Why can BMW get a "Fix" for its Thermometers?

[h2000fb]

My consistantly reads 11 colder than it should. Seems dealers can not fix. They just update computer and pat you on the head! The is no adjustment, no calibration. Position has nothing to do with an inaccurate reading on a cold bike just setting.

Sensor location: Mine is on the right, inside fairing, up front. No draft of oil cooler. HOWEVER - DOES NOT MATTER!!!! I am testing a cold bike in the garage with a calibrated test thermometer next to the bikes sensor. Mine bike is 11 colder than accurate - dangling in the garage. Also, it's easy to tell 76 degrees from 87 even without the a temperature probe.

Bought Resister: Bought 1000 ohm pot, placed across the leads next to sensor to reduce the resistance. Thermo said 164 degree. So, 500 ohms shoudl have returned a reading of approx 80 degrees? But, next tried turning pot down to 800 ohm - bike said 132 degrees. Turned to 600 ohm. Bike said "- - F". Turned to 800, returned a 132. Turned to 790 ohm, bike said - - F. Bottom line, I can't get the thermo to read anything if pot it turned lower then 800 ohms. This has me puzzled. Logically you would think you could keep turning down till it read 87.

Now, wonder if different sensor would work? I doubt it, but does anyone have one with an ACCURATE reading? I mean, you test it in your garage on a cold bike with a temperture probe, or a high quality digital thermometer so you know your bike is accurate. If you do, could you unplug your connector and measure the ohm reading on your sensor and report it? I will do the same and maybe we can compare the readings? We may find that some sensors have different readings. Ahhhh..... maybe on to something.

If anyone had a dealer ACTUALLY repair one, what did he do and how did you confirm he actually repaired it?

[lensuz]

Why not just add 11 degrees and ride on? The system is probably not linear anyway and may be off only 6 degrees at 40deg/F. If you add an external compensation device (resistor), then you have to worry about the thermal characteristics of your new device. Mine is off about 5 degrees and, knowing that, I don't let it bother me...:wave

[deilenberger]

According to banks I pass - my '07 R1200R one is accurate within a degree or so, and that seems to be the story with other R12R owners. What model do you have? It seems the RT's are the worst for inaccuracy..

[TomfromMD]

My RT is generally within about 3 degrees of most banks - close enough for me.
Tom

[h2000fb]

According to banks I pass - my '07 R1200R one is accurate within a degree or so, and that seems to be the story with other R12R owners. What model do you have? It seems the RT's are the worst for inaccuracy..

Yep.... RT

[tbryant]

Same here, my 06 RT is within 2 or 3 degrees...and yes you can feel the difference between 105 and 110!!!

Terry

[gulfcoastbeemer]

My consistantly reads 11 colder than it should. Seems dealers can not fix. They just update computer and pat you on the head! The is no adjustment, no calibration. Position has nothing to do with an inaccurate reading on a cold bike just setting.

I've noticed that the initial temperature displayed upon starting my '07 R1200RT approaches the temperature when it was last shut-down. Ergo, initially it might display 92 degrees, because that was ambient temperature when it was previously shut-down, even though the current temp might be closer to 70 degrees. After a few minutes the display numbers drop to the something more closely resembling the current temperature.

My guess would be there is some kind of averaging algorithm at work here.

I disagree about the mounting location not being a factor.

When they are both in motion, my wife's '05 R1200RT consistently shows higher temperature numbers than my '07. My '07 has the temperature sensor mounted in the front of the fairing. Her '05 has the temperature sensor mounted back aft.

I would say my temperature display is pretty close to being accurate -- basically plus or minus a few degrees.

[dancogan]

The dealer re-located the sensor on my '05 RT, but it didn't help. It consistently runs about 8-10 degrees colder than actual. Today, I wish it was correct! :bolt

[behemw]

My consistantly reads 11 colder than it should. Seems dealers can not fix. They just update computer and pat you on the head! The is no adjustment, no calibration. Position has nothing to do with an inaccurate reading on a cold bike just setting.

One thing you can check is the accuracy of your temperature probe and your on board computer read out.
Place the probe in a plastic bag with melting ice cube (= 0ºc. or 32ºf.) secure the plastic bag to the bike and drive for a few minutes ( till the on board computer register the new tº). In my case the tº was exactly 0ºc. and the frost warning was flashing (The frost warning started to flash at +2.5ºc. (36.5ºf.) The location of the probe is important and the bike has to be in motion.You could extend the tº checking below 0ºc. by mixing ice and salt in the same plastic bag and compare the tº with an acurate thermometer. For higher tº you could try to heated up water or gel and do the same test.

