FPC Carry Spare Vs Replace anyway

Rasher

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I see the FPC's are still failing regularly even with the later "fixed" ones, 2010 bikes are staring to fail and it seems that these things struggle to last more than a couple of years.

Now it is obvious BMW are still fitting shite parts (and making a fortune selling them so probably very happy with the new ones ability to just scrape past the two year warranty period)

So my question is should I:

1. Pay the robbing bastards for an FPC to carry around ready to fit when (as it is not a case of if) the unit fails.

2. pay the robbing bastards for an FPC and fit it immedately to save the hassle of having to change it at the roadside (and carry the old one as a spare in case the new one f***s up especially early)

Although it appears the BMW assist people carry ones about in vans in the UK, I assume once in Europe the chances of being up and running again in a short time frame are pretty slim.

After 7 years of failures you really would have thought BMW would do something about this problem (other than profiteer)
 
I'd go with your option 1, or just take a chance and not carry a spare.

I don't see the advantage in option 2 - I thought it was more of a random failure so you're spending time now to change a part that may still fail in a few weeks just like the existing one may (or may not)
 
Its really not a difficult problem to overcome. Have a read of this, or this, and do a temp repair if you need to. If you want to carry something to rectify the problem this should fit the bill.:thumb
 
How about option 1, and then when you are home, fit the knackered one and call out BMW assist so they can give you a new one as a new spare.;)
 
DavidJames said:
How about option 1, and then when you are home, fit the knackered one and call out BMW assist so they can give you a new one as a new spare.;)
Click to expand...

Great minds think alike , thats what i did on mine before the warranty ran out and got a new one for free to carry with me now :thumb2
 
Cheers guys, the bypass cable option looks much better.

The connector with cable option is only $20, I have a cheapo inline fuse holder I could utilise and just hook this staright to the battery if it fails - 15 minute fix and only £12.

My only other concern was the damn thing going in the outside lane of a motorway, does riding a GS count as mitigiation for undertaking on the motorway - it seems far safer than risking the outside lane on a vehicle prone to just stopping at any time.
 
Rasher said:
Cheers guys, the bypass cable option looks much better.

The connector with cable option is only $20, I have a cheapo inline fuse holder I could utilise and just hook this staright to the battery if it fails - 15 minute fix and only £12.

My only other concern was the damn thing going in the outside lane of a motorway, does riding a GS count as mitigiation for undertaking on the motorway - it seems far safer than risking the outside lane on a vehicle prone to just stopping at any time.
Click to expand...

Get with the programme Rasher...

Repeat after me.

We Love BWM

BWM Good
 
far as I am aware, FPC are covered by the extended warranty? So as I have that, I'll just wait until mine blows. Looking at the history its had one replacement in 5 years and 36k
 
Rasher said:
Cheers guys, the bypass cable option looks much better.

The connector with cable option is only $20, I have a cheapo inline fuse holder I could utilise and just hook this staright to the battery if it fails - 15 minute fix and only £12.
Click to expand...

Dumb move.

It is quicker (and easier) to fit a brand new FPC than bugger around. You will only end up buying one when you get back home anyway.

Buy a spare.

Carry it with you.

When you sell the bike, as you will be doing, sell the FPC on the FSW section or give it to the bod who buys your hopeless, unreliable pile of shonky (expensive) poo as a sweetner.
 
Wapping said:
It is quicker (and easier) to fit a brand new FPC than bugger around. You will only end up buying one when you get back home anyway.
Click to expand...

When i get back home I can claim for a new one on warranty, the cable means I have £20 bouncing around in my top box forever more, instead of £85 and I do not like to waste capital on holding spares for my vehicles (and until buying a BMW have never bloody needed too either)

But the temptation to put a shiny new unit in and have a bit more confidence that a visit to the fast lane will not result in me being crushed under a truck is quite compelling.

Perhaps just fitting the bloody cable is the best bet and throw the FPC away, it seems they do f*** all except break down regulalrly :nenau
 
Johno23 said:
I know a number of 1200 owners including me, but yet to meet any one who has had this fail:nenau

Maybe it's an urban myth:confused:
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I used my spare to get a 1200 owner going again. But it's the only one I've actually seen fail in thousands of miles of riding in 1200 mounted company.

Some people just have to worry, I guess?
 
cookie said:
I used my spare to get a 1200 owner going again. But it's the only one I've actually seen fail in thousands of miles of riding in 1200 mounted company.

Some people just have to worry, I guess?
Click to expand...

Perhaps he should carry a final drive in his topbox aswell:augie

I've never met anyone who has had the FD fail either. I know a couple who have had to change the seal though..............:)
 
Johno23 said:
I know a number of 1200 owners including me, but yet to meet any one who has had this fail:nenau

Maybe it's an urban myth:confused:
Click to expand...

me too ridden thousands of miles with other 1200s and never seen a failure:rob
 
Rasher said:
When i get back home I can claim for a new one on warranty, the cable means I have £20 bouncing around in my top box forever more, instead of £85 and I do not like to waste capital on holding spares for my vehicles (and until buying a BMW have never bloody needed too either)

But the temptation to put a shiny new unit in and have a bit more confidence that a visit to the fast lane will not result in me being crushed under a truck is quite compelling.

Perhaps just fitting the bloody cable is the best bet and throw the FPC away, it seems they do f*** all except break down regulalrly :nenau
Click to expand...

OK.

Don't forget to pack your long nosed pliers, so you can get the connector out and the right sized torx socket, a short extension and a ratchet. You will also need a cross head screwdriver to attack the terminals of the battery, assuming you have the OEM battery.

The controller serves to improve the bike's MPG. It cuts off / reduces fuel at closed throttle settings. Clever eh?
 
Wapping said:
OK.

The controller serves to improve the bike's MPG. It cuts off / reduces fuel at closed throttle settings. Clever eh?
Click to expand...

Would be damned clever if it did not pack up every few thousand miles :blast

Although it seems quite a few owners have never had one fail, but for the sake of £20 / £80 not sure I wanna take the risk. Especially as there seems to be several reported failures a week on this website alone.

Not sure what that means statistically, but on my last bike the forum very rarely had any failures on any parts from one week to the next, often months would pass with no issues and in 3 years I do not think a single bike actually broke down at the side of the road, so regardless of if this is considered "rare" by BMW fans it is pretty common compared to other bikes which generally don't go wrong very often at all.

The FD is a bit heavy to carry around, and I am hoping slightly less likely to go pop on a bike with under 15k on the clock, although again some owners have had these f*** up at ridculously low mileages.

BMW must have some statistics for failure rates, but seeing as they don't publish them I am guessing it is because they are in fact pretty poor.
 
WTF don't you just buy another one of these fantastic machines then?

it would be simpler than carrying around all these spares and worries :thumb2
 
cookie said:
WTF don't you just buy another one of these fantastic machines then?

it would be simpler than carrying around all these spares and worries :thumb2
Click to expand...

New bike £13,000, spare FPC £85 :rolleyes:

If I had £13k to spare I would probably be looking at a new Guzzi Stelvio / Triumph 1200 / Yamaha Tenere - all of which probably do not warrant carrying around spares all the time.

For now carrying an FPC seems like a good idea as they are probably the most common fault on the GS and are relatively inexpensive, easy to carry and can be fitted roadside with few tools.

Compared to missing out on a two week trip to the Alps £85 is a worthwhile expense, seeing as this forum lists over 400 failures to date the chances of it happening cannot be considered all that remote.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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