Sorry I need to moan for a minute.

[smokey]

Please forgive the following rant I just need to complain somewhere!!
I had the tell tale oil covering indicating a rocker gasket leak a few weeks ago, took it into the dealer to show them and they said they would do it at the same time as the 12000 mile service. What I liked most about it was how I got quoted £142.37+VAT for the service, (I also asked for chain and sprockets to be done at extra cost obviously), and half way through the day got a phone call saying I need front brake pads, I said yes and they told me it would push the cost over £500! When I showed my suprise at this bill I was informed that I had been quoted for a 6000 mile service by mistake!!!
I picked up my bike later in the day,paid the bill which came to £528 and then wrote a letter to them. The reply came back insinuating I was lying about the original quote, which was a suprise seeing as i have the hard copy print out in my file.
I was dissapointed and offended by the reply I got from Coopers, they are obviously doing very well in these difficult times that they don't need repeat custom. I would now rather make the journey to Vines or South London Motorcycles for any further work.
What made it worse was the fact that they charged me for the gasket and time which, although it is part of the service was a warranty issue!

 

[Snoopy]

The entire service must take no longer than an hour. That price is disgusting.

 

[Greggers]

Fella ..

This is how 'authorised dealers' make their money ... Yes, replacing the gasket comes as part of the 12k service, but they won't treat it as a warranty item if it's done as part of a service. Same happened to me, but I caught on to what BMW (in fairness CW told me this) have instructed their ADs to do, and will be re-sealing my own gasket in a couple of weeks time.

Have a work with you local man for the next service - it's a piece of cake to do your own oil or change pads, so why pay them for the privilege? There are some things that you can't do - such as the diagnostic check for example, but as long as you let your dealer do something he can charge you a nominal fee and still put a service stamp in your book...

Snoopy, I agree that the price quoted is a bit steep, but the 12k service includes valve clearance checking which is a complete arse to do and certainly will take much more than an hour to achieve.

Greg

 

[John Armstrong]

Rainbow last year, £111 for a 6k service on a 650 twin. £228 for a 12k and IIRC the annual bits.

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Don't feel to bad Smokey, more than one person has been burned by this sort of 'breakdown in communication'. Use another outfit & carry on slating them bud!

 

[Tim Cullis]

When dealers say you need new pads, what they are saying in reality is that the pads might not last until the next service in 6000 miles time. In fact they might be good for another 7000 or even 8000 miles.

So the first question to ask the dealer is how much life they have--that gives you the basic info on how urgent the problem is.

The second question is how much the BMW pads are to buy if you fit them yourself.

The third question is to this forum which is where do I buy perfectly acceptable third party brake pads.

 

[DrFarkoff]

I would contact the dealer principle with your written Quote and as them to justify the variance between what you were quoted and what you were invoiced?

Worth a try methinks???

 

[STUBBS]

you have the hard copy and theyve called you a liar id be taking it further

 

[Snoopy]

Fella ..

This is how 'authorised dealers' make their money ... Yes, replacing the gasket comes as part of the 12k service, but they won't treat it as a warranty item if it's done as part of a service. Same happened to me, but I caught on to what BMW (in fairness CW told me this) have instructed their ADs to do, and will be re-sealing my own gasket in a couple of weeks time.

Have a work with you local man for the next service - it's a piece of cake to do your own oil or change pads, so why pay them for the privilege? There are some things that you can't do - such as the diagnostic check for example, but as long as you let your dealer do something he can charge you a nominal fee and still put a service stamp in your book...

Snoopy, I agree that the price quoted is a bit steep, but the 12k service includes valve clearance checking which is a complete arse to do and certainly will take much more than an hour to achieve.

Greg

Yup I apologise, I was thinking 1200 service times for some reason.

Tim is bang on the money, it wont affect your service history by fitting the pads/chain/sprockets yourself - you know for next time.

 

[everywherevirtually]

When dealers say you need new pads, what they are saying in reality is that the pads might not last until the next service in 6000 miles time. In fact they might be good for another 7000 or even 8000 miles.

So the first question to ask the dealer is how much life they have--that gives you the basic info on how urgent the problem is.

The second question is how much the BMW pads are to buy if you fit them yourself.

The third question is to this forum which is where do I buy perfectly acceptable third party brake pads.

Tim is exactly right on this. I asked my dealer how much life left in the pads. They said 1000 miles. I rode to my destination abroad which happened to be 1000 miles and had already put in an order with motorworks for a new set of pads.

To be fair to Williams they are pretty up front about DIY maintenance. They never blurred warranty work with service work like the Coopers example

 

[johnboy]

replacing the gasket comes as part of the 12k service, but they won't treat it as a warranty item if it's done as part of a service

At my 6000 miles service last week I was told of a weeping rocker cover gasket which they said not to worry about it as they would do it at the 12000 miles service as they would have the head off anyway. Helpful I thought - now prewarned. Cheers for the tip off

PS - I was also warned I may need new front pads - again I thought helpful but possibly a bit premature