Group self servicing

[AlanB]

I'm not sure whether this has been raised before, but I'll punt the idea out anyway. What do you all in the area think of group self servicing? By that I mean a number of us getting together in one location to perform our own servicing. This would have advantages:

a) When you attempt to service your own bike you need to buy all the tools for the job. But a group between them might own one torque wrench, one filter spanner, etc, i.e. all the tools necessary.
b) One of us may be a whiz at alternator belt replacement, and either be able to coach the others or do all the replacements, in exchange for some other expert on brakes doing the pads, etc. Sort of a bartering system where expertise is traded for the common good.
c) Saves money!! A couple hundred quid a time. The biggest single incentive, for sure.
d) Possible bulk buying power for spares?
e) We all learn from the process, i.e. watching somebody else expertly swap an oil filter means the job gets done faster next time.

Drawback: we would all need to be in need of servicing at roughly the same time. But the system ought to work with only 2 or 3 people at a minimum. Surely that's achievable?

What do you all think? Or have I missed something obvious?

 

[Brig]

You dont get your book stamped an although I am not a great lover of paying £300 plus you do need dealer service history to keep the resale value.Come to think of it the electronic side of it wont be posible I cant see any one having a beema diagnostic kit in there garage.
I think it will only work for older bikes without service history but as you say they need to be done at the same time and a convinient location and you would need a bit of space to service 3 or 4 adventures together.

 

[motoscot]

self service

why dont you try a service from an independant like my self
the benefits a profesional job with all the special tools and electrical equipment to the same job as a dealer and your book stamped in the bargain
and my labour is only £40 per hour
based nr Luton/dunstable
save your self the hassle

Steve Motoscot onyack

 

[AlanB]

Motoscot, I was expecting you to come in on this one. I accept that I am potentially doing you out of business opportunities, so in answer to you and Brig ("I cant see any one having a beema diagnostic kit in their garage"), how about a stretching-my-neck-out-but-if-I-don't-ask-nothing-will-ever-happen compromise? You provide the missing equipment, and supervise the group. We in turn do the time consuming stuff like changing the oil, while you conduct the key activities that would get BMW twitchy like bleed testing the ABS.

Of course, you charge a fee consistent with providing a service (in the general sense of the word) for multiple clients at the same time, while not actually doing all the work. You get more clients than you would have attracted individually, while we each get the job done cheaper. What they call a zero sum problem.

I'm not sure that you would be able/willing/authorised to put a BMW-approved stamp on my book, though.

Hmmm, this is starting to unravel... I think I'll climb back in my box. Ah well, worth a shot.

 

[Marks adventure]

I have used Steve and all i can say is he offers a fantastic service at a fraction of the cost, he probably has more BMW tooling than BMW themselves.

Why not give him a go, you are only up the road from him.

 

[(RIP) ugg]

Motoscot, I was expecting you to come in on this one. I accept that I am potentially doing you out of business opportunities, so in answer to you and Brig ("I cant see any one having a beema diagnostic kit in their garage"), how about a stretching-my-neck-out-but-if-I-don't-ask-nothing-will-ever-happen compromise? You provide the missing equipment, and supervise the group. We in turn do the time consuming stuff like changing the oil, while you conduct the key activities that would get BMW twitchy like bleed testing the ABS.

Of course, you charge a fee consistent with providing a service (in the general sense of the word) for multiple clients at the same time, while not actually doing all the work. You get more clients than you would have attracted individually, while we each get the job done cheaper. What they call a zero sum problem.

I'm not sure that you would be able/willing/authorised to put a BMW-approved stamp on my book, though.

Hmmm, this is starting to unravel... I think I'll climb back in my box. Ah well, worth a shot.

good idea, but yer not insured , if owt happens under steve's supervision, ie his garage or forecourt ( unless he has a policy to cover this sort of activity) pulblic liability bla, bla, bla, ye get my point

alway's good to do yer own mechaniching, otherwise how do ye learn

ugg

 

[JoeC]

AlanB, how about ... you get motoscot to do your service and whilst he is doing it you can look over his shoulder to see what's what. That's if of course motoscot allows that i.e. room, insurance, time. Then next time round you can maybe do some of the service yourself and get him to do the more specialised bits.

Joe

 

[motoscot]

self service

I have a small garage and dont have room for groups etc
but even if I had the room, I would not offer this service for obvious reasons
you would end up with people doing different jobs on a bike and no one knowing who tightened what!!!! mistakes would be made.
not that I have nothing wrong with teaching, as service manager at Slocombes in London for the last 21 years I have done a great deal of teaching young techs etc and enjoyed that part of my job.
i dont have a problem with someone waiting around for a particular job or service to be done, I recently had a customer from the Isle of wight who stood and watched while I replaced his clutch and headbearings -- 8 hrs
so I dont have a problem with customers waiting around
stamping service books is a different thing
I of course stamp service books, I am a BMW factory trained Senior Technician, but if your machine is still in warranty BMW only recognise current franchised dealers ........ hope this clears a few issues
Steve ......Motoscot onyackonyackonyack

 

[smartbear]

warranty

i thought by law manufacturers have to honour warrantys even if performed by independants?
as long as genuine parts are used that is.

 

[Steptoe]

I've done three servicing workshops in the past. Had about 12 people along for each one.

I go to someones garage and service their bike while everyone watches and asks questions. It's all free.

Obviously they need to have a large garage, last one i did was at pikey daves in dorset, who also had a ramp .

I was going to do an "on the road repair/get you home" workshop end of last year ( do a search), a main dealer had kindly offered the use of their premises for an evening, but a major domestic drama curtailed it.

Now the domestic drama has all reached it's conclusion ( i'm free ) maybe able to resurect it ?

 

[Slowdown]

("I cant see any one having a beema diagnostic kit in their garage")

Cough cough...

http://www.hex.co.za/gs911/index.html

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179721





Anyway roads - I like the idea of a few people getting together and doing a bit of spannering - while there's plenty of 'HOWTO' information to get the job(s) done on the internet, there's something about watching/listening to other people and their ideas - I always end up picking up some really top tips on how to do things a bit better.


There was a story on the BBC this week about a bloke who rents out time on one of the 4 car lifters and tools etc. People turn up and service their own car. http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2009/03/03/i_tuned_20090303_feature.shtml

Didn't Lo-IQ and possibly Steptoe??? try and arrange something fairly recently? [Edit - Damn Steptoe and his fast fingers!]

 

[Jeannot]

Now the domestic drama has all reached it's conclusion ( i'm free ) maybe able to resurect it ?

I would be definitely interested in that , some tossers from Wales had just one and it looked great.
JC

 

[ELIMINATOR]

I'd be interested if a Steptoe workshop showed me how to change the petrol filter, alternator belt, and bleeding servo brakes on my 1150. anything else would be a bonus, such as FD bearings.

I'm always a bit worried about doing new jobs by myself, but they're usually not as difficult as I imagined them to be.

Remember the time I adjusted the end float on the rocker shaft, ot just seemed so wrong, what was it. 20Nm, then 180 degrees of further rotation I was just waiting for the dreaded slip, as the thread stripped, never happened of course

 

[Steptoe]

How about a "Group self abusing" day.

 

[motoscot]

self abusing day

put me down for that one onyack

 

[ELIMINATOR]

How about a "Group self abusing" day.

Been there, done that, got the T shirt.