Sheared bolts

[dub 24]

As steptoe said one snapped fair enough due a bollocking for it but to then snap three more ,that's just stupidity at a highest level. Send them an email tomorrow saying you have considered what has happened while the bike was with them. It's totally inconceivable for you to pay for their mistakes. Highlight in your email they just didn't do it once but 4 times. Request politely they rectify their mistakes. You and I know they'll come back with some BS trying to put the blame back on you. If you get no joy write to head office ( I know waste of time but you have to go through the motions )
This means you have given them and BMW every opportunity to fix the problem.
Then consult a solicitor
Quick question Has you had the bike serviced by them all the time ?

 

[theoneandonly]

talk to this guy , Andy . does bolt removal for a living .
07528 484 804 , just checked the number works .
i think he is based in Haywards heath , but he is mobile.
i trust him , so you can .

BMW do not use copaslip or ali-slip . my friend the BM tech in Battersea , got told off for using it ! when he was at Vines , they had a bloke who came in to do their broken bolts.

 

[Neil W]

Did it have aftermarket head guards fitted ? Machine Art ones were initially supplied with bolts make of a soft French cheese and would snap if looked at wrongly .
If they are standard BMW bolts then the technician (hate calling them mechanics) has been a ham fisted ape

 

[theoneandonly]

snapping bolts is a professional risk .
when were they last out ?
did they get anti-seize paste ( copaslip/ali-slip , not in a BMW shop ) or Loctite ?
is it your fault , no ... but ..... it is always a risk with an older bike .
if i snap a bolt there is a cost involved , it may well get passed on . i still break bolts , but i work on stuff up to 50 years old.
hands up any professional mechanic who has NEVER snapped a bolt .... looks around ..... sees no hands in the air..... anyone with their hands up is a liar.
stainless steel bolts/screws ?
I've had to drill out stuff on brand new bikes , out of the crate , doing the PDI , cos some twat in Italy, just forced a bolt in.

i go through a pot of this every 18 months

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the quote of £2300 is ridiculous .
go be polite , give them Andy's phone number.

just spoken to Andy , he awaits a call from you .

 

[cookie]

snapping bolts is a professional risk .
when were they last out ?
did they get anti-seize paste ( copaslip/ali-slip , not in a BMW shop ) or Loctite ?
is it your fault , no ... but ..... it is always a risk with an older bike .
if i snap a bolt there is a cost involved , it may well get passed on . i still break bolts , but i work on stuff up to 50 years old.
hands up any professional mechanic who has NEVER snapped a bolt .... looks around ..... sees no hands in the air..... anyone with their hands up is a liar.
stainless steel bolts/screws ?
I've had to drill out stuff on brand new bikes , out of the crate , doing the PDI , cos some twat in Italy, just forced a bolt in.

i go through a pot of this every 18 months

Buy AL 1100 aluminium paste (089311010)

Buy >> AL 1100 aluminium paste (Alu paste AL 1100) << easily online with Würth ▶ PAST-ALU-(ANTISEIZE-AL1100)-CAN-1KG - 089311010 ::: Your online shop for trade and industry ✓Simple ordering and fast delivery ✓Purchase on account ✓Exclusively for trade customers

eshop.wurth.co.uk

the quote of £2300 is ridiculous .
go be polite , give them Andy's phone number.

just spoken to Andy , he awaits a call from you .

All true, but snapping 4, one after another is just inexcusable.

 

[theoneandonly]

i believe BMW procedure is
tech has problem , consults senior tech , senior tech looks and decides problem , he consults master tech , buck stops at master tech .
4 is a lot , you would think after 2 breakages , a different approach would be made .

 

[siddo]

Maybe they thought they were security bolts where you snap the heads off so the item can't be removed.

 

[Barnoe]

Hope the OP has some joy.

First ask politely
Then put it in writing
Contact BMW
Contact trading standards
Solicitor.

Worse case scenario is that you will have to pay someone else to sort it, but it wont cost anything like you have been quoted.
Maybe get a quote now, be armed and ready.

