If GM is doing a recall for faulty fuel gauges, could BMW be held liable for not doing a recall on their faulty fuel gauge strips or is GM being overly cautious? http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/03/autos/gm-suv-recall/ Seems like the liability would be worse on a motorcycle than in an SUV.
Does every BMW fuel gauge fail to accurately measure the fuel? And if it does...why isn't there a fix? Thanks for your time.
Nope, I believe it was only for years 2005 to about 2009 or 2010 at which time they reverted back to using a float. I've had mine fixed/replaced 3 times now. Not sure if the strips were only used in the GS or in all models. The main reason they never fixed it was most likely because it would cost too much.
There are no strips on 05 and 06 models, they started in 07 or 08 for a couple of years and then back to a float.
This is costing GM very little. Its a software update. Dealers will love it, they can talk people into "leave it for a scheduled maintenance and we will update your software".
My 07 without the trip computer option has float, I heard the same year with trip computer uses strip. My fuel gauge doesn't have gradations between full and 1/2. Is it the same for all 12GSes or only for those with the float?
My new GS reads to the liter in accuracy. My 2010 RT was inaccurate and had the strip. As mentioned there were a couple of years there 08 to 10 that used the strip (not sure exactly, would have to do the parts search in Max parts fiche to be specific). Hundreds of strips replaced, what a deal. One of the reasons I dumped my RT. It just bugged me and was in your face all the time.
My floater is accurate where it matters. After the countdown to 0 I consistently have 15-20 miles range before the tank goes dry.
A BMW recall for faulty fuel level indicators/final drives and anything else will only come after being exposed on national news for faulty ignition locks that have caused deaths.
+1 This is a hot topic for me, for some reason. My 2005 GS had a boatload of serious problems, all covered by warranty thank God, and when I traded it on a new 2009, I knew I wouldn't have much patience for problems with the 2009. It's been perfect...except for the fuel strip. I need one now. The one the dealer put in last fall was faulty before I even got home (181 miles from dealer). I just haven't gotten around to scheduling an appointment. I got the recall letter for the fuel pump, so I'll get them both done at once. I know the defective fuel strips don't bother some people. I respect that...but it bothers me. To their credit - BMW did cover the first failed strip even though the bike was slightly over 36 months old. They did it as a good will gesture because I've been riding their bikes since 1980. This probably wouldn't bother me nearly as much if we still had a local dealer. Make an appointment first thing on a Saturday, get there when they open, eat a couple donuts, kick some tires, maybe take a test ride, be home well before lunch. I just have yet to find a bike I like better. Yet.
Anyone know if it is possible to easily swap/retrofit the newer float into the models that used the fuel strip or would it require a full tank swap and other possible upgrades?
Several have posted that the strips "fail" due to ethanol fuel and putting in a treatment of a product like Sea Foam will bring the strip back on-line...no idea of the truth in this...worth a shot I guess. My gauge is fine and honestly I go by odometer anyway. Running out fuel is not an option off road and solo.
Don't BMW recommend using additives to keep the film clean? And the additive they sell is found in most stores by the name Techron
Just speaking of my experience, I used Techron regularly on mine. Not every tank. Maybe every third tank. It didn't make a difference. Until my original fuel strip failed, I had been hoping using Shell gas almost exclusively, along with regular addition of Techron, had worked. It didn't. Avoiding alcohol fuel is virtually impossible in Illinois. The Agri-business lobby is powerful here. I'm aware of only three Phillips 66 stations in the greater Peoria area who sell pure gas. All are in the same general area, and none are convenient or close to me. It's rare to see pure gas, and short of mapping out the stations ahead of time on a long ride, you're stuck with using alcohol fuel.
Thanks for the experience statement. I was also led to believe it was the "preventive solution" but I didn't see a problem in F800 in the 3 years I owned it. I also don't beleve the alcohol content is the problem, rather something that can be blamed. They also run ethanol in German fuel. http://www.dw.de/ethanol-content-doubles-in-german-gasoline/a-14875288 I think its more of of a mind set "we didn't design it wrong, its got to be the US fuel". VW is the same way with the diesels. Blame everything on the fuel.
Tis hard not to chime in on this thread as I am on fuel strip number 5 (five) now on my 09 GS.! To have 5 fuel strips replaced has meant traveling over a thousand miles in total while using up many days of my life! (dealer is 150 miles away). I am sick of the responses that have said," don't ya know how to read an odometer, or yeah, there are some issues but the GS does so many things well etc etc etc"... I know how to read an odometer and I also know that the return on this investment sucks when compared to other brands! And this crap that it is the fuel that causes the strip to fail is bull! There is not an additive that works either. I have tried them all! More excuses... It is plain and simple, this so called 'great motorcycle' is a pig, and full of defects that have been over come only by lots of creative advertising! Now, if only Honda would build a real adventure bike, then this BMW scam would go away and we would all be happier.............. Does it appear, I have an attitude??
Agreed and if it happened in warranty- after the second failure wouldn't lemon law apply? My 08 GS had 2 replaced during warranty, and the 3rd failure just occurred after they did the fuel pump recall. Ran out of gas on the side of the HWY, Fuel gauge showing 3/4 full and 190 miles left on the trip computer range. I forget resetting the trip meter.... anyway filled it with some gas on the side of the road and off we went. Its really a poor design, and I think that instead of the insanity of replacing one failed component after the other, BMW should have come up with a better retrofit. Running out of gas at 70 mph on the 8 lane highway pretty much constitutes a safety issue. Filing an NTSB report is probably in order. Combine that with common ABSII pump failures; and the cost & reliability of BMW ownership becomes a hard sell for me. Great bikes, but if I ever buy another, I don't think I'll own a modern BMW outside of warranty again.
You americans and your Donuts, love it ! When I visited my family over there the first time I will never foregot when my uncle said" well boys, let`s get and have some coffee and a few donuts", it was almost like an ritual. I had so much nice memory`s on our USA trips ! Cheers klaus!