Three fuel foils in 2 years
- Thread starter Les Wassall
- Start date
I've been quoted about £200 from Vines, I'll have to wait now as the clutch has gone 
My thoughts of reliability (1150 vs 1200) are being tested!
My thoughts of reliability (1150 vs 1200) are being tested!
Mine has packed in now as well.
Add this to my new rear wheel bearing and an as-yet undiagnosed ABS system warning light that comes and goes. Bike is 16k miles and five years old. It also had all the faults common to this model early in its life too, apart from the fuel controller which was replaced under recall.
In my experience this bike just hasn't been reliable at all
One more thing going wrong and its going to be never again BMW for me
Add this to my new rear wheel bearing and an as-yet undiagnosed ABS system warning light that comes and goes. Bike is 16k miles and five years old. It also had all the faults common to this model early in its life too, apart from the fuel controller which was replaced under recall.
In my experience this bike just hasn't been reliable at all
One more thing going wrong and its going to be never again BMW for me
JamieMagic
Registered user
Just drying off having got back from the dealer after having had my second one replaced within 6 months ... Luckily mine have all been covered under warranty ....
As an added little bonus, taking the bike in this morning having not filled up for over 300 miles the dealer put over 3/4 of a tank of fuel back in
Just took another £6.00 to fill it up to the brim ...
Thanks SBW
Oh i was advised that with the new GS the fuel sender has gone back to the old fashion float system ... Valuable lesson there Mr BMW, if its not broke don't fix it....
As an added little bonus, taking the bike in this morning having not filled up for over 300 miles the dealer put over 3/4 of a tank of fuel back in
Just took another £6.00 to fill it up to the brim ...
Thanks SBW
Oh i was advised that with the new GS the fuel sender has gone back to the old fashion float system ... Valuable lesson there Mr BMW, if its not broke don't fix it....
Here's a thing...
Gave the bike an oil change last week. Plugged in the GS911 to reset the service reminder. Checked for fault codes and the rest of the geeky things. Fuel gauge now seems to be working?? A year or so, plus a couple of services including me using the GS911 last time, it's been totally dooally. The little bars actually go down as I use fuel now? I still don't trust it one bit though, I'll continue to put my faith in the trip meter. 320 I fill up... 340 I start to ride very gently, 350 I panic.
Gave the bike an oil change last week. Plugged in the GS911 to reset the service reminder. Checked for fault codes and the rest of the geeky things. Fuel gauge now seems to be working?? A year or so, plus a couple of services including me using the GS911 last time, it's been totally dooally. The little bars actually go down as I use fuel now? I still don't trust it one bit though, I'll continue to put my faith in the trip meter. 320 I fill up... 340 I start to ride very gently, 350 I panic.
Bendy toy
Registered user
Does anyone know if its possible to have the speedo reset to show the trip miles by default rather than the total miles?
Hi Les. Do you almost always get your fuel from same place?
Reason I ask is our bikes both play up and also my Suzuki car, as in fuel gauge goes awol, usually happens after a Tesco fill up. A couple of fill ups later from Shell or wherever and normal service resumes. First noticed it when we were off on holiday. Both filled up and as we rode off Sue said her fuel gauge was not working then noticed mine was also only showing 3/4 tank. Nothing to do about it as we were off to ferry. Couple of fresh tank fulls later and working again. This has happened half a dozen times over the last 3 years and a couple of times the car gauge has not worked after a fill up, usually pops up to full. Then a week later fresh tank and all working again. Strange I know but an observation.
Reason I ask is our bikes both play up and also my Suzuki car, as in fuel gauge goes awol, usually happens after a Tesco fill up. A couple of fill ups later from Shell or wherever and normal service resumes. First noticed it when we were off on holiday. Both filled up and as we rode off Sue said her fuel gauge was not working then noticed mine was also only showing 3/4 tank. Nothing to do about it as we were off to ferry. Couple of fresh tank fulls later and working again. This has happened half a dozen times over the last 3 years and a couple of times the car gauge has not worked after a fill up, usually pops up to full. Then a week later fresh tank and all working again. Strange I know but an observation.
Bendy toy
Registered user
Have other parts of the fuel level sensing been checked through? The problem might be a dirty connection somewhere rather than the actual foil.
I use Tescos 99 octane so far with no issues. I avoid all plain 95RON because it makes the bike feel like a slug.
I use Tescos 99 octane so far with no issues. I avoid all plain 95RON because it makes the bike feel like a slug.
Tackleberry.
Registered user
Christ this also happened my fathers car at Tesco he filled it to the brim and payed, turned on the car he looked at the fuel gauge and it had not moved from where it was earlier, but he knew that he had filled it as the pump was cutting out as he filled it, it took 40 mile down the road for the gauge to read correct.
Christ this also happened my fathers car at Tesco he filled it to the brim and payed, turned on the car he looked at the fuel gauge and it had not moved from where it was earlier, but he knew that he had filled it as the pump was cutting out as he filled it, it took 40 mile down the road for the gauge to read correct.
Has happened to us at other "CHEAP" fuel places as well as Tesco. Always use the trip and allow a couple of refills now before heading to the dealers. Both bikes have had new sender units fitted in the past. Seem to remember a problem in the past with cars having running problems from Tesco, Morrisons burning valves, probably 10 years ago now. Always seemed odd that the fault seems to occure after a fillup.!
