BMW R1200 RT fuel gauge problems

Filed May 28, 2019 · Fuel system · 8,160 miles · GA

The fuel gauge misread the actual amount of fuel in my tank causing me to run out of gas at a dangerous intersection. I had to get off the motorcycle and push it across oncoming traffic (the only downhill option) to a safe place on the side of the road. I had to walk for 2 miles to purchase a gas can and fuel in order to restart and move the bike. This was the first time my gas gauge failed. The sensor for the gas gauge has now failed 3 times. The second time I was able to coast up a driveway hill into a safe church parking lot. This was so lucky as no shoulder was available. Recently, the third time it failed I noticed the fuel gage was actually going up as I was operating the vehicle. It went from 1/2 tank to almost full. The fuel strip (fuel sensor) in the gas tank is the root cause of failure. I now have the 3rd fuel strip replacement scheduled for 7/12/2019. If I run out of fuel in the middle of a highway during a rush hour time period, I could literally be killed (example: I live in atlanta and have been in rush hour on I-75 / I-285 which is about 8-9 lanes wide with tight and fast moving cars and trucks). The fuel tank on the 2010 bmw r 1200 rt does not have an emergency fuel reserve petcock. If the fuel gauge overstates the remaining fuel, and the bike runs out of fuel, there is no available reserve. There is no safety margin. I just purchased a fuel bottle to carry on the motorcycle for an emergency. I do not like the idea of carrying fuel in this manner, nor should I have to. I cannot lock it safely leaving open an opportunity for vandalism, and I cannot guarantee it will not leak or rupture. Photos: photos were taken when bike was out of fuel and displaying miles remaining and fuel level. Tank holds 6.6 gl and I see 43 mpg. There should be about a gallon left in the tank... This is a significant percentage.

Filed Feb 7, 2017 · Electrical, Fuel system · 29,000 miles · NV

Fuel gauge failure common problem on this motorcycle gauge failed while travling.

Filed Oct 12, 2016 · Fuel system · 6,000 miles · MI

Vehicle has 6000 miles on it. Previous owner had a receipt from the dealer showing the fuel level sensor had been replaced under warranty. Fuel indicator shows 1/4 tank of fuel, and engine computer shows 92 miles range. Vehicle stalled at an intersection, out of fuel. I was able to push the motorcycle out of traffic, but it could have been a dangerous situation.

Filed Oct 10, 2016 · Fuel system · 59,000 miles · NY

Fuel gauge stopped responding, leading to running out of fuel while moving. This is a common failure on many bike models from bmw from 2005-2013.the fuel level measuring strip in the fuel tank was replaced by the dealer04. This is an unsafe condition since loss of engine power from running out of fuel can be quite dangerous on a motorcycle

Filed Oct 4, 2016 · Fuel system · 39,287 miles · FL

Fuel gauge stopped responding, leading to running out of fuel while moving on a city street. This is a common failure on many bike models from bmw from 2005-2013. I have had this happen 1 time so far, and each time the fuel level measuring strip in the fuel tank was replaced. This is an unsafe condition since loss of engine power from running out of fuel can be quite dangerous on a motorcycle.

Filed Oct 4, 2016 · Fuel system · 49,701 miles · FL

Fuel gauge stopped responding, leading to the possibility of running out of fuel while moving. This is a common failure on many bike models from bmw from 2005-2013. I have had this happen 2 times so far, and each time the fuel level measuring strip in the fuel tank was replaced. This is an unsafe condition since loss of engine power from running out of fuel can be quite dangerous on a motorcycle.

Filed Oct 4, 2016 · Fuel system · 54,020 miles · FL

Fuel gauge stopped responding, leading to the possibility of running out of fuel while moving. This is a common failure on many bike models from bmw from 2005-2013. I have had this happen 3 times so far, and each time the fuel level measuring strip in the fuel tank was replaced. This is an unsafe condition since loss of engine power from running out of fuel can be quite dangerous on a motorcycle.

Filed Aug 26, 2014 · Fuel system · 22,000 miles · KY

Motorcycle fuel gauge not working. Always showing empty. Took motorcycle to dealer and had fuel level sensor replaced. Motorcycle fuel gauge now showing full all the time until one recent fuel fill up it went back to showing empty. I had been using the trip meter to judge fuel level filling the tank at 250 miles. On the date of this incident, in the middle of heavy traffic, I ran out of fuel at approx. 200 miles. I managed to get off of the road without getting run over. I have called bmw north america and was told that the fuel sensor problem was not known about but that she would take my complaint. I have read many, many......many complaints from bmw owners about this problem. I was told by a dealer that bmw had extended the warranty to cover this problem for 12 years but bmw had not fixed the problem. They would just continue to replace the sensors until the 12 years passed. This is a serious problem evidently not taken seriously by bmw. In the latter part of 2010 they went back to a float style sensor but have made no attempt to fix the problem created by a possible material defect and/or poor design in their fuel level sensors installed in model years 2005 through middle of 2010.

Filed Sep 13, 2013 · Fuel system · 10,400 miles · ME

The fuel gauge showed 1/4 tank of fuel, but the motorcycle had actually run out of fuel on a very busy section of interstate 95 in delaware just before the I 95 / I 295-I 495 split. I was in the far left hand travel lane and was able to immediately pull off onto a widened lefthand section of breakdown lane that was LED into the immediately adjacent delaware dot salt/sand barn. The sudden deceleration was completely unexpected, and I was almost rear-ended by another motorist just as I was moving into the breakdown lane, in spite of pulling in the clutch to coast so as not to continue with the strong engine breaking that resulted. Had to call aaa services to get fuel enough to get to a refueling station. Fuel tank sensor was ultimately replaced by local bmw motorcycle dealer a month and a half ago, but failed again last week!!! This sensor has been a problem for bmw, and continues to be, as several of my friends have had theirs replaced several times each. If I were to run out of gas on a dangerous highway, or in a remote location - in either extreme cold or hot, without a way to contact help, it could prove to be dangerous. The sudden deceleration alone almost caused me to be rear-ended, which could have been deadly.

Filed Aug 30, 2013 · Fuel system · 4,500 miles · FL

After starting the motorcyle and allowing for a brief period of warming up, I headed to the gas station to fuel up in preparation for a long ride the next day. As a force of habit I checked my range and odometer readings and found the range was noticeably lower than it should be displaying for the miles used on the tank. As I rode the couple of miles to the gas station the range continued to drop precipitously, 5-20 miles at a time every few seconds until it reached zero and displayed "---" for a range to empty after riding just over one mile. After filling the tank fully, the gauge did not reset or change in any way. I took the motorcycle to the dealer and they diagnosed the problem as a fuel strip, aka fuel level sensor, gone bad. I am now awaiting the part to arrive so my 3rd fuel strip replacement can go ahead. (my second occurred in february 2012, the third in august 2013.) my motorcycle has just 24,000 miles and is less than 5 years old (by 3 months). I find it almost unfathomable that such an essential part as the fuel gauge can cease to function for no apparent reason, with no warning on a modern vehicle. Add in the denials from the manufacturer that a problem even exists and it gets totally maddening.