Dealership or independent garage - Brakes replacement

[Scarfall]

Hi all,

I took my 2015 1200GS for a servicing at my local dealership and they advised that I need to replace front and rear discs. They quoted me £960 for discs, pads, and clean/service the calipers.

I messaged a few independent garages that you guys advised, and one of them quoted me £450 using SBS pads and NG discs.

I found out that my bike still has the manufacturer's warranty for one more year. Does it get void if I use these aftermarket parts? The difference in price is huge, but if it means losing the warranty, I may take it to the dealership.

 

[Neil W]

On two lc models I have used OEM Brembo pads from Motorworks , it was never queried at service time and both had warranty claims which were paid out

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

£960

That’s (post Christmas) salty, don’t you think ?

 

[Peter Imperfect]

The first thing I would do is take it to an independent garage for their opinion on whether the discs actually need replacing.

I would recommend Mark Holden Motorcycles in Bromley. Been using them for years and can guarantee that they won't undertake work that's
unnecessary.

Their phone No. 020 8464 4400

See their website at mhmototcycles.co.uk.

They are closed at present due to Christmas and New Year holidays but I believe they reopen on Tuesday 4th Jan.

Hope this helps..

 

[Wapping]

I take it that you are not automatically assuming that the warranty extends to cover consumables, like brake discs or brake pads.

Yours is a 2015 bike. The original manufacturer’s warranty very probably expired years ago. What you have probably got is:

A. A BMW Motorrad branded extended warranty, or

B. An extended warranty provided by a third party

In essence both are in all likelihood an insurance policy ie. very basically, they are a contract of insurance that in essence ‘guarantees’ certain specific parts against failure during the period of the policy and indemnifies (pays) you for the costs incurred as a consequence of the need to replace or repair the specific parts.

Whichever one it is, look at the warranty and read what (if anything) it says about the use of parts and / or labour.

Whatever it is it says, you will very probably in any case enter into a strange world of the technicalities of an insurance contract. Should you breach one part of the insurance policy’s terms it does not automatically or necessarily mean that the rest of the policy is void. For example, if you replace the brake discs, not with BMW branded parts but with discs from say, EBC and your left hand switch gear then fails, the insurance policy is still valid. Why? Because there is no causal relationship between brake discs and the left hand switchgear. You can probably see this in effect in post #2.

If though you are truly worried:

1. Call the people that issue the warranty policy and ask them.

2. Get the work done at an authorised BMW dealership (who will use BMW parts) and suck up the additional cost.

 

[Wapping]

£960

That’s (post Christmas) salty, don’t you think ?

Yes, the OP has come to that earth shattering conclusion, too. Though it doesn’t do anything to answer his central question. Unless you are suggesting he seeks to haggle the price down, bikermate style

 

[beaver]

I'd buy the bits and fit them myself. very easy to do and if you buy from Motorworks and BMW they should honour you warranty on the bike

 

[theoneandonly]

at what mileage , do you need discs ?

i've had a few bikes , and i've changed discs a few times , if i'm changing discs before 70-80k miles ..... there has to be something wrong .

Either that , or your dealership has big windows ( so they can see you coming )

 

[Scarfall]

I take it that you are not automatically assuming that the warranty extends to cover consumables, like brake discs or brake pads.

Yours is a 2015 bike. The original manufacturer’s warranty very probably expired years ago. What you have probably got is:

A. A BMW Motorrad branded extended warranty, or

B. An extended warranty provided by a third party

In essence both are in all likelihood an insurance policy ie. very basically, they are a contract of insurance that in essence ‘guarantees’ certain specific parts against failure during the period of the policy and indemnifies (pays) you for the costs incurred as a consequence of the need to replace or repair the specific parts.

Whichever one it is, look at the warranty and read what (if anything) it says about the use of parts and / or labour.

Whatever it is it says, you will very probably in any case enter into a strange world of the technicalities of an insurance contract. Should you breach one part of the insurance policy’s terms it does not automatically or necessarily mean that the rest of the policy is void. For example, if you replace the brake discs, not with BMW branded parts but with discs from say, EBC and your left hand switch gear then fails, the insurance policy is still valid. Why? Because there is no causal relationship between brake discs and the left hand switchgear. You can probably see this in effect in post #2.

If though you are truly worried:

1. Call the people that issue the warranty policy and ask them.

2. Get the work done at an authorised BMW dealership (who will use BMW parts) and suck up the additional cost.

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

The dealership said that the rear disc is only 3.7mm thick, way below the 4.5mm, and that the pads have about 0.5mm!

