Please respond if you've NOT had a 1200GS/GSA fuel pump controller failure
- Thread starter camel_landy
- Start date
st247
Registered user
There's no reason why 110 (ish) failures shouldn't be enough to get the ball rolling with BMW. Theres been a similar number of reported faults on the mk1 Ford Focus, with a build number of 130,000, but the (eventual) action from Ford seems to be rather different from whats expected from BMW, especially considering it is now a five year old vehicle.
If 110 breakdowns isn't enough perhaps BMW should consider the percieved reliability of the 1200. A poll on here of 1200 owners showed that of the 473 replies to the poll 11.84% were/are unhappy with it. That poll though, only takes account of 1200 owners views. I thought it might be interesting to see how owners of all models of GS view the 1200 so i've started a new poll.
If 110 breakdowns isn't enough perhaps BMW should consider the percieved reliability of the 1200. A poll on here of 1200 owners showed that of the 473 replies to the poll 11.84% were/are unhappy with it. That poll though, only takes account of 1200 owners views. I thought it might be interesting to see how owners of all models of GS view the 1200 so i've started a new poll.
This is getting fecking stupid. As far as I can see Tim is engaged in a data collection exercise to try to discover how many FPC failures there have been. He has pointed out quite rightly that there have been numerous threads posted by people who have failures, and he is collating the information, and also asking for any who have had problems who have not reported them, to make themselves known to him. ( I've replied on the other thread )
Why can't peeps having made their feelings known, just let him get on with it. The time to discuss statistical analysis of any figures is not now.
Why can't peeps having made their feelings known, just let him get on with it. The time to discuss statistical analysis of any figures is not now.
Err.. they failed because they failed.And knowing why a unit might have failed is no comfort.
What is clear is that the problem has been going on for many years and hasn't been resolved as the many failures with 08 models demonstates.
If you really don't care, butt out.
But knowing why the unit failed is perhaps a part step on the route to your salvation is it not? Supposing the problem lies not in heat or water but in an odd power spike from somewhere in the electrics? Why ignore it?
You brought up, in triumph, the two....then three....early failures....nobody else. You seemed to do so as if they were of special significance, then get tetchy if someone suggests something different.
You get annoyed when fellow board members have the audacity to question the methodology or purpose of your data collection. You clearly state that you have no interest in bikes that have no problems, simply predicting smugly that many will fail.
Yes, the problem (if that is not too mild a word for you) has been going on since 2004. Your list shows that.
Yes, the problem is annoying, frustrating and inconvenient but so is final drive failure and a headcold.
Yes, some people have, naively, bought into the 'It's a BuMW...it's expensive and UNSTOPPABLE' hype...and get frustrated when the bike fails in Morocco, Swindon or Outer Mongolia. On the other hand, some have questioned why some of these intrepid travellers (Swindon is 100's of miles from Glasgow, let's not forget) didn't take the precaution of a spare, if the fault was indeed well known and common...not of course that they should need a spare if BuMW pulled their finger out, if there is a problem of such magnitude.
Yes. You are to be applauded for trying to do something, It's a rarity in UKGSer world, most preferring to threaten death and vile retribution or
symbols. But your reluctance to listen to any possible critical comment - much of it aimed at helping you, not the reverse - does you and your honest endeavours a disservice. To suggest that they butt out (or are butted out in some cases) is hardly polite.===
If it helps.
In parallel, I have been putting out some feelers in the automotive industry. One of the very few advantages of working in a large bank is that they know a lot of people. I have asked some simple questions, the answers to which might help you. If they do not, ignore them.
Oh, Tim is getting on with it - his updates show that- and is busy replying, too. A sort of one man multi-tasking data gathering machine....
He's a big boy. He can stand a bit of digging. He has, after all, done plenty digging himself out of sand....
good'oleboy
Registered user
Lets get this into balance guys. I think (just my opinion) that there are probs with these controllers. but... it may not be the controller it'self, the design of the tank and the fuel pump housing hold water that leaves the controller partially submerged. As I pointed out on this site the other day I removed my controller after reading all this stuff and placed a bead of silicon sealant around the gasket area. Since this area of the bike has been a little TLC it's ran fine since. I think Tim has a point though, and yes many of fellow our 1200 owners have'nt had any failures . but I beleive it does'nt rule out that BMW could just modify if they would listen. After all we have all paid alarge sum of dosh for this motorbike you can buy a damn good car for a lot less. Anyway I'll sod off now I've stuck my oar as me teas ready see ya. Dave
A subscriber to the wet theory. This is getting like the splits in the Anglican communion.
As it seems to be polling season...Maybe it's time for a '...and why do YOU think they failed?' poll....
PS They have modified 'it', whatever 'it' is.