[marcopolo]

You could extend the tº checking below 0ºc. by mixing ice and salt in the same plastic bag and compare the tº with an acurate thermometer. For higher tº you could try to heated up water or gel and do the same test.

Within the past two weeks I was riding through the mountains in Colorado where the temperature was 25F, but I discovered that my temperature display would not go below zero C. It just flashes when it gets to zero and stops there. Obviously it will not show negative numbers. For our friends south of the border with displays showing degrees F, it goes below 32F I'm told (presumably down to zero F).

[behemw]

Within the past two weeks I was riding through the mountains in Colorado where the temperature was 25F, but I discovered that my temperature display would not go below zero C. It just flashes when it gets to zero and stops there. Obviously it will not show negative numbers. For our friends south of the border with displays showing degrees F, it goes below 32F I'm told (presumably down to zero F).
I never drove my 1200RT below the freezing mark so I couldn't tell if the reading shows negative # in the Celsius scale and I didn't try to read the temperature below the freezing mark using Ice&/salt.

[stan]

I have an 05rt. On my very first ride home from the dealer, the temp started to drop while going over a mountain. My thermometer read 28f and it was misting rain out. I was scared to death the roads would suddenly and invisibly ice up and I would crash the bike on its initial outing. Since then, I have figured out it is at least 5 degrees cold and as much as 15 during our last heat wave. It is nowhere near consistent. It seems that BMW either does not have the ability to make accurate thermometers and speedo's or they don't care to. I find both possibilities unacceptable. My speedo is better than the '96 rt but the thermometer is a joke, an insult, actually, after the cost of the bike.

[cjack]

I have an 05rt. On my very first ride home from the dealer, the temp started to drop while going over a mountain. My thermometer read 28f and it was misting rain out. I was scared to death the roads would suddenly and invisibly ice up and I would crash the bike on its initial outing. Since then, I have figured out it is at least 5 degrees cold and as much as 15 during our last heat wave. It is nowhere near consistent. It seems that BMW either does not have the ability to make accurate thermometers and speedo's or they don't care to. I find both possibilities unacceptable. My speedo is better than the '96 rt but the thermometer is a joke, an insult, actually, after the cost of the bike.

I have found that the most accurate BMWs are the K sport bikes. The speedos are within a couple of mph like on our K12RSes or right on like the K12S is now and the thermometers are dead nuts...right on with the 1st National Bank. You might give one of those a try someday.

[hlothery]

My 05 RT constantly read about 4 degrees colder than the ambient temp. I had the dealer relocate the sensor and update the software. Now is consistently reads 7 degrees hotter and ambient. Yesterday, on the way home, it was reading 104, when actually, it was a very cool 97. Just one of those "live with it" deals at this point. The benefit is that, as my wife tells me I must do, it is a constant mental challenge to figure out what the temperature is. Maybe this is a German antidementia device ( or GAD!).:bolt

[The_Veg]

I don't think that anybody has mentioned GS's...mine tends to be close to bank-signs (which I wonder about the accuracy of), but has erred on both sides of the signs. I've only had it below freezing once, and that was in wet conditions, but the freeze came on so fast that the ground was too warm to worry about icing so the accuracy in that situation became sort of moot.
I rarely look at it anyway- I tend to leave it set to clock all the time. What annoys me is how if I cycle through the functions the clock turns to 'oil' when I stop- why can't they just skip it while moving and not automatically toggle when coming to a stop? it doesn't really tell me anything useful about the oil anyway. But that's another gripe for another thread...

[Polarbear]

The temp. sensor is under the front fake fender on these bikes(GSA) and mine is dead on:). My speedo is only 2 mph off, by my GPS. My last KLT had the same accurate temp. readings! Speedo was not as good on the KLT. Try this:). Take the temp sensor off the bike and super heat it with a heat gun, then cool it rapidly and see what happens. Don't melt it, just get it hot! Put it into a glass of iced water, pull it out and immediately plug it back in and SEE 32*:). Randy"Polarbear"

[cjack]

I don't think that anybody has mentioned GS's...mine tends to be close to bank-signs (which I wonder about the accuracy of), but has erred on both sides of the signs. I've only had it below freezing once, and that was in wet conditions, but the freeze came on so fast that the ground was too warm to worry about icing so the accuracy in that situation became sort of moot.
I rarely look at it anyway- I tend to leave it set to clock all the time. What annoys me is how if I cycle through the functions the clock turns to 'oil' when I stop- why can't they just skip it while moving and not automatically toggle when coming to a stop? it doesn't really tell me anything useful about the oil anyway. But that's another gripe for another thread...

