ist service in france

[tomboy07]

hi all,

ordered a 1200gs and will be driving from london to south spain, on picking up the keys. next month. need to arrange the 600 mile service, around the bordeaux area. prefer not to go into bordeaux. Any recomendations?

thanks bert:

 

[Wapping]

Google BMW motorrad Europe, all the dealers are listed along with addresses and phone numbers.

Google the street address to find their proximity to the city you wish to avoid.

 

[motorbaker]

I suggest you avoid Boxer Moto in Seville. The sh*ts ripped me off 3 years ago when I had an EWS ring failure that should have been covered under warranty.

 

[tomboy07]

spaniards

Been living here 10 years, i would not take any bike anywhere near any off them. bandits all off them. Please dont do them justice by naming a single problematic dealer. I am strongly considering voiding my warranty.I was charged 90 euros for oil alone, on my second service on Triumph. I could go on all day about problems with a new jeep i bought a few years ago, and I could go on for years about their bent lawyers, and politicians and their total disregard for foreign homeowners, although calling them homeowners is a misnomer, as about 90% of country homes are technically illegal. Nice people and climate though....

 

[harry]

I suggest you avoid Boxer Moto in Seville. The sh*ts ripped me off 3 years ago when I had an EWS ring failure that should have been covered under warranty.

No doubt you claimed it all back from BMW once home?

 

[(RIP) john plane]

Do not go to bmw alicante i brought some oil for my bike it was 27 euros a litre

 

[motorbaker]

No doubt you claimed it all back from BMW once home?

I got the invoiced bit of the fee back, eventually, but not the 100E cash bribe on top of that which I was forced to pay in order for them to sort it for me on a Friday afternoon.

 

[Dainese Brave]

Personally....

....I'd delay my leaving by a couple of days, pick the bike up, spend two days having a lengthy ride over the weekend, service first thing Monday from the selling dealer, then off I'd go with 5,400 miles to go before I needed seeing another dealer service....

.....just a thought.

 

[TLSgazza]

Have to agree with the above.
I'd rather do the miles up to the first service and know I've got proper clean oil ETC in the bike before going on a long trip like that.
Plus after the first service I'd fell better about giving it a few more revs and carrying luggage

 

[Spike]

As above I would get it done in UK and leave France as a very last resort.
Unless you speak very fluent French they could try to get you to spend alsorts, the French donot like to speak english the best of times specially if they are trying to rip you off.
I visit France often on the bike and dreading the first time I have to use the services of a garage for something other than "fill her up mate"
It does not take long to do the 600 miles in the Uk, even just book it in and if you have only doen 500 say then they will do it anyways.

spike

 

[mrsroynie]

I've been living in France since 2007. My two nearest dealers are Bearn Motos in Pau (Pyrenees Atlantique) and Ducos Motos in Toulouse (Haute Garonne). Not particularly impressed with either. To be honest, I usually wait for a UK visit to get my bike serviced. I agree with Spike. I don't know what your level of French is like. I am pretty fluent when it comes to dinner party conversation, but I am quickly out of my depth in a technical conversation with a French service department.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Unless you speak very fluent French they could try to get you to spend alsorts, the French donot like to speak english the best of times specially if they are trying to rip you off.

Hardly surprising as you are in France after all

 

[Ross Dean]

Mate - the French are generally friendly and business-like. They are not a nation of conmen and, just like us, most of them just speak their own language. So long as you are friendly, polite and know what you want you can make yourself understood even if your French is as 'good' as their English. We got my partner's guzzi through its first service in France by asking a hotel to organise a service with the nearest dealer - the hotel receptionist could easily be a guest house owner or camping site worker. People are usually keen to help.

Alternatively, why not ask BMW to recommend a dealer and set up a service before you go? Your own dealer may also be able to help in this way.

 

[stolzy]

I'd be reluctant to get the service in France. It will certainly cost more than the, because of the exchange rate and partly because almost everything does.

The dealer is likely to give you short shrift too - they rely on repeat customers. At busy times of the year they won't even talk to you unless you bought the bike there.

If you do decide to get the service done in France, book it in tomorrow (OK, Monday), 6-8 week lead time at my dealer is normal at this time of year.

 

[shan]

Hi when I picked up my new 2010 GSA I put 575 miles on over night in the UK then had the first service , Just picked up a 2011 800 gs and did the same then got on the boat and came home to France !!

If you feel that you need to get the first service done around Bordeaux then you do not have to go into the center of the town !!
These are the BMW dealers and are on the edge of Bordeaux , They don’t speak English
But that has never stopped me !!!

http://www.bordeaux2roues.com/page-214/show-room-motos-neuves.html
And most shops let alone bike shops do not open on Mondays !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Steptoe]

I have a very nice married couple who live in france and both have BMW's, an R1100S and a R1150R and bring them to me for servicing and spend the day in london.

But they are scottish ...

 

[richie]

Je veux un entretien svp... its not difficult, if you run into lingo problems give me a call...

 

[tomboy07]

Unfortunately work commitments mean service has to be done in Franceas i will need to get back, Might change ferry to nearer Spain and arrange with the Spaniards. Last thing i want to do is drive up and down the m4 to get 500 miles on the clock. Cant believe I will have too many issues with a 600 mile service. ie change the oil. Cant really book too far in advance, as dealer will only be able to confirm when bike is ready 2 weeks beforehand.
To be frank i may do it myself, as i detest dealing with main dealers and their snobbery and money swindling ways. Probably get a gs911 thingy and keep fingers crossed, and keep up regular attendances at confession.

Cheers bert

 

[autogs]

the last thing you want to do is run a new bike in on a motorway,not enough changes in revs through the gears.

 

[mrsroynie]

Je veux un entretien svp... its not difficult, if you run into lingo problems give me a call...

Language point nicely illustrated. "Entretien" translates more literally to "maintenance". The expression for a regular scheduled service would be "une révision de xx km".