The joy of servicing
- Thread starter bakerlonglegs
- Start date
Bloody hellfire
This one went dead all of a sudden didn't it, I hadn't even started yet about electricalonics and it all goes quiet. Not to mention exploding boxer engines and stuff
This one went dead all of a sudden didn't it, I hadn't even started yet about electricalonics and it all goes quiet. Not to mention exploding boxer engines and stuff
Captain Beaky
Registered user
What specialist Diagnostic tools will those be then?
Oh yes, the ones that BMW have specially created just to make money out of us punters.
In the car industry, Code readers are easily available, and getting cheaper all the time. If you want a code read, or your "check engine" light put out after rectifying a fault, it's easy to find a specialist who will do it for you at a small fee or maybe free if you are buying bits from them.
It is the law that these diagnostic systems are of the same communication standard as part of the European On Board Diagnostic system. Believe me I know all about this - it's my jiob to, and it's a pain in the arse for car manufacturers, as it stops them developing a bespoke diagnostics system to hike up the cost of servicing and open the doors to tuning specialists (to a certain extent). This system is almost identical to the OBD system from the states, and certainly has eased the problem of reading fault codes over there, and will help over here.
But of course, there are no legal requirements for On Board Diagnostics like this on bikes (YET!), so BMW are milking it for all they are worth.
And of course, the bikes do not share the same system as the cars - well, I haven't managed to talk to mine yet!
However, you may well find that using this diagnostics kit takes time. time you will be charged for. At £80 an hour!
That's the rub.
But then, that's the nature of the game.
BMW are not in iot for their health (or yours) they are in the business of making money.
So are all the dealers you will go to. Money will always come into the equation.
As for the special training. You can have a trained mechanic and a time served one. If you are a bad mechanic, then no training course will make you a good one.!
My answer - if it's out of warranty - do it yourself.
All the bits are easily available - BMW's are not complex machines when compared with - say - a CBR600FS.
If this is a bit scary, get a knowledgable friend to help or..
If you do a little hunting around, you will find a good experienced time served mechanic working at a nice little friendly dealer, who will charge half the rate for the same job.
I reccommend Sherlocks - good job, and cheap.
The loaner was a bit of an old bike, but ran beatifully, and was just what I wnated. £50 excess too - which is acceptable.
I have caught a whiff of a quiet little place in the midlands - will get back to you all with that if it's any good.
Oh yes, the ones that BMW have specially created just to make money out of us punters.
In the car industry, Code readers are easily available, and getting cheaper all the time. If you want a code read, or your "check engine" light put out after rectifying a fault, it's easy to find a specialist who will do it for you at a small fee or maybe free if you are buying bits from them.
It is the law that these diagnostic systems are of the same communication standard as part of the European On Board Diagnostic system. Believe me I know all about this - it's my jiob to, and it's a pain in the arse for car manufacturers, as it stops them developing a bespoke diagnostics system to hike up the cost of servicing and open the doors to tuning specialists (to a certain extent). This system is almost identical to the OBD system from the states, and certainly has eased the problem of reading fault codes over there, and will help over here.
But of course, there are no legal requirements for On Board Diagnostics like this on bikes (YET!), so BMW are milking it for all they are worth.
And of course, the bikes do not share the same system as the cars - well, I haven't managed to talk to mine yet!
However, you may well find that using this diagnostics kit takes time. time you will be charged for. At £80 an hour!
That's the rub.
But then, that's the nature of the game.
BMW are not in iot for their health (or yours) they are in the business of making money.
So are all the dealers you will go to. Money will always come into the equation.
As for the special training. You can have a trained mechanic and a time served one. If you are a bad mechanic, then no training course will make you a good one.!
My answer - if it's out of warranty - do it yourself.
All the bits are easily available - BMW's are not complex machines when compared with - say - a CBR600FS.
If this is a bit scary, get a knowledgable friend to help or..
If you do a little hunting around, you will find a good experienced time served mechanic working at a nice little friendly dealer, who will charge half the rate for the same job.
I reccommend Sherlocks - good job, and cheap.
The loaner was a bit of an old bike, but ran beatifully, and was just what I wnated. £50 excess too - which is acceptable.
I have caught a whiff of a quiet little place in the midlands - will get back to you all with that if it's any good.
AND they charged a mate of mine for a 600 mile first service. That's what all the Mbw specialist traning is for, to see how many people rread the small print, and then try it on.
Oh yes, the ocean going Fcuk wit that e-mailed me about my ditch water pump remark, should poke his head out of his wardrobe every now and again (Mbw wardrobe maybe???) and see what's outside, ever heard of fire pumps!
Oh yes, the ocean going Fcuk wit that e-mailed me about my ditch water pump remark, should poke his head out of his wardrobe every now and again (Mbw wardrobe maybe???) and see what's outside, ever heard of fire pumps!
littleredrooster
Registered user
...that's our Vern, being as diplomatic as ever.......!
Nigel said:
Where's the site owner when you need him?
This is below the belt - next we'll have Dave Taylor and Helmut Panke on the BB!
Half the joy of this BB is in slagging off BMW and its dealers - surely we can't have them defending themselves?