I think if you go to oil at a stop and then go beyond that just to where you want to be, it won't go to oil which is one step beyond clock (when at a stop). That's how it is on the K12S.

[The_Veg]

I think if you go to oil at a stop and then go beyond that just to where you want to be, it won't go to oil which is one step beyond clock (when at a stop). That's how it is on the K12S.

Nope, on mine I can cycle through the settings, and if I leave it on clock it will turn to oil once I stop. Once stopped I can hit the button one more time to get back to clock. Cycling through when stopped, oil comes either right before or right after clock.

[behemw]

I never drove my 1200RT below the freezing mark so I couldn't tell if the reading shows negative # in the Celsius scale and I didn't try to read the temperature below the freezing mark using Ice&/salt.

Yesterday, I decide to test the thermometer probe with Ice+salt in a plastic bag.
I watch the tº going down to +2.5º when the frost sign started to flash . After reaching the 0º (freezing mark) , the minus sign apeared ( -1, -2... -13) and stabilized at -14 º.
So the display shows negative sign in the cecius scale.

Jacques

[marcopolo]

Yesterday, I decide to test the thermometer probe with Ice+salt in a plastic bag.
I watch the tº going down to +2.5º when the frost sign started to flash . After reaching the 0º (freezing mark) , the minus sign apeared ( -1, -2... -13) and stabilized at -14 º.
So the display shows negative sign in the cecius scale.

Jacques

It doesn't do that on my '06 RT. It just flashes 0, and won't show negative numbers, unless, of course, the temperature really was 0 Celcius. The internet weather said it was 25F, which obviously is below 0C.

[Bernard]

I have an 05 RT which seems to fall into the category of BMW not being to get thermoters to display the correct temperature.

Yesterday, I picked my bike up from the dealer. They had done an 18,000 mile service. I asked them to check the thermometer when they had diagnostics hooked up. When I picked it up they told me that they forgot to spend time on the temperature issue. It seems they were only interested in collecting their money for the service.......

They admited to me that there is a place in the diagnostic process that asks if the display is showing a reasonable version of the temperature. They said that they never have answerd "No" at this part of the program?????

Does the onboard computer use data from this sensor to establish timing and fuel adjustments?? This could make this information more critical than some people will admit. I don't know.

16 degrees F out of calibration is simply not acceptable. I know it is hot for those who will say. If you are sweating, it is hot....

Yesterday the silly display showed 104 degrees F, when my wife in our Sequoia, riding along side showed 88 degrees F. This is silly!

Has anyone had their system adjusted by a dealer and how???

Thanks,

Bernard

[cjack]

I have an 05 RT which seems to fall into the category of BMW not being to get thermoters to display the correct temperature.

16 degrees F out of calibration is simply not acceptable. I know it is hot for those who will say. If you are sweating, it is hot....

Yesterday the silly display showed 104 degrees F, when my wife in our Sequoia, riding along side showed 88 degrees F. This is silly!

Has anyone had their system adjusted by a dealer and how???

Thanks,

Bernard

I'm pretty sure that the fix was just changing the position of the sensor to a place where it doesn't pick up the engine temperature. I'll look for this and see what it says in the note about it.
This sensor has nothing to do with the running of the engine, only reads the air temperature...if it is in the right place in the airstream.

The note about it uses a new cable, etc. to mount the sensor at the right front of the bike. It takes a bit over an hour and if you are out of warranty, you would have to pay for it. It may be that this is not your problem and the sensor has already been moved. You should be able to see the sensor under the right side front of the fairing.

[Nocanpickem]

I would caution people on using bank thermalators as a gage for the accuracy of the RT thermometer.

Banks thermometers are as inaccurate as any household thermometer. It all depends on where the sensor is placed (Sun or Shade). Most banks have the sensor in the sun sometime during the day.

Karl

[Rogslater]

My consistantly reads 11 colder than it should. Seems dealers can not fix. They just update computer and pat you on the head! The is no adjustment, no calibration. Position has nothing to do with an inaccurate reading on a cold bike just setting.