Either way, give us an update on how you get on.

 

[Steptoe]

i believe BMW procedure is
tech has problem , consults senior tech , senior tech looks and decides problem , he consults master tech , buck stops at master tech .
4 is a lot , you would think after 2 breakages , a different approach would be made .

Tech breaks first bolt , calls senior tech over, who says “ this is how you do it” second bolt snaps off, senior tech calls master tech, who says “watch me, this is how it’s done” third bolt breaks off, the workshop foreman is then called over, who says “ you don’t get to my position by snapping bolts, watch and learn” , forth bolt snaps off.
They all depart to the staff canteen and pat each other on the back and congratulate themselves on a job well done,
They’ve just made the dealership another couple of thousand pounds and increased all their bonuses ..

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Tech breaks first bolt , calls senior tech over, who says “ this is how you do it” second bolt snaps off, senior tech calls master tech, who says “watch me, this is how it’s done” third bolt breaks off, the workshop foreman is then called over, who says “ you don’t get to my position by snapping bolts, watch and learn” , forth bolt snaps off.
They all depart to the staff canteen and pat each other on the back and congratulate themselves on a job well done,
They’ve just made the dealership another couple of thousand pounds and increased all their bonuses ..

 

[Andy F]

talk to this guy , Andy . does bolt removal for a living .
07528 484 804 , just checked the number works .
i think he is based in Haywards heath , but he is mobile.
i trust him , so you can .

BMW do not use copaslip or ali-slip . my friend the BM tech in Battersea , got told off for using it ! when he was at Vines , they had a bloke who came in to do their broken bolts.

Thanks the oneandonly! Just spoke to him & sent pics.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Thanks the oneandonly! Just spoke to him & sent pics.

Why are you running around trying to sort it
It’s the dealer’s problem, not yours
Did you snap the bolts?
No
Who did ?
The dealer
Complain to BMW GB about how poor the service was from their approved main dealer and it might be an idea if the head of BMWs technical department re-trained them

A dealer made a minor balls up on one of my bikes, whilst servicing it recently
No drama really & nothing broken, just a minor thing
However they sorted it and have ordered the new parts from the manufacturer, picked the bike up in their van and delivered it back
They halved the labour charge on the service, as goodwill and were very apologetic & have reviewed their procedures to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else

 

[SBD]

And keep copies of all correspondence and photos of all relevant parts for the small claims court.

And the bike mags and tv consumer champions if/when they fail to deal with it

 

[mikeyboy]

I think the dealer has created a mountain out of a molehill due to inept staff and management.
The bolts ,due to the design did not shear off when being undone,they are a shouldered bolt and should be just nipped up.( may have been over tightening previously)
The location of the bolts would suggest a million to one chance of corrosion being the issue.
So bearing the above in mind ,the sheared threaded portion remaining in the heads will not be tight or seized.
They will probably unscrew with a pick and a deft hand.
Worst case scenario would see them spin out with an anti-clockwise drill bit.
Chances are ,the macho peacocks that tend to work at main dealers will deny any responsibility and cover their arses,
They will also probably refuse access for a “helicoil chap “ due to insurance/HSE or some other bollox,as he will show their greedy ineptitude up in 1/2 hour..
All of the above is based on the fact that it is the shouldered fixings that secure the valve gear covers.
I can offer loads more insightful advice as what I would do if I’d fucked up but I can promise it wouldn’t cost you £2k

 

[Nick Marshall]

How about an update Andy.

 

[Alex B]

This "dealer mechanic bolt snapping" phenomenon was mentioned by Pirsig in his book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". He uses it as a kind of example of what he terms a "modern malaise", a kind of mental disconnect at a deeper level. Motorcycle maintenance is the example he uses but it could apply to many other forms of activity/engagement.

It's been years since I read the book but Pirsig says he was so frustrated he just took the bike away from the dealer and worked out how to repair it himself. Maybe not a perfect example of your situation but the principle is similar perhaps ?