DEMISE OF PRESTIGE

[Adam]

I was sad to get a letter from Prestige Bexley that the business is winding down.

A real shame as they were a great bunch there..........really helpful.

Any advise on a good approved BMW servicer in the South East/London area??

I clock up approx 650 miles a week commuting to North London from Kent so I get the bike serviced about every 3 months.

Thanks

 

[downfield]

I've used SLM in Coulsdon and they seemed a decent bunch. What we need though is a decent dealer in Sussex!!!! (Preferably Worthing or thereabouts) Come on BMW

 

[guitarman]

What about Brackens?. Do they still service BMWs?

Cheers

Dick

 

[BBB61]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56229&highlight=Brian+Giles

The above thread mentions Brian Giles and Mark Holden, both of whom are within reach of you.

 

[shrek 2]

I always use south london found them to be very good . Must agree with downfield we do need a dealer on south coast Eastbourne would be better .

 

[darklord]

Canterbury or Ashford would work fine for me

I'm in the same position as the OP on this thread - I live in Kent and work in London which has something to do with the prices of a small house with a big garage in London, believe it or not . I'm currently getting the bike serviced at Cannon BMW (where I bought it) as it'll probably take me that long to get to SLM as well. Prestige was an option for the next service until, well, now...

As it's an essential tool for getting me to work and back (and on holiday, when back isn't that important ) I can't afford to have the bike break down so I probably have to consider looking for a replacement in a few years time.

At the moment I'm wondering where the sense in having a BMW is when I have to travel 60 miles to get to the nearest dealer when I've got a KTM dealer in town...

Now I understand that BMW is a premium make and as such you probably will end up with fewer dealers but I find that there are few too many white areas on the map when it comes to dealer coverage.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

BMW Customer Services wrote to me (in response to a stroppy e-mail I sent them) to say that (a) Tunbridge Wells will be opening a bike dealership soon - Presumably Vines, who took over L&C and (b) they are hoping to open another dealership in North Kent/SE London soon.

How do you define "soon," though?

I love my bike, and rated Prestige, but like you I have to ask myself how sensible it is to have a bike that requires an hour each way - at least - for a service or any work to be done.

I have to get a repair estimate following a minor prang back in August. Prestige did it, but it's now invalid as far as the insurers are concerned. Not exactly convenient to ride to SLM, or Cannons, or Park Lane...

 

[mandoonsouf]

Another Kentish man.....

Exactly the same problem as everybody else. But, is it worth letting Prestige still do the servicing as their website states that they can?

 

[ELK]

i am using Mark Holden for a service today after seeing him recommended on this site. Very handy as he is in Bromley 10 minutes from me. Thing is, my GSA is over 3 years old now & i am not concerned about warranties: if the bike was newer i would be forced to make a very long round trip to get it serviced by BMW - with kids and a busy job that would mean just one thing, ride the GSA to my very local Honda dealer and do a p-ex. BMW need more outlets!
will let you know how it goes with Mark, he was certainly a cheerful chappy when i dropped the bike off and is probably the only net beneficiary of Prestige going belly-up.

 

[Tim Angus]

I've always thought that as the vehicle parc grows so does the need for service outlets. The size and financing needed to sell/stock bikes means that each dealer needs to sell more each year, so limiting your need for sales outlets. But there are many people out there who could become official service agents with maybe only a small increase in investment for tools etc. In Basingstoke where I live, the local Merc dealer is such a BMW service agent and gets his parts deliveries in the same way as a dealer. The nearest dealers are 20 miles in either direction, so if it can work for them why not us. I think that the reduction in dealer numbers is partly forced by the desire to go solus, as when one drops out, like Prestigue, the cost of setting up a new operation could be too high. That is why car/bike dealerships exist in major cities where costs are high and solus bike dealers tend to flourish in more rural areas. My concern is unless something is done long term BMW sales will be affected as buyers will not want to travel too far and wait 6 weeks for a service.

 

[ELK]

I would seriously recommend Mark Holden in Bromley having used him yesterday. Very friendly, very thorough service & cheaper than Prestige too. Even greased stuff like rear foot pegs & pannier supports, which far exceeds the level of service BMW ever gave me. Talked through the bike down to tyre pressures, had plenty of time for me. He uses genuine BMW parts, and i have no problem at all having his stamp in my service book.

 

[650EssexBoy]

Just in case anyone else found him helpful, Simon from Prestige now works at SLM - I discovered him up there the other week - nice bloke.