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

electronic fuel modulator failure

OK, HERE IT IS. DRIVING BAJA, MEXICO 130KPH WHEN BIKE GOES DEAD. STOP, STARTED THEN DIES WHEN TURNING THROTTLE. PROBLEM, FUEL MOD BURNED OUT. CAUSE, MOISTURE AND OVERHEATING. SOLUTION, CUT WIRES AND POSITIVE TO POS NEG TO NEG AND OFF I GO. nUMBER 1 WIRE TO 1 AND 2 TO 2 ETC. BUT FUEL PUMP RUNS AT ALL TIMES 100% DESIGN WAS TO SAVE ON THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE BY REDUCING BUT I DONT THINK IT IS WORTH THE RISK. BMW HAS NOW IMPROVED THE PART AFTER 2007 SO BE VERY AWARE IF YOU HAVE AN 04-06 THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN TO YOU.
BYE FOR NOW FROM MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA USA. CAPTAIN KEN

2005 R1200GS WITH 15,000 MILES

Tim said:
Thanks for the report. I won't include it in the UK figures but it is helpful to know this is a worldwide problem.
 
my 06 gsa will not start, tried new battery , suspect fuel pump, 8500k,any bike that wont start is....... a pain in the arse!! not a happy camper.

Edit: confirmed as a failure.

17-may 09
where- at home (thank ****)
unit on order from kearys in cork cost 110 euro, though they may do it as goodwill.
2006 gsa
 
Woohoo! 2nd failure!

When: May 2009
Where: Istanbul
Name: David
Bike: 05 GS
Remedy: Replaced under warranty (last one bought in march '08).
Days lost: 0.5
Mileage: 23,500km
 
Controller Failure

Mine went in march of this year, while I popped back into the house to get my helmet, leaving the bike ticking over on the drive - it wasn't by the time I got back to it! It was taken to Coopers in Mackemland, which is interesting considering other posters to this thread reckon they haven't heard of this problem...

2004 '54 plate GS with 12k on the clock.
 
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Fuel pump relay failure

Mine failed this week Mon 18 may at the passport control zebrugger ferry ,had to push bike on to ferry ,at hull pushed it of ferry and got recoved to Rainbow who fixed it whilst I waited and only charged for part , Lee the lad who replaced it also showed me how to bridge it out Top bloke as it was his lunch time
 
2006 RT:toungincheek

Northbound on M1 near Luton. 14200 miles

£203 (including trailer from home to RGM)

11 days off road

Just got it back - gearbox oil seals gone now and clutch slipping :mad:
 
another fuel pump failure

when :may 2009
where: 20 miles out of biaritz 2miles up mountain road in pouring rain
cost : 150 pound phone calls 2 days in dealer in bayonne worst cost corsa 1.2 for 5days not 1.2 bmw on the best roads
remedy: none still in dealer in bayonne,waiting after 30+ phone calls for breakdown to pull finger out
 
fuel pump failure

date 22nd may
where Whitby
bike restarted and rode home
failed again
remedy
bmw assistance fitted replacement
cost nill (warrenty)
days off road = 4
model 2008 gsa
 
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I have a deposit on a new GSA at SBW in Hertford.
Reading this thread, I am getting a touch nervous.
I am considering demanding that 2 spare FPCs come as part of the deal.
Reasoning: I asked the dealer several times about problems with the bike and he told me there were none bar the ignition thing and that that had been fixed.
I even pressed him, telling him I intend to use the bike in South America and other seriously remote places, when I will be a long way from help on occasions and what spares I should take. His reply - actually the mechanic - "just service parts". No mention of FPC.
Do I or don't I............

What are your thoughts folks ????
 
It's a mystery

I have a deposit on a new GSA at SBW in Hertford.
Reading this thread, I am getting a touch nervous. [...]
I even pressed him, telling him I intend to use the bike in South America and other seriously remote places, when I will be a long way from help on occasions [...]
Do I or don't I............

I have owned a 2005 R1200GS since new and I'm sorry to have to advice you not to use this bike in seriously remote places. It's not nearly reliable enough. I wouldn't anyway. I'd use a Japanese.

How the Germans have managed to construct and design the most comfortable, best looking and most fun bike ever and then seem unable to screw it properly together is a mystery.
 
