rdover
Registered user
Well, as a few may have noticed, I've been attempting to deal with BMW Customer [lack of] Service about their alleged 'warranty' for a while about the corrosion on the bike.
Now before any of the wankers who flamed me before get their World of Warcraft hats on and prepare their pithy and subtle comments perhaps a short summary of what has happened is appropriate.
I bought my '09 12GSA in July 2009 as a replacement for my '06 GSA as I'd had a good year and wanted one with all the toys. It was a good deal and I was a very happy boy. Within a few months however (by about September) I had noticed a few spots of corrosion around the engine and on the frame which I pointed out to the dealer who said I should make a warranty claim at the next service (planned for late October given my usual mileage). Critically I did not get it documented at that stage.
For various reasons including divorce, moving house and a terrible winter, I didn't get the bike serviced (as I basically didn't use it for 6 months so it didn't need one) until shortly before heading off to Norway for a massive trip. At this point I made the warranty claim.
A few points to remember:
The bike had been used for ~10 miles over the winter
It had been garaged all this time
It was washed well using a BMW approved cleaning agent and sprayed with FS365 throughout the winter.
It had not been washed before the service for ~2000 miles which was less than 3 weeks riding in wet spring weather (the salt had been long gone)
BMW rejected the claim outright despite not examining it themselves (ie looked at a few photos) as "it had not been cleaned properly". I pursued the claim as far as I could, finally being left with no option but to consider legal action (in common with quite a few others). More of this later.
A few questions come to mind.
Where in the manual does BMW specify a cleaning regime, which, if any, cleaner to use or demand the use of ACF50/FS365?
Why did BMW at first say the cleaner (Autoglym motorcycle cleaner - bought from BMW) caused the damage then say I didn't use enough?
Why did the dealer not clean the bike (as they said they would) before teh photos were taken
If the Dealer said the damage was under warranty and BMW CS say that the technicians are the experts, why was it rejected.
No explanation from BMW about their procedures has been forthcoming, nor any technical information about why the bike has corrosion in places that are impossible to reach except by dismantling it.
Having spoken to a good number of GSers who have had the same issues and some who have won their legal actions (out of court with a gagging clause) it seems that I would have a very good chance of winning BUT ..... the cost of 'discovery' ie the testing and info gathering part of any legal action is not reclaimable even if I won and that would cost ~£1500 which is more than the extra depreciation. BMW know this and are rejecting all but the most obvious and small of claims!
The dealer offered me bottom book against a new bike but clearly I have little confidence in him or the product so I am moving away from the best bike(s) I have ever owned and offer this single bit of advice:
Make your warranty claim IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait for the next service, do it NOW. Take your own photos with a time and date stamp and get written confirmation from the Dealer that they have logged it.
Please note I am not saying 'dont buy a BMW' and the GSA remains the best bike I've ever owned but I cannot afford to gamble on not losing thousands of extra Pounds in depreciation. So I have gone back to Yamaha and a pre reg FJR1300 with loads of extras, zero miles, £2500 discount, better trade in than BMW and 0% finance. I'm going boring because none of the 'others' make an Adventure bike that comes close to the GSA.
So chaps, I'm off the GSA but leaving the door wide open for a return only once BMW either accept their obligations and/or improve their build quality.
Many thanks to everyone who's helped me, and those keyboard warriors who flamed me before - I hope this never happens to you.
Now before any of the wankers who flamed me before get their World of Warcraft hats on and prepare their pithy and subtle comments perhaps a short summary of what has happened is appropriate.
I bought my '09 12GSA in July 2009 as a replacement for my '06 GSA as I'd had a good year and wanted one with all the toys. It was a good deal and I was a very happy boy. Within a few months however (by about September) I had noticed a few spots of corrosion around the engine and on the frame which I pointed out to the dealer who said I should make a warranty claim at the next service (planned for late October given my usual mileage). Critically I did not get it documented at that stage.
For various reasons including divorce, moving house and a terrible winter, I didn't get the bike serviced (as I basically didn't use it for 6 months so it didn't need one) until shortly before heading off to Norway for a massive trip. At this point I made the warranty claim.
A few points to remember:
The bike had been used for ~10 miles over the winter
It had been garaged all this time
It was washed well using a BMW approved cleaning agent and sprayed with FS365 throughout the winter.
It had not been washed before the service for ~2000 miles which was less than 3 weeks riding in wet spring weather (the salt had been long gone)
BMW rejected the claim outright despite not examining it themselves (ie looked at a few photos) as "it had not been cleaned properly". I pursued the claim as far as I could, finally being left with no option but to consider legal action (in common with quite a few others). More of this later.
A few questions come to mind.
Where in the manual does BMW specify a cleaning regime, which, if any, cleaner to use or demand the use of ACF50/FS365?
Why did BMW at first say the cleaner (Autoglym motorcycle cleaner - bought from BMW) caused the damage then say I didn't use enough?
Why did the dealer not clean the bike (as they said they would) before teh photos were taken
If the Dealer said the damage was under warranty and BMW CS say that the technicians are the experts, why was it rejected.
No explanation from BMW about their procedures has been forthcoming, nor any technical information about why the bike has corrosion in places that are impossible to reach except by dismantling it.
Having spoken to a good number of GSers who have had the same issues and some who have won their legal actions (out of court with a gagging clause) it seems that I would have a very good chance of winning BUT ..... the cost of 'discovery' ie the testing and info gathering part of any legal action is not reclaimable even if I won and that would cost ~£1500 which is more than the extra depreciation. BMW know this and are rejecting all but the most obvious and small of claims!
The dealer offered me bottom book against a new bike but clearly I have little confidence in him or the product so I am moving away from the best bike(s) I have ever owned and offer this single bit of advice:
Make your warranty claim IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait for the next service, do it NOW. Take your own photos with a time and date stamp and get written confirmation from the Dealer that they have logged it.
Please note I am not saying 'dont buy a BMW' and the GSA remains the best bike I've ever owned but I cannot afford to gamble on not losing thousands of extra Pounds in depreciation. So I have gone back to Yamaha and a pre reg FJR1300 with loads of extras, zero miles, £2500 discount, better trade in than BMW and 0% finance. I'm going boring because none of the 'others' make an Adventure bike that comes close to the GSA.
So chaps, I'm off the GSA but leaving the door wide open for a return only once BMW either accept their obligations and/or improve their build quality.
Many thanks to everyone who's helped me, and those keyboard warriors who flamed me before - I hope this never happens to you.
) is now only used for longish business trips. The GS is tremendous but perhaps a change to something boring and toury will give me a decent breathing space whilst I see what happens with BMW over the next year or so.
1200 rider who is making a lot of fuss about a couple of spots. In which case BWM have a point, after all it's a motorcycle and if you expose bare metal to the elements it will corrode eventually 
