Big up for Sawbridgeworth

[Eddy802]

Having fallen out with my local dealership I now make the 50 mile run to Hertford when my bike needs dealership attention.

Some might say I'm cutting off my nose to spite my face when you consider that, with my very full schedule a recent visit invovled dropping the bike off after hours on one day and fetching it on the next evening I have time. In all 200 miles travelled.

Fact is, my brief involvement with Sawbridgeworth has been well worth it. The list of work for the most recent visit included the following issues and resolutions:

Creaking clutch lever - re-lubricated
Rattling screen mounts - replaced underwarranty
Bubbling paint around hex bolts of fuel filler - none in stock and minor issue (to me), will be replaced under warranty at 12k service
Worn paint on frame at left heel - paint touched in like new & advised to protect the area
Damage to H&B mouting bolt and engine block - Re-thread and bolt replaced with longer one (£33)

Overall I'm well happy with the resolutions and as/more importantly the attitude of the dealership.

If only the dealership that is 23 miles away had of managed the same

Nice one Paul, thank you

 

[Tricky]

Good to hear that all is now sorted Eddy...

 

[damo the onion]

Sawbo is my local dealer

And is as good a bunch as you will see. They have helped me out on numerous occasions. And are not fazed by the fact that my 1100gs is a little long in the tooth now. they take as much care and interest as they do on the new machines. David (sales), Mike (parts) and the service bloke who I can never remember the name of all deserve a mention. they are under new ownership now, but this seems not to have had a deterimental effect. It's still refreshing to go in there.

Much respect.

 

[cattell]

Paul is the name of the Service guy. I agree they are good, but I could not get a service 'til Sept, so I tried out Steptoe. No complaints there, he did a good job for a reasonable price.

 

[Gilson]

I'm not so sure if they are great.... I've been dealing with them for a short while, trying to sort out some minor crash damage. That Paul guy is always cracking some inapproriate joke, (the last one was about my "crappy, inferior to BMW stuff, H&B bars, Hella lights etc"). Not sure if I don't get his humour or I need to lighten up but I really do think that they don't know what customer service is.

Mind you, I went to Chelmsford and they were similar, saying that "work done other than by BMW is substandard and it's a risk not getting it done by us"... maybe it's just BMW... I'll keep given them the benefit of the doubt, especially when I see positive postings like this. Nice work...

 

[BBB61]

No, that's just Pauls sense of humour. He was exactly the same when he worked at a Triumph dealership before going to Sawbridgeworth. I've always found them helpful and pleasant in there. But their labour rate for servicing is breathtaking!!

Bob

 

[Mad Tenor]

I have been dealing with Sawbridgeworth since 1986 when Nigel Darken and Chris Kitts were running an independent servicing business "under the Arches" in Sawbridgeworth before setting up a BMW dealership in Hertford. I have always been very satisfied with both the sales and servicing. Although I was never affected, there was a period two or three years back when standards slipped a little, but I think this was due to to a concentration of staff turnover in the workshop (retirement, moving away etc.)and difficulty in finding quality replacements. Things seem to have settled down and the new ownership has given new life and character to the place. Yes they are expensive and very busy during the summer, but I have never had an issue that could not be resolved by sensible discussion. My only regret is that with the "standardisation" of dealership policies by the parent company BMW(UK), there is less flexibilty in such things as "goodwill" post warranty issues, though I imagine this is something affecting all BMW dealers. In the distant past, they also had their own unique more extensive servicing shedule which also was a victim of the corporate umbrella. However, they have always gone out of their way to repay my loyal custom, and I would recommend them to anyone.

 

[HeatedGrips]

there was a period two or three years back when standards slipped a little,

Yes, I stopped using them around then and switched to Wollaston after having both the 6k and 12k services done in Hertford. Amazingly at around 1,000 miles after each the bike ate an exhaust valve.

The fixes were done under warranty and if there was any evidence the events were connected Sawbridgeworth didn't let me know, but I found it too much of a co-incidence.

Oh, and one of the spares staff had a verbal go at me when he overheard me telling another biker that Hein Gericke's clothing was better value.

 

[sproggy]

.... but I could not get a service 'til Sept....

About 3 weeks ago I booked my bike in at Sawbridgeworth (or SBW Motorrad as they now like to be known!) to have the Paralever bearings changed and the earliest they could offer (bearing in mind it wasn't urgent) was 20th September. Then on Saturday I realised that there was play in the rear hub, took it in to them and they advised minimal use until it was fixed. Well I do about 250 miles a week commuting and in 10 days time am off on their Llandow track day thingy so minimal mileage wasn't an option!

They agreed to take the bike in as long as I could leave it with them for a while and they'd fit the work in around other jobs. Bearing in mind that I dropped it in last thing on Saturday and that they aren't open Sunday or Monday I reckoned it was pretty good that they started the job yesterday (Tuesday), even better that they finished this morning and called to say the bike was ready! That's not just the hub bearing but the paralever bearings too and they even had the gearbox out to replace a leaking oil seal.

In my book that's a fantastic level of service, particularly bearing in mind that I didn't buy the bike there, and I do my own servicing - they only get to see the bike for urgent or awkward jobs that I don't fancy doing. OK, they're not particularly cheap, but they certainly helped me out of a tight spot - I couldn't ask for anything better.

 

[rugbug]

I like the people at Sawbo. First started using them in 2001 and they are generally very helpful and willing to accomodate. I have always found them to be very feiendy and approachable bunch.

However, as Bob says, their service rates are bordering on extorsion and sometimes Service dept. give the impression that they really are doing you a huge favour when you ask for some help. And of course they really don't like it if you have been anyplace else other than Sawbo to service your bike, even if you do it yourself! Other than that, if you can afford the rates, use them.

 

[mbnu99]

SBW Motor........

End of least year I bought my BM from SBW M/C and it was a refreshing experience after having bought jap bikes from various other dealers and a Triumph from the dealer in Dunmow who I would nver buy from again.....

I'm not best please with the engineering quality of BMW but generally love the bike but I am interest in what has been said in this thread about the cost of SBW M/C when it's said their labour rates are expensive, how expensive compared to other BMW dealerships? Although I do think their service is fantastic.

 

[BBB61]

End of least year I bought my BM from SBW M/C and it was a refreshing experience after having bought jap bikes from various other dealers and a Triumph from the dealer in Dunmow who I would nver buy from again.....

Ongar motorcycles You have to go there and experience the sales patter of the main man just the once for the hell of it. I heard a story about one of their former salespersons who went to another Triumph dealer to purchase a new Triumph rather than buy from where he worked.

Bob