Sensor location: Mine is on the right, inside fairing, up front. No draft of oil cooler. HOWEVER - DOES NOT MATTER!!!! I am testing a cold bike in the garage with a calibrated test thermometer next to the bikes sensor. Mine bike is 11 colder than accurate - dangling in the garage. Also, it's easy to tell 76 degrees from 87 even without the a temperature probe.

Bought Resister: Bought 1000 ohm pot, placed across the leads next to sensor to reduce the resistance. Thermo said 164 degree. So, 500 ohms shoudl have returned a reading of approx 80 degrees? But, next tried turning pot down to 800 ohm - bike said 132 degrees. Turned to 600 ohm. Bike said "- - F". Turned to 800, returned a 132. Turned to 790 ohm, bike said - - F. Bottom line, I can't get the thermo to read anything if pot it turned lower then 800 ohms. This has me puzzled. Logically you would think you could keep turning down till it read 87.

Now, wonder if different sensor would work? I doubt it, but does anyone have one with an ACCURATE reading? I mean, you test it in your garage on a cold bike with a temperture probe, or a high quality digital thermometer so you know your bike is accurate. If you do, could you unplug your connector and measure the ohm reading on your sensor and report it? I will do the same and maybe we can compare the readings? We may find that some sensors have different readings. Ahhhh..... maybe on to something.

If anyone had a dealer ACTUALLY repair one, what did he do and how did you confirm he actually repaired it?

My 05 R1200RT always read high the faster I went untill I found out the sender was picking up the rear tyre heat, don't the blokes who design these bikes ever ride em?. Phoned BMW dealer, said it "probably want's recalibrating", will look into it and call you back. No call back and as this was the same dealer who said I needed new throttle bodies to cure very poor idle sync, I re located the sender to the front of the bike on the center of the flat plastic below the oil cooler. Tested against a boiling water calibrated themometer, it is absolutly accurate. Facinates me to see the temp read out rise and fall with slight changes in temp as we go up and down even modest little hills. The ice alert lit up on Canada's snowy Icefields Parkway exactly as it should last June.
I could not subscribe to the "do the math and ride on" solution to a innacurate read out, it would drive me nuts.

Roger

[LoneRanger]

Mine is always off by 8 to 10 degrees. When I go in for my 6,000 mile service I will see if there is a fix for it. I would imaging that it is getting some engine heat which is causing it to read high.

[cjack]

Bought Resister: Bought 1000 ohm pot, placed across the leads next to sensor to reduce the resistance. Thermo said 164 degree. So, 500 ohms shoudl have returned a reading of approx 80 degrees? But, next tried turning pot down to 800 ohm - bike said 132 degrees. Turned to 600 ohm. Bike said "- - F". Turned to 800, returned a 132. Turned to 790 ohm, bike said - - F. Bottom line, I can't get the thermo to read anything if pot it turned lower then 800 ohms. This has me puzzled. Logically you would think you could keep turning down till it read 87.


You're thinking the probe is a thermister? It could be a diode and you are just causing the diode voltage to go to zero by shorting it with a resister.

[Motorwerk]

Even though the actual reading may not matter the temperate sensor does affect engine settings.

After removing the tupperware along with the sensor, my bike ran poorly on the way to the dealer to have the fuel strip replaced, for the second time. I mentioned this upon arrival at the dealer, they said that disconnecting the sensor will cause this to occur and needed the sensor to calibrate the fuel strip. (I know, it makes you wonder what's used if there's no temperature option)

You can determine this for yourself by disconnecting it and taking a short ride.

(Unfortunately, the bike is back at the dealer for another fuel gauge issue, third time now. I can compensate for the temperature but the fuel gauge issue is another matter altogether)

[RoboRider]

My 2005 RT used to read about 10 degrees off. The dealer performed the relocation and it was still off. I took it back and they said the 'calibration' didn't take, or store, in the computer. Apparently they tell the bike what temperature it is (they have a thermometer in the shop they use for this). Once they tell it the current temperature, it takes it from there. My RT is withing about 0 to 2 degrees of other temps, taken with my thermometers, a bank, or the weather on the news. It works extremely well and yours should too.

[MLS2GO]

Is usually right on the bank thermometers maybe a degree higher. My buddy's 05 RT is almost always on the bank thermometers. If it makes you feel better the HD thermometer is much worse. We always joke it is calibrated perfectly at + or - 20 degrees!