The sorry saga of 1200GS/GSA fuel pump controller failures (410 so far)

[jimbogs1200]

I had a local firm dispatched to me when mine went and they obviously did not have spares!!! Bloke had nevert seen a GS before and said "do you want me to have a look at it for you". Also, they sent a lorry with a 'spec lift' on it which is useless to recover a bike IMO...

 

[[email protected]]

ANOTHER ONE

when 25/08/09
where berlin in heavy traffic

no judders signs of anything wrong, just stopped and wouldnt start, 2 days into a 14 day bike holiday.

Recovered by BMW to a dealer in Berlin, fixed in 5 mins by mechanic, cost to me 106.03 euros to be claimed back from Jefferies as it was still under warranty 54 plate 25500 miles, what scared me was about 1 before I had been doing some quick overtakes and would of been stuffed if it gone then, it cannot be correct that it just fails and stops the bike, this is very dangerous.


Still BMW breakdown are very good, they got me a flight home after my shaft drive started leaking in Austria and could not be fixed, Taxi to Vienna airport, flight on BA to Heathrow and hire car for me to drive home, lots of phones calls making sure that I was okay, good service from them even if the bikes not as good, they even said they would fly me out to collect the bike, I recon they must of spent at least 1000 euros so far, so the 390 pounds seems like a bit of a bargin, dont know as yet who will pick up the bill for the repair as its a biggie at 1540 euros, still shit happens , always to me.

 

[axeumlidlp]

- When did it happen? AUGUST 25th
- Where were you? AT HOME
- rider name AXEUMLIDLP
- bike details (model and year) R1200GS JUNE 06 BUILD
- remedy FPC CHANGED FOR 'NEW'
- How many days work/holiday did you lose? 2 DAYS WITHOUT BIKE
- Were there any incidental costs? £10 TAXI TO PICK IT UP

 

[AndyW]

Andy, what is your website?

OldCroc

See my 'signature' ;-)

And another one...

Nick B has sent the following message from the Contact Us page on http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/:

When did it happen?
06/09/2009
- Where were you?
France. In the middle of the country side
- rider name
Nick B
- bike details (model and year)
R1200GS 2006 (21k)
- remedy
Used the ‘get me home solution’
- How many days work/holiday did you lose?
Cost me a days riding of my holiday
- Were there any incidental costs?
About £300 in recovery and hotel bill.

 

[Gipsy]

Rescued by BMW assist (was still under warranty) who luckily had one with him.

Reason was corrosion, new one apparantly will not have the same problem.

I don't think it's a question of luck! There are so many failures other peeps have suggested that the part is carried as a matter of routine.
As for the new one not having the same problem, lets just say I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

[bikebits]

- When did it happen? 8 September 2009
- Where were you? Within 3 miles of home form a 40mile commute
- rider name BikeBits
- bike details (model and year) R1200GS 08 Build
- remedy FPC CHANGED by BMW Assist
- How many days work/holiday did you lose? None
- Were there any incidental costs? £5 for some additional fuel

 

[Brahma]

- When did it happen? 8-29-09
- Where were you? Columbus, Ohio USA
- rider name DDERVIN
- bike details (model and year) 2007 R1200GS, 11,131 miles
- remedy Warranty replacement along with fuel pump
- How many days work/holiday did you lose? 17 days holiday
- Were there any incidental costs? Towing

Thanks for the report, it's obviously affecting GS bikes worldwide

 

[Blackal]

3 years, and 24,000 miles -

Mine failed yesterday

At home

A quick trip out to Motorrad Central East, picked it up - and fitted it this morning

Job's a good'un

Al

 

[graham2400]

Fuel pump controller failure

When:- 11/09/09

Where:- Lane 2 on the A14 heading towards Rimini, Northern Italy

Bike:- 2006 R1200RT with just under 19,000 miles on the clock, owned from new.

The bike coughed and died with no prior warning, just after I'd overtaken a line of cars at about 80mph. Luckily there was an exit and I manged to coast down the slip road and get off the motorway.

Praise be the internet ! I had bought a controller and ring antenna as "insurance" for my 2008 Europe trip after reading all the tales of woe, and they were still wrapped up in latex gloves inside a small tupperware box, under the rear hump.

Didn't take too many minutes to fit, but I could have done without it in the 30+ heat. On reflection, if I hadn't have carried the spare it could have been a bit of a nightmare getting back on schedule.

The controller had no corrosion on it anywhere and had the most pungent burnt curcuitboard smell you could imagine.

