Charged For A Warranty Repair

[TearAway]

Anyone that read my last thread knows that I had an EWS Fault which turned ouut to be a Antenna Loop Fault.

The bike is an 07 and I bought it in Germany and brought it back... my understanding is that the warranty is Europe wide. So imagine my surprise when I was asked to shell out over €200 to have it repaired.

When I questioned it, I was told that the warranty cover for UK and Ireland is different to Europe and that the money should be refunded when they clear that the bike is covered by warranty...

Not impresed I have to say.. so much for BMW aftersales service

 

[wilbjr21]

I can't see too much of a problem with that as it's not a local bike. Were you saving money by buying in Germany?

 

[Gizmo]

Warranty

I can't see too much of a problem with that as it's not a local bike. Were you saving money by buying in Germany?

Cant see what it being "local " has to do with it.The warranty is europe wide. And in answer to the question, yes it saves significant cost to buy in Germany because of the crazy taxes here in the Irish Republic on imports of cars and motorbikes. Thank the lord for the single european market !!

Ask the service manager to clear it with BMW customer service and it will sort itself out. I have a 06 GSA that I imported and the warranty has always been honoured. Have a word with your dealer and if getting nowhere go to another dealer or contact BMW customer services directly yourself.You only have to notify them once that the bike is in Ireland and everything will be fine from then on.

So the ring antenna problem STILL exists, I wonder when this will finally be rectified??? BMW could learn a few lessons from Honda and Toyota about product improvement and development

 

[wilbjr21]

When I questioned it, I was told that the warranty cover for UK and Ireland is different to Europe and that the money should be refunded when they clear that the bike is covered by warranty...

I think you'll find being local is precisely the point, i.e. taking it to the supplying dealer. If it's covered he gets a refund. As I said - not too much wrong with that. The inconvenience for the amount of money saved would appear to be small - from what you have said.

So the ring antenna problem STILL exists, I wonder when this will finally be rectified??? BMW could learn a few lessons from Honda and Toyota about product improvement and development

Had a problem with the HISS system on a Pan - needed a new ECU. This in no way detracts from the extraordinary numbers of failed antenna rings on the 1200 series - I feel compelled to carry a spare as I go far from home.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Anyone that read my last thread knows that I had an EWS Fault which turned ouut to be a Antenna Loop Fault.

The bike is an 07 and I bought it in Germany and brought it back... my understanding is that the warranty is Europe wide. So imagine my surprise when I was asked to shell out over €200 to have it repaired.

When I questioned it, I was told that the warranty cover for UK and Ireland is different to Europe and that the money should be refunded when they clear that the bike is covered by warranty...

Not impresed I have to say.. so much for BMW aftersales service

Your repairing dealer is just covering his arse by getting you to pay for the repair up front. I've come across this before when UK based vehicles have had warranty repairs done in mainland Europe and the dealer has insisted on being paid before the repaired vehicle is handed back. Your repairing dealer is being a tosser

 

[TearAway]

I think you'll find being local is precisely the point, i.e. taking it to the supplying dealer. If it's covered he gets a refund. As I said - not too much wrong with that. The inconvenience for the amount of money saved would appear to be small - from what you have said.

The warranty is 'supposed' to be Europe wide... and it's a 07 bike.. I'd all the paperwork to back it up... there is no reason it wouldn't be covered.

So why am I forking out?

As for the saving.. that's sod all to do with BMW.. they're still getting their money for the sale... it's not their issue where I bought it so long as it's within Europe...

Plus.. I've bought two bikes of the same dealer.. and had every service on four bikes with them over the last 4 years... seems like small minded money grabbing to me.

 

[TearAway]

Your repairing dealer is just covering his arse by getting you to pay for the repair up front. I've come across this before when UK based vehicles have had warranty repairs done in mainland Europe and the dealer has insisted on being paid before the repaired vehicle is handed back. Your repairing dealer is being a tosser

 

[wilbjr21]

As for the saving.. that's sod all to do with BMW.. they're still getting their money for the sale... it's not their issue where I bought it so long as it's within Europe...

