Goodwill Contribution - WTF?

[scopevale]

Hi all,

Took my GSA in for her 600 mile service last week. I always thought the first service was free (ie: cost of parts/oil only).

Imagine my surprise when I picked her up to be handed a bill for £129.00 - £50 of which was itemised as "GOODWILL CONTRIBUTION".

Whose goodwill? Certainly not mine, I'm bloody pissed off!

Any ideas as to what this apparent BMW Stealth Tax is all about.

btw: The bike is fantastic! I absolutely love it, especially now she's almost run in!

 

[Navy Boy]

Scopevale

Count your lucky stars... My 600 miler on my RT was 160...

Cracking bike though...

 

[Hew]

Hi all,

Took my GSA in for her 600 mile service last week. I always thought the first service was free (ie: cost of parts/oil only).

Imagine my surprise when I picked her up to be handed a bill for £129.00 - £50 of which was itemised as "GOODWILL CONTRIBUTION".

Whose goodwill? Certainly not mine, I'm bloody pissed off!

Any ideas as to what this apparent BMW Stealth Tax is all about.

btw: The bike is fantastic! I absolutely love it, especially now she's almost run in!

It does make you wonder especially since most modern cars do 20,000 before their first service. I assume the first service is still there and charged for because people accept it and pay for it. To me it shows how little confidence they have in their product if it needs to be checked over after going once around the block. I hope you let them know how upset you were.

 

[rocks]

Ask them..

Why didn't you ask them?

Sounds like its a volentary contribution to me.. as your entitled to a full break down of what every item is on any bill.

 

[Wanderer]

You paid without asking?

You owe me £50. Please PM me so we can arrange payment details.

 

[Thunder]

BMW UK stopped covering the costs of the first service from the 1st of March 2006, since then the dealership has to either pass the costs on to the customer, cover it themselves or part cover it.

Could it be the £50 is in fact a partial contribution rather than a cost?

 

[Wanderer]

Could it be the £50 is in fact a partial contribution rather than a cost?

Good point.

Was the bill for £129 or £79?

 

[Rushy]

BMW UK stopped covering the costs of the first service from the 1st of March 2006, since then the dealership has to either pass the costs on to the customer, cover it themselves or part cover it.

Could it be the £50 is in fact a partial contribution rather than a cost?

Nail on the head me thinks

 

[DrFarkoff]

especially now she's almost run in!

Feck Off you've another 15,400 miles minimum before it stops burning huge quantities of oil! and just burns little quantities!

PLus you have 3 antenna recalls and 4 fuel pump relay failures to look forward to before that!

 

[scopevale]

Why didn't you ask them?

Sounds like its a volentary contribution to me.. as your entitled to a full break down of what every item is on any bill.

I'm afraid I did just hand over my credit card!

It did seem quite high, compared to other new bikes I've owned, but it wasn't until I got home that I checked the bill thoroughly.

 

[scopevale]

Feck Off you've another 15,400 miles minimum before it stops burning huge quantities of oil! and just burns little quantities!

PLus you have 3 antenna recalls and 4 fuel pump relay failures to look forward to before that!

LOL! I mean at least I can open her up a bit now.

My fast-in approach to corners whilst keeping the revs <= 4000 was getting a little hairy!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Hi all,

Took my GSA in for her 600 mile service last week. I always thought the first service was free (ie: cost of parts/oil only).

Imagine my surprise when I picked her up to be handed a bill for £129.00 - £50 of which was itemised as "GOODWILL CONTRIBUTION".

Whose goodwill? Certainly not mine, I'm bloody pissed off!

Any ideas as to what this apparent BMW Stealth Tax is all about.

btw: The bike is fantastic! I absolutely love it, especially now she's almost run in!

Didn`t you ask when you bought it??? The great thing about the GS is the service costs are low because labour is minimal. I`m sure there are some on here who would claim otherwise but maybe they have never owned a Triumph or Ducati!!

Keep an eye on the oil but if run in right, they will hardly use any i.e don`t be shy on a few revs especially up through the box The oil level can vary enourmously but because it`s a the bottom of the glass, that doesn`t mean it needs a top up. Check again next time you stop. The engine`s will loosen up at around 10,000 and when you get to 30+ they are a peach

Enjoy the bike, they are superb and don`t believe all the negative reports you read about the reliabilty.

 

[mandoonsouf]

... but maybe they have never owned a Triumph or Ducati!!

Or an MV -- 1st service £460+!!!!

 

[hondated]

Your not alone

Took my Blackbird in for its free first service this week and walked out with a bill for £106. A little less than you but in all honesty where's the free part of the service.
Given I was at 3000miles rather than the 600miles I will soon have to take it back again

 

[BeemerBaz]

Got my 600 mile service free, I was careful to negociate it in the purchase price.

 

[spsspence]

Most 'free' first services, in my experience, are actually free of labour but not parts.

 

[Loiq]

Feck Off you've another 15,400 miles minimum before it stops burning huge quantities of oil! and just burns little quantities!

PLus you have 3 antenna recalls and 4 fuel pump relay failures to look forward to before that!

and 2 injection controller thingies and 3 new batteries before it's even near to run in properly...

 

[Mr K]

0.4 litres of oil in the last 5,000 miles.

No EWS shit.

No fuel pump controllers.

ABS/Servo pump at 90 miles though ....

....and great service from Mill, now Cooper at Boldon.

Oh.. and first service was FREE.

 

[Deeley]

BMW UK stopped covering the costs of the first service from the 1st of March 2006, since then the dealership has to either pass the costs on to the customer, cover it themselves or part cover it.

Could it be the £50 is in fact a partial contribution rather than a cost?

Had my first service after the 1st March 2006 and was only charged for the oil, which I am advised is the norm....

Of course, you could have asked....