The angle of the well in which the controller sits on the latest vannilla GS is sloped....There again that might be for some other reason, most probably nothing more than, "BumW seek to continuosly improve their models, thereby meeting or exceding the best expectations of their customers...."
"....The angle of the well in which the controller sits on the latest vannilla GS is sloped...." probably so that you have to change your tank bag when you buy a new model?
- Joined
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Yup, really getting on with it and I'm up to 124 documented failures now, 48 of which are so far this year. Click here for consolidated results.
I have had an initial conversation with BMW to ascertain the next step, however the person I want to speak with is on holiday.
Nevertheless I'm really happy with progress and life is good. 
Oh, and to provide the balanced view that you so desire, I should perhaps highlight that some of these failures have occurred when the bike was at home and involved no more inconvenience than having to take the car that day
Very good reason indeed....
......and fully in line with: "BumW seek to continuosly improve their models, thereby meeting or exceding the worst expectations of their customers' wallets...."
Dahoum
Registered user
If you really don't care, butt out.
Errr.. on this thread he can butt in as often as he likes
Dahoum
Registered user
Hey, it's not my responsibility to try to answer the question I posed to Dahoum
For the sake of those (one or two) trying to follow the thread, Dahoum reckoned that removing corrosion off the top of the unit would prevent failure. Nice theory, but I then asked how he explained the failure of two bikes with less than 600 miles on the clock. He couldn't.
Other schemes proposed in the past include slapping on toad slime, sticking it in a couldron and chanting "hubble bubble, toil and trouble".
No. I'm not really interested in how many bikes haven't yet failed.
I know BMW is aware of the failure thread. This thread serves no purpose other than possibly being something that BMW could take comfort in.
For the sake of those following the thread who want accurate summaries Tim asked " do you have any empirical evidence that oxidation reduces this to the stage that it would cause the PCB to burn out? "
I said "No"
He also asked "how do you explain the two known examples where the FPC has failed within the first 600 miles? "
I replied "I don't."
Yup, really getting on with it and I'm up to 124 documented failures now, 48 of which are so far this year.
I have had an initial conversation with BMW to ascertain the next step, however the person I want to speak with is on holiday.
Oh, and to provide the balanced view that you so desire, I should perhaps highlight that some of these failures have occurred when the bike was at home and involved no more inconvenience than having to take the car that day
Jolly good
Never doubted that the list would grow (and that you would forget your flounce) - it's a stout job you are doing
I, in the meantime, have reminded BuMW that they haven't got around to answering my question as to what the controller does and as to whether the 'work around' can be run reasonbaly safely for a possibly prolonged period. It would be good to know, I guess, as one of your failure list had said that he had wished he had known about the 'work about' when hot on the side of the road.
PS Any failure, of any component, is annoying and inconvenient to some degree or another. I guess if the punter doesn't want to run the risk of being annoyed and upset in darkest Morocistan they shouldn't go (or possibly consider taking suitably assorted spares*).There again that might deprive some them of them of the ability to say, "My failure was bigger and more annoying than your failure"
* and how to use them.
I was amused by one of the failure bods confession that he had taken the precaution of carrying a spare but not the simple tool to remove two small screws. I guess that he hoped that carrying the spare would ward off evil Ju-Ju? possibly he was a subscriber to your amusing, "Slapping on toad slime, sticking it in a couldron and chanting "hubble bubble, toil and trouble" branch of GS religion?
Of particular interest is the comment by several respondents that BMW Assistance had a spare with them - given the limited space in recovery vehicles, things are only carried if there is a likelihood of them being needed. Therefore, there must be an analysis somewhere in BMW suggesting that this is a worthwhile item to carry.
regards
Mark
regards
Mark
As many UKGSers seem to subscribe to the, "Useless basted BuMW Assistance, send a man without a trailer" school of thought....I very much doubt it.
Barnzee
Guest
Tony Barnes
1200 GS Adv / 2006
11000 miles
ride in all weathers and on all surfaces
bike is stored over the winter...
not a hiccup or stutter
1200 GS Adv / 2006
11000 miles
ride in all weathers and on all surfaces
bike is stored over the winter...
not a hiccup or stutter
sweeney todd
Guest
no but on 3rd ring antenna on 57 GS off to champagne region sunday fingers crossed
A man for all seasons,
"...ride in all weathers and on all surfaces
bike is stored over the winter..." no comment!
"...ride in all weathers and on all surfaces
bike is stored over the winter..." no comment!
Tailspin
Guest
Not Yet.......
57 1200GS
2500 miles
All Weather
57 1200GS
2500 miles
All Weather
mikepg
Registered user
Me.
2007 gs
7.8k
Nae probs
all weathers
about 5-6 days a week
It's a fecking motorbike - not a car and if something fails, I fix it!
2007 gs
7.8k
Nae probs
all weathers
about 5-6 days a week
It's a fecking motorbike - not a car and if something fails, I fix it!
