Park Lane, SLM or Vines of Guildford?

[Maxxx]

Today is the day I place my order.

Last minute thought ...........

Any one of the 3 dealers above are easy for me to get to in terms of after sales servicing.

I'm sure that they will all end up negotiating the price to a similar level so it's after sales that makes all the difference.

Has anyone had experience of more than one of these such that they can give a qualified comparison?

I'm assuming that I have to take it back to the dealer I bought it from while it is under warrnaty?

I know I should have posted this question earlier but I've just decided to go for it right now and am having a last minute reservation about dealers ......

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Steptoe]

I'm in S/W london and if i were in the market for a new bike i'd head for bahnstormers.
That little extra distance in travel is worth a mile

 

[turbine_2]

Used all three.
1. Park Lane / Battersea - Wouldn't touch with someone else's bargepole, let alone mine. Poor service resulting in my taking a bike without all spark plugs working to another BMW garage to fix (luckily under warrantee). Also managed to knock out of alignment and blow one of the spot lights and claimed that 18k miles was good for the life of a clutch.

2. Vines - Were the ones that took my bike in after the Park Lane debachle. Service could not be better and such a contrast to PL. So much so that they were the people I went to for the last couple of services while in warrantee. My ex-boss (KarlC) uses them a lot and rates them well too.

3. SLM Caterham - This is where I bought the bike and had a couple of services. Would have stayed with them for the rest of the services but moved away from the area and getting to them was going to be problematical. Again, great customer service and have a good reputation.

I'd go to either 2 or 3 depending on which is easier for you to get to.

Steptoe also raises a good point about Bahnstormers, used them too and had a good experience.

 

[Pathologic]

Like he said

Avoid PArk Lane. They pay too much for their rent to be generous to their customers. They wanted me to pay £100 than the list price for a R1200GS SE! Went to Coopers' Tunbridge Wells. Got it at list, but they threw in a free top box Much friendlier as well.

Haven't use the other dealers.

best of luck.

Regards,

Path.

 

[GSmonkey]

SLM and Vines very good - both service departments have gone the exta mile for me and would hence recommend both. SLM smaller and more friendly, Vines is a bit corporate BMW if you like that sort of thing.

 

[mpriestley]

Bahnstormer.

 

[Maxxx]

Wow - thanks for the quick replies - that gives me great confidence - SLM was who I took the bike for a test ride with but I popped into Park lane yesterday and they quoted me £400 less than SLM for the bike!

So, now I'm going to go back to SLM and tell them that I want a price match and see what happens.

 

[SamD]

I've dealt with Vines and Park Lane. I bought my bike from Vines and have been to them for everything since. Park Lane seem to not value customer service too much - they will always get customers as BMW put business their way. Vines have been nothing but helpful to me so far, and long may it continue

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

SLM first class ,had 3 bikes from them hassle free ,great back up

 

[Navy Boy]

Of those 3 I'd use Vines. I've used them in the past without any problems.

As for Bahnstormers, I won't be going near them ever again...

If you want to know more/why, PM me.

 

[LBL]

Vines for me

As Above, beat the best price and good after service

 

[Dave-Churchill]

bought my bike from Vines.... Dealt with Alex... a top bloke, with great focus on customer service....

 

[Deleted Member I]

 

[K75 King]

Hi Maxxx,

SLM are the ones for me...........but I do work there..........in sales!!!!

 

[GSmonkey]

Hi Maxxx,

SLM are the ones for me...........but I do work there..........in sales!!!!

..........sounds like you've already agreed to the price match then

 

[Maxxx]

Hi Maxxx,

SLM are the ones for me...........but I do work there..........in sales!!!!

So ......... who are you in real life because Brain (bless him) didn't strike me as the kind of guy that spent too much time on the computer in his free time! (PM me if you wish to remain anonymous on the forum)

The sale got credited to Graham though since he was the gent that helped me out since my test ride but had the day of today and I really needed this all done today as I go on holiday on Thursday

And yes - SLM matched the price but promised bigger smiles than Park Lane (and free coffee if I ever have to come in to moan about anything)

So ........ one Magnesium F800GS to be picked up the day I return from holiday on the 14th August - I now almost don't want to be wasting time going on holiday!!

Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[Account removed]

and free coffee if I ever have to come in to moan about anything)

I get free* coffee from my dealer and I don't even have to moan or ask.

*don't think for one minute it's free you pay one way or the other.

 

[Gazzabart]

everytime

I'm in S/W london and if i were in the market for a new bike i'd head for bahnstormers.
That little extra distance in travel is worth a mile

Every guy in Bahnstormers gives 120% from the managers to Neil who looks after the bikes cleaning wise
very nice people and the ride there is lovely

 

[WindyChuffer]

I'm assuming that I have to take it back to the dealer I bought it from while it is under warrnaty?

No. You can go to ANY European dealer for ANY warranty issues.

Enjoy the bike !

 

[GS Biker]

Had my bike serviced last at SLM, friendly crowd, I recommend them for the London area. AVOID PARK LANE, sales are not friendly at all or at least when i have visited anyway! I have also had good relations with Cannon's in Braintree!