Heated hand grips

[Dario]

And the email;



Dear Mr Guidi

Thank you for your recent email regarding the heated grips on your BMW R 1200 GS.

As discussed, I can confirm that at present, we are unable to fit the 2015 R 1200 GS heated grips to the 2013/2014 models under recommendation from the factory.

We are aware of this topic being raised on the R 1200 GS Forums, and that a member has had this work carried out by Roy Pidcock Motorcycles. We have since been in contact with the retailer and advised them of their contravention, all related warranty claims from UK dealers are monitored and any more of this kind will be rejected.

I can assure you that BMW Motorrad are currently investigating the issues regarding the heated grips, and kindly ask for your patience while we complete this investigation.

 

[mrtee43]

Well, I will probably get the same email soon because I sent them one yesterday basically telling them what they seem to now know. Had a reply stating that one of their customer service wallahs will reply within 2 days.

Maybe they are finally getting the message that these grips are SHITE !

PS

And how long does it take to investigate this matter, half an hour ?

 

[JimVonBaden]

And the email;



Dear Mr Guidi

Thank you for your recent email regarding the heated grips on your BMW R 1200 GS.

As discussed, I can confirm that at present, we are unable to fit the 2015 R 1200 GS heated grips to the 2013/2014 models under recommendation from the factory.

We are aware of this topic being raised on the R 1200 GS Forums, and that a member has had this work carried out by Roy Pidcock Motorcycles. We have since been in contact with the retailer and advised them of their contravention, all related warranty claims from UK dealers are monitored and any more of this kind will be rejected.

I can assure you that BMW Motorrad are currently investigating the issues regarding the heated grips, and kindly ask for your patience while we complete this investigation.

In other words, piss off! Many 2013 bikes will be out of warranty soon, so they do not care!

Jim

 

[Dario]

In other words, piss off! Many 2013 bikes will be out of warranty soon, so they do not care!

Jim

My bike is out of warranty by 2 days. It don't matter though I would expect BMW to replace the grips if they come up with a fix. Sounds like a big if though.

Dario

 

[malcopopolo]

Suggest we all email customer services (i have) requesting action

My Email today:
I would like to register a complaint about the low heat output of my heated grips that are not fit purpose. The bike was registered in September 2013. i understand from many sources that BMW now install an improved version which is fit for purpose. I am also aware that the later heated grips can be retrofitted and have been confirmed to work by several people and you are rejecting further warranty claims from dealers.

Will BMW authorise my dealer to replace my Grips which are not fit for purpose to the latest version.. My original supplied grips are not FAULTY but poor in design with low heat output.

There are several thousand customers affected and are watching how BMW customer services handle this issue.

Look forward to hearing from you with a positive response, NOT we cannot help you! I trust BMW will sort this out!

 

[DRAIN MAN]

BMW are now trying to bully the dealers by refusing to change the grips under warranty, they have issued a part on a motorcycle which is not fit for purpose, it has a inferior heat output from previous models and also the later model.

If BMW got their products right there would be no problems, they have enough experience in motorcycle design but time after time still get to many problems which should not happen, what happened to product testing!!!! Did they forget to test the grips before they released the bike !!!

Come on BMW get your head out of your arse and sort out your customers who have spent their money on your bikes and received a poor design with the grips, many of these customers will have had a BMW bike before and know how good the grips normally are.

You should be helping your dealers sort out this problem, NOT kicking them in the teeth because they used their common sense and are trying to help their customers because if they lose them loyal customers THEY will not have a business which in the long run will affect YOU.

We all #### up at some time, just stand up and take it on the chin, admit you have cocked up and fix the problem.

By fixing the problem you will keep most of your customers happy and they will return and spend more money, if you fail to sort out the grips in the long run it will cost you a lot more money as people will walk away and go else where.

I appear to be lucky that my grips have been fixed by a sensible dealership who are trying their best to help, WELL DONE to all at Pidcocks. They need customers to survive otherwise they will all be without jobs, so BMW stop kicking them and help them sort out all this crap you caused

 

[Stevie4scoops]

Very well said.

 

[snaponphil]

Seems utter crap aftercare from Bmw.. Very disappointing..
Not what I would have thought for a 'cost' price of £100

 

[Engineer]

Very well said.

Very badly said!

Unauthorised changes should not happen and dealers who do them are out on limb, some changes may be minor and of no issue but some may not be so and have serious consequences - so manufacturers have to err on the side of caution and investigate very carefully before committing to change, any manufacturer who jumps to conclusions is playing a dangerous game.

 

[mrtee43]

Very badly said!

Unauthorised changes should not happen and dealers who do them are out on limb, some changes may be minor and of no issue but some may not be so and have serious consequences - so manufacturers have to err on the side of caution and investigate very carefully before committing to change, any manufacturer who jumps to conclusions is playing a dangerous game.

How predictable !

I fail to see where the problem lies. BMW fit grips to a later model that get hot. They must have been deemed to be suitable and safe otherwise they would not have allowed then to be fitted.

Exactly the same grips are retro fitted to an earlier bike whose grips are sub standard. BMW now say that they need to investigate, maybe because they are what, dangerous when the same grips are fitted to an earlier bike ?

The real reason I would guess is because they don't want to do anything to help pre 15 model bike owners and Pidcocks has taken it upon themselves to try them on a customers bike, and all is well. This shows up BMW for the liars and bullshitters they are and they don't like it. In pre internet days they would have got away with it, not any more.

