Complained about 2009 GSA faults today and.....

Montrose Sun

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......im dissapointed.

I went in to John Clark BMW Aberdeen today my nearest serive centre although they no longer sell bikes. They were sent an email with these faults on the 5th of December. They decided not to reply. I phoned them and got excuses and had to re-send the email - something that i had to do yet again yesterday as they couldnt find it when they were creating a job card for my visit today. The email was sent to the service manager, the bike technician and also Jon, the dealer principal of Motorrad Central West where i purchased the bike. None of them replied at the time and Jon from Glasgow still hasnt replied.

I dealt with Craig, the bike technician today and discussed all these faults. These were his answers -

Peeling finish on back brake lever - will be done under warranty

Innacurate and misleading fuel gauge - maybe needs re-calibrated - big job though (sharp intake of breath)

Bike cut out once slowing down to a side road - no need to worry

Very stiff / sticky ignition - sprayed some 'wurth' lubricant down it.......still the same:blast

Squeeling / juddering front brakes - bmw only check squeeling brakes up to 6000 miles FOC. If its a slow speed pulsing (which it is) we'll put it to the warranty department but if you get new discs you want get new pads:eek

Front tyre loosing quite a bit of pressure (worst with OE metz exp but still doing it with anakee 2) Been checked by 2 professionals but cant see a fault - well if they cant see a fault,neither will we:mad:

Hefty drive line shunt - we'll need to have the bike overnight so we get it stone cold but it will be within parameters

Very still gear changing 1st thing in the morning - As above answer........mentioned putting in thinner oil but id be paying for that

BMW roundal from under handlebars flew off one day on the move - That'll be warranty then

Scuffed through handle bar by the overhead cable - we'll put it to the warranty dept. but dont expect miracles

Rear pointy bit of both pillion footrest hangers rusty and orange - That'll be from the pillions boots rubbing it through:blast Even though i have only ever had approx 6 students on the back for less than a mile each time back to their car:mad: Surely the paints too thin - nah its the position of their feet

Neaside frame rusty through to metal where allegadly my foot has been in the wrong position...........where else would you like me to put my foot?? - That'll be a miracle if its warranty Ride magazine have the same problem on their standard 2009 GS:mad:

Excessive centre bar rust on main stand - should have been rust proofed from new or waxoiled.........errrrr, well it wasnt and this is a 13k bike, shouldnt it withstand a few stone chips better than this????? no chance hardly of warranty claim

Rusty nuts under top box rack - you should manage to clean them up with autosol - dont you think ive tried??

Rusty offside pannier rail - Buff it out

and lastly...............

Terribly corroded 3 box ADV alu luggage - looks awfull, WILL NOT autosol out.

I'll put it to the warranty dept. but dont hold your breath....thats a lot of money

The most galling thing about this is the fact that when i picked the bike uo new ( my second GS and my 5th BMW), i was told that they (the warranty dept.) are getting really hot on corrosion claims so he pointed out the 'how to wash your bike' part of the manual specifically and said you must look after your machine or you will be turned down.

So i did!!!............Every bike i have ever owned gets plastered with anti-corrosion stuff and in this day and age i use both ACF 50 and FS365 and ALWAYS hose down a salty bike and re-apply - i spend a fortune on the stuff!

And yet, even when i do look after it, it looks like i'll be turned away.

So they took some photos, emailed them away and they'll be in touch apparantly :blagblah

The bike by the way is a 2009 '09' with 12000 since new in august.

oh dear oh dear.
 
You certainly seem to have had more than your share of what seems to be common issues for many. I have had a couple of yours, the most worrying of which is the engine cutout. Mine goes through phases of doing this so it's really difficult to figure it out. The common theme for me though is that it always happens when shifting down from third to second when slowing or stopping for a junction. On what must be 10 occasions the engine has died, everytime it's happened under this condition. I also cannot restart the engine for a few seconds as the whole ignition/clocks/lights etc just die.

Good luck with getting everything sorted which you would think would be easy on such a new bike. I wonder if BMW are getting tougher on warranty claims or who much is it the dealer?
 
Buy a Ducati!

Seriously BMW(office staff) will not learn until the market share numbers start to go south. It's business and they really don't care how you personally feel.

It seems most people will put up with it and continue to buy BMW. One dealer in my surrounding area had their BEST year in 2009 (our worst recession year as a country for a long time). It means people are just buying BMWs, so to the folks in Bracknell and their bosses in Munich .. ALL IS WELL!

Vote with your wallet is the only way to show them. Sell the bike and buy something else.

Alternatively answer with the usual, "there is nothing better and I love my BMW" then you will get treated the same forever.
 
Makes me want to:tears:tears reading that tale of woe.....................don't worry the 2010 GSA's are nearly £15k..........................how many punters for those

Really sorry to hear about your problems, Turraloon................I'd be fecking:mad:
 
Usual stuff this, the later the model the worse the finish becomes cars and bikes are the same, your lucky if things last out of the warranties these days.

Its the factory cutting back on quality and standard of parts to make a bit of money out of the unit, its sad really and it probably wont get better in the future.
 
I sympathise, had major problems with my K12R Sport, ended up with new engine and gearbox casings, complete rebuid only for the unreplaced parts to corrode. No bike for 3(!) months, had to email the head of BMW(GB) to get things moving.

Chopped it in after a year for my GSA which has now succumbed to the dreaded engine cover corrosion after 8k miles.

However dealers attitude is infinitely better than you recieved, I would seek out another dealer! BMW(GB) are VERY aware of corrosion issues but dealers have to present claims correctly and chase them to get anywhere. Call BMW customer service and harass them, you will get results.

As for voting with your wallet, totally agree, but it doesn't work when you have already spent the money and you have an unsatisfactory bike that a dealer with give you squat for!
 
......im dissapointed.

I went in to John Clark BMW Aberdeen .......dear oh dear.

Have you writen to BuMW to lay out your sorrows?

If you haven't, do so.

Their address and contact details (for both the UK and their German head office) are on the net.
 
Maybe I'm just not demanding enough... but 12,000 miles, as an instructor, since August is pretty high usage and is going to result in wear and tear which includes corrosion.

It seems many of the issues you're raising are quite superficial except perhaps the brakes or driveline... The only part changed on my bike under warranty due to corrosion was the front engine cover thingy. Everything else was demonstrably affecting the riding of the bike.

I'm typically a pretty customer oriented person (spent 7 years selling) - but if I'd received that list, I wouldn't be too motivated to address all the issues. It's a little late now - but if you'd gone in requesting attention to the mechanical issues and then, while it there, take a look at the corrosion, pretty please... you might've had more luck.

It's a bike - it's meant to be used an abused.
 
All I can say (apart from 'you have my sympathy') is I'm not too sorry I'll never be able to afford a new BMW :augie
 
Maybe I'm just not demanding enough... but 12,000 miles, as an instructor, since August is pretty high usage.

When did you change your job? Or do you do that in your free time?

What sort of lessons do you do? To pass the test or post test training?
 
Yes but that is the BASIC price add premium and dynamic packs and then the luggage and it comes to approx £14500:augie

Bob was selling himself short.......................:augie

Once it was fully loaded with all the goodies and with panniers/topbox it'll be nearer £15000, than £14000...............................and that's a long way from £10745 OTR

In fact I doubt BMW would even sell you a base bike for £10745, too much hassle as it would be a special build order:augie
 
When did you change your job? Or do you do that in your free time?

What sort of lessons do you do? To pass the test or post test training?

I was referring to the OP - he's the instructor with 12,000 miles since august...
 


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