And the dealers say....................

[Mark Hooton]

Hi All and a special hi to all the Tossers who have been kind enough to come over and say hello during the weekend bashes.

Anyway, I`ve been pottering about on the forum following some of the quality issue threads - mega stuff on them from idiots like me (had to ask what a fekkin FPC was ) and also from the well versed guys out there (of whom we should all listen to ).

I`ve expressed my opinion (NOT BMW bashing - just offering an unbiased experience ) but am yet to see any posts from any of us relating to what the dealers have to say about it all..................

I am not that stupid (nearly ) to think that BMW `on high` will communicate with us, the Great Unwashed, as it most possibly won`t be in their better interests however I was wondering if any of the dealers had expressed opinions on the stuff which causes us concern?

Have any of you had any unguarded opinions expressed on the seemingly overall drop in quality over the last few years?

To get the ball rolling I have not! Even when I said "For feks sake a crash bar should not rust after only 600 miles - it`s plain to me the finish on it is that thin you could rub it off with your thumb" (bit of an exaggertion that but it was nearly translucent and with no depth) all I got was a stoney silence when I would have been happy with a "yes, you are right". NB - the dealer sorted it all out very well .

As I have said on other threads - this isn`t me doing any BMW bashing - I am actually quite saddened by it all because I love the bikes!

Regards to all and ride safely.

Mark
www.cymarcbikeparts.co.uk

P.S. If anyone has been to Ireland could you PM me as me and my mate are thinking of going next year and would value any comments. Ta

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Been done to death, mon ami

Not many BMW dealers will openly post here or anywhere else, it would break the T&C's of their franchise agreement with BMW and rightly so

 

[Mark Hooton]

Oh dear, sorry.............

Thanks for that - obviously the subject has been `done to death` and I am sure you have seen loads - I am but a mere few hundred posts sort of guy!

At least I have an answer as to why they don`t say anything.

Still, it`s such a shame..............

(Any administrators out there wanna end the thread - fine by me if, in your opinion, it`s wasted time?).

Regards,

Mark.

P.S. 1,400 miles and still on my first fuel control unit - eat your hearts out

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Anyone is free to post their views Mark on build quality, but you didn't think many BMW dealers would post, did you?

 

[luckylucian]

Mine is still on the original FPC, I think it knows I have a spare under the seat

 

[Rasher]

I find some dealers are OK "off the record" (but less so BMW ones) but not likely to put anything in writing on a forum!

I called a Guzzi dealer about a Stelvio test ride and got given what seemed like honest advice and admition of a couple of small issues the bikes had suffered.

When looking at BMW's I was told how all the 1200's issues were fully resolved by recall, as everyone here wll knows this is not the case, FPC / FD's etc still being shockingly shit after 8 years of the model.

I think BMW more than any other brand rely on a reputation built up by people within the company who cared about quality and customers - these are all long gone and the bean counters are slashing quaility and leaving it up to the marketeers to bullshit up some propoganda.

 

[Mark Hooton]

mmmm

I find some dealers are OK "off the record" (but less so BMW ones) but not likely to put anything in writing on a forum!

I called a Guzzi dealer about a Stelvio test ride and got given what seemed like honest advice and admition of a couple of small issues the bikes had suffered.

When looking at BMW's I was told how all the 1200's issues were fully resolved by recall, as everyone here wll knows this is not the case, FPC / FD's etc still being shockingly shit after 8 years of the model.

I think BMW more than any other brand rely on a reputation built up by people within the company who cared about quality and customers - these are all long gone and the bean counters are slashing quaility and leaving it up to the marketeers to bullshit up some propoganda.

Yeah - in my daftness I did suppose the dealers, if any, would like the chance to offer an explanation to counter our concerns - after all, we can`t be all right

Whoops, there I go again.................

However, and to try and make some progressive sense outa this, it`s good to hear the opinion from a fellow forum member who has had some dealings with another marque. I do hope there are some of us out there who can speak highly of our Beemer dealers!

 

[BBB61]

My experience of franchised dealers is they are always circumspect about expressing their view on contentious issues. As Johnny said above, they have signed an agreement and they are representing the manufacturer.

I have also found that if you have a good relationship with them then you will get a lot more out of them off the record and can be very helpful (which I guess knackers Rasher)

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I have also found that if you have a good relationship with them then you will get a lot more out of them off the record and can be very helpful (which I guess knackers Rasher)

He's already well known I'm told, his reputation goes before him

Bob's right, establish a good reputation with the dealer (any dealer, selling any make)

I believe it always pays to speak to the mechanics, BEFORE the salesmen..........get that order right and you'll have half your homework already done

 

[Oldrat]

Hmmm
The two dealers I met before I bought told me that the new mk 3 GSA had ALL of the previous problems finally sorted out.

Mind your head, here comes another pig.

 

[Mark Hooton]

To be fair

Yep, mostly fair comments there and I wholeheartedly agree that you can get much more out of them if you build up a good relationship - my experience is that it is all down to personalities.

It`s not my place to `name names` (I know some do) but as an example I know one dealer where the lads can`t do enough for you yet sadly the sales manager is a complete arrogant ass!

Yes, I feel that the build quality has slipped somewhat (which remains such a shame for a marque such as beemer but I still love the GS) but sometimes, in some places the lads at the dealership do make up for it.

 

[Hexme]

Yes, I feel that the build quality has slipped somewhat

Sorry Mark I don't agree, I've owned 3 GS's, mark 1 to 3 and each one has been better than the last.

 

[Rasher]

The problem with BMW dealers is unless you have bought a dozen bikes of them they do not want to do bugger all for you.

