Service question – 1200 hexhead

[ronnie69]

Seems to me this BMW servicing gubbins can be a bit convoluted. I seem not to be the only one either. I've squeezed this in to the 1200GS hexhead section as it's the same engine as mine (more or less), the service intervals will/should be the same and more peeps have them so there might be more answers

So I bought a pre reg R1200R twin cam hexhead. Registered 18.10.12. Sat in dealers on a plinth for 3 and a bit months. PDId and delivered to me 7.2.13 with 4 miles on it. Running in service booked for Thursday 2.5.13. As part of the deal, running in service will be done on a parts/fluids only chargeable basis (labour foc). All straightforward so far.

Before someone says it, I haven’t the space tools or knowledge to do it myself

Last few services on my 1150GS and 1100GS (before I sold them) were done at Steptoe’s mobile midlands awayday doofer. Qualiteeee Couldn’t get to the recent one and anyway the dealer is doing the labour foc on this one.

When the dealer comes to stamp the book (and no doubt update the computer thingy) and tell me when the service after this one is due, it seems to me there are options. Dealer who likes to have plenty of service work may choose to say that an annual service is due at 12 months from registration if bike hasn’t already done 6k miles by then.

My view, being a miserly Scot, is that services are due every 6k miles or every 12 months whichever comes first, but both of those should run from the date/mileage of the last service done.

So: my mileage when serviced on 2.5.13 will be around 800 miles. That should mean the next service after that will be due on 2.5.14 or at 6,800 miles, whichever occurs first. Anyone agree or disagree ?

I know I should just discuss it with the Dealer. And I will. However, communication hasn’t always been their strongest suit (since I paid for the bike ) and I thought I’d sound out the peeps here first anyway.

 

[juddadredd]

6,000

 

[APE]

I had this discussion with my dealer and the answer was 6,000 based on your figures - doesn't seem right but that was their view

 

[Sgt Bilco]

6,000

+1

 

[autogs]

6000 been done to death on here before,it really is very simple

 

[itspilsbury]

6800 was what my dealer said, confused or what?

 

[wust588]

I'd say every 6000 miles.
My 1200 (R, as it happens- although it makes no difference), was last serviced at 1745 miles.
Before that at 777 miles, then said in the little box, at odometer reading 6000 miles. Which is cobblers of course.
I shall service it (or get it serviced) at 7745 miles roughly.
For the life of me, I can't why a time scale should come into it.
Sooooo, for me, every 6k miles.

 

[TLSgazza]

Just take it in at 6,800 miles if it makes you happy, just think of it as getting one over on the dealer,
I've had services done either a thousand miles early or late and its never been a problem,
I knew a bloke once who used to try to get the mileage exact whenever he took his bike for a service even to the point of not riding it for days incase he went over

 

[Wilsdorf]

I'd say every 6000 miles.
My 1200 (R, as it happens- although it makes no difference), was last serviced at 1745 miles.
Before that at 777 miles, then said in the little box, at odometer reading 6000 miles. Which is cobblers of course.
I shall service it (or get it serviced) at 7745 miles roughly.
For the life of me, I can't why a time scale should come into it.
Sooooo, for me, every 6k miles.

That is my philosophy. I'm not about to get dragged into ott servicing costs and schedules by any brand.

 

[Boxerboy55]

A low mileage rider might consider an annual oil change just for fun.
Like me

6,000 takes me a long time at the moment.

 

[Bendy toy]

The oil will degrade over time so an annual oil change is a good idea even if the miles are no where near the usual service time. If the bike is never used the oil could remain, but change it when the bike comes out of storage.

That said, in 2006 I bought a 1998 Yamaha Diversion 600 with a genuine 813 miles on the clock. The oil was clean and I just used the bike. There were no ill effects - I later had the cams cover off to find the cams were perfect. Who knows how old the oil was but no harm was done. (oops)

 

[Steptoe]

So: my mileage when serviced on 2.5.13 will be around 800 miles. That should mean the next service after that will be due on 2.5.14 or at 6,800 miles, whichever occurs first. Anyone agree or disagree ?

D

You are correct -

The dealer presses the default service setting on the bikes service clock so that's what will be in the bikes memory.
A years time or in 6K miles (seeing as you've 800 miles that'll be in 6800 miles time).

 

[cookie]

i remember asking about this at my dealer (CWs) when i bought my current bike:

they say first service at 800, then at 6000

 

[AberdeenAngus]

....is that services are due every 6k miles or every 12 months whichever comes first, but both of those should run from the date/mileage of the last service done.

 

[cookie]

conveniently, when i had to have my last service (12K) done at 10.5K because of the annual requirement, my next service is due at 16.5K not 18K.

i agree with that, but it seems slightly inconsistent to me.

when it's out of warranty and i do it myself, it'll just be mileage based, unless it's laid up for a long time for any reason.

 

[ronnie69]

Emailed the dealer a couple of times before the day of the service. As appears to be their wont, as I asked more than one question at the same time, they couldn't cope and answered only the first question (which wasn't about the service intervals) I clearly expect too much

Anyhoo, cometh the day, cometh the hour, service done as arranged on 02.05.13 at 894 miles. Next one is due at 6894 miles or by 02.05.14 whichever is soonest. Sez so in the book an everyfink. They managed to put the wrong month in for the date the service was done, but everyone makes the odd mistake. Even me once

The parts price even came in a few quid lower than they estimated

 

[Roymondo]

Each time mine has been serviced, the dealer has written the "Next Service" details in the handbook as 6000 miles after the current mileage. Mine had the running-in check at 723 miles, and the next service was due at 6723 miles. The service was done at 5846 miles, and they marked the next one as being due at 11846 miles. And so it has continued.

When they reset the service indicator on the bike, it will trigger as it approaches 6000 miles *or* 12 months from that point.