BMW Vines of Guildford

[iandavid]

I also can't fault Vines. Took my R1200RT in for a minor job and whilst chatting to Darren early in the morning somehow the subject got around to my boots which are BMW boots and I mentioned that the stitching around the top of the leg could be a little better (slightly fraying), otherwise they were perfect. He then remembered that I'd bought my gear with the new bike 18 months earlier and said "those boots are still under warranty" and before I new they'd brought me out a brand new pair and swoppped them on the spot. Couldn't believe it - absolutely first class.

Paul Gardner

 

[KarlC]

Positive Vines experiences

I have to throw my tuppence in.

I am on my 4th Beemer from Vines (my first GS the others were RTs)

On my 1150RT I was on the way home from Vines when about 2 miles out the fuel gauge dropped to empty and the bike stopped. I was stranded on chevrons amidst 4 lanes of traffic! A call to Vines got the bike recovered and a loan bike provided FOC.

Next day I got my bike back - engineer hadnt connected fuel line! Doh! Many apologies and I am on my way.

Come the next service and guess what...yep same thing. this time a bike pulls up behind me - Darren (a real star!). He tried the bike - concluded it needed recovery and so turned tail on his back to reappear with their recovery van. Loaded me and the bike up (oh and the shop is now officially shut) secures my bike and the gives me a loaner (again FOC).

Next day my bike is returned and the service charge refunded. I know that the error shouldnt have happened but it is how a company recovers from mistakes that marks it out.

Some years later and 2 weeks before a grand topur of the whole length of Italy and I got knocked off my RT on the M3. No serious damage to me but I nearly cried as I saw my bike bleeding on the outside lane.

The bike was recovered to Vines. T minus 1 week and the insurers still havent approved repairs. Now I should stress that this tour was not only a big event (my Mrs was touring with me on her bike) but we were also reccying the Italian location for our wedding for the next year.

Mrs C was in Vines just a few days before departure when Darren advised that there was simply no chance of my bike being ready. Although I had the loan bike that wasnt permitted out of the country.

Duncan then helped out by providing a bike (almost same spec as mine) that I could hire and recharge to the insurers AND most importantly take out othe country.

Problem sorted.

So in summary, the staff in my experience at Vines aren't perfect - who is? But they do earnestly try and that is key. To those of you who have had less positive experiences I am sorry but would recommend talking with Duncan.

Hope this helps anyone considering using Vines for a purchase or service.

 

[pint7x]

Duncan is the motorcycle director there - head honcho of all that is 2 wheeled - I bought my first 1150GS from them and they were very good to deal with. The rear sub frame cracked and they lent me a car, replaced the subframe and put a remus can on, only charging me for half the price of the can.

Good people to deal with.

 

[dqrkstone]

My 0.02p; and I realise that in such a positive forum I'm going to get some backlash - but I've not had good experiences with vines at all.

Really genuinely good at selling a bike to you (and I'd agree with all the comments regarding this - I don't this mean it in a sarcastic way); But not good at looking after you from a servicing / post sales perspective, especially if its a potential "your fault / vines fault" scenario - i.e. not clear cut.

I've spent a lot of money in Vines (not always cause I needed to had they got the fault right the first time), and in Bahnstormer, and I've got to say that from my personal opinion, Vines need to learn some lessons from Bahnstormers.

I'm not here to make enemies - just give my opinion, and I've got to say on the ground when you meet up with other BMW bike riders in Hampshire Vines don't generally seem to have a good rep with looking after the customer post-sales - exactly the opposite of Bahnstormers.

Finally, their labour rates are more expensive (I guess that's to be expected perhaps as they are closer to London?) and they don't clean the bikes as well as Bahnstormer. My recommendation: Bahnstormers.

 

[Slowdown]

....and they don't clean the bikes as well as Bahnstormer..

LOL! And what's funnier is that I don't think you wrote that 'tongue in cheek'

 

[dqrkstone]

LOL! And what's funnier is that I don't think you wrote that 'tongue in cheek'

hehe, you're right - it's my mechanical baby - I care how clean it looks, because it gives me an indication as to how well they treat my bike (I've found) - if my bike isn't cleaned at all when paying enough money for a service, I'm genuinely concerned

 

[karlp]

hehe, you're right - it's my mechanical baby - I care how clean it looks, because it gives me an indication as to how well they treat my bike (I've found) - if my bike isn't cleaned at all when paying enough money for a service, I'm genuinely concerned

Surely - if you care how clean it looks then you will have cleaned it beforehand.

A bit of road dirt from driving to Alton from Gosport - ok accepted - .

I do not expect my bike to be cleaned - a welcome addition to the service - but I do not expect it.

However I have yet to come away without it being cleaned.

 

[blueflame]

I'm on my second GS from Vines. The Sales guys n girls have always been on the ball and remember who you are. The bit thats more important for me is that the guys in the back that work on the bikes know their stuff....IMHO they have always explained options and the best way of doing something and not always to the financial benefit of the dealership.....the coffee from the car side of the showroom is better than the bike side though ;-)

 

[Keyframe]

Vines?

Another vote from me, I've had excellent service from Vines since 1996 and that was when they were called Coombes. I'm not what they would call a "Big Spender" but I always get treated very nicely even though I'm usually furtling through the reduced to clear rail.

 

[mrsroynie]

I've been riding since 1991 and have had very mixed experiences from dealers. There were those who were glad to sell me a bike, but couldn't be bothered with me afterwards. Some would ignore "the woman" looking at the big bikes and, worse, some who would insist on addressing my husband - even though he was a less experienced biker, and said so. Then you get dealers like Vines, where I have been treated with respect, encouraged to try bikes I liked, offered test rides on bikes I hadn't thought of trying, and generally welcomed each time I have been passing by.

OK, I appreciate the difference between the 'sales environment' and 'after sales service' but, as a woman, if makes a hell of a difference if the sales team treat you seriously. Perhaps times are changing. In any event, I have no complaints about after sales either.

 

[BAKERMAN]

Another vote from me, I've had excellent service from Vines since 1996 and that was when they were called Coombes. I'm not what they would call a "Big Spender" but I always get treated very nicely even though I'm usually furtling through the reduced to clear rail.

Peter can i have somemore C.D`s please