Is my bike trying to communicate with me?

[Cornwallis]

After many years of a trouble free fuel gauge on my 06 GS, this happened.

This is what it's like when I fill the tank and nothing happens until it's around half empty when the top four bars (with weird lines inbetween) disappear. The bottom four bars then behave normally and slowly disappear as more fuel is used.

I just thought it was something wrong with the display but when the technicians at a franchise had a look at it they said they'd never seen anything like it before. Faulty LCDs apparently just look a mess and they thought that the neatness of what was happening might be the bike trying to tell me something. They didn't know what that might be and, as the electonics expert was away (probably through overwork), they suggested I return at a later date.

I was therefore wondering if the truth is out there and someone might be able to advise.

Thanks

 

[Deleted account 210516001]

I had exactly the same after a software update. The fuel sensor strip was replaced under warranty and the problem disappeared. That sensor strip lasted for another 10,000 miles before it failed, this time giving me the amber warning and zero fuel display.

I would be surprised if any BMW technician had not seen this fault before. They are more likely be baffled by a fuel gauge that is actually working since that is such a rare sight.

 

[Cornwallis]

I had exactly the same after a software update.

Thanks for the reply. Interestingly, the technician did mention that strange things can happen after software updates, but mine's not had one. I'd be interested to know if this is a fault that just happens without software updates and if the only remedy is a new sensore strip (my bike's well out of warranty).

 

[Popell]

This is what it's like when I fill the tank and nothing happens until it's around half empty when the top four bars (with weird lines inbetween) disappear. The bottom four bars then behave normally and slowly disappear as more fuel is used.

Mine has done this since I bought it (second hand) - I always thought it was how it should be but you say it used to work properly, do you mean the top 4 bars disappeared one by one?

 

[Captain Black]

I think It's the start of the display failing. I remember my Etch-a- Sketch went the same way on Boxing day 1971.
Be ready to know nothing about what your bike Is doing.

 

[iandavid]

Didn't realise they'd swapped the oil temp & fuel round on the later bikes

 

[Cornwallis]

do you mean the top 4 bars disappeared one by one?

Yes, as the tank empties the 8 bars slowly disappear. If you've not had any software updates, you may have the same problem as me.

I think It's the start of the display failing. I remember my Etch-a- Sketch went the same way on Boxing day 1971.
.

The technicians assured me that when the display fails all hell breaks out and it just looks a mess. And I believe that the Etch-a-Sketch based technology was only used on the 1100 and 1150 bikes.


It would be good to know what's happening here, but I get the feeling that it's nothing to do with the bike trying to tell me something. Shame really, because I've developed a special bond, especially when I'm on my own in the garage with him/her/it.

 

[APE]

I had an 06 and mine did that following an upgrade. They told me it was because punters were complaining that the fuel gauge didn't reduce at a consistent rate - so to solve it the fix was a solid block until half empty (or half full depending on your perspective)

 

[Smuzzy]

My 56 plate is exactly the same, be interested to know the conclusion

 

[Roymondo]

As an aside, the F800 fuel gauge works exactly as described in this thread (and the owners' manual confirms it). Because of the shape of that bike's underseat tank, and the location of the fuel gauge sender, the reading doesn't drop at all for the first half a tankful, then it counts down a segment at a time. In order to reflect this, the topmost segment of the display is much larger than all the others.


---
I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?npdsqw

 

[Cornwallis]

I get the feeling I'm going to have to get used to my new fuel display because I spoke to the dealer today and they said the fix is to fit a new sensor strip at £180. They also said that my bike didn't get a software upgrade when it was serviced a few weeks ago but after the previous comments it seems a bit of a coincidence that the display on a 6 year old bike should change after a service.

Having had a problem with the bike every year for the last four years (including a faulty ABS pump in 2011) I really thought that I was going to get away with it this year but, alas, it's not to be. But thanks for all of the advice, at least I'm now pretty confident that the weird display's not a warning of something sinister.

 

[Fanum]

They also said that my bike didn't get a software upgrade when it was serviced a few weeks ago but after the previous comments it seems a bit of a coincidence that the display on a 6 year old bike should change after a service.

Ask a few more questions about that.

I seem to remember a thread that said that when a newish bike is plugged in for diagnostics, updates are added automatically

 

[IanC]

I remember my Etch-a- Sketch went the same way on Boxing day 1971.

Turn it upside down and shake it

 

[APE]

Having had a problem with the bike every year for the last four years (including a faulty ABS pump in 2011) I really thought that I was going to get away with it this year but, alas, it's not to be. But thanks for all of the advice, at least I'm now pretty confident that the weird display's not a warning of something sinister.

Not sure you could really descibe it as a 'problem'. Seemed like an odd 'fix' when they did it to mine but it wont cause any harm. The visual count down now starts half way but you can still monitor consumption using the trip

 

[Deacon]

Turn it upside down and shake it

Too good!

 

[mrsroynie]

After many years of a trouble free fuel gauge on my 06 GS, this happened.

This is what it's like when I fill the tank and nothing happens until it's around half empty when the top four bars (with weird lines inbetween) disappear. The bottom four bars then behave normally and slowly disappear as more fuel is used.

WTF Mine always behaved like this. I never mentioned it as I thought it was another HAL-like quirk of BMW ('You have over 120 miles of fuel left, Dave. You don't need to worry. No 9000 series computer has ever made a mistake or distorted information ...' )

Mine used to show 'Full' until half empty, then used to count down normally.

 

[Cornwallis]

WTF Mine always behaved like this

This is very new behaviour for my bike, having had four happy years of a more logical display where 8 bars slowly disappeared as the tank emptied. But I'm now resigned to the new format (as per the photo) that you and others are familiar with. And when asked for £180 yesterday by the dealer to fix the problem, the only response that came to mind was "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that".

 

[APE]

Dave is talking out of his arse - the software upgrade has done this there is nothing to fix

 

[mrsroynie]

Dave is talking out of his arse ...

... and some fell on stony ground

... the software upgrade has done this there is nothing to fix

That seems to be the case only if you realised that there was something wrong to begin with. The canbus ('HAL', ref 2001 - A Space Odyssey) was the butt of so many jokes with Roynie and our American friends, as a result of the problems I had with the accessory sockets, that I never worried about the fuel gauge. The software upgrade was not only carried out by Bearn Motos, Pau, but checked by Vines and Park Lane BMW (and probably Keary's, Cork), so there is no doubt that it was done. Even so, the fuel gauge, as far as I remember, always read 8 bars until the tank was half empty.

 

[duckspeed]

Have you tried turning it off then back on again ?