R1150GS Test Ride Today - Two Problems!!!

[jpod]

It seems people are decidedly divided into two camps; and I appreciate all the good advice.

Right now my feeling is that it is probably a clerical error. I won't hand over any cash until the V5 matches the bike. Then... we'll see.

I'll post again when next I get some news.

 

[Ash]

yep the transmissions are clunky,some worse than others. 1150 GSA's are terrible.
reguarding the paper work if it aint right walk away there are plenty of others for sale.

Plenty more about

 

[DollyRocket]

Don't hand over any money until the VIN / V5 is sorted. If it is a dealer, then he should be able to take your word. If the dealer insists on a deposit then pay by credit card so you can get it repaid by the banks if it turns out to be dodgy.

The benefit of paying a portion on credit card also means that the credit card is liable for the full amount through the consumer credit act, could be handy if you need to make a claim in the future.

A genuine dealer would sort it out for you before handing over any money. Remember, it is a buyers market at the moment - some bikes sell well and quickly but the majority of stock is stagnant.

 

[Fanum]

How many MOT testers have you ever seen actually check the whole vin number properly?

Seriously? (that's addressed to the people who've said it wouldn't pass an MOT...tosh!)

I take a couple of cars in for MOTs every week, and I've never seen it...maybe a cursory glance to see the first three letters match up or something, but no, in the real world, this wouldn't be picked up by the average MOT station.

Right bike right colour right price AND they're willing to sort out the VIN/V5 issue?

Don't mess around, get it........as long as getting the V5 vin sorted is a condition of the sale, I really can't see you have anything to lose

 

[masterman21]

I've Had 2x 1100 and 2x1150 . The gear box is agricultural and glunks ! Never had any problem . Just keep my fingers crossed for the new 1200 !!

 

[tuftywhite]

The VIN on my dad's bike has been wrongly entered on the V5 for nearly 50 years (in a similar way Z = 2) and the MOT station this year got it all corrected for him.

If the dealer can sort it for you, I see no reason why the bike can't be yours.

 

[mpjbiker]

My 1150 GS always comes up as an 1100 on the computer-it's never been a problem, and, as I know the bikes history from new, I've never worried about it or tried to get it sorted. The V5 is correct.

 

[Number 6]

Two things regarding the vin, if it does not match the V5 or registered vin then you won't pass an MOT and if it does turn out to be a ringer you will lose the bike and your money even if you bought it from a dealer.

Complete bollocks

 

[jpod]

Right, it's been a month since I started this thread and I was hoping that by now I could report the purchase of a new (old) 1150GS... no luck yet.

I think I had previously mentioned that the dealer and I came to an agreement that he would sort out the V5 with DVLA. I've been chasing him up and the last news was that he was waiting on a letter from DVLA to appoint a time when he could bring the bike to DVLA for inspection. It seems that DVLA want to see the motorcycle and compare the document.

This raises a couple of questions:

1) Mainly for those who've been through this, does this sound like the normal procedure?

2) What's taking so long?

I guess that if I allow for the dealer to be a bit lazy and if it takes DVLA three weeks just to send you a new drivers license I shouldn't be surprised, but I am getting impatient.

 

[IJGser]

Sounds normal, be patient or walk away. Hope it's all worth it in the end.


Sent from my iPhone whilst driving and even with autocorrect I can't spell!

 

[jpod]

Thanks IJ, it's helpful to know that I'm not necessarily being taken for a ride...
Cheers!

 

[IJGser]

Thanks IJ, it's helpful to know that I'm not necessarily being taken for a ride...
Cheers!

Being taken for a ride lol, was that deliberate?

I walked away from a bike import issue at a dealer because frankly it wasn't as straight forward (not impossible) as the dealer made out. Dvla wanted inspection in that instance and their were plenty more fish etc


Sent from my iPhone whilst driving and even with autocorrect I can't spell!

 

[Colt]

Hi , Sounds like the seller was not thorough enough to check the paperwork,so theres a chance there are other things wrong .

It sounds like you are doing the chasing, not the dealer.
It is buyers season so he should be chasing you.

Is there anything that makes this bike special to you price/mileage /condition?
If not
Start looking elsewhere and get a wanted ad on here asap with the spec you want.
happy gs'ing whatever happens.

 

[Backmarker]

My 2001 GS gearbox doesn't clunk at all. I think it is worn out.

Very confused about VIN, BMW should be able to tell you the VIN sequences for each year of manufacture - would tell you whether it should have a Z in or not and how many characteristics in total.

For the record, my VIN number (on all docs and on the bike) is in the following format. All letters correct, numbers just listed as '0'.

WB00000A00ZE00000

How many 2001 GS's are still on the road in original condition vs how many have been written off/stollen or both?. (I don't know the answer, but a question worth considering - especially if the 'price is right').

