Dealer Servicing - doing it wrong?

[scotia_steve]

We all know that the service intervals are 600 miles then every 6000 miles but it seems some dealers are doing things differently.

Rather than doing 6000 miles from your last service, time aside, if you get a service done at say 4500 miles, they want you to bring it in when the clock reads 6000 miles which is wrong in my view. You shouldn't bring it in just after 1500 miles, but 6000 miles later than the 4500 making 10,500 miles.

The annual time limit is obvious and set from the 600 service when all fluids were changed and obviously brake fluid and the likes need to be changed at set or before annual dates. What seems apparent is that some, not all are being asked to service within a couple of thousand miles and only months after major services.

Seems like something is wrong here.....

 

[garfield]

out of interest, why did you get your service done at 4,500 miles.... .....is it a low mileage bike you have.....

 

[scotia_steve]

out of interest, why did you get your service done at 4,500 miles.... .....is it a low mileage bike you have.....

I bought a low mileage bike, first annual was 2500m, I had to get it serviced 3 months later at 6k miles, now need it serviced as an annual at 9k miles a year later and there is no way I can make it 12k within a week to save me getting another one in 3k miles, 3 months!!

As far as I'm being told, it doesn't need serviced 6k miles on from your last actual mileage, but at exactly 6/12/18 miles which seems mad!

 

[AberdeenAngus]

The annual time limit is obvious

Sorry but that's shoite !

The yearly/6000 miles is a VERY conservative average based on a compromise of preventitative maintenance needs and screwing you for service costs.

If stored in reasonable conditions, there is NOTHIN that must be done yearly, regardless of mileage.

 

[rockchunk]

I bought a low mileage bike, first annual was 2500m, I had to get it serviced 3 months later at 6k miles, now need it serviced as an annual at 9k miles a year later and there is no way I can make it 12k within a week to save me getting another one in 3k miles, 3 months!!

As far as I'm being told, it doesn't need serviced 6k miles on from your last actual mileage, but at exactly 6/12/18 miles which seems mad!

sorted give me yer bike and i will stick 3000 miles on it for you mind and leave yer fuel card ...no need to thank me am just a helpfull kinda guy

 

[scotia_steve]

sorted give me yer bike and i will stick 3000 miles on it for you mind and leave yer fuel card ...no need to thank me am just a helpfull kinda guy

What do other people do - service it every 6000 physical miles done and once a year? I would have thought the 6000 miles. Seems like BMW want you to do an annual service too!! Seems totally wrong as other bikes it is just based on mileage and don't exceed a certain time limit.

 

[rockchunk]

What do other people do - service it every 6000 physical miles done and once a year? I would have thought the 6000 miles. Seems like BMW want you to do an annual service too!! Seems totally wrong as other bikes it is just based on mileage and don't exceed a certain time limit.

change the oil yourself and ride it

 

[Myke Rocks]

Back to this garbage of brake fluid change etc.

Sorry to return to my favourite subject.

Brake fluid changing.

Saw it mentioned in this thread.

In a quarry where I work on an occasional basis, there happend to be an absolutely enormous Volvo Dump Truck in the maintenance shed a couple of weeks ago. It carries a 55 ton payload. The service manual was lying open on a 45 gallon barrel, and the pages had blown over in the breeze of the warm air heater in the building.
Lo & behold, the page it stopped at was the brake fluid page.
Recommended change intervals: 2 years or 4000 hours.

Same fluid as BMW dump trucks.

Now, I never change mine, cover around 15,000 miles per year, and never plan to do so.

The dump truck manual only reenforces my belief that the fluid changing is, like the need to set the tappets, (1100/1200) a means of persuading gullible owners to get BMW dealer to service there rather agricultural engines instead of doing it themselves.

This is called in the medical world, "Dangling the Skeleton", because, if you neglect to do something, you may cause a patient to die.

