Faulty Fuel Level Strips

[Boxer-lust]

I canceled my subscription to MCN long time ago.
Since Lee Parks left they are no more than a amateurish fancine for guys liking Harleys and Ducatis...
Often they don't know what they are talking about like a 1400 Concours racking up cheaper maintenance bills than a 1200RT...
I read MAD magazine now...
Had one faulty fuel strip on a 09 R1200R right off the showoom floor,fixed under warranty and no problem ever since...
The problem should go away very soon anyways since "welfare for farmers/ethanol susidies" just ran out...

[g_e_young]

Originally Posted by Englishmatt

Got a 2010 with bad FS. Interested in BMW's response. Reckon they'll blamd the Ethanol, which is WEAK since Ethanol in Gas didn't arrive just yesterday, it's been here a while....AND IN EUROPE TOO!

And if it truly is Ethanol related, then go back to the easy float type approach.

Or design a fuel strip that is more robust to the effects of ethanol. That can't be so difficult. (or maybe it is since the went back to mechanical floats). g-

[ARG]

Motorcycle Consumer News has been very active in solving motorcyclist's issues such as Gold Wing steering head bearings in the past.
If you have any comments on this Fuel Strip issue please send them to Motorcycle Consumer News at the address below;

editor@mcnews.com
Subject Line, Downtime Files

This may help if we all send them a note with our experiences and thank them for their interest.

ARG

[dmac57]

BMW says it's not so widespread.

Hm. Like R1100 surging and soft cast wheels.

So, when did they go back to mechanical floats?

[CannonsvilleRider]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/art...cted-grow-2012

[Acampao]

Doubt ethanol has anything to do with the faulty fuel strip as none is added to gasolines in Chile and my '09 r12gsa still failed. Couldn´t get Techron as some recommend, but used a can of Motul Clean Fuel System instead and after half tank (or a couple of days) the fuel gauge seems to be working again. Curiously, my '07 r12rt has never shown a fuel gauge problem. Wonder if they used floats back then?

A

[terryckdbf]

Originally Posted by dmac57

BMW says it's not so widespread.

Hm. Like R1100 surging and soft cast wheels.

So, when did they go back to mechanical floats?

Around 08/2010. Input your VIN # into RealOEM and it will tell ya what ya have.

Terry

[dmac57]

Think mechanical floats are retro-fittable?

[Beemerlover]

Originally Posted by Englishmatt

Got a 2010 with bad FS. Interested in BMW's response. Reckon they'll blamd the Ethanol, which is WEAK since Ethanol in Gas didn't arrive just yesterday, it's been here a while....AND IN EUROPE TOO!

And if it truly is Ethanol related, then go back to the easy float type approach.

Actually, BMW did go back to a float type sensor on the new bikes (even though there was nothing whatsoever wrong with the strip sensors). Guess they just got tired of all the imaginary problems with the strips.

[Beemerlover]

Originally Posted by ARG

Motorcycle Consumer News has been very active in solving motorcyclist's issues such as Gold Wing steering head bearings in the past.
If you have any comments on this Fuel Strip issue please send them to Motorcycle Consumer News at the address below;

editor@mcnews.com
Subject Line, Downtime Files

This may help if we all send them a note with our experiences and thank them for their interest.

ARG

What did they do to solve the head bearing issues on the Goldwings? As far as I know, they still come with the same undersized POS ball bearings that they've always had.

[BMWRich]

Originally Posted by dmac57

So, when did they go back to mechanical floats?

My 2007 GS ADV "Without Computer" came from the Factory with the mechanical float.
As verified on RealOEM and the Dealers Network Parts List.
Oh...and 53+K miles and NO Issues as of yet with fuel levels.

[mrt10x]

Originally Posted by Beemerlover

Actually, BMW did go back to a float type sensor on the new bikes (even though there was nothing whatsoever wrong with the strip sensors). Guess they just got tired of all the imaginary problems with the strips.

I thought this was only for bikes w/o the optional computer... computer bikes still have the strip.. I have no idea where I came up with this idea.. I am sure I read it here on adv though.

[Beemerlover]

Originally Posted by mrt10x

I thought this was only for bikes w/o the optional computer... computer bikes still have the strip.. I have no idea where I came up with this idea.. I am sure I read it here on adv though.

I got that info from the newest parts catalog and also a BMW bike "tech" (if that means anything). The parts catalog apparently doesn't list a strip for the new bikes - at least as far as I can see.

[TheWorstKind]

Looks like the GS models have the float in them (after August 2010), but the GS Adventures still have the strip.

My Adventure just turned 1 month old, 4600 miles, and fuel level indication still works. Time will tell.

[JoelWisman]

Originally Posted by monkeydad

The response said that Techron seems to slow if not eliminate the corrosion the strips are subjected to from American gas blends.

My dealer's head mech said there is no difference between bottled Techron and the BMW labeled stuff they sell.

There is a difference between BMW techron and store bought Chevron techron concentrate, but it's just in the ratio of chemicals and both help prevent fuel pump and injector failure

Neither do the slightest bloody thing for reducing fuel strip failure. Your head tech is parroting what corporate advised him to say about 2 years ago, but corporate dropped that line when tests on their own demo fleet revealed that techron did nothing to slow fuel strip failure.

BMW addressed this issue on 2011 models by going back to a float style sender, unfortunately it is not compatible with older bikes.

As for the problem not being as wide spread as the internet implies, hell yes it is! The failure rate is over 50% in the first year!!!! Can't get much wider spread then that, though some do get lucky and have a strip that l;acts through warranty and beyond.