I bought an 8 year old BMW K75S from a BMW independent specialist in London in 1999. Went through clutches every 5k (RT I had before had 3 in 180k, GS I replaced it with is on second at 100k). Steering lock (who uses that, let alone checks it on purchase) was broken. Careful inspection led me to believe it had been stolen, crashed, and rebuilt (just not very well). I gave it to a main dealer to look at, they claimed it was 'fine', so I traded it in with them (50% loss, despite the fact I had bought it for 50% less than the price of the one in their showroom). Ie I got 25% of market price from a main dealer - but had no choice, couldn't in all conscience sell to anyone else. Afterall, I had paid them to tell me it was 'fine', so I felt ok selling to them when I wouldn't have with anyone else.

Anyway, point of story is that that 'BMW Independent Specialist' had been in business for a long time before I bought from them, and they are still trading today. Google is your friend

 

[Bendy toy]

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk

 

[jpod]

Thanks for the replies lads.

IJGser: it was on purpose. That was my decent pun for the year; don't hold your breath for another any time soon.

Colt: I think I will keep chasing. Actually there aren't that many fish in the sea at the moment. Only a dozen or so 1150s on Bike Trader at the moment and not many for sale on here. If this doesn't pan out, I'll take your advice and make a request.

This GS does tick a few boxes; it is the right year (pre-servo), right colour, comes with luggage and is quite inexpensive. People keep alluding to the fact that it might be too cheap, but based on the condition I think it is right. Actually, after I first saw the bike I rang Steptoe to ask about the cost of various repairs. We discussed the bike and his estimate of its value was almost identical to the asking price. So, at least that seems OK.

Backmarker: the VIN on the bike matches the format of your template VIN, and as stated before, the errors look to be clerical. The bike checker people (or whatever they are called) seem to be satisfied that the VIN on the bike, the VIN on the V5 and the number plate are all clear. They even seemed to think that it was probably an honest mistake on the V5. However, I take your point about the dodgy dealer who's business hasn't suffered from his dishonesty.

I will either ring the dealer again in a couple of days or make a surprise visit on Saturday to see where things are at. Hopefully I will be able to announce that I have officially joined the club very soon.

 

[Steptoe]

Anyway, point of story is that that 'BMW Independent Specialist' had been in business for a long time before I bought from them, and they are still trading today. Google is your friend

Be a bit more specific otherwise you'll have every independent under suspicion from "your conclusion" ( i use the words "your conclusion" as a main dealer found nothing wrong with your bike ).

 

[Number 6]

1) Mainly for those who've been through this, does this sound like the normal procedure?

2) What's taking so long?

I guess that if I allow for the dealer to be a bit lazy and if it takes DVLA three weeks just to send you a new drivers license I shouldn't be surprised, but I am getting impatient.

On two occasions I've had similar mistakes corrected just by amending the V5C and returning it to DVLA.

This case might not be so simple as the dealer is not the registered keeper, I expect he will have to take it to the local DVLA office for inspection. Then the question arises as to whose details go on the new V5C and who do they send it to? The previous keeper has notified DVLA he no longer owns it and the dealer won't want it registering to them. Or you could buy the bike and either leave it as it is or get it amended yourself, it's no big deal as you've already confirmed the bike's identity.

 

[Backmarker]

Be a bit more specific otherwise you'll have every independent under suspicion from "your conclusion" ( i use the words "your conclusion" as a main dealer found nothing wrong with your bike ).

The reason the main dealer 'found nothing wrong with the bike' was, I suspect, because they liked charging me for a new clutch every 5k

Wont name the 'specialist' because I cannot prove anything, and libel laws exist. However, I am happy to name the main dealer as Sawbridgeworth - I traded the K75 in against the GS, and then nearly 10 years later was taken to court by DVLC for selling the bike without informing them. When I traded it in (2001) it was standard practice for the dealer not to register it in their name (kept one owner off logbook, if they needed to ride it then that's what trade plates were for). Only they then sold it without registering the new owner, so someone rode it around for circa 8 years with me still listed as the legal owner. Then when that person sold it on, the new owner registered it with DVLC, and of course the law had changed by that point, and as it was a legal requirement for the seller of a vehicle to inform DVLA on the new owner, and as I (obviously) hadn't, I found myself in a series of very nasty court cases. BMW UK were uninterested, Sawbridge's was uninterested, well actually, their position was 'we have changed owners, nothing to do with us, piss off'. Fortunately, I finally found the original (handwritten) deposit slip for the GS which listed the K as the part ex. If I hadn't, I would have been fucked. One of those laws where the onus of proof is on you.

I will never buy another bike new from BMW. Partly because of the above, and partly because of the qualilty of the subsequent servicing. I'll consider their bikes s/h (and indeed, have bought an 'S' since) so long as I have BGM on my doorstep to service them. But next new bike will be a KTM or a Honda. Even though I hate conventional forks.

 

[The smudger]

If its a BMW main dealer I wouldn't worry. I would be mortified if a franchised dealer would get involved in selling a 'wrong' bike.

If its a non franchised outfit, walk away. It might be tough, we've all been at that 'must have it' point, but seriously consider the consequences if it is a wrongun.

Just my opinion.