Whilst on the subject of the gullible, why does it cost circa £85.00 for my local VAG dealer to do a 10,000 mile service on my Diesel car, and around £300 to service a BMW motorcyle?

I know this post is a Red rag to a bull to many fellow idiots out there, but I haven't seen a seriously stupid thread in weeks, & it is time to stir the pot.
Myke

 

[RickG]

Brake fluid eh?

Stirring things up..mmm Ok, I'll take the bait..

You are obviously a clever bloke and just being provacative but you think your brake fluid never needs changing, ever? You may well be right on the basis that your brakes have never failed so far. QED on that basis.

Are you saying the dump truck's schedule is about right or also outrageously frequent? Or are you implying that the dump truck's fluid has a harder time than that of the bike simply 'cos it big and heavy?

Tappets. Mine close up all the time. If I'd never adjusted them since new, then 80k later the exhausts would be permenanly open by about a foot and a half.

why does a VAG service for a diesel cost so much less than for a BuMW? Well, mostly because they don't do anything other than chuck some oil in and change a filter, certainly bu**ger all mechanical work. The other reason, and agree with you on this, is that BumW is still seen as premium brand which carries with it premium prices You are right though, 'we' put up with it because deep down, there's this little voice saying it must be a 'better' service if it's from an official, squeaky clean and stamped-up dealership rather than an independant, and then there's fear or voiding the warrenty...

I would take strong issue with you about likening the GS to a Volvo dump truck. I feel this is totally outrageous as the Volvo is probably far more reliable, especially as they have the sense to change the brake fluid...

 

[JJH]

Volvo dump truck without air brakes?JJH

 

[scotia_steve]

If I'd known this BMW service crap I'd not have bought the bike. It's pretty ridiculous!

I will be servicing my bike from next year on myself of at an indie as I did with my old bikes. No warranty will be bought either next year.

Next bike will be a Honda at this rate!

 

[illustratedman]

Service

What do other people do - service it every 6000 physical miles done and once a year? I would have thought the 6000 miles. Seems like BMW want you to do an annual service too!! Seems totally wrong as other bikes it is just based on mileage and don't exceed a certain time limit.

I service it roughly after the 6k and dont get that tied up in the annual load of old b#$llo*ks brake fluid every other year at the same time as the service, it aint all gonna fall apart because something is'nt done on a certain date...

 

[scotia_steve]

Sorted after seeing dealer. Date was wrong in book so now will get them done both together at same time - annual + 6k interval services when they are actually required!

Clarification from BMW now. It always needs an annual service if you follow BMW's rules. It also needs serviced at 6k intervals, 6000 miles apart. If you do 6k a year or thereabouts their service can be combined with the annual one and done at the same time.

I personally think an annual service should not be needed if the bike is serviced within the year due to mileage, as you will double up oil changes and other jobs which is just silly.

After warranty I can't see why you shouldn't just do one service every 6k miles or a year, whichever is sooner, not both. In warranty you have to do an annual service every year and if you've done 6000 miles since the last service, another one too! That's if you want to follow their maintenance schedule.

For those of us that ride our bikes and don't just polish in a garage the 6k miles services make sense, but the annual is an added expense and really a waste of money IMHO.

 

[littleredrooster]

If I'd known this BMW service crap I'd not have bought the bike. It's pretty ridiculous!

I will be servicing my bike from next year on myself of at an indie as I did with my old bikes. No warranty will be bought either next year.

Next bike will be a Honda at this rate!

...go and ask how much for a 16,000 service on a VFR, then tell us BMW are expensive.

For those of us that ride our bikes and don't just polish in a garage the 6k miles services make sense, but the annual is an added expense and really a waste of money IMHO.

Just to add something else here, the service interval of "6000 or Annual" also ensures that it is checked for safety-related stuff at least once a year. This will pick up stuff like brake pads delaminating through being rusty - not something you'd really want to be missed.

 

[original_concept]

...go and ask how much for a 16,000 service on a VFR, then tell us BMW are expensive.

