First Service

[Andrew from Basing]

Called Bahnstormers in Alton regarding the cost of a first service on a 1200GS - I was asked if I purchased the bike from them, to which the answer was no, and was quoted £40 for parts and approx £160 for labour. I wonder what I would have been quoted if I had bought the bike from them Is this first service racket coming at a standard dealer rate or are there dealers out there less willing to make a grab for your wallet to change the oil?

 

[beemerboy9]

It's an absolute first-rate rip-off just to change the oil!

Whereas my supplying dealer went through the complete BMW check-list.

1) Connect to diagnostic m/c
2) Perform bleed test with diagnostic (whatever that is!)
3) Change oil
4) Tighten cyclinder head
5) Check secondary spark
6) Adjust valves
7) Check fluid levels front & rear
8) Check all lights, throttle movement, function test on start-up, test-ride
9) Re-read fault codes.

I think I paid for the consumables only.

 

[gavin@iow]

Called Bahnstormers in Alton regarding the cost of a first service on a 1200GS - I was asked if I purchased the bike from them, to which the answer was no, and was quoted £40 for parts and approx £160 for labour. I wonder what I would have been quoted if I had bought the bike from them Is this first service racket coming at a standard dealer rate or are there dealers out there less willing to make a grab for your wallet to change the oil?

Try CW's in Dorchester, generally regarded as one of the best BM dealers, they may not have a problem with the "where did you buy the bike from" syndrome.

 

[Shep]

Perhaps Bahnstormers are going to continue with SPC's lead and include the price of the first service in the bike purchase price Hence the question "where did you buy it"

Seems reasonable to me (No, not the £160, the question)

Shep

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Why is it a racket? BM no longer sell their bikes with 1st service included (a great shame). Dealers can offset the profit on a bike sale by reducing the cost of the service either by including the service in the deal or reducing the cost. If the dealer hasn't sold the bike, why would he reduce the price of a service just because it is the first one? Not to say that you may not find a sympathetic one who is looking for your long term business. (good double negative there )

Paul

 

[Professional Boxer]

The first service was only ever 'free' if you returned to the suppling dealer.

Why should a dealership pay for the first service when you have chosen not to buy the bike from them??

 

[John Armstrong]

The first service was only ever 'free' if you returned to the suppling dealer.

Why should a dealership pay for the first service when you have chosen not to buy the bike from them??

No such thing as a "free" lunch.

 

[Alberto]

Hi, maybe to help with some of the confusion, Bahnstormer will cover the cost of the labour element of the 600 mile service when you buy a bike from us, leaving the customer to cover the parts and oil. Although BMW have taken the move not to include the first service in the purchase price of the bike we felt that this was a more reasonable approach and I think it was how it always used to be dealt with prior to the change.

Beemerboy9 you're also right in pointing out that it is not just the oil that gets changed, it does include valve clearances and replacing final drive oil amongst other things. For a R1200GS it is about the 2.5 hours work.

Sorry Andrew if this wasn't communicated that well by us.....!

Alistair

 

[Bahnstormer]

Our Policy

As some of you have already drawn your own conclusion as to what is right or wrong, I thought I should have a chance to reply:

As the supplying dealer we would carry out the 600 mile service and pass the cost of oil and filters to the owner, the cost of labour is then charged internally as a "cost of sale" against the profit achieved from the sale of the new bike.

If we carry out the same service to a bike we didn't supply, then the full cost will be charged to the owner, unless we have the consent from the supplying dealer to forward the charge to them.​

I hope this goes some way to help clear up the matter.

Regards
Paul Davies
01420 587 007
www.bahnstormer.co.uk

 

[PJ1200]

I'd Call That Good Service

Both Alistar and Paul taking time out to reply to our gripes and niggles on here. Don't see any other Dealers doing that. Shows they care about our custom and not out just to make a 'grab for our wallets' (I Hope ).

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

Andrew from Basing,

I am taking my bike for it's first service tomorrow. I bought it from North Oxford BMW and will be taking it back there. I tried BahnStormers and was quoted the price you were. At North Oxford I expect to pay for parts and consumables. I live in Upton Grey and it's a 150 mile round trip so I'm looking forward to the ride out, a blast on a loan bike and good cup of coffee. Seems like value for money to me.

JohnnyOldBoy

 

[PhilM]

£200, that about what I was charged for my first service and
that was from the dealer I bought it from

Maybe it was things like this that helped them loose the franchise

 

[Sadjim]

Both Alistar and Paul taking time out to reply to our gripes and niggles on here. Don't see any other Dealers doing that. Shows they care about our custom and not out just to make a 'grab for our wallets' (I Hope ).

Are you sure you know what you are talking about?

 

[Sadjim]

Andrew from Basing,

I am taking my bike for it's first service tomorrow. I bought it from North Oxford BMW and will be taking it back there. I tried BahnStormers and was quoted the price you were. At North Oxford I expect to pay for parts and consumables. I live in Upton Grey and it's a 150 mile round trip so I'm looking forward to the ride out, a blast on a loan bike and good cup of coffee. Seems like value for money to me.

JohnnyOldBoy

Did you not ask how much the service is? I would not want you to be disapointed with a bigger bill than you expect when you get there.

 

[John Armstrong]

Are you sure you know what you are talking about?

As he's from down south, he's not had the pleasure of northen / Welsh dealer help

 

[Slowdown]

Did you not ask how much the service is? I would not want you to be disapointed with a bigger bill than you expect when you get there.

Well that's an interesting point. Up-front honesty and realistic expectations are all that we can realistically ask for. Many seem the miss the purely economic factor of 'It has to be paid for somewhere'.

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

Sadjim, I paid £135 and they had the bike for 3 1/2 hours. They had a quiet area where I was able to plug in my laptop and phone charger. I got on with some work and was pleased with the whole thing and would recommend them.

JohnnyOldBoy