BMW Warranty - CR@P

  • Thread starter Thread starter swebb
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I see this from a couple of perspectives...

ON the one hand, we have the "stick BMW for everything we can" attitude being shown.. (not saying that's what you are doing, but some see it that way)... This has the potential of making an expensive bike, even more expensive... I promise BMW will not accept a loss on the sales of.... well anything really....

On the other hand I see the "BMW sell themselves as being a cut above the rest, and they have the nerve to produce motorcycles that rust..." attitude...
I myself do believe in making companies produce a bit of substance to back up all the hot air that the carpetbaggers (apologies to any in sales who take offense =) spend all that effort to create... Not sure if rust is my way... every old BMW I've ever seen is well corroded (like any bike).. not like they've suddenly started making them worse in that regard...

Personally I'll be fixing my own rust (off warantee :( ... only one year in The Netherlands)... But then I don't expect something made of steel and aluminum not to corrode if ridden in the wet...


Al...


All fair comments, my only addition would be that I don't expect there to be zero corrosion and certainly don't expect the bike to grow old in showroom condition, it was bought to ride after all. 7,000 miles in though isn't a lot for there to be quite large areas (50 pence piece size) in the centre of the rear wheel "hole" though. (excuse me for my ignorance in not knowing the correct part name, mechanically i know nothing about bikes)

Oddly, the frontal areas that I had expected to show corrosion, have been replaced with no question, the one area that I thought should not have corroded and therefore thought would be more likely to be replaced is the area that BMW Warranty dept are rejecting... a certain irony me thinks.
 
If anybody has anything else useful to say.......

As with many moans on forums, you are not talking to the right people. Groaning here will not get you any closer to geting your warranty claim met, unless by chance one of the subscribers happens to be able to pull a few strings. Instead, devote at least some your energies into contacting someone who may be able to help you.

My tuppence worth.

First class stamps are cheap.

People find it hard to ignore pen and paper complaints. So, write to the Customer Services Manager of BuMW (UK) explaining your problem and thoughts. Back it up with as much fact and hard evidence as you can muster. Point out that the dealer, Balderstone I think, seemingly agrees with you.

If you get no joy there, move on up the chain in the UK and on into Germany if required. At some point BuMW may well give in, if nothing else to stop you sending them any more letters.

Post the copies here. It will make interesting reading and, at least, show that you are trying, not simply that you feel hard-done-by.
 
2005 with 7000 miles.should not be rusting.
my 1999 GS1100 has no rust to speak of and its got 32000 miles on it.
its a BMW after all.
they dont make um like they use to. for the money we all pay for our bikes we expect the quality to be write.
bmw seem to be taken the mercedes route profit over quality.it will cost them in the long run.take a step back to the R80,R100,R1100 S/GS/RT/RS etc all built to last.you got on them and rode them.i had a 1983 r100 rs and never worried about b/downs,warranty or quality issues.where did it all go wrong.:nenau
if we did get a stone chip etc we sorted it ourselves.ie
rub the part down.re paint/powder coat put item back on and away.
where's my zimmer frame.
 
I've already contacted BMW Customer services who are in the process of speaking to the dealer, I'm hoping they keep to their word and come back to me today.

I agree the "in writing" route is often best, but as Cust services have told me they are now dealing with it, unless they prove not to be, I don't feel I can jump onto the letter route.

I'll just have to wait and see regarding their response and take it from there.
 
As with many moans on forums, you are not talking to the right people. Groaning here will not get you any closer to geting your warranty claim met

Perhaps i've been mis-interpreted.... i'm not looking for a solution on here, i was expressing my dissatisfaction and venting.

My warranty claim is as previously posted, in hand with customer services.

My approach to BMW has been nothing short of polite, informative and well mannered, because I too am aware that shouting about it directly to/at them is just going to get the door slammed in my face!

Maybe that's why my rant in the original post here, is as virilant as it is... as i said.... Venting!
 