And you Mr Engineer, have form as an apologist for BMW and many of your comments lack credence.

 

[Engineer]

How predictable !

I fail to see where the problem lies. BMW fit grips to a later model that get hot. They must have been deemed to be suitable and safe otherwise they would not have allowed then to be fitted.

Exactly the same grips are retro fitted to an earlier bike whose grips are sub standard. BMW now say that they need to investigate, maybe because they are what, dangerous when the same grips are fitted to an earlier bike ?

The real reason I would guess is because they don't want to do anything to help pre 15 model bike owners and Pidcocks has taken it upon themselves to try them on a customers bike, and all is well. This shows up BMW for the liars and bullshitters they are and they don't like it. In pre internet days they would have got away with it, not any more.

And you Mr Engineer, have form as an apologist for BMW and many of your comments lack credence.

You fail to see where the problem is? You didn't design it, you don't know how it works, but some how you are qualified to rant about what should be done - you assume rather a lot with little real knowledge, just because you cannot see why dealers can't replace grips with the new ones doesn't mean that they should go ahead and do as you say. Calling people liars and bullshitters does not help and makes your comments lack credence.

 

[DING-DONG]

And the email;
We are aware of this topic being raised on the R 1200 GS Forums, and that a member has had this work carried out by Roy Pidcock Motorcycles. We have since been in contact with the retailer and advised them of their contravention, all related warranty claims from UK dealers are monitored and any more of this kind will be rejected.
.

Bmw UK don't like it, because what piddy's did opens the flood gates, I solute piddy's good on you guys for standing by one of your customers, then BMW UK use bully tactics and no doubt someone got a telling off, seems BMW UK look at the dealers as hand puppets.

 

[Engineer]

Bmw UK don't like it, because what piddy's did opens the flood gates, I solute piddy's good on you guys for standing by one of your customers, then BMW UK use bully tactics and no doubt someone got a telling off, seems BMW UK look at the dealers as hand puppets.

If a dealer wants to do it of their own backs and carry the cost and liability (i.e not a warranty claim reimbursed by BMW) then I don't see that as a big problem, but just because one does it doesn't mean that they all have to.

We have resellers of our products, if they want to modify them to keep a customer happy, then it's down to them but we cannot support any subsequent warranty claim unless we authorised the modification.

 

[mrtee43]

You fail to see where the problem is? You didn't design it, you don't know how it works, but some how you are qualified to rant about what should be done - you assume rather a lot with little real knowledge, just because you cannot see why dealers can't replace grips with the new ones doesn't mean that they should go ahead and do as you say. Calling people liars and bullshitters does not help and makes your comments lack credence.

Go on then, tell me/us where the problems lies in changing grips that do work correctly on a 15 model bike to a 13 /14 model bike with grips that don't.

Explain why BMW say they won't fit, when obviously many people have proved they do and work correctly.

 

[Engineer]

Go on then, tell me/us where the problems lies in changing grips that do work correctly on a 15 model bike to a 13 /14 model bike with grips that don't.

Explain why BMW say they won't fit, when obviously many people have proved they do and work correctly.

They may well appear to work but that doesn't mean that all the necessary testing has been done, it maybe a simple swap without consequences but unless that work has been done (change processes are very cumbersome in manufacturing, being rash can create far bigger problems) then it can't and should not be signed off. Even if it turns out to be a simple swap over BMW then have to decide, from a commercial point of view what to do - calling them liars before the work has been done is not helpful.

 

[mrtee43]

They have lied. They have told us that they won't work because the ECU is different, because the software is different,because the handlebars are different etc etc. My dealer even said the part numbers were the same for earlier and later grips when they are not.

In any case, what is your interest in this matter ?

 

[sven]

They may well appear to work but that doesn't mean that all the necessary testing has been done, it maybe a simple swap without consequences but unless that work has been done (change processes are very cumbersome in manufacturing, being rash can create far bigger problems) then it can't and should not be signed off. Even if it turns out to be a simple swap over BMW then have to decide, from a commercial point of view what to do - calling them liars before the work has been done is not helpful.

The starting point for designing the new grips would have been the old 2013/2014 electrical system as a whole i.e. ECU, switchgear and grips etc. They've then designed a grip with a different resistance to raise the temperature of the elements. This clearly works with the remaining components of the electrical system as they have remained unchanged and will, of course, have been thoroughly tested before release. It's no more complicated than that.

Most people don't ride through winter, so probably aren't too bothered. If I was them, I'd replace the grips upon request to keep it low key, instead of letting the situation snowball as disgruntled customers vent their spleens on the Internet.

 

[Bikerboy108]

I have just spoken to BMW CS. Their position as stated by the chap who took my call is not that the grips cannot be retro fitted (ie that they will not fit) but they have not been tested to work on earlier model years.

Accepting this I asked the question as to whether BMW will/are testing the grips on previous year models so as to establish that they will work to which the answer was yes.
I asked the chap if he would not mind sending me an email to this effect and he said he would. I shall post this up once received.

Dario

try a new reason since the old one doesn't hold water!!!!

 

[DRAIN MAN]

BMW have had this problem for 2 years now and still not sorted it out !!! WHY because they do not care a toss about the customer after they have got their money. All they seem to hope for is the customer will go and buy the next new model when it comes out so we can all be test pilots to find all the new faults

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Sell your 2013 bike with poor grips & buy a 2015 bike

Job done

You'll have awesome heated grips

That's exactly what BMW want you to do, to resolve the problem - it works for them

A simple solution to your grips woe