More seriously, this issue is fundamentally one of market-place economics - ie how much are you prepared to pay for what you want?
I use Sawbridgeworth for some stuff, SPC for other stuff and do most of the maintenance myself. It suits both me and my bikes.
If you guys don't want to pay £300 for a service - then don't. I'm sure that loads of people are content enough with the price and service to get their bikes fettled by franchised dealers. However if or when Nigel has a workshop full of idle staff, then he might look at his margins and prices.
Greg
B Murr
Registered user
are there any code readers for the GS's yet? This is an old thread so I thought someone would have copied the BMW one by now just as VAG-COM have replicated the VAG group system.
Mouse
Registered user
There's such a small market compared to that for cars, I can't see anyone doing it commercially. It's the sort of thing I'd like to have a bash at though, if only I had the time (and a spare bike 
).
).
bakerlonglegs said:
Vines told me it was £1,500 insurance excess on demonstrators and £250 excess on loan bikes? There policy on loan bikes is you get it full and bring it back the same
TENTOONE
Guest
I dont think Sawbridgeworth is being as honest as they want you to believe. I understand Devitts insure a training school near me with a fleet of 20 motorcycles fully comp for @£3550; excess is...£250.
So, what Sawbridgeworth wish you to believe is that there is a greater risk of a trained BMW motorcyclist (given that the profile of a BMW rider is safe) smashing his/hers loan bike rather than a learner CBT/DAS wobbler who has never ridden a bike before.
Need to think about that one.
So, what Sawbridgeworth wish you to believe is that there is a greater risk of a trained BMW motorcyclist (given that the profile of a BMW rider is safe) smashing his/hers loan bike rather than a learner CBT/DAS wobbler who has never ridden a bike before.
Need to think about that one.
Professional Boxer
Registered user
TENTOONE said:
What you need to realise is that insurance companies really do not like unaccompanied test rides/service loans bikes, they stand a much greater chance of being misused, abused or stolen (the insurance companies worst nightmare), coupled with the fact I don't believe the cost of the bikes used in the training school will be equal to the demo/ service loan fleet of a dealership. Training schools will also 'hire' the bike to you so you pay for the use of it, I don't know many BMW dealerships who charge for demo.
Also with the training school they are under constant supervision so are highly unlikely to either do anything stupid resulting in a total loss claim or indeed steal the bike. Please do not take this as a personal attack I'm just pointing out the way insurance compnies work.
I personally pay over £ 16,000 for insurance with a £1,000 excess, but this is an all in one policy, covering the permises, stock and liability, however the road risk element of the insurance is only £7,000, the only way this remains so low is to have a £1000 excess.
BBB61
Registered user
TENTOONE said:
And your source for this information is?
TENTOONE
Guest
The training school. Or maybe I discovered this information in the Yellow Pages.
Professional Boxer
Registered user
TENTOONE said:
So why does the excess at SBW worry you???
BBB61
Registered user
TENTOONE said:
The training school told you what their insurance premiums are?
Rob Farmer said:The total cost for the parts and oil was just over £50 and it took 1 hour to complete, including taking out the brake pads to clean the dust off and check the pistons. He had been quoted £160 + Vat for the service.
For a living I project manage some pretty meaty engineering projects I can hire in decent software engineers for £20+ ph, so it grieves me having to pay £70+ for a motorcycle mechanic at the dealer.
Sorry for highjacking your thread for meaningless rant but I just hate seeing people pay top dollar for a second rate service.
Come on Rob- £50 parts, PLUS mechanics wages,Plus reception wages PLUS liability insurance, PLUS primary shop frontage business rates,PLUS premises costs/lease, PLUS heatling and lighting, PLUS pension contributions. Have I left any additional expenses out
Oh yes PLUS VAT
So then start again with £50 parts, then present the customer with a realistic bill . Sorry but I am not with you on your rant I'm afraid
TENTOONE
Guest
£50+vat an hour
Bargain. Ok keep your trousers down your ankles a little longer guys!
Bargain. Ok keep your trousers down your ankles a little longer guys!
TENTOONE said:£50+vat an hour
Bargain. Ok keep your trousers down your ankles a little longer guys!
How much do you think it costs to run a business these days?
The best way to keep the costs down is to be a one man band (like me) but it can be rather limiting.
Paul
snoopy
Guest
Just before I went to Morocco (2 days before) Sawbridge took my GS no-questions-asked and fitted new fork seals under warantee.
Great place. Great service
They havn't got back to me on the claim for kapput rear preload and shagged brace paintwork however
... and the oil temperature seal has blown, so I've a nice leak.
Great place. Great service
They havn't got back to me on the claim for kapput rear preload and shagged brace paintwork however
... and the oil temperature seal has blown, so I've a nice leak.
Professional Boxer
Registered user
TENTOONE said:£50+vat an hour
Bargain. Ok keep your trousers down your ankles a little longer guys!
I have never seen a positive post from you, if you hate the product so much why hang round a forum dedicated to it?
And while we are on the subject what does your Honda Dealer charge per hour for labour as that's what you ride now
I can't help but think that you are the sanguine one in disguise!!!!
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