ZFE Box

[TeSmSp]

The bike has a new ZFE box, but the fuel indicator doesn't register more than 3/4 Full when I gas up the bike. Did the dealer forget to calibrate, will it calibrate itself or is the fuel strip toasted?

[dirtrider]

Morning TeSmSp

 

The fuel strip DEFINITELY won't calibrate itself.

 

As far as only reading only 3/4 full?-- There could be a few possibilities there-- like an incorrect calibration by the dealer, or a failing fuel strip, or the fuel strip was calibrated to the old ZFE & the new one is slightly different, or the dealer didn't properly dry the strip before starting the new calibration, or possibly the new ZFE sees it differently.

 

In any case, tell the dealer that installed the ZFE that now your fuel strip doesn't read correctly & let them replace of re-calibrate it (properly).

 

[TeSmSp]

I will be visiting the dealer soon.

 

From what I have gathered from you and others so far, there are two calibration constants associated with the strip: offset and gain.

 

When the tank is empty and the strip is dry, you have zero fuel in the tank and you want to adjust the offset so the fuel indicator shows no fuel. Later, when a known fuel quantity is added, you adjust the gain of the strip so that the indicator shows the amount of fuel put in the tank.

 

New ZFE means gain and offset are defaulted to zero, and that seems to be the case of my bike, unless the strip went south.

[dirtrider]

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When the tank is empty and the strip is dry, you have zero fuel in the tank and you want to adjust the offset so the fuel indicator shows no fuel. Later, when a known fuel quantity is added, you adjust the gain of the strip so that the indicator shows the amount of fuel put in the tank.

 

----

 

Afternoon TeSmSp

 

That used to be the case with the early fuel strip calibration process. That also allowed setting the reserve volume to what you wanted.

 

I believe the new (last couple of years) there in now no "add fuel" used during the calibration process as that ( & the reserve) is set in ZFE firmware now.

 

There is supposedly a newer calibration process yet, even later than the just calibrate to a dry (hanging outside the tank) fuel strip but I don't really know what is different.

 

 

 

[Hall Vince]

Sometimes mine sits at 3/4 full after I've brimmed it, sometimes it goes up to the full mark. OE strip from new, now on 67,000 miles. I rely on the mileage mainly and fill up around 250~280 miles in usual daily riding.

 

Yours may not need looking at and could be "normal" operation?

 

\v/

[TeSmSp]

The fuel tank indicator used to work perfectly until the ZFE was replaced (to fix the non working ESA shocks). For $700 I got a working ESA suspension and a fuel tank indicator that shows 3/4 after a fill-up (bike on the center stand).

 

When it rains, it pours ...

[dirtrider]

Afternoon TeSmSp

 

It is difficult to tell over the internet what went wrong with the new ZFE & your old fuel strip.

 

My guess (Just an Educated Guess) is the shop didn't dry your old one (fuel strip) out over night before running the calibration process. If that strip isn't totally dried out I doubt it did cal correctly.

 

Only reading a max of 3/4 tank when full isn't a big deal as it doesn't take long to run the tank down to 3/4 full. My biggest worry would be if the empty calibration is off.

 

Maybe ask your shop if they will replace your fuel strip (BMW has been pretty good on replacing out of warranty fuel strips). Or maybe take the bike in late on a Friday & have them allow the strip to dry all weekend then cal it first thing Monday morning.

 

[TeSmSp]

I asked the dealer if they forgot to do the calibration. He replied "Upon the replacement of your ZFE control unit the (central chassis electronics control unit) gets initialized. The filmstrip calibration is automatically part of the initialization and cannot be (forgotten). Sounds like you probably have a faulty film strip. I know that you do a lot of research on the internet and I sure that you must have seen that the film strip has a high failure rate."

[dirtrider]

Afternoon TeSmSp

 

 

 

OK, so now you need to ask them a 2nd question--How long did they dry the fuel strip before they did the auto calibration?

 

[TeSmSp]

Recalibrated for free. I didn't stay long after I left the bike at the shop, but I estimate about two hours of air dry time in 90 degree weather.