New to GS ownership and after some advice please!

[jojomonsta]

So, you now have an eight year old bike, bought from 'Ron's Bikes', that had two unrelated faults, both it seems fixed through the intervention of a BMW dealer.

That may well be the end of it, forever.... or it may not, who can tell? Certainly nobody here who were mostly telling you to take it back and demand a return of your money.

If you have a degree of spare cash, take it to a franchised BMW dealer and pay their service prices. It sounds like Vines are the closest to you. Several UKGSer correspondents support them (and it seems they have fixed your bike twice already) if that means anything.

OR

If you have less spare cash, find yourself a good independent dealer. Several bods engage the services of Steptoe, who is probably not a million miles away.

It really is that simple.

My original advice still stands. Get the bike running properly and reasonably reliably; you seem to be on the way, already. Well done.

Once you are happy that it is reasonably OK, then decide what YOU want to do every 6,000 miles / once a year and/or if it ever plays up again.... which it might, or might not do.

Thanks Wapping, I think I sense your frustration with me here...



If I could rewind time, back to the day I agreed to buying it I would now have walked away and that would be the end of it.
I didn't, I was naive and I am being just as naive in trusting that the the place I bought it from would be the ones who would bend over backwards to put it right.
After looking at the paperwork I could probably have got the warranty providers to agree for me to take it to an approved dealership, I don't know. Too late now I guess.
The only reason I have kept going back to the independent is because I am just used to taking things back to the place I bought it to get it sorted.

Before seeing this response I had been thinking about booking it in to a BMW dealership after I get it back from this repair and get it an overhaul so I know it has been done by someone who knows what they are doing and I know it is sorted. Any further work is going to be done by BMW, no one else.

I appreciate everything everyone's told me and have taken your advice on board. I guess it's up to me now to grow a pair and decide what I want to do.

All I want to do is get it working (maybe with some TLC from someone who knows what they are doing) and go out to play!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Before seeing this response I had been thinking about booking it in to a BMW dealership after I get it back from this repair and get it an overhaul so I know it has been done by someone who knows what they are doing and I know it is sorted. Any further work is going to be done by BMW, no one else.

Do yourself a massive favour and take it to a proper independant like Steptoe. Not only will you save £££'s but your bike will be checked over and serviced much better than a dealer will do. It's all about the care and attention to detail and people like Steptoe will go that extra mile for you when the dealer probably wouldn't.

Taking an 8 year old bike to a dealer to be done is nuts when you have a better alternative. Use the search button to see how good independants are

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Do yourself a massive favour and take it to a proper independant like Steptoe. Not only will you save £££'s but your bike will be checked over and serviced much better than a dealer will do. It's all about the care and attention to detail and people like Steptoe will go that extra mile for you when the dealer probably wouldn't.

Taking an 8 year old bike to a dealer to be done is nuts when you have a better alternative. Use the search button to see how good independants are

His choice Chris

If he wants main dealer servicing then fine

Rainbow BMW service my 7 year old GSA & it's fine by me

Similar prices to independents up here

 

[Wapping]

Often it is as much about convenience as price / cost saved.

I can ride to BMW in Battersea in about 25 minutes, whilst it is further to Neil's. From there it is either a quick walk to the bus stop by the Dogs Home and a bus to Monument, then five minutes walk then to the office. Or, I can take BMW's free taxi to the tube and go in that way. Filing train into Waterloo and the drain to Bank, all very simple. If I can't pick the bike up that evening or the next, they are happy to keep it, sometimes at short notice. Whilst Neil is a 'good bloke' I am sure he doesn't want my bloody bike cluttering up his drum.

Tyres I get bought and fitted by a friend of mine in north London. I have known him for years, so it's as much about a social call as saving money. The ride to Battersea or up to beyond Southgate are nothing to write home about, more a chore than a joy.

If I had no or little spare money, I would do the lot myself, which is what I had to do in my twenties anyway.

 

[judge]

Each time I visit Steptoe's yard there is always another bike there with a sorry story of the owner having been raped by a dealer and left high and dry through shite work. Yesterday's the bike had been to a main dealer and the owner had parted with a large wedge for a job that in all likliehood didn't need doing. They the rang owner up and gave him a list of additional things that needed doing and would've cost a further 3 bags

The gentlemans bike was repaired by Steppers for a darned sight less. And no there are no soft furnishings (I sat on my old bike), or coffee machines (son of steptoe made a brew) and there's no taxi, but the bus stop is 2 minutes away, you can book a loan bike and the capability and willingness to do a thoroughly good job is second to none.

I'm very happy for those who enjoy and delight in main dealer servicing but I have no need of it.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

If Steptoe was nearer then I'd go but he isn't

Checked prices for independents in the north & there was little or no difference in costs

Rainbow only do what needs doing, quick to diagnose malfunctions because they have 30 years experience as BMW dealers - so fine service at a realistic price

 

[jojomonsta]

I would happily go to Steptoe, the only thing putting me off is the fact that I would have to ride in to London. Not such a big deal that I would be totaly put off if it's worth the journey. I will contact him directly today.

It's one of those situations where it's hard to decide the right thing to do!
This is the first BMW I have ever owned so this is all new to me. Always had Jap bikes in the past and the dealerships I bought these from pretty much covered these makes and models.
One thing I am always wary of, being 'a bird'and having no understanding of mechanics, is being taken advantage of (not in that way!). Sometimes they see you coming and will quite happily get you to cough up for something which may not need doing.

So, I guess if Steptoe is so highly thought of and is reasonably close then he may be my best option. As I said, this is all new to me so trying to suss out what to do for the best.

And back to my original problem, are both the neutral light/gear indicator switch and the fuel pump connectors known issues on these bikes? And if so, should I be so concerned that these have given up on this bike, especially if they went under warranty (which means I didn't have to pay!) Granted I would have been better off if they work had been done by a BMW engineer but I am working towards that!

 

[davegs]

Serviciing

Go to steppers you'll have no probs here at all after all he's in surrey not too far away if you live there also so give haim a ring he's always on the site it will be the best move you'll ever make.
Dave GS

 

[jojomonsta]

Go to steppers you'll have no probs here at all after all he's in surrey not too far away if you live there also so give haim a ring he's always on the site it will be the best move you'll ever make.
Dave GS

Sweet. Thought, according to the link on his profile, his shop was in London. If he's in Surrey, even better!
Just about to drop him a line.

Cheers!