Bike back to BMW again!!!
- Thread starter StewMcGrew
- Start date
just to point out the obvious... It hasn't cost you nothing... it's cost you 3 x £444 = £1332. So not only would you have had a grand to spare you would be £332 in pocket. As has been stated here many times, to insure or not to insure is a gamble and a personal decision.
Alan R
I've just paid £350 to warranty and breakdown cover mine for 12 months, with a £50 excess.
I'll probably be doing the same with mine in December.
Bought my 2012 TC last Christmas with 4K on it. It's now coming up to 9k and apart from a new battery (replaced after a month by the dealer as a 'good will' gesture - not covered under the warranty), I've had no problems. That said, I'm putting into service a couple of weeks early just in case there are any issues that can be dealt with under the AUB warranty (slightly more comprehensive than the extended warranty that follows). Not looking forwards to paying for the service though - I've been quoted £450
- needs everything except gearbox oil and air filter (strikes me as odd but apparently not required due to mileage... I'll probably change the GB oil and air filter myself for peace of mind rather than bunging the dealer probably another £50 +parts for the privilege).The extended warranty is always going to be a toss up but I'll probably end up going for it - it gives some peace of mind (albeit expensive) and I do a fair bit of European travel so the quality breakdown cover is nice to have.
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£37 x 12 = £444 per annum
Somehow it seems to make good business for BMW, make a crap bike, and get the punters to pay to fix it.
Mad_Accountant
Registered user
£37 x 12 = £444 per annum
I don't think that is unreasonable, considering the risk they are covering plus that figure includes a quality European breakdown assistance.
These bikes are not cheap to buy and the main cost is depreciation, not service or warranty cover.
Of course if you buy new using one of the (to my mind) ridiculous PCP contracts (doesn't anyone read the totally amount payable figure???) you only have one year unprotected before you sign your soul away and ride off on the latest and greatest.
It's not cheap to play big BMW bikes but they are amongst the best and nowhere near as problematic as these Forums suggest. I'm lucky, I don't spend ANY of my hard earned on alcohol or cigs, both of which make extended warranty appear really cheap However I do micromanage the running costs on my somewhat excessive fleet (2x C1s, 2x '92 1000cc Beemers, a 2103 GSA Triple Black, a little car and a lovely T5 campervan) but the extended warranty on the TB seems good odds to me.
As posted elsewhere it is insurance and it us personal choice. One final issue is the that warranty, being transferable, will surely help when I come to sell the bike.
One thing I would suggest about the dealer and the reason for changing all those parts is they rarely repair anything. If they pick up an issue, they will replace the whole thing whereas if there was no warranty, you would find a cheaper way for repair. Take the FD for example which is the achilles heel of the bike. If a dealer picks up a problem, they will advise a new unit at nearly a grand. If you have a warranty, no problem but I do know a number of people who have paid up this amount when they haven't had a warranty. The reality is it wants a strip down with new bearings at £350 from people like Mikeyboy.
Dealers have time constraints on all their work and most will not treat your bike like it's their own. They do whats necessary and to the book but haven't the time to sort your bike properly in my opinion. Some are better than others though.
I haven't had any warranty on mine since in ran out in 2008 and although spent a few quid on it in it's 120,000 miles, I still reckon I'm in pocket. When I look at the servicing costs from a dealer and warranty costs I haven't had to cough up for, I'm probably well on top despite a replacement gearbox, a couple of FD rebuilds and an engine refresh last year.
My advice is take it to an independent who will go the extra mile for you, treat your bike properly, mend things instead of replacing and you will be definitely in pocket.
Dealers have time constraints on all their work and most will not treat your bike like it's their own. They do whats necessary and to the book but haven't the time to sort your bike properly in my opinion. Some are better than others though.
I haven't had any warranty on mine since in ran out in 2008 and although spent a few quid on it in it's 120,000 miles, I still reckon I'm in pocket. When I look at the servicing costs from a dealer and warranty costs I haven't had to cough up for, I'm probably well on top despite a replacement gearbox, a couple of FD rebuilds and an engine refresh last year.
My advice is take it to an independent who will go the extra mile for you, treat your bike properly, mend things instead of replacing and you will be definitely in pocket.
GPWM Sarge 
When labour rates are knocking on the door of £100 per hour it is more cost effective (for the warranty company) to pay for the replacement of a complete unit rather than have that part repaired and don't forget the replacement item will then come with manufacturers two year parts warranty
Another thing that is rarely considered but also a cost factor is if you do suffer a breakdown not only is the recovery of your bike covered but also a replacement vehicle for the time your bike is off the road. If you don't want the breakdown feature then you can delete it from the policy total. The last time I looked it made up £130 of the total cost of the policy. By all means delete the recovery feature from your policy but have an accident in southern Spain then you do the maths on how much it will be to recover your bike back to Blighty
When labour rates are knocking on the door of £100 per hour it is more cost effective (for the warranty company) to pay for the replacement of a complete unit rather than have that part repaired and don't forget the replacement item will then come with manufacturers two year parts warranty
Another thing that is rarely considered but also a cost factor is if you do suffer a breakdown not only is the recovery of your bike covered but also a replacement vehicle for the time your bike is off the road. If you don't want the breakdown feature then you can delete it from the policy total. The last time I looked it made up £130 of the total cost of the policy. By all means delete the recovery feature from your policy but have an accident in southern Spain then you do the maths on how much it will be to recover your bike back to Blighty
My policy is 332 or thereabouts. Just to be pedantic you know.
