Vines BMW

[JonF]

Thought I'd share my experiences. I booked in my GS with them as it needed a bit of work. Never used them before, but now they've moved to near Redhill they're my nearest dealer, so I thought I'd give them a try. Got a call from them mid afternoon of the day the bike was in saying they had found a few issues. When I got there I was presented with a quote for £1400 and the warning the bike was unsafe. Seemed a bit odd to me as it had passed an MoT four weeks earlier with no advisories. There were some things I could see that could do with doing - front discs were, according to my micrometer when I got home, slightly under the wear limit. Back disc had a very minor score on it. Ok, you could argue these might need doing, along with associated pads. However, they also wanted to replace the front tyre, which was less than half worn. Also the left hand switch gear, even though it is working perfectly. If there was an issue when the mechanic looked at it, it was probably down to someone having pointed a jetwash at it. By the time I collected the bike there was no malfunction at all. They also claimed the brakes were binding - when I got home I jammed the front on as hard as I could, then asked my 11 year old daughter to turn the wheel. She could do so with one finger. Didn't look like there was much binding to me.

Ideally I'd want a dealer to do just what is necessary. I can understand that they might suggest doing things they'd advise could do with changing. Semed to me, though, that they were adding on a number of items which simply did not need doing. I won't be going there again.

 

[adventuredon]

When I popped in there over Christmas to get a light, they also gave it a free winter check....just to tell me my rear disc was below tolerance and mad me sign a waiver excusing them from all sorts as it was just under their 4.5mm tolerance...Had a word with Steptoe and 3000 miles I am still on same disc - will be replaced before July trip though

 

[David Nimrod]

It would be good if Vines could respond to this...

Because, as it stands, that's a pretty dreadful story.

Maybe BMW themselves should be informed..?

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

WTF

and perhaps a for good measure

 

[Beemerman59]

As already said, on the face of it, it does seem to be a lot of money even if all those items did need replacing but I guess the labour costs would be a big part of that. I can understand the advice for the disc's and pads if they're under that specified by BMW as they have little option in that regard, but why did they say the front tyre needed replacing?

When I read the £1,400 my first thought was that your FD had failed and they were advising a new one!

 

[Loiq]

probably all down to corporate compliance, if they've not pointed it out. Matey falls off, the bacon says the tyre is the blame the dealer leaves himself open to a civil action.

Welcome to the USofA sorry England and all the blood sniffy lawyers that come with it....

We in our work now have to do more compliance forms than the jobs are worth....

 

[GS_or_bust]

It seems to me they were just doing their job and you are free to accept some or all of their repair recommendations and pay their prices or go elsewhere. I wouldn't have thought they would just make stuff up.

I agree a £1400 would have been a shock but premium vehicle dealers assume you want your bike brought up to scratch regardless of cost. With stuff like tyres it can be cheaper to have them changed before the're completely worn rather than wasting more time with a subsequent visit for the tyres.

 

[Katnip]

dealer costs

Yes, the dealer has a responsibility to make sure everything is road worthy but where does the common sense prevail? It seems to me that this is an excuse to find work where it isn't.
Are you telling me that a micrometers worth of disc usage below recommendations is dangerous? Surely a word about that and other things slightly below par would be a more sensible approach.
I remember taking my wife's car for an mot and he failed it on steering rod joint movement. I'm not suprised, he stuck a 3ft crowbar in there and gave it a good lever. Needless to say, I went somewhere else and it passed. If the car had done great mileage fine, but it had only done 12000 miles ffs.

 

[Loiq]

try "reasoning" when you're infront of the beak.... common sense has nothing to do with it, if it's written down it happened...

After all it's an opinion that's all it is, if the user chooses to take the opinion then so be it. If they don't and nothing happens it's all good.... If it goes to hell atleast they can say well we offered our opinion...! here's is the statement to prove it.

As for me, I don't care either way....

 

[newboy]

Chester Motorrad
I took a K1200S for a MOT


I was told the brake disc/s is/are warped - all new needed
New pads would be better at the same time.
Also need a new rear tyre (Michelin PR3 please 190/50 x 17 ) before I go away as it is dangerous.
Sticky throttle -dangerous as this might be new throttle bodies and not cheap

Total
approx £1600


Took it to RGM (Roy is a great guy)who charged £400 for a full (16k....) service with a new tyre needed after I got back for the 4k Euro tour and new pads....

 

[JonF]

It seems to me they were just doing their job and you are free to accept some or all of their repair recommendations and pay their prices or go elsewhere. I wouldn't have thought they would just make stuff up.

But they did. There were three categories of stuff in their quote:

Those that needed doing, like the originally requested work, fork seals.

Those that arguably might need doing, given their corporate requirements to minimise any possibile risk, such as the disks and pads.