You are correct.
There is a newer FPC on current bikes which seems more reliable but whether it's 100% is debatable.
The FPC's are cheap enough, so get one on sale or return for your trip and/or carry a workaround lead, made up as per the instructions you can find on here.
It's really not something to be at all nervous about.
It's not like things don't have the potential to go wrong on all bikes is it? :nenau

Sorry to disagree - my bike is new (sept 2008) and the FPC packed up at 2000 miles! Left me stranded in traffic for half a day waiting for recovery. The whole unit is now tilted but still catches and holds water. This is not acceptable and many other posts on this thread confirm that the new units are just as un-reliable. As soon as my roadside recovery expires I will be carrying a spare (if I keep this bike that long!). I love the bike but it has let me down already and I now lack confidence in its reliability.
OldCroc
 
Really. Please point out where. :nenau

"There is a newer FPC on current bikes which seems more reliable but whether it's 100% is debatable." (your quote, AdamA)

I don't believe 2000 miles is "more reliable". As a newcomer to this bike I had no way of knowing what the problem was. When you buy a new bike your priorities should not be "what spares should I carry?".
I have had acknowledgement from BMW and VOSA that they have a problem with this unit and "that they are working with the Factory (Munich) and VOSA to apply a permanent ‘fix’ solution to this problem. They will not give any undertaking to the time scale, working on it" BMW's quote - not mine.

OldCroc
 
Had two EWS! failures and now the fuel pump controller!! Out of pocket exoenses excluding bike recovery & repair (under warranty) came to £517.00

- When did it happen? 23 May 2009
- Where were you? Morlaix, Brittany, France
- rider name Chris Wrench
- bike details (model and year) R1200GS 2007
- remedy Recovered by BMW assistance and fixed three days later at BMW MotoRad
- How many days work/holiday did you lose? 3 days holiday and one extra day off work
- Were there any incidental costs? £517.00 (Taxi's, hire car, change in ferry booking, hotel etc). In the process of claiming back from BMW.
 
Fuel pump controller failure

- When did it happen? Friday the 29th May 2009 and about eight months before that
- Where were you? On Euston Road (London) dual carriageway underpass
- rider name
- bike details (model and year) 57 plate R1200GS
- remedy: recovery under warranty
- How many days work/holiday did you lose? half day
- Were there any incidental costs? Covered under warranty so no cost except the inconvenience

So this is the second time that it's happened to me, oddly enoug it was the same recovery guy who came out to pick me up and he said it's a well know probelm on these bikes so recommended I carry a spare. Apparently it's the reason the BMW techicians carry them on their vehicles.

The worrying thing is this is a very dangerous problem, I was in the middle of a busy dual carriageway when the power dropped off and there was no safe place to pull in. didn't enjoy the lorries and cars screaming past me as I was stuck in the middle of the road - bike cut out going up hill so nightmare to push.

Good luck with getting the cost of the part down. Great article by the way. Printed it out to keep for future reference.

Had a F650 before this one and never had any problems and beginning to wonder wh I upgraded to the bigger brother as since buying it I've had two fuel pump controllers go and an key antenuator. Good job it's covered under warranty.........
 
And me

When: 29th May 2009
Where: North Wales
Bike: R1200GS 2005
Remedy: Replaced with new FPC bought from dealer
Lost time: None, bike instantly died twice on ride home but immediately recovered - intermittent fault. Scary and dangerous.:mad:
Cost: £67.54 for the new FPC

Part number of item fitted = 16 14 7 720 776

I have noticed a number of threads asking the question about intermittent cut-out faults this is obviously one potential cause.
 
- When did it happen? Saturday 1st June 2009
- Where were you? Tideswell Derbyshire
- rider name Norm
- bike details R 1200 GS 08 model
- remedy Recovery by BMW rescue and transferred to dealer
- How many days work/holiday did you lose? Days Riding
- Were there any incidental costs? No
 

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Bike wouldn't start...

150 miles from home and a shed load of stuff to do and the blighter wouldn't start. Fortunately, could get access to the internet and managed to diagnose fuel pump controller failure. Rewired it with the help of the very useful info on here and hey presto managed to get home. Not happy about this BMW reliability though....
Thank goodness for this site!
Jon
 
Me too! .... Just in after been Rescued in Monaghan on Day trip ..... On and off fuel starvation followed by complete failure and coast to the side of the road 2008 GSA just past 20,000km service
 
Fuel pump controller failure

date 23rd may
where ARRAS
bike died completely, would have been serious if in the outside lane of the motorway
remedy, one of the group swapped his relay so the problem was identified. Breakdown came out recovered the bike to workshop and went off BMW dealer in Arras (thankfully open till 7pm on a Saturday). Came back and fitted part
cost £120 part £100 for collection & fitting
days off road = 0
model 2005 gs
 


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