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You ll need valves checked, a new Campbelt and I think abs done and reset as 2 yearsI'll probably be doing the same with mine in December.
Bought my 2012 TC last Christmas with 4K on it. It's now coming up to 9k and apart from a new battery (replaced after a month by the dealer as a 'good will' gesture - not covered under the warranty), I've had no problems. That said, I'm putting into service a couple of weeks early just in case there are any issues that can be dealt with under the AUB warranty (slightly more comprehensive than the extended warranty that follows). Not looking forwards to paying for the service though - I've been quoted £450
The extended warranty is always going to be a toss up but I'll probably end up going for it - it gives some peace of mind (albeit expensive) and I do a fair bit of European travel so the quality breakdown cover is nice to have.
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Plus 1. I use the independent guys even though it's warrantied
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My old GSA had to go in for a gearbox output seal over the August Bank Holiday weekend and the nice lady from Enterprise Rent-a-Car gave me a 3000 mile old BMW 3 Series M-Sport Diesel to play with from the Thursday to the Tuesday
Roymondo
Registered user
Cam belt on a BMW Boxer..? The generator belt won't be due until around 36,000 miles (It's scheduled by mileage, not time).
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kyrano
Registered user
BMW's are over priced and the build quality is S**t I will never buy another one again
Mad_Accountant
Registered user
Interesting, and your suggestion is????
well I guess you are £4 in pocket then. Well done you.
Alan R
StewMcGrew
Registered user
So I went to collect the bike this morning from the dealer. Starter motor replaced but there was a warning that the crown race bearings had play in them. The dealer replaced the crown race bearings just over 2K miles ago in late August. Told them to keep the bike until they've fixed it.
So, what are my choices here? I like the bike, have test rode many alternatives but I the bike I have. What can I expect to get from BMW. Additional extended warranty? Buy the bike back from me? or expect to be told 'On yer way son!'?
So, what are my choices here? I like the bike, have test rode many alternatives but I the bike I have. What can I expect to get from BMW. Additional extended warranty? Buy the bike back from me? or expect to be told 'On yer way son!'?
StewMcGrew
Registered user
Additionally, the bike has been back a total of 6 times according the girl on the service desk since March - I must have forgotten the other two times. I bought the bike on the 28th Feb 2015
Stew
These bikes are excellent, are at least as good as anything else but do have their own issues. There are many running round with high mileages with scarcely and issue.
You won't get anything back from the dealer because they are only duty bound to fix it under warranty which they are doing. You also have to remember they will advise you on any part which is slightly worn and there parameters are different from what you or I might consider normal. Brake discs are their favourite and will advise of a change at 50% wear. Things like that are fairly normal practice for all motor dealers as they are duty bound to advise you.
If I were you, I'd have it checked out by an independent like Steptoe or Mikeyboy and they will tell you exactly how your bike is. Let them look after it and you'll have years of top notch and hopefully trouble free riding.
These bikes are excellent, are at least as good as anything else but do have their own issues. There are many running round with high mileages with scarcely and issue.
You won't get anything back from the dealer because they are only duty bound to fix it under warranty which they are doing. You also have to remember they will advise you on any part which is slightly worn and there parameters are different from what you or I might consider normal. Brake discs are their favourite and will advise of a change at 50% wear. Things like that are fairly normal practice for all motor dealers as they are duty bound to advise you.
If I were you, I'd have it checked out by an independent like Steptoe or Mikeyboy and they will tell you exactly how your bike is. Let them look after it and you'll have years of top notch and hopefully trouble free riding.
I agree with the above,
mine has had some problems in the 7 years I've had it, still love the bike and wouldn't want to travel around Europe on anything else really.
I had its 4th fuel strip fitted in July, 4.000 miles later it failed for one tankfull then started working again, it went in to be checked in the middle of September and they told me my brake pads were getting a bit low,
I checked them when I got home and as far as I'm Concerned they were barely half worn, I've now done another 3.000 miles since the middle of September and I've just given it a good clean and acf50'd it, checked the pads again and they are still barely half worn, I wonder if many people out there would have just said "oh are they? Maybe your better replace them whilst its here without even looking.I do think the dealers try it on sometimes, but I guess there's also a lot of riders who never check anything between services as well.