Those that did not in any way need doing, being a front tyre less than half worn, replacement of a perfectly functioning switch and cleaning up 'binding' brakes which were not binding at all.

I can accept the first two categories, given that it was a main dealer, but not the third.

 

[Rusty]

It's all very simple .... They want your money and are quite prepared to tell you that " the bike is unsafe " .... I had a similar experience with a Jag Dealer .... NEVER went there again ... They lost years of my business because they tried to have me over.

 

[Nutty]

I use Vines Guildford, never had an issue with them over the years. They've been known to drop everything to look at an issue on the bike just hours before a big trip. I'll stick with Guildford.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Shocked

 

[Beemerman59]

But they did. There were three categories of stuff in their quote:

Those that needed doing, like the originally requested work, fork seals.

Those that arguably might need doing, given their corporate requirements to minimise any possibile risk, such as the disks and pads.

Those that did not in any way need doing, being a front tyre less than half worn, replacement of a perfectly functioning switch and cleaning up 'binding' brakes which were not binding at all.

I can accept the first two categories, given that it was a main dealer, but not the third.

On the face of it, that does seem indefensible however you look at it.

 

[twizzle]

My wife took her recently out of warranty VW Golf in for a service...she phoned me saying that that the exhaust needed replacing at £900 !!!!

I asked to speak to the Service Advisor... He said the cat support bracket had sheared and the whole unit needed to be replaced... I said thanks and we took the car away... Popped into a back street garage and he made a new strap, welded it on and charged me £20.... When i questioned the dealer he said that VW would not let them repair... Only replace....

Take the advice and make your own decision...... Simples...

 

[MEDICMAN]

...When I got there I was presented with a quote for £1400....

I'd tell 'em to stop trying to p!$$ on my shoes whilst telling me it's raining!

 

[scottpa]

I use Vines Guildford, never had an issue with them over the years. They've been known to drop everything to look at an issue on the bike just hours before a big trip. I'll stick with Guildford.

I have just had the opposite experience with Guilford. I had my bike delivered to them after an accident for repair and as it was almost at the 18000 mile service, arranged for them to do that as well. Admittedly they did say they were very busy but that they could do it, but to keep chasing them. Chasing them on the phone was a bit futile as they often didnt call back until the next day, and on a couple of occasions didn't bother doing that. The mechanic did the assesment and gave it to the service guy who promptly went on holiday without handing over to his colleague so it sat still for a week.

I got the bike back today, they had fitted the wrong hand guards and riding home, I could tell the bars were not sitting straight. So I have to phone them next week about the hand guards and they will be getting it back to sort out the bars.

They also told me that the Redhill branch will be losing the bikes and they will only be available from Guilford.

Its a shame as I live about a mile from the Redhill branch.

But they went downhill after Vines bought out SLM.

No I will be going to Bahnstormers in future.

 

[bodge it]

Thought I'd share my experiences. I booked in my GS with them as it needed a bit of work. Never used them before, but now they've moved to near Redhill they're my nearest dealer, so I thought I'd give them a try. Got a call from them mid afternoon of the day the bike was in saying they had found a few issues. When I got there I was presented with a quote for £1400 and the warning the bike was unsafe. Seemed a bit odd to me as it had passed an MoT four weeks earlier with no advisories. There were some things I could see that could do with doing - front discs were, according to my micrometer when I got home, slightly under the wear limit. Back disc had a very minor score on it. Ok, you could argue these might need doing, along with associated pads. However, they also wanted to replace the front tyre, which was less than half worn. Also the left hand switch gear, even though it is working perfectly. If there was an issue when the mechanic looked at it, it was probably down to someone having pointed a jetwash at it. By the time I collected the bike there was no malfunction at all. They also claimed the brakes were binding - when I got home I jammed the front on as hard as I could, then asked my 11 year old daughter to turn the wheel. She could do so with one finger. Didn't look like there was much binding to me.

Ideally I'd want a dealer to do just what is necessary. I can understand that they might suggest doing things they'd advise could do with changing. Semed to me, though, that they were adding on a number of items which simply did not need doing. I won't be going there again.

Every time I take my bike into Vines for a service I just wait for the "low brake pad, low disc width" phone call, every time I say thanks I'll change them myself. Bless 'em.

Mind you it was the same with my Toyota truck as an advisory on an MOT. I brought new pads and when I compared new and existing there was hardly any difference.

 

[steve g]

Good. Comms. with Guildford

I've been looking for a deal on a new GSA TB. Been in dialog with Dave who kept me informed throughout. Unfortunately despite trying they cannot source a new TB or a 90th edition GSA - non available centrally!
Plan B, I sourced one from another dealership. Thanks for the effort anyway.