South London Motorcycles - Have I been ripped off?

[David Price]

Gents,

I took my two year ols 1150 GS for it's 'BMW Annual Service' at South London BMW this week.

After having my trousers well and truly taken down, paying £311, I get home to find that they have not even changed the gearbox oil or final drive oil.

I know that this was not done on the last service, so I've now got a two year old bike with the original gear oil in it.

Having checked the service schedule, it clearly states that this should be done at 24000 miles, or 2 years.

My bike has done 13000 miles.

I'm going to do it myself this weekend anyway, but feel a little aggrieved after spending all that money that it was not done.

 

[nadeem]

why not ask them first..in fact demand an explanation...

 

[jimbo]

Whilst no fan of SLM, I think you should indeed talk to them. when I serviced my bike there, I was well put out they charged me considerably more than the fixed fix that they had quoted. At the time they explained the extra was due to having to remove engine bars.
When I added up the columns at home, it was still too much. They dealt with my complaint politely and agreed with me and refunded the money.
I still think they should ask about engine bars before quoting though...
J

 

[wildbeeste]

Oh dear, I have had three services by SLM -two on a 650 Dakar and one on a 1150GS. They are expensive but I have always felt up to now that they are trustworthy. Looks like I may be looking elsewhere if this is not an isolated incident.
Which brings me onto a minor hobby horse why does the first service on a VW golf (only required after two years full motoring) cost over £100 less than any service on my 1150GS?
Basically why is Bike servicing so expensive?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Which brings me onto a minor hobby horse why does the first service on a VW golf (only required after two years full motoring) cost over £100 less than any service on my 1150GS?
Basically why is Bike servicing so expensive?

Bikes are a niche market ................mainly as a leisure purchase......so they can get away with it............if people are daft enough not to shop around!!!

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

block exemption = no dealer reqd = steptoe = trousers only halfway down and round yer knees..

he's a bit more gentle y'see.


learn to do it yerself and keep yer belt done up - just undo yer flys.

oi- stoppit at the back ! yer sposed to be servicing the bike not.......

 

[Steptoe]

Having checked the service schedule, it clearly states that this should be done at 24000 miles, or 2 years.

My bike has done 13000 miles.

Gearbox & final drive oil should be changed every 12K miles MINIMUM -

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Service

Had a 12k & Annual service @ Bath Rd Bristol recently,first time I've used them,
free courtesy bike,help yourself to coffee,friendly staff,bike ready on time
When I paid the bill,they explained that they'd not charged for parts for;
air filter (K&N fitted)
Spark plugs (I changed em prior to Picos this year)
Gearbox oil (new warranty g/box fitted 6 weeks before)
and they had deducted the labour element from the bill for these items-sounds good to me

 

[Hew]

Final Drive Oil

As soon as I bought my bike I changed all the oils.
It had covered just over 6000 miles and was due its service.
All that came out of the final drive was black sludge with a minimum amount of oil.
I can only assume that this was how it left the factory.
I have since covered another 12000 miles changing the oil twice.
Each time the oil has been clean.
With this in mind it is little wonder that there are so many final drive failures.
My advice is to get it changed or change it yourself it really is easy.

 

[Bert]

Went in to have a look at new bikes and asked if my rear brake could get a quick look at as it felt weak.

They were very helpful and 'fixed' whatever it was that wasn't right. Great cheers........
until 2 miles up the road my 'K' felt as if it was 'fighting' the engine...it was. The bike stopped dead in the middle of the road and had to enlist help from passers to lift it onto the pavement as the rear disk was glowing red and had locked...

Gee, how encouraging..... your life in their hands.......
draw your own conclusions......

 

[judge]

Given that David according to his follow-up thread got complete satisfaction from SLM I wonder what value there is in these threads living on ad infinitum. The only purpose I can make out is that people can sniff out a bad one and claim a 'me too' hit on them even months after the event and even if its completely un-related, seems to be becoming a bit of a sport.

What purpose does it serve and why don't people who post clear up after themselves if they have gained redress with the help of the publicity gained here or not.

 

[judge]

draw your own conclusions......

Give us some more to help me draw my conlusions, presumably as you were immobilised only 2 miles away you got on the phone to SLM and sought assistance? So they came and got you? Arranged for recovery? Got the bike back to the dealers? Booked it in for a proper investigation and the outcome was...?

Go again and I'll see if I can be more specific...

 

[Captain Scarlet]

I've used a number of their demo bikes for a minimum of four hours each time. They delivered both of my new bikes F.O.C. despite me living 50 miles from the dealership. They insisted on fitting my autocom leads into mine and my pillions helmets F.O.C. Twice. They offered me better part-ex deals than any other dealer - the first time I contact 'every' dealer in the country bar none. They lent me a Rockster overnight which I put a further 100 miles on after spending an enjoyable day riding b-roads down to Brighton - just because I could.

In short if you're an existing customer and unhappy, then have the decency to discuss this with Paul Hill (Sales Manager) in person, who I am sure will do everything reasonable to accomodate you. And if a new customer and unhappy about initial contact customer service, then vote with your feet. It's very simply - see the 'SPC Crap - oh yes' posting if you think SLM are bad!