My 08 GSA had its first MOT this week and I thought I'd look at what it's cost me over the three years . All servicing carried out at SLM / Vines SL .
March '08.......600 mile service....£100
May '08........6000..."...... "........£195
July '08.......12000..."......."........£224
Oct. '08......18000..."......."........£213
Jan. '09......24000..."........".......£422
Apr. '09......30000..."........".......£210
Jun. '09......36000..."........".......£258
Feb. '10......42000..."......."........£180
Feb '11.......48000..."......."........£489 MOT...£34.40
New set of pads F&R fitted @ 24000 service (though I hadn't checked them before hand so they may not have been needed !) . At 36000 & 42000 they said they needed replacing but both times I told them to leave them in then at the 48000 & mot service they said they were OK for another 6000 !
Front tyre (Battlewing) changed @ 11600 miles
Rear tyre (Battlewing) changed @...................... 11600 miles
Front tyre (Tourance) changed @ 28300 miles
Rear tyre (Tourance) changed @....................... 28300 miles
Rear tyre (Tourance) changed @........................41300 miles
Front tyre (Tourance) changed @ 46300 miles-sidewall broke up
Rear tyre (Tourance) changed @........................47900 miles-puncture
The Battlewings still had a fair amount of tread left when I changed them but I just didn't like them : I've always been a Tourance man . When I was gainfully employed my annual mileage was about 28000 / year and I'd reckon to get c24000 out of a set of Tourances as most mileage was constant speed 100 mile / day commutes . As one of the great unemployed (or retired ?) it's now much shorter journeys and about a 40% reduction in tyre life . One thing I have learned is to keep a close check on tyre pressures as pumping them up by 0.3 bar or so reprofiles the tyre and you loose 3000 miles worth of rubber in about 300 miles
The only parts KNOWN to have been replaced were the aux. light switch (twice) and the final drive at 42000 miles though other parts have no doubt been done during servicing but the dealer will never admit to these .
The instrument surround was replaced as a goodwill gesture by Vines when it melted under the intense heat of some British summer days
The only other problem has been corrosion because the quality of the silver paintwork is utter sh*te . In spite of being ACF50'd from new and washed daily during salty periods in the winter the silver painted areas began to corrode under the surface by 10 months old . SLM and BMW were a complete and frustrating waste of time , SLM being full of "piss off you bastard" platitudes and BMW not giving a sh*t . This despite having spent c£62000
with them in the preceding 7 years .(4 bikes , 120000 miles of servicing & tyres , clothing etc.etc.) It was some time before I found out that every time it was serviced they 'valeted' it using the biggest 'f*ck off' Karcher pressure washer I'd ever seen using an acid based wash that probably negated all my attempts to limit the inevitable BMW corrosion .
But , have I enjoyed the bike ? To bloody right I have .
Will I buy another one ? When I can afford it , too bloody right I will 'cos it fits me to a tee and makes me smile every time I use it . And I'm the sort of mug that means BMW will never up their game in terms of product quality and customer relations 'cos if people keep buying them as they are they don't see the point of improving them !!
March '08.......600 mile service....£100
May '08........6000..."...... "........£195
July '08.......12000..."......."........£224
Oct. '08......18000..."......."........£213
Jan. '09......24000..."........".......£422
Apr. '09......30000..."........".......£210
Jun. '09......36000..."........".......£258
Feb. '10......42000..."......."........£180
Feb '11.......48000..."......."........£489
MOT...£34.40New set of pads F&R fitted @ 24000 service (though I hadn't checked them before hand so they may not have been needed !) . At 36000 & 42000 they said they needed replacing but both times I told them to leave them in then at the 48000 & mot service they said they were OK for another 6000 !
Front tyre (Battlewing) changed @ 11600 miles
Rear tyre (Battlewing) changed @...................... 11600 miles
Front tyre (Tourance) changed @ 28300 miles
Rear tyre (Tourance) changed @....................... 28300 miles
Rear tyre (Tourance) changed @........................41300 miles
Front tyre (Tourance) changed @ 46300 miles-sidewall broke up
Rear tyre (Tourance) changed @........................47900 miles-puncture
The Battlewings still had a fair amount of tread left when I changed them but I just didn't like them : I've always been a Tourance man . When I was gainfully employed my annual mileage was about 28000 / year and I'd reckon to get c24000 out of a set of Tourances as most mileage was constant speed 100 mile / day commutes . As one of the great unemployed (or retired ?) it's now much shorter journeys and about a 40% reduction in tyre life . One thing I have learned is to keep a close check on tyre pressures as pumping them up by 0.3 bar or so reprofiles the tyre and you loose 3000 miles worth of rubber in about 300 miles
The only parts KNOWN to have been replaced were the aux. light switch (twice) and the final drive at 42000 miles though other parts have no doubt been done during servicing but the dealer will never admit to these .
The instrument surround was replaced as a goodwill gesture by Vines when it melted under the intense heat of some British summer days The only other problem has been corrosion because the quality of the silver paintwork is utter sh*te . In spite of being ACF50'd from new and washed daily during salty periods in the winter the silver painted areas began to corrode under the surface by 10 months old . SLM and BMW were a complete and frustrating waste of time , SLM being full of "piss off you bastard" platitudes and BMW not giving a sh*t . This despite having spent c£62000
with them in the preceding 7 years .(4 bikes , 120000 miles of servicing & tyres , clothing etc.etc.) It was some time before I found out that every time it was serviced they 'valeted' it using the biggest 'f*ck off' Karcher pressure washer I'd ever seen using an acid based wash that probably negated all my attempts to limit the inevitable BMW corrosion . But , have I enjoyed the bike ? To bloody right I have .
Will I buy another one ? When I can afford it , too bloody right I will 'cos it fits me to a tee and makes me smile every time I use it . And I'm the sort of mug that means BMW will never up their game in terms of product quality and customer relations 'cos if people keep buying them as they are they don't see the point of improving them !!
