Arrrrgghhh Battersea!!

[CitiZen]

Took my bike (R1200GS) in for a service at Battersea, I was quite pleased with the service. They seemed like nice happy to help people.

Got a phone call a couple days later to say that a brake caliper had 'broken' while the new pads were being fitted. Fair doo's, it would take a couple of days to for the new part to arrive. All seems fair & well & I was impressed that the service staff stayed late to allow me to pick up the bike before I went on holiday. A 6k service took a week with the wait for parts, etc.
I noticed that the oil was a bit lower in the sight glass than when I had taken it in, put in down to me having just got off the bike after bringing it back.

I'm a trusting sort (gullible?), leave it to the professionals & all that.

Fast forward 3 months (I know a bit late really), big journey comin up I check the oil & it's half way down the site glass at rest. I go to take off the oil filler cap with the lovely B'em tool to put in 0.25l of oil. The feckers tight as anything, then I look at the it. It's been tightened with what looks like pliers. I've tried to attach a picture of it & you can see the top most wing of the oil filler cap is deformed, almost broken off

Soo, someone who breaks brake calipers (quite hard to do I'm sure) serviced my bike & they, I guess tightened the oil filler cap. Also in 3 months it has used a half of the oil it took nearly a year to use before. I don't think that they put the correct amount of oil in it, but I'm only a paying customer.

It's all very circumstantial, apart from the front seat adjustment rod strap that has been snapped off... & the rod wasn't seated correctly, but I might have done that, the 1 time I took off the seat to get to the tools, today. Couldn't find the strap though.

I'm inclined to complain but since a simple 6k service appears to have been cocked up, I am very wary of letting these kind & helpful people anywhere near my bike. Just in case the same spanner monkey gets my bike again & decides to hurt it.

I know I'm an idiot for not checking all of this imeadiately after the service, but I'm trusting, professionals, etc.

Here is my tail, I'll sit back later & hopefully read the reams of advice, numpty calling, laughing & told you so's.

Just got to find the pliers so I can put some oil in the bike.

 

[Mouse]

Checking the oil level on the 1200 (or in fact any boxer BMW) is notoriously tricky. I don't think you can really say that the engine was underfilled just because it's half way down the sight glass after 3 months. Also different people have different opinions as to whether the oil should be added to the top of the glass, half way down, etc. I never fill mine about half way, because that seems to make it burn oil faster.

But mangling the filler cap is a bit inept. I'd just tell them about it, and ask for a new cap. I bet they're less than a fiver each, if they care about their reputation they'll give you a new one to keep you happy.

 

[Dahoum]

and the early seat adjustment straps were crap. mine rotted in under 6 months. - replaced under warranty.

 

[CitiZen]

Oh well, that's the wind out of my sails.

Crap seat rod straps & a buggered oil filler cap.

Annoying, but ultimately not Earth shattering.

Oh & pliers helped not so ever, an even more mangled oil filler cap with no hope of topping up the oil until I take it to a dealers.

Oh joy.

P.S. I checked the lower Yoke bolts & they were fine, some good news then

 

[turbine_2]

I'm inclined to complain but since a simple 6k service appears to have been cocked up, I am very wary of letting these kind & helpful people anywhere near my bike. Just in case the same spanner monkey gets my bike again & decides to hurt it.

At which point (IME) they'll say it's your fault and it left them with no problems. Wouldn't trust that bunch of shaved monkeys with a tonka toy now.

 

[gavinbell]

noticed that they are advertising for a new service manager.... Put a complaint in - formally and then at least the problem is recognised.

But ain't Sharon a darling!!!

 

[marcus]

just picked my bike from Battersea this morning:

Comments in random order:

-Expected me to pay for work despite my refund for a tyre still not paid since
summer - Er, no, Battersea owes ME money

-Usual 30 minutes faffing around

-Eagle eyed member of staff noticed that gear lever fitted way too low.
More faffing around. Late for work.

-Left hand handle bar handguard / mirror assembly loose.

-Clock not set


Still, at least I now have a gearbox and electrical system. Only been in the garage about 3 weeks or so.

I am not surprised they need a service manager - there does not appear to be much in the way of quality control at present.

PS the Sales boys lent me one of their demos whist mine was being fixed so at least a few people care.