I called BMW Warranty to enquire about this and they said I actually have the manufacturer's warranty, not the extended. They said they don't know how come my warranty has not expired, but they did confirm it was not the extended one. I think it's because the bike was imported last year onto BMWs hands.

I had a look through the warranty booklet, and my understanding of it, and I really struggle making sense of the wording: my warranty should only be invalid if it develops a fault that is caused by the use of aftermarket parts. It also says that it doesn't cover parts designed to wear and tear, like discs and brake pads I'm presuming.

Do you guys think that £960 seems overly inflated for a dealership?

 

[JJH]

How long have you got the bike? How many miles have you covered? If you bought the bike last year from a bmw dealer you most certainly have a 1 year used bike warranty. I’d be wondering if the discs and pads were borderline when you bought the bike. JJH

 

[Deleted account 221212001]

The dealership said that the rear disc is only 3.7mm thick, way below the 4.5mm, and that the pads have about 0.5mm!

I think it's because the bike was imported last year onto BMWs hands.

I may be mis reading this but when did you buy the bike, last year? How much mileage have you done since purchase? If as I understand this, you bought the bike last year and your mileage is minimal, then that would suggest the discs weren’t in the best of shape/condition when you bought the bike. Discs don’t tend to wear to that extent in a year.
I’d be speaking with your dealership, pointing this out and getting them fitted free of charge or very heavily discounted as a gesture of goodwill.
If your dealership tells you to do one, speak with BMW directly and express your disappointment and dissatisfaction.

 

[Deleted account 221212001]

How long have you got the bike? How many miles have you covered? If you bought the bike last year from a bmw dealer you most certainly have a 1 year used bike warranty. I’d be wondering if the discs and pads were borderline when you bought the bike. JJH

Spooky, almost exactly what I have just said!

 

[Scarfall]

The bike was imported November 2020, and then sold to someone. The bike had 48k on the clock. It got serviced at a BMW dealership at 51k.

I bought it in June 2021, the bike had 56k miles and now has 61k. I mostly commute, no off road yet. I'm a very tame rider.

 

[GeorgeM]

I'd buy the bits and fit them myself. very easy to do and if you buy from Motorworks and BMW they should honour you warranty on the bike

Steady on , easy to do for you & me , but some are not mechanically minded and brakes are a fundamental safety feature.
I’ve at least two dozen acquaintances that I wouldn’t trust with a box of Meccano.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Scarfall]

Steady on , easy to do for you & me , but some are not mechanically minded and brakes are a fundamental safety feature.

I don't have the tools or the confidence to do it myself unfortunately.

 

[Deleted account 221212001]

The bike was imported November 2020, and then sold to someone. The bike had 48k on the clock. It got serviced at a BMW dealership at 51k.

I bought it in June 2021, the bike had 56k miles and now has 61k. I mostly commute, no off road yet. I'm a very tame rider.

So the important dates here are June 21 and a mileage of 56k. Six months on and 5k miles later the discs are shot, I don't think so! When I get my GSA serviced at a main dealer not only do they do a video report for me but you also get a written report, did you receive anything like that? I'd be returning to the dealership and having a word. You won't get anywhere I suspect with the pads but the discs is a different story.

 

[Akulaking]

You bought it from a dealership approx 7 months ago, and have done 5k miles since, as said in earlier posts, rotors will not wear by that amount in that mileage. They must have been well under the min of 4.5mm at time of purchase. The dealer has allowed you to ride away with a bike that does not meet minimum or legal safety requirements.

Sorry Wes Tripp, was writing this as you posted the above!

 

[JJH]

Hindsight is great. All the dealer has to say is that brakes are a wear and tear item and they have no control on how the bike is used. If the dealer suggests that the brakes met the standard on the day of sale bla bla. What are the measurements of the front? What else is almost worn out? JJH

 

[JJH]

Dealers have been accused of being too cautious in their approach to disc/pad renewal and some have even condemned discs that had plenty of meat on them. JJH

 

[Davey B]

To get a rear disc from 4.5mm or above down to 3.7mm in 5k miles would need you to have the brake dragging permanently...which would boil the fluid, show signs of heat etc etc. I'd be after some answers from the dealer about what the discs was at on its last service (and what are the fronts measuring now?)
But in any case, on a 6 yr old bike I'd be halving the cost by having an indie fit them.