Self Service invalidate warranty?

[WorkyTicket]

If I service my 08 GSA myself will I invalidate the 2 year warranty?

I've been a bit slack as I've only had the 600 mile service and a 6k mile service (done at 10k as I was out of the country at the time) and now she's done 18k (just over) and is overdue a service (and new rubber but that's a different story) I've got an indicator on the trip comp.

I'm doing so many miles (14k since Sept 08) and frankly I'm tight as a gnat's trump, that I've decided to do my own servicing to save cash, learn more about how the bike is setup so I can be self reliant on the road and well frankly because I enjoy spannering (used to do my own servicing on my old 750VFR).

However as I spent £12k on buying the bike (second hand with 4k on the clock and fully loaded including Autocom and Zumo RESULT!) I don't want to invalidate the warranty.

Can anyone advise?

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

I think you will invalidate the warranty ,it has to be BMW serviced for the first 2 years

 

[WorkyTicket]

Apparently not unless I do something that results in damage to the bike.
i.e. if my hamfisted spannering results in a fault that they can say was caused by me and not an existing fault with the bike.

 

[WorkyTicket]

Reopened at Jez's request.

I was told from the dealer (and Jez) that as long as I use BMW parts and don't do any damage then the warranty still stands....which makes sense I guess as if you bought a brand new GSA with the intention of doing a RTW trip that year (you might for example be rich or a movie star or his mate) then you'd expect to do your own repairs and also expect the bike to be covered under warranty....actually this poses another question. In the long way down when they were getting through rear shocks like a randy bishop through a choir, would they have been covered by warranty if they'd stuck with BMW instead of using the Ohlins?

onder

 

[wilbjr21]

Haven't you already invalidated the warranty through lack of service - it's not as if you're in the back of beyond. Why do you let the service intervals overrun by so much?

 

[RickG]

It's my understanding that as long as you do the servicing by the book, use genuine BuMW parts, approved fluids and can prove it by reference to a wad of receipts, you are in the clear and the warranty must be honoured. I think this holds true in the US and UK under consumer law. With luck we have a legal tosser in the clan who may be able to give us the facts. Clearly if you mess up it's then your fault.

I can imagine, however, it could be a bit of a game claiming your dues in the event of a seriously expensive failure.

For what it's worth I'm equally tightwadded, took the gamble and did all my own servicing post-6k. Fortunately I didn't have to test my dubious understanding of consumer law and we sailed past 2 years and 50,000 miles without a problem but with considerably more cash in pocket than would have otherwise been the case

 

[WorkyTicket]

Haven't you already invalidated the warranty through lack of service - it's not as if you're in the back of beyond. Why do you let the service intervals overrun by so much?

Not invalidated according to the dealership.

I let them overrun accidentally as I'm doing a fair bit of mileage and it's a lot of cash to get together. My 18k service is £300, add to that 2 tyres at £200 (and some) and you're looking at a £500 bill which is not bad once per year but I had the same 4 months ago when I last had the bike in for a service and two more replacement tyres at 10k. £500 over 4 months is £125 per month and we've had xmas in between and SWMBO's birthday, oh and I had already booked the offroad course a few weeks ago which was £450. So it's all added up and SWMBO weirdly enough takes a dim view on me spending every spare penny I own on the bike

I'm afraid I'm not all that affluent..so I reckon self servicing is the way forward.
If there's any other tossers who do all their own servicing then please pitch in with any advise they reckon is worth putting here that's not already referenced somewhere.
I've already learned loads from this forum today, it's really really good how much info is available if you look for it.

 

[WorkyTicket]

For what it's worth I'm equally tightwadded, took the gamble and did all my own servicing post-6k. Fortunately I didn't have to test my dubious understanding of consumer law and we sailed past 2 years and 50,000 miles without a problem but with considerably more cash in pocket than would have otherwise been the case

Very glad to hear it, I've got this link:
http://www.bmwgsclub.nl/schematics/R1200GS-Maintenance-Schedules.pdf

from the forums here and that's very useful as a starting point.. I'm quite looking forward to getting the spanners out...it's also an excuse to go shopping for tools which is one of my favourite things.

 

[Red Rock]

As far as I can tell here, the European Block Exemption Regulations mean you don't need to use BMW parts or labour to maintain the warranty, - you just need to keep the vehicle maintained according to the manufacturers schedule..

The BER covers service and maintenance during the warranty period and prohibits vehicle manufacturers’ warranties from including conditions requiring that:

· all normal maintenance be provided within the vehicle manufacturer’s network

· all parts used must be the manufacturer’s original spare parts

The European Commission declared that such clauses in a warranty document would represent ‘an unjustified restriction for the consumer’

The Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF have written proof from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that:

Independent repairers CAN carry out normal maintenance and repair services during a vehicle’s warranty period without invalidating the warranty conditions provided that:

· the service is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s servicing schedules and is recorded as such

· any parts used are of ‘appropriate quality’ and are recorded as such

http://www.boschcarservice.co.uk/pdf/warranty.pdf

 

[WorkyTicket]

keep the vehicle maintained according to the manufacturers schedule..

Think I ruined this by not getting the first 6k one done until 10k to be honest. Oh well I'm sure the excellent build quality of BMW will mean I don't need to rely on the 2 year warranty anyway.

 

[Andy_E]

Think I ruined this by not getting the first 6k one done until 10k to be honest. Oh well I'm sure the excellent build quality of BMW will mean I don't need to rely on the 2 year warranty anyway.

Think it would depend on what failed - if the failure was caused by lack of maintenance then it might be sticky, but if it it was an item that wouldn't be typically inspected or changed by following the schedule then there shouldn't be an issue.

 

[WorkyTicket]

Think it would depend on what failed - if the failure was caused by lack of maintenance then it might be sticky, but if it it was an item that wouldn't be typically inspected or changed by following the schedule then there shouldn't be an issue.

Cheers

Will I see you at a Yorkshire meet sometime?

 

[Daffy]

The BER info above is correct but I am aware of manufacturers digging their heels in and refusing to accept this, the only way they would give in is on the steps of the court as they would not want a judgement against them.

It is always a gamble, I think you have to pay your money (or not) and take your chances.