Sure if you have spent a hundred grand with them in the last decade you may get a bit of goodwill from them, but why should I have to spend 10 years and £100k to get a decent level of service?

Why is my £1 worth less than somebody elses?

Perhaps if I was on my 10th BMW from the same dealer I would have receiced the warranty I was promised when I bought the bike, but as a new BMW customer I can just go and f*** myself for the next decade.

I really liked the GS I test rode, I bought a GS, and to be honest if I got the feeling a BMW dealer would look after me I may well have gone on to buy more BMW's, however it seems having spent less than £10k with BMW so far I fall short of getting anything other than contempt from BMW and their dealers.

And if the above postings are true they are openly admitting to not wanting to help me, fine I will take my next ten grand to someone who appreciates the business.

If there is a BMW dealer who does want my business drop me a line, I have a serviced booked at the moment and I am sure the dealer would much rather I f**** off somewhere else, I just wish they would have the decency to say so to my face.

I do appologise for having bought other marques in the past and not spending the last 20 years on BMW's, sorry for being such an arsehole, I promise I will go back to Japanese bikes as I am obviously far too common / poor / stupid to be riding a BMW.

 

[Mark Hooton]

Good news

TonyB - no need to apologise I`m really quite chuffed that you have had 3 great GS`s improving each time!

Regretfully, for me, this isn`t the case. It`s sad but I`m not bent outa shape about it - nobody held a gun to my head and I enjoy the bike nonetheless.

Best regards, enjoy what I believe to be the best bikes I have ever ridden (since 16 ).

Mark.

 

[Mark Hooton]

Don`t be daft!

The problem with BMW dealers is unless you have bought a dozen bikes of them they do not want to do bugger all for you.

Sure if you have spent a hundred grand with them in the last decade you may get a bit of goodwill from them, but why should I have to spend 10 years and £100k to get a decent level of service?

Why is my £1 worth less than somebody elses?

Perhaps if I was on my 10th BMW from the same dealer I would have receiced the warranty I was promised when I bought the bike, but as a new BMW customer I can just go and f*** myself for the next decade.

I really liked the GS I test rode, I bought a GS, and to be honest if I got the feeling a BMW dealer would look after me I may well have gone on to buy more BMW's, however it seems having spent less than £10k with BMW so far I fall short of getting anything other than contempt from BMW and their dealers.

And if the above postings are true they are openly admitting to not wanting to help me, fine I will take my next ten grand to someone who appreciates the business.

If there is a BMW dealer who does want my business drop me a line, I have a serviced booked at the moment and I am sure the dealer would much rather I f**** off somewhere else, I just wish they would have the decency to say so to my face.

I do appologise for having bought other marques in the past and not spending the last 20 years on BMW's, sorry for being such an arsehole, I promise I will go back to Japanese bikes as I am obviously far too common / poor / stupid to be riding a BMW.

Hiya Rasher - no you aint too common/poor or stupid to be riding a beemer - we should all be able to air our opinions on the forum even if they are different to other peoples.

As far as I am concerned it`s good to hear opinions from both extremes and I, for one, are interested to hear what we all have to say. It`s sad to hear that there might have been dealers who have given you good reason to feel as you do! I am sure they are not all the same - and hope not!

I might be accused of being the other end of `opinionated` (sorry if that isn`t a real word) and `sitting on the fence` but I really value this forum and all the people on it (much better than the CB1300 forum I was on) and the key is to listen to everyone and value their opinions even if they disagree with others!

Hope you enjoy whatever stead you are on!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Why is my £1 worth less than somebody elses?


I have a serviced booked at the moment and I am sure the dealer would much rather I f**** off somewhere else, I just wish they would have the decency to say so to my face.

Your £1, isn't worth anymore or less than my £1 at a dealers................however it's your attitude that makes you stand out, if it's anything like you are here, with such high levels of negativity and lambasting the BMW brand

Dealers do read your posts here and have probably taken note, although you operate under a pseudonym, i'm sure NOG have sussed out who you really are

The service I've had at BMW dealers over the years has been excellent to mediocre.................therefore I seek out the excellent and avoid the mediocre. Not exactly a difficult thing to do

My guess is that you're a serial complainer, whether riding a BMW or a Kawasaki

 

[miked]

The problem with BMW dealers is unless you have bought a dozen bikes of them they do not want to do bugger all for you.

Rubbish, bought my GS in France and had lots of problems.

FPC, FD and EWS fine, btw.

Both Bahnstormers and Vines were really helpful with advice and Wally, at CW, rebuilt it on goodwill.

I have paid for only two services at CW and a Haynes manual, but they can't do enough for me when I roll up.

I will not part with my CW'ed GS now for anything

 

[Wapping]

If there is a BMW dealer who does want my business drop me a line, I have a serviced booked at the moment and I am sure the dealer would much rather I f**** off somewhere else, I just wish they would have the decency to say so to my face.

I thought you refused to spend more money than was necessary at rip-off, unreliable (some overtly murderous) dealers and had booked into St Eptoe's fine emporium, where you could watch the work being done etc etc etc.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I thought you refused to spend more money than was necessary at rip-off, unreliable (some overtly murderous) dealers

Ah.............that's why a Rasher £1 is worthless at a UK BMW dealer.........good luck Rasher, nice way to 'burn your bridges'

 

[Canuck]

I tend to only use my dealer for parts as I do my own work ... however my local dealer (OCEAN) are superb... I only wish I had more money I could give them.... mind you after their last efforts I got the boys a case of beer! Perhaps the more you spend the worse you get treated???!!!