Trip meter problem

[atractaspis]

After my first longer trip last week I am pretty annoyed with my trip meter. Especially since I don't want to trust my fuel strip. Either I am missing a special magical BMW trick, or my trip meter is just not working right. Both of them are zeroed out nearly every time after I turn my engine off.

Sometimes one of them (trip meter 1 or 2) will keep the miles and not go back to zero. When riding through west virginia in some pretty desolate areas with no cell reception (so not able to search for next gas station distance) and I stopped to take a picture of a nice view or stopped to find a bathroom, I get back on my bike and now it shows zero miles on both trip meters. Ok, I was able to remember how much it said before I turned engine off. But after stopping a second time for some reason and then it becomes even more annoying.

Anybody had this problem? Is there a trick I am missing? Have two trip meters in my car. Always like using one for keeping track of miles for whole trip and one for when I last got gas. Never a problem there. Now one on my car will zero itself after the engine has been off for over an hour. The other will stay working. Thought my bike had a similar system.

Any advice appreciated ... Before complaining I dealer I want to make sure I didn't miss something (manual has been no help).

[Karamazov]

That's definitely not a common problem. Neither should reset unless they lose power completely. I would guess it's your battery, or possibly a bad switch in the instrument cluster. I think you can go ahead and complain to your dealer, guilt free.

[mogu83]

I also think you should get a trouble report on record. And don't buy the old "they all do that" because your the first to complain about something like this on this list. I would also make a point (loudly) to the dealer that seeing as you can't depend on the fuel strip to work you have to depend on the trip meter. Without either, you stand the risk of the bike stopping in the fast lane on the freeway or some other inconvenient spot that would put you at risk.
naturally IMHO

[badbs101]

Guess you're going to have to start using the odometer, rather than the trip meter, and write down the miles on every fill-up. Hopefully BMW can chase down your problem under warranty.

BTW did you know that the trip meters and odometer do not count miles the same. One adds miles a little faster than the other, can't remember which. The variance is fairly small but, in my mind, I don't see any reason why they don't read EXACTLY the same. Manufacturers the world over make trip meters that are in perfect sync with the odometer but not BMW.

[dbrick]

Manufacturers have always wanted the speedo to read a little fast, so it never underestimates the bike's speed. Same goes for cars. Odos, OTOH, are generally more accurate.

I've also never before heard of the problem presented by the OP. Given that the system is electrical and not mechanical, there could be a bad connection...somewhere.

Hmm...here's an odo problem on a 2008 F800ST, which has similar instruments:
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread. ... eter-reset

[atractaspis]

Well.. Taking some pictures today but I just talked to my dealer and apparently they have been talking about the issue to BMW already (yay for my dealer for following up!) and they want me to bring bike in and to try to figure this out... Will let you all know if they can figure it out or not

Thanks for all the responses and advice

[Don C]

If you turn on the ignition, you should see the gauges initialize by sweeping to full scale and back. It should only do that once. But if your battery is weak, the gauges may initialise again after starting the bike. This is a sign of a weak battery. I've noticed that in this case my trip meter sometimes resets to zero as well. It just means that I need a new battery. I'm only getting about three years of life on a battery.

[atractaspis]

Hi Don,
battery is not weak (bike is only a few months old) ... but checked battery anyways and no problem there..But good to know that a weak battery could cause this issue. Will make sure I keep that in mind!. I just found on the other R1200R forum that this is actually not an uncommon problem that happened to a few people with newer bikes that have the optional alarm system (which I have). Apparently a software update in August this year solved the problem.

Here is a link (in case anybody is interested or experienced a similar problem): http://www.r1200rforum.com/forum/bmw-r1 ... ndex2.html

This Saturday I will be at the dealer and hopefully get this issue resolved.

Thanks

[deilenberger]

Great to know you're not alone (although that hasn't helped with fuel strips..)..

Let us know if the dealer fixes it with reprogramming. Be worth knowing.

[atractaspis]

Great to know you're not alone (although that hasn't helped with fuel strips..)..

Let us know if the dealer fixes it with reprogramming. Be worth knowing.

Will find out this Saturday.. in the meantime I just read on the "other" R12 forum (I think.. am starting to get confused where I see what), that there is a new part number to the fuel strips since late this summer (not sure when), so there might be hope that they developed a new fuel strip (maybe one that works????)... will ask my dealer about that as well.. I doubt they would know.. they do a great job and I have had a great experience with them in terms of costumer service so far...but most of the time I seem to know these kind of things before they do. They never heard of the software update, and I only serviced my bike there 2 weeks ago (I was allowed to stay and watch).. and when they hooked it up to the computer (to check for codes and do a throttle body sync) it should have shown if there was a new software, but never did.

Anyways, I will keep you guys updated, and yes it's good to know that there might be a solution to this that worked for other people and I will be able to have a functioning trip odometer at some point soon

[AncientMariner]

There's another R1200 R forum?

[dbrick]

There's another R1200 R forum?

http://www.r1200rforum.com/forum/

[Dr. Strangelove]

But if your battery is weak, the gauges may initialise again after starting the bike. This is a sign of a weak battery.

Thanks, didn't know that, but before my battery failed, I saw a second sweep on occasion.

Miss A, that problem has been reported, I've seen it on the r1200r forum
http://www.r1200rforum.com/forum/bmw-r1 ... self-4097/
you are not alone, not the first, not unique--and when it comes to problems like this, that's a good thing

It appears to be a software problem?

John

[atractaspis]

Thanks dr strangelove. I did see that thread after I already started this one and one in the other forum.

It is a software issue. Seems connected to my alarm system. Most people who had the same issue have that optional alarm system too.

So, I did confirm the confirm that there is some connection to my alarm system. When I don't engage it (when parked in my garage) the trip odometer does not zero out always (sometimes it still does I think, at least last week it did once when I had not engaged the alarm system for sure).

Was at dealer today. No fix. Dealer said that there is a case file on this issue and BMW as issued the notice that they are working on it and are comin out with a software solution this summer. Emmm... Thought summer was over. Ha! So there is nothing they will do ... I can't depend in my fuel strip nor trip odometer. So I make sure I remember my miles in my bike better. Someone suggested to write it down. But I don't feel like taking my phone out to take a picture or write it in my phone nor do I want to have to carry pen and paper on me to remember. So, maybe I'll just stick a long straw into the tank and suck on it every time I get I my bike. If I get gas in my mouth I know I'm good. If not I better go to the gas station. Ok, ok. Just kidding. Anyways, nothing I can do besides wait and hope someone at BMW is working on it.

I also asked about fuel strip, someone suggested there might be a new version of it that won't cause any problems anymore. Dealer (a mechanic obviously there) said no such thing.. Fuel strip is faulty design period. All BMW with it have an issue and there is some issue with the shape of the tank in the R that prevents them from using a float in our bikes.

Oh well...

Still will enjoy my rides...