Regards,

Graham

 

[meanbiker]

- When? 13 September 2009
- Where? Ingleton, North Yorks
- rider name - Paul
- bike details - R1200GS Late 2005, 28,800 miles on the clock.
- remedy - Failed fuel pump controller, rescued by Carole Nash Recovery. Repaired by Southport Superbikes 3 days later.
- How many days work/holiday did you lose? - 1 day (the Sunday it happened on)
- Were there any incidental costs? - £89, which included £17+VAT labour

The bike had had a full day's riding the day before in N Yorks. It had difficulty starting, then stopped, then started again .... half a mile down the road it just died! It tried to start a couple more times whilst stationary, but then just refused. Glad it was in the UK as last time, when the dredded drive shaft oil seal blew out, I was in France. Carole Nash to the rescue again. In the 3.5 years I've had this bike I've had one niggly problem after another. Lets hope that this time this will be the last one!!!!!!!

 

[Martin S]

Dodgy fuel ?????

When:- 12/09/09

Where:- On dual carriageway approaching roundabout. Near Grimsby

Bike:- 2008 R1200GS with 6,000 miles on the clock.

The bike coughed and died with no prior warning, just as I was about to enter roundabout. I coasted round and made the first exit. The bike would not start so I waited about 10 mins, tried again and it started. I then did a mad dash to the BMW dealer about 1/2 mile away where it died again.

The knowledgeable salesman thought it was either 'out of petrol or dodgy fuel'. He obviously has not read this thread.

Told today that it was fuel pump controller.

The previous day the bike had died but then started straight away so I thought the bike was just cold and thought nothing more.

Did a 2,000 mile trip to Austria in August so I guess I am fortunate to breakdown so near to the dealer. Also pleased no injuries resulted.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Update on failure statistics (UK owners only) totalled by year of breakdown

2004: 7
2005: 17
2006: 33
2007: 58
2008: 133
2009: 101

Total: 349

BMW has now instigated a recall of some 07-08 models

Cheers
Tim

 

[piskoGSA]

Model year, 2007
Model, 1200 GS Adventure
Mileage, 40.000 klms
Where, Greece
when , August 20, 2009

 

[NickHarvey]

Model year, 2007
Model, 1200 GS
Mileage, 18,500 miles
Where, Sussex
When, October 05, 2009

Fuel pump failed a week after I received the recall notice. Had been going to sign up with a recovery company and was riding in the p*ssing rain (isn't it always) and it just died. Recovery to dealer £22 which I can swallow on the grounds of my own laziness.

 

[Monty Stubble]

Had two go on the same bike.
the first in 2006 just after I bought it. Failed on me in Manchester and had to be BMW relayed to Williams.

The second in 2008, failed in Manchester again - and was taken by the AA to Shipley (Alan Jefferies). Luckily the warranty on the first repair paid for the second.

Just bought a GS SE so hoping for no repeat

 

[jim'll fix it]

- When did it happen?
21st Sept 2009

- Where were you?
National speed limit road, High Wycombe just after up hill overtake

- rider name
Me
- bike details (model and year)
2006 GSA
- remedy
New Unit fitted by the Yamaha dealer I bought it from 2 weeks previous

- How many days work/holiday did you lose?
None luckily but had to use a courtesy bike of thiers in the 2 weeks it took for them to diagnose and source the part

- Were there any incidental costs?
No

Hope this helps
Jim

 

[aspad]

When did it happen?: Oct 10 2009

- Where were you?: luckily close to home/dealer - not out in the donga as on many other occassions
- bike details (model and year): 2004 R1220 GS, 61,000KMS
- remedy: recovered to dealer
- How many days work/holiday did you lose? Stood for an hour and a half in the rain waiting for recovery. But once at dealers fixed in 10 mins. I sort of knew what it was and so did the dealer
- Just the overpriced new controller unit - at $240 I really felt I was being bent over.....

Not sure if you want this stat because happened in Oz but it adds to the overall picture.

BTW no issues with water that I could see - unit still sealed well although covered in dust on outside....

Always interested in experiences outside of the UK even though it won't go in the overall count. I'd hazard a guess that the majority of failures are down to the PCB components overheating rather than water ingress.

 

[Bravo76]

When: 28 September 2009

Where: South East Spain

Bike details: 57 BMW R1200GSA 14000 miles

How many days/work holiday lost: 2 days had to wait to Monday to get bike transported to BMW dealer in Cartegina

Cost: € 240-00 labour & part!!!!

 

[Big Ted]

is this recall an Europe & USA only???


I havent had anything in the mail in Australia!

 

[Number 2]

Yet (another) controller failure (1 week ago)

- When did it happen?
Straight out of the showroom

- Where were you?
In the showroom

- bike details (model and year)
R1200GS - 2010 model year
- remedy
new unit to be fitted at 600mile service

- How many days work/holiday did you lose?
Luckily none.

- Were there any incidental costs?
Not yet ?