I'll try one last time..............the dealer does the warranty job - at his expense - then claims off BMW. As you didn't buy your bike in Ireland he's taking precautions as it's the norm to take your bike to the supplying dealer for a warranty repair. This is a down side of buying abroad.

I'm sure that things will work out fine in the end.......I hope they do.

 

[Gipsy]

I'll try one last time..............the dealer does the warranty job - at his expense - then claims off BMW. As you didn't buy your bike in Ireland he's taking precautions as it's the norm to take your bike to the supplying dealer for a warranty repair. This is a down side of buying abroad.

I'm sure that things will work out fine in the end.......I hope they do.

Can't agree with the statement that it's the norm to take the bike to the supplying dealer for warranty work to be performed. You are entitled to have the warranty work performed at a BMW dealership anywhere within the area covered by the warranty. The dealer in question in this thread is way out of line.

As an aside when the alternator on my wife's blade failed in France last year, the local Honda dealer did the work under warranty, and no money changed hands.

 

[andyclift]

I must say I am rather suprised at this.

When I took my UK purchased bike to a dealer in Germany for repairs the question of paying did not come up. I was just asked if they could photocopy the registration document to confirm the bike was less than two years old.

They showed no interest in the warranty documentation that came with the bike.

Assuming the warranty of the German purchased bike is the same, it should not matter which dealer you take it too, the repair should still be free of charge.

If you are 100% satisfied that your warranty is valid I would either be (a) making it clear to the dealer that unless I got the bike returned and repaired free of charge ASAP I would be claiming the costs for a rental vehicle and other out of pocket expenses or (b) making a very stroppy call to BMW. Might be tough making contact this week though.

 

[MIKE R]

You do not have to take your bike to the supplying dealer for warranty work.

About 3 months ago my fuel pump relay gave up being a fuel pump relay. BMW rescued me home, but would then only take the bike to the NEAREST BMW dealer (Jefferies....about 25 miles away) for repair, and NOT the supplying dealer (Rainbow...about 60 miles away)

Mike

 

[Gaulois]

If your bike is under warranty then that should be it. When my bike had an EWS failure in Morocco last Easter the dealer in Spain was fine about carrying out the repairs under warranty once he had seen the warranty document. As far as I'm concerned if they have any doubts they should chase it up through BMW.
I once had a Renault 5 with an extended warranty and managed to get the gearbox replaced in the UK (French registered car) without the documents. Dealer just checked with Renault and did the work.

 

[nick_boxer]

Money Grabbing Dealer

I'll try one last time..............the dealer does the warranty job - at his expense - then claims off BMW. As you didn't buy your bike in Ireland he's taking precautions as it's the norm to take your bike to the supplying dealer for a warranty repair. This is a down side of buying abroad.

I'm sure that things will work out fine in the end.......I hope they do.

I now live in France and lo and behold the local dealer keys in the (UK) bike details and gets a list of every job performed on it from BMW central database. If warranty work is needed they make a phone call to the local BMW rep and get it cleared. Yes it IS a European warranty and regardless of where you got the bike the local dealer should sort it as an authorised BMW agent.

 

[marcus]

Warranty?
About as useful as tits on a fish.

Have shelled out over GBP 1,000 for stuff that was refused under warranty.

BMW can go f*ck themselves; very, very disappointed, angry etc etc etc by the attitude of BMW GB towards what I perceive to be yet another technical failure to add to all tho others.

It's bad enough having to go and get things repaired under warranty repeatedly - average under 2,000 miles between trips to BMW.

Being told that the warranty does not cover areas that I assumed to be overed is even worse.

As a direct result:

My bike is now sold

After 7 years ownership of 3 flat twins.....won't buy another BMW, sorry....

 

[nick_boxer]

Warranties n' tits

Warranty?
About as useful as tits on a fish.

Not my experience Marcus and sorry yours has been so bad. My last bike was an RS who's ABS controller (£850+) failed outside the warranty. I can tell you the £850+ bill was a bigger heartstopper than the "residual braking" I was left with on a fast corner in Scotland. BMW paid for the repair - possibly in amazement that I'd lived but they paid and I was happy.