May be worth adding a sub thread "fuel gauge failed after filling at......" Just to see if any connection or just coincidence.
Further to my previous post here http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=337890
I decided to bite the bullit and have a go ,filled the tank to the top , gave it 3 clicks of the igniter and then measured the resistance of the two centre pins on the fuel strip connector; whoooooa from open cct to 2.4 K plugged everyting back in and full bars but only showing 110 km range , went for a ride round the block and range slowly climbing now at 455 km off on another jaunt in a mo to see if it gets to 700 odd Km as it used to will report back
I decided to bite the bullit and have a go ,filled the tank to the top , gave it 3 clicks of the igniter and then measured the resistance of the two centre pins on the fuel strip connector; whoooooa from open cct to 2.4 K plugged everyting back in and full bars but only showing 110 km range , went for a ride round the block and range slowly climbing now at 455 km off on another jaunt in a mo to see if it gets to 700 odd Km as it used to will report back
trainman
Registered user
on a few of the foreign forum threads some posters reckon that a high fuel level, high enough to get on the connections at the top of the tank inside might affect the fuel readings at least temporarily
it looks like the fuel strip lead plugs into the underside of the pump assy, maybe someone can confirm, if so would getting this wet or if there were connection issues inside cause issues?
I have noticed difference in gauge readings for a short time after filling on centre stand versus side stand, but this might just be the lobes balancing up once the bike is level
Tackleberry.
Registered user
Glad it worked for you I'm going to try it soon myself...Further to my previous post here http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=337890
I decided to bite the bullit and have a go ,filled the tank to the top , gave it 3 clicks of the igniter and then measured the resistance of the two centre pins on the fuel strip connector; whoooooa from open cct to 2.4 K plugged everyting back in and full bars but only showing 110 km range , went for a ride round the block and range slowly climbing now at 455 km off on another jaunt in a mo to see if it gets to 700 odd Km as it used to will report back
I think the reason this doesn't cause an explosion is a lucky combination of no spark caused (because of no open circuit) and no air in the petrol vapour.
I wouldn't try it. You may of course.
Thing I don't get is how this can actually "heal" a fuel level sensor strip. Can anyone shed some light on that?
I wouldn't try it. You may of course.
Thing I don't get is how this can actually "heal" a fuel level sensor strip. Can anyone shed some light on that?
Opinion seems to be the connection breaks between the lead out wire that connect to the socket and the plastic printed foil strip, the spark must somehow re weld the the connection back together. Guess there must be a spark, and maybe it carbonizes the printed film thus making a new track / connection the broken connection is potted in an epoxy resin hence the inability to see or fix the problem, seems many have tried to remove this epoxy with no luck . The lack of explosion I hoped would be due to the fact that the whole thing is submerged in petrol so no oxygen plus many others have tried it before I decided to have a go ,
If in doubt take the strip out and Zap it well away from the tank ,
Turned on the ignition today and was greeted with 683 Km range , will see how it continues and when it starts going down again
but at least the fecking orange light and LCD nag screen is gone .
the broken connection is potted in an epoxy resin hence the inability to see or fix the problem, seems many have tried to remove this epoxy with no luck . The lack of explosion I hoped would be due to the fact that the whole thing is submerged in petrol so no oxygen plus many others have tried it before I decided to have a go , If in doubt take the strip out and Zap it well away from the tank ,
Turned on the ignition today and was greeted with 683 Km range , will see how it continues and when it starts going down again
but at least the fecking orange light and LCD nag screen is gone .
Tackleberry.
Registered user
Opinion seems to be the connection breaks between the lead out wire that connect to the socket and the plastic printed foil strip, the spark must somehow re weld the the connection back together. Guess there must be a spark, and maybe it carbonizes the printed film thus making a new track / connection
If in doubt take the strip out and Zap it well away from the tank ,
Turned on the ignition today and was greeted with 683 Km range , will see how it continues and when it starts going down again
but at least the fecking orange light and LCD nag screen is gone .
Done this trick today and my fuel gauge returned but showing only a few bars so I filled it up and it stills shows only a few bars I still have a caution light for low fuel, thinking I might try again and click the gadget more than once??
Should have filled it up before zappin it , I clicked my zapper 6/7 times then check the resistance should be about 2.4K
Mines still working , was climbing for the first 60- 80 Kms then started dropping as the fuel got used, working spot on now just re filled the tank and full bars again straight away
Mines still working , was climbing for the first 60- 80 Kms then started dropping as the fuel got used, working spot on now just re filled the tank and full bars again straight away
Tackleberry.
Registered user
Thx orbit I'm going to retry based on your info..
Should have filled it up before zappin it , I clicked my zapper 6/7 times then check the resistance should be about 2.4K
Mines still working , was climbing for the first 60- 80 Kms then started dropping as the fuel got used, working spot on now just re filled the tank and full bars again straight away
Tackleberry.
Registered user
I've followed out this to the Op instructions and it only partly works for me giving me a few bars on the gauge even though the fuel tank is full, guessing my fuel strip is totally wanked.
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