But you don't need to check 'em every 16K. Mine were still in spec at 100K.

 

[BBB61]

Whilst on the subject of the gullible, why does it cost circa £85.00 for my local VAG dealer to do a 10,000 mile service on my Diesel car, and around £300 to service a BMW motorcyle?

£85 for a service at a VW dealer? That doesn't sound very plausible.

As for comparing bike and car service costs, I was quoted £260 for the two year service on my Vauxhall Meriva last year by the local Vauxhall dealer. So to save some money I decided to change the engine oil and filter, pollen filter and fuel filter myself. It cost me £70 for the oil and the three filters and it took me about 75 minutes to do the work.

When I went to book the car in for the service I told them I had done all the filters and oil. They checked their computer and then told me that I had completed the entire service and there was nothing else for them to do!

So I had spent £70 and 75 minutes of my time doing what a dealer wanted to charge £260 for. No checks on the brakes or tyres or anything else.

The previous year I was charged £130 for the first years service. It turns out that was just an oil and filter change.

The fanchised car dealers are charging big money for doing very little. At least when your boxer twin is serviced at the dealer there is a lot more being done for your money.

 

[BBB61]

But you don't need to check 'em every 16K. Mine were still in spec at 100K.

You do on the VTEC ones they have been selling since 2002. Steve Grover at Motoscot was telling me the procedure for checking the valves on those and it is about 4-5 hours work just to check the valves. Try pricing that service up at the local Honda dealer.

 

[Boris]

Clarification from BMW now. It always needs an annual service if you follow BMW's rules. It also needs serviced at 6k intervals, 6000 miles apart.

Just to add something else here, the service interval of "6000 or Annual" also ensures that it is checked for safety-related stuff at least once a year. This will pick up stuff like brake pads delaminating through being rusty - not something you'd really want to be missed.

Look at the top quote it's not 6K OR one year as common sense would dictate.. It's 6K AND one year as BMW dictate. So if you get your annual done in April with 4.5K on the odo and the bike turns 6K in May then you have to go again asap. They will also change oil (and the other stuff) again because if they don't the bike may have to do another 7.5K on the same oil before the 12K service.

 

[Myke Rocks]

£85 for a service at a VW dealer? That doesn't sound very plausible.

I did not say VW dealer. I said VAG dealer. to be precise, a Seat dealer in a country garage. 10,000 mile service. ( Other services were more expensive - the dearest ( over 150,000 miles) - circa £240.00- including brake pads.
At service time, timing belt changes were another £85.00 inclunding belt)

To others: Yes, the quarry dump truck is fitted with hydraulic brakes. ( There may be air as well, I did not check.) This truck is not for use on the public road.
I went & looked. Yes. 1 Litre DOT 4 to change fluid.

On to others:
As previously mentioned by A.N. Other, my tappets do not tighten. Maybe I am just lucky. Though, if I was on an airhead, I would definitely check regularly - and valve guide wear at the same time.

On to others: The reason brake fluid manufacturers recommend changing brake fluid is because of moisture absorbsion. This significantly lowers the boiling point of the fluid, and in extreme cases, will result in no brakes.
Yes, I have experienced it many times in rally cars.
However, motorcycles have diaphragms in the reservoir covers, so the fluid never comes in contact with air, and so cannot absorb moisture.
Hence, my recicence in changing brake fluid on a motorcycle.
Myke

 

[original_concept]

You do on the VTEC ones they have been selling since 2002. Steve Grover at Motoscot was telling me the procedure for checking the valves on those and it is about 4-5 hours work just to check the valves. Try pricing that service up at the local Honda dealer.

Funny that. It was (still is) a VTEC; and yeah I know all about the work needed. You just don't need to do it every 16K and that was advice I took (unofficially) from a Honda Dealer who would let me have use of their garage when I needed to fit stuff.

Oil change, oil change... Use the things...