Have I been overcharged?

  • Thread starter Thread starter HughJarse
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HughJarse

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Hi All, Just a quick "sense check". I had my 8 year old 1150GS in at a local BMW dealership yesterday for an "annual service" and MOT. Its the first time I have had this done as I only bought the bike last May. I was expecting a bill for £100 to £150. Imagine my jaw dropping shock at the massive £291 I was charged, I was so shocked I just paid and rode off. When I got home I looked in detail at the bill and the labour charges are over £70 per hour and they charged me for 3 plus hours!!!!!
How can an oil change, clutch and brake fluid changes come to three hours? If anyone knows of a good reliable alternative in the North Essex, South Suffolk area, theres one rider here who would love to know of their whereabouts and phone number.
Is this standard charging for a BMW dealership or have I been well and truely HAD? At least I didn't have the tyres changed too as that would have increased the bill to over £600.
The one plus point is that I did manage to have a courtesy bike supplied ( only allowed 75 miles and my round trip was 50 miles) to get me home and back, a brand new R1200RT with only 90 miles on the clock, a bit cramped I thought for a 6'4" chap like me but a much smoother engine.
Thanks in advance
Hugh Jarse
 
IMHO, that's about right for dealer servicing.

You don't wanna know what *my* bill was in May 2007 before I went to Millau! :eek:

Soon you will see posts here from our sterling mechanical peeps, offering their services and advice.

For minor things I have started doing my own work. I'm not confident on other things I may bugger up and don't have a great set of tools (yet), but with the help of Steptoe and others posting some 'How to' things, you soon find you'll be doing a lot more of your own work and spending the difference on :beer: and :hug

Go and look in the 'Font of All Wisdom' section or put the kettle on and hit the search button above :thumb
 
Now theres a thought DIY :) I have not worked out my bill yet, I have serviced my 1100 in odd moments this week, how much shall I charge myself ?
It might be worth finding a DIYer near you and buying some beer/having a lesson.

Stewart
 
Basic servicing ain't hard - even a klutz like me can do it. In fact, sat on my desk as we speak is a box of bits from Motor Works, all ready for Saturday morning's Service Fest.

Bacon sarnie, cup of tea and a bike to service*. A pleasant way to spend a morning.














* in my case, that's nothing more complex than clean the crud off, change all the filters and fluids then go to the pub.
 
70 quid an hour is about std for the main dealers.... 2nd line dealers will still charge 50 an hour...
I would do the oil and filters and check/add all fluids, I would even change shaft and gearbox oil, well maybe!!! Get a Haynes or other manual and take it slowly...

My local chap charged 66 quid for; valve adj, shaft & g'box oils changed.
 
Try ...

... Motoscot, based outside Luton, search on here for his contact details :thumb2

I'd stay and watch rather than squeeze yourself onto the loaner though:D
 
I can recommend DIY - the good thing about 11xx's is that they're pretty simple old tractors and the basic stuff is as easy as it gets.

Since buying mine last November, I've:

Replaced engine, gearbox and FD oils, air filter and plugs.
Replaced battery.
Replaced left hand cylinder head gasket (valve clearances etc. at the same time)
Replaced gearbox output seal
Replaced paralever bearings

I dread to think what this lot would have cost in main dealer labour charges :eek

I've still got the throttle cable and alternator belt to do.

I appreciate that DIY isn't for everyone, but having bought a 14 year old 1100, I was prepared to have to do some fettling, so I got stuck in with advice from people on here and a manual. It's also very satisfying (for me anyway - easily pleased :) ) and you get to learn the ins and outs of your bike.

cheers
M
 
Neither of mine has seen the inside of a dealers for servicing since I got them. Basic servicing really is straightforward, plus you get the satisfaction of knowing that the job has been done properly, save a lot of dosh, use the oils you prefer and know what will need replacing. You can't rip yourself off.......There's loads of advice on this (and other) forums on just about anything that can go wrong with these bikes. That said, I accept that home servicing is not something everyone can, or wants to, do. There are several good independents that specialise in servicing these bikes; those more familiar with your location will no doubt recommend them. They are invariably cheaper than main dealers as they don't have fancy premises to pay for. The charge you paid is not atypical for a BMW main dealer.

Regards
 
bmw charges

Of course you were overcharged.
You left it into a BMW dealer!
You do not even need to check the bill. It goes without saying!
Big windows in the showroom. they saw you coming!
Myke
 
A few points here...
1. Your BMW dealership is running a business, presumably for a profit. From what I understand most of the money is made on the service, not selling bikes. And we all know how most dealers have trade-ins that sit there for ever...which is why many dealers won't take trade-ins anymore (here in Switzerland). From the amount they charged you to repair the bike they have both fixed costs and labour and parts etc. How much money do you estimate they 'profited' from servicing your bike...30-50 GBP tops?
2. I also found the rates expensive (here it's ~110 Sfr/hour), but I don't hold it against them. Another boost for DIY. However, if I was honest to myself and charged myself a labour rate even half of theirs, the first service at least was very expensive. Hopefully the next time will be faster (esp. now with Speedbleeders in).
 
Good wee scam dealers have got going is 2 hrs for the service 1 hour for the mot
Total 3 hrs charge you 3 hrs plus the mot:augie


Quite common in garages across the board
 
servicing costs

kanhulk13 said:
A few points here...
1. Your BMW dealership is running a business, presumably for a profit. From what I understand most of the money is made on the service, not selling bikes. And we all know how most dealers have trade-ins that sit there for ever...which is why many dealers won't take trade-ins anymore (here in Switzerland). From the amount they charged you to repair the bike they have both fixed costs and labour and parts etc. How much money do you estimate they 'profited' from servicing your bike...30-50 GBP tops?
2. I also found the rates expensive (here it's ~110 Sfr/hour), but I don't hold it against them. Another boost for DIY. However, if I was honest to myself and charged myself a labour rate even half of theirs, the first service at least was very expensive. Hopefully the next time will be faster (esp. now with Speedbleeders in).
Click to expand...

When I leave mine or my wifes car into the official Skoda or Seat dealer for a service, the charge is circa 85 GBP
It is plugged into a computer & all the same garbage as is done with a BMW is performed.
Why should it cost 300GBP to service a motorcycle, which needs same work done to it?
Extremely large windows!
I am self employed, process control engineer, & if I charged the same rates as they do, I would be out of business doublequick.
Myke
 
jimbogs1200 said:
Q. Why do they charge so much?
Click to expand...


Because they wouldn't be there if all they sold was washers for you to service your own bike .

Then where would you get the vital parts ( not service parts) needed for your bike.

Then you'd all be moaning about there being "no BMW dealers in my area".
 
Always found Bemer very reasonable. It doesn't look promising when you arrive through the arse end of a trading estate but Russ really knows his stuff, offers sound advice and excellent value for money.

Call Russ on 0208 550 9200 or 07801 493053
 
Work this one out, head maintainance technician (that would be a mechanic) at the local VW dealer gets the grand total of £8.57 per hour in wages. The dealership charges customers £98 per hour for labour charges !

No wonder the local independant vag garage which charges £25 per hour has weeks worth of pre booked work .
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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