor has to be matched to bike (calibrated) using either dealer kit or GS-911 - I was not worried about this. You plug the new sensor into the bike but with sensor outside the tank, and you follow the GS-911 procedure. Easy.

No warranty if you fit it yourself. Big issue as this item is not regarded as reliable. It was used from 2006 to 2010 and then BMW reverted to a float thingy. So warranty important.

In the end I gave in and got it done by Duffys here in Dublin. Job was mad cheaper as they also replaced (under warranty) the fuel pump and auxiliary fuel pump due splits in the plastic bosses where the QD fuel connector screws into. Ths meant that the labour for dismantling and removing the fuel tank was costed to the warranty job and only calibration was charged to the fuel sensor job.

Duffys made a good job of it, so far so good and there is a 2 year warranty.

This thing worked for 70k kms in Saudi Arabia and failed after 7K kms in Ireland. I suspect ethanol in the fuel here is the issue but just an opinion..

Bin

 

[blusbroder]

The OP would have to move and repost the pics or pay a sub. Photobucket are being dicks at the minute

Hi, thanks Marki, I imagined something like that with the images site, anyway I found some useful videos in youtube. Due to some misunderstanding with my garage I have the strip unmounted and not fixed, so now I have to apply the zip lighter procedure and then put every thing back in place. I hope my multimeter will tell me if the zip thing has worked, now I measure an open circuit between pins 2 and 3, hopefully I will see a different ohm reading after zipping,
rgrds
ja

 

[Bendy toy]

There is a thread about fitting the later float sensor with adapter to spoof the ECU behave as if it was using a fuel strip.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/449335-Fuel-Strip-to-Float-Conversion-Dummy-Run

 

[Pauly S]

Photobucket....you suck.

 

[Bendy toy]

The fuel strip hangs from a wire loop that clips around the fuel filler opening. To get at it, remove the fuel filler cap - both parts. The clip can be extracted and the fuel strip is hanging below.

You will also need to remove the fuel pump to disconnect the fuel sender electrical connector.

The fuel strip can be zapped with a gas cooker piezo lighter. Wire the two spark wires across the middle two terminals on the fuel strip connector on top of the fuel pump cover. No need to remove the cover. Click the lighter two or three times and reconnect everything. This will carbonise the cracked sensor tracks inside the fuel strip and with luck the strip will work again. Search AdvRider for full information.

My fuel strip refused to be fixed by zapping so I fitted a pole type float gauge with separate instrument on the dash panel. I don't get the variable fuel pump output when fuel level drops below a certain level (25% maybe) but I now have a reliable fuel level reading.