Asking for advice on this forum can be a two edged sword. If phrased correctly and acknowledges other members extensive knowledge of BMW bikes, then I have found everyone to be helpful. There are however a few sacred cows which you must not disturb. It's now possible to say that the 1200 Gs is a great bike, but that the first production run gave rise to some now acknowledged faults. Stating this a couple of years ago would have given rise to many posts of the " BMW bikes are great" variety.
As far as the warranty issue is concerned I really wouldn't pay much attention to the replies. It basically boils down to a disagreement between yourself and the manufacturer. It could be an electric kettle, the fact that it is a motorbike is really irrelevant. You should have a copy of the warranty and be able to insist that the manufacturer upholds it's end of the deal.
 
It could be an electric kettle, the fact that it is a motorbike is really irrelevant. You should have a copy of the warranty and be able to insist that the manufacturer upholds it's end of the deal.

If the kettle was 'furred' up due to use in a hard water area would you expect the manufacturer to cover it under the terms of their warranty?
 
This will be the first and last BMW I ever own at this rate!!

Needless to say i'm NOT happy at all....

hmmm rant over... for now....

'There is nothing good or bad in the world-only thinking makes it so' or words to that effect.

I would have cleaned up the rust and looked after the bike more carefully. As I have done for 30 years. Some people don't even own motorbikes, apparently.

Stephen
 
i've learnt something here, never knew that bit went rusty.

i'm just off to squirt ACF50 up me hole :P
 
Try giving it a clean once in a while.

I tend to wash my bike once a week and have always found this a very good way of finding bits on the bike that may need attention. Its hard to find rust etc when your bikes an INCH DEEP IN ROAD CRAP:rolleyes: Hey it could be worse you could have bought an Aprilia and then you would be fooked. My RXV has chewed up its rear wheel bearings in 39 miles, took 1 hour and me threatening to ride it through the shop window before they agreed to change them. Ltd warranty you see sir, well i reply it was one of your guys during PDI that tightened the rear spindle to 110newton meters. :spitfire
BMW arn't that bad when compared to some of the other brands.:thumb
 
Hi I've got a 7 month old 1200GS with 7500 miles on the clock (ridden all weathers) and the other day I had a tentative peak through the gap in the side fairing and saw that one of the fairing brackets is rusting quit badly, :eek: there are other minor rusting points but mainly on the Hepco crash bars.

I don't really blame BMW as my cleaning regime is sparse at the best of times - but like all the car/bike manufacturers they are having to use far less quality paints due to environmental issues which result in easier damage by stone chip, boot rubbing etc.

Also, I don't think this idea of reducing stuff like lead & arsesnic?? in paints is doing anything for the environment long term, if we have got to continually poison the environment with cleaning solutions, touch up paints or just go the whole hog and end up buying another bike!

But I think that to a certain degree, a bit of wear & tear/neglect goes with the GS image, which is one of the reasons I went for it. :thumb2
 
BMW warranty claims so far:

-final drive seal & gearbox seal: both replaced within warranty

-Santiago boots leaked after a year: got a new pair without questions

-Gearbox regularly jumps out of 6th: replaced for free allthough 2 weeks over warranty limit.


I have never had to insist and you won't hear me complain.

T
 
Obvious Answer

:rob Having read all the posts and Swebbs obvious dis-content, he has of course like a lot of people missed the whole point in the warranty saga.:D
If you buy a GS it is designed to be ridden, not in the dry, and not for just 6000 miles in 2 years. The fact is that buy leaving it in the garage for long periods only getting it out on dry days, cleaning it and keeping it inside he is allowing the rust to build up.
:augie :augie
Well used GS's left outside, not cleaned and just ridden in all weathers have none of these problems.................. even better if you do ride them off road and ensure a liberal coating of muck is in every nook and cranny:D
ACF50 is all that is required and if squirted up every hole you can find will ensure that you will never have a problem:hide :blast
 


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