What would you expect from your dealer ?

[neil 23]

Hello all , will try to keep as brief as poss, bought a new GS 1200 (57 plate) from dealers, no problems until in Scotland, computer tells me approx 30 miles range left, then runs out in middle of nowhere ! takes it back to dealer, explained problem and that we were going to Germany etc in a few days, when bike collected was told problem sorted and not to worry ! Great trip to Germany and Alps until going to catch ferry, we had approx an hour to get on boat, computer telling me that range 40 miles, no problems as only 10 miles away ! guess what happend next Was then stuck on motorway while others who were in front of me carried on to ferry terminal where I managed to ring and explain what had happend, by the time they found petrol and returned, we had missed ferry and had to book into a hotel in Rotterdam, pay to change ferry until following day, days off work etc, all in all a bit of a nightmare to say the least When we returned home, you can guess who I was on the phone to . was told to bring bike in and when they were doing 6k service the "problem" would be fixed (again). Explained what sort of problems this had caused and costs incurred, not even an apology !! they even charged me for service plus £7 for petrol they had to put in tank to "test" new part, by now I was fuming to say the least ! was told that someone would ring me to "see what could be done", still waiting for call several weeks later ! Rand BMW customer service, they said it was down to dealer and didnt really want to know.

What would you have expected if this was you ?

 

[Big Lee]

I would expect to know the range of my bike and not rely on the fuel guage when in such a situation. If with another group top up when the bike with the worst fuel consumption does. If on your own have a good amount in reserve. Bike does 220 miles? Fill up at 170.

Maybe not the answer you`re expecting?

Think what if, not if only

 

[G.C.]

Sorry but you will find “sympathy” in the dictionary between shyte and syphilis.
I strap a 5 ltr container onto one of my panniers.
That’s after being caught out once.
Did you buy the bike there? Perhaps some “goodwill” might be in order but its something that you had a problem with before, you were never a boy scout were you!

 

[Loiq]

I've ran out of petrol once about 15 years ago in france at night... oh it's not nice is it.... I pushed the bike for miles till I remembered it had a switched reserve....

oh well everyday's a school day I guess.

if you drill the filler neck you can get some extra juice in might be a mod worth thinking about if doing a proper long run without stopping

 

[FatAl]

Thats bad luck, but never rely on the onboard computer. I always go on the trip metre reading, and as mentioned above always fill up as a group going off the worst bikes consumption.

 

[Stumpy]

I would expect to know the range of my bike and not rely on the fuel guage when in such a situation. If with another group top up when the bike with the worst fuel consumption does. If on your own have a good amount in reserve. Bike does 220 miles? Fill up at 170.

Maybe not the answer you`re expecting?

Think what if, not if only

What he said

 

[John Armstrong]

While I sympathise, learning if the distance to go indicator is now working is not best tried rushing for a ferry

Yes it should work, otherwise what's the point of it, but to rely on it ...........

 

[Berin]

Same as everyone else, really - know how many miles your bike does to a tank, the miles to go indicator is just trying to make a guess based on how much fuel you have in the tank vs. how you have been riding.

Having said that, mine's spot on

 

[neil 23]

fuel

Thanks for all replies, pretty much what I expected, a bit overwhelmed with all sympathy though but yes, you learn from mistakes like that and it wont happen again. Have gathered all toys back into pram and dummy firmly in place Regards Neil.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Thanks for all replies, pretty much what I expected, a bit overwhelmed with all sympathy though but yes, you learn from mistakes like that and it wont happen again. Have gathered all toys back into pram and dummy firmly in place Regards Neil.

Not good Neil.......................it's a bummer thing to happen

Your Zumo will probably more accurate to judge the fuel consumption/usage on your bike than a 1200 's computer

Trip it everytime and you'll soon be a master at going the distance between stops

I had to re-learn the 1100RT in Spain and still not used to it

The 1150Adv uses fuel differently and so does the Xchallenge - so it's a nighmare and they're all Beemers

 

[neil 23]

fuel

Not good Neil.......................it's a bummer thing to happen

Your Zumo will probably more accurate to judge the fuel consumption/usage on your bike than a 1200 's computer

Trip it everytime and you'll soon be a master at going the distance between stops

I had to re-learn the 1100RT in Spain and still not used to it

The 1150Adv uses fuel differently and so does the Xchallenge - so it's a nighmare and they're all Beemers

Thanks John, planning a ride to Spain in June , should be in Picos for a few days, will keep you informed, Regards Neil.: thumb

 

[Big Lee]

Thanks for all replies, pretty much what I expected, a bit overwhelmed with all sympathy though but yes, you learn from mistakes like that and it wont happen again. Have gathered all toys back into pram and dummy firmly in place Regards Neil.

No problem Neil Some people would`ve flounced faced with some of the replies you got

I always start to look for a petrol station at around 180 miles depending on what part of the country I`m in. That usually gives me a good 20-30 miles to find one at least.


Good luck on your trip

 

[John Armstrong]

Thanks John, planning a ride to Spain in June , should be in Picos for a few days, will keep you informed, Regards Neil.: thumb

Just a thought, you hadn't been bimbling about on "B" roads with 50 miles to go according to the computor and then went onto the motorway and was cruising at the speed limit? On my 1200 GSA the miles to pushing range would go from about 400 to 250 if I did the above

 

[Navy Boy]

Neil

Whilst the old adage of using the bike's tripmeter is a very true one you are right to be a little hacked off that it still isn't working properly.

Is it consistently wrong (By which I mean does it always run out at the 35-40 mile-to-go mark. At least you can account for that) or is it more random than that?

 

[Pukmeister]

Neil, my '04 is a pessimistic calculator of fuel (thankfully), only once have I exceeded the countdown by about 5 miles, must've been on vapour when I pulled in for fuel. Mine starts counting down "reserve range" early, so I usually refuel at around the 170 mile mark on the trip odometer. Reset it each time you refuel, a good habit to get in to if you are allergic to pushing a fully laden touring bike.

Also, try ripping out the stupid rubber fuel filler neck insert tube to get a bit more juice into the tank at each fuel stop.

 

[Navy Boy]

If its any consolation the fuel countdown on my 1200RT also appears to be pessimistic. Still, at least it's always that way...

I wouldn't want to try and push a loaded-up RT any distance...

 

[Slowdown]

Blah......
What would you have expected if this was you ?

Yea - mine does that.

So I fill up when it reaches 50 to go, or ~200 miles, cos I've done 220 miles once, so 200 is the fill up point.

 

[Mr K]

Mmmm...

My '04 1200 does anywhere between 200 and 300 milles to a tank, depending on the going.

Thankfully the gauge/countdown seem reliable.

As has been said: What is the point of it if you can't rely on it?

 

[Big Lee]

As has been said: What is the point of it if you can't rely on it?

Don`t just rely on one thing. It can be helpful along with other information you can gather such as what roads you`ve been riding on, how fast, previous mileage, what luggage/ pillion etc
To rely on one thing that has let you down in the past and have fairly bad consequences if it messes up again is, imo, foolish.

 

[Pathologic]

Know how you feel

Hi Neil,

You have good mates to come back for you and take the hit of extra hotel bills and time off work.

The fuel gauge is shite. What is worse it is inconsistent shite. Mine has been reset four times in 10000 miles and each time it has come back with different characteristics. Either it runs out of fuel with 40 miles on the clock or (currently) it shows empty at 180 miles with 4 litres still in the tank.

I despair of it working. What I am not clear about is whther the fuel consumption and other measures are also random number generators. Wish I had not paid extra for the computer.

As has been said. Set the trip and keep a margin of error.

Regards,


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