blackburnlee
Guest
A quick question. What are people's experiences with them? Particularly for servicing and the costs?
Vines
Had 2 bikes from Vines now. Most recently a 12gs in May. I wouldnt say they are the cheapest place in the world to get your bike serviced, but the service is brilliant. Darren, the service bid, is a 'man that does', not just say he does and doesn't deliver. Ask Tobers, 6 warranty claims in 2 years and not a quibble in sight. I like 'em!
Had 2 bikes from Vines now. Most recently a 12gs in May. I wouldnt say they are the cheapest place in the world to get your bike serviced, but the service is brilliant. Darren, the service bid, is a 'man that does', not just say he does and doesn't deliver. Ask Tobers, 6 warranty claims in 2 years and not a quibble in sight. I like 'em!
mike6631
Registered user
Vines
I have bought my last 4 bikes from them and as previously said, not the cheapest but they do have a good team there at the moment and have always looked after me
Mike
I have bought my last 4 bikes from them and as previously said, not the cheapest but they do have a good team there at the moment and have always looked after me
Mike
I bought my bike from them in '04 and still go there for service, even though there are closer garages. Darren is a top guy and has always done his best at getting stuff through on warrenty.
iangough
Registered user
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2004
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Service is good, but i have had a mixed experience.
1. Rode in the rain to drop my bike off, only to be told my service slot was cancelled.
2. They picked the bike up from my house in the van as an apology.
3. Service cost is quite high, but they seem thorough unless you want them to detect any warranty items.
4. You have to specifically ask them to do warranty events.
5. You will have problems getting them on the phone. I had left 8 messsages over the course of a few days before i got a call back. This has improved over the past year though. They are understaffed.It's not fault of the people on the 'shop floor'
6. They do not argue if a part brakes and common sense dictates that it needs to be replaced under warranty or in good faith 'as it's a new bike'
7. If you have an intermitent problem, then they will not do the typical, "we looked at everything but could not find detect it" mentality. I had a knackered shock, they tested it for a couple of days, then did an overnight compression test. i then got a new one under warranty!
Anyway, I still use them...
1. Rode in the rain to drop my bike off, only to be told my service slot was cancelled.
2. They picked the bike up from my house in the van as an apology.
3. Service cost is quite high, but they seem thorough unless you want them to detect any warranty items.
4. You have to specifically ask them to do warranty events.
5. You will have problems getting them on the phone. I had left 8 messsages over the course of a few days before i got a call back. This has improved over the past year though. They are understaffed.It's not fault of the people on the 'shop floor'
6. They do not argue if a part brakes and common sense dictates that it needs to be replaced under warranty or in good faith 'as it's a new bike'
7. If you have an intermitent problem, then they will not do the typical, "we looked at everything but could not find detect it" mentality. I had a knackered shock, they tested it for a couple of days, then did an overnight compression test. i then got a new one under warranty!
Anyway, I still use them...
Their customer service in the service department used to be crap until Darren took over at which point it became jolly good. Pricey, but it is Guildford after all. Generally a nice bunch overall.
blackburnlee
Guest
Cheers fellas. I'm wondering who else to possibly use for my servicing next year for both the 11S as well as the 12GS. After using SPC in the past and CW more recently I'm curious to see what others in the South coast are like.
Vines sound like they're expensive but give you good service. Any other BMW dealers around the region that are any good?
Vines sound like they're expensive but give you good service. Any other BMW dealers around the region that are any good?
nigelp
Guest
If you ever need any clothing, then Penny at Vines is ace. She knows her stuff and she's really helpful.
Shame she rides a Susuzki
Shame she rides a Susuzki
My comments are similar to above in that having bought a F650GS and a more recently a GS1200 along with an excess of gear, I couldn't be happier and have never found them lacking. Darren & Spencer in service are top notch and always go the extra mile. Mike and Duncan in sales have let me test ride more bikes than I deserve. When ever the GS1800 Adventure launches in 2020, I'll buy one from then.
PS forgot to mention they do organise a cracking hog roast and my bike is booked in there next week for the addition of some PIAA lights..
Jeremy
PS forgot to mention they do organise a cracking hog roast and my bike is booked in there next week for the addition of some PIAA lights..
Jeremy
blackburnlee
Guest
Just booked my 12GS in on Friday the 13th (Hope it's a lucky one) to have some "Campaigns" (Read Recalls) carried out, the annual service done as well as having the horn looked at (It's stopped working for some reason).
Will let you how they perform though the chap I spoke to was nice and helpful so it's so far so good.
Will let you how they perform though the chap I spoke to was nice and helpful so it's so far so good.
Bigtwin
Guest
I have found Vines to be so bloody awful over nearly 3 years that I refuse to use them anymore, which is going some as I live just down the road from them. Just utterly rubbish service from having to fight over obvious warranty stuff, to not having the bike ready when they say, and so on and on. Nothing has ever gone smoothly there. The only plus side is a manager called Duncan Bell, who if you can get him involved, holds his hands up and sorts things out, common sense wise, and fast. The rest of them are clueless in my experience. If he leaves, they really will be shafted.
To clarify, I haven't actually had a problem with what they have done mechanically, when they have eventually done it - it's just getting through their simply staggering customer service ethic.
They do charge like a bull on speed though.
To clarify, I haven't actually had a problem with what they have done mechanically, when they have eventually done it - it's just getting through their simply staggering customer service ethic.
They do charge like a bull on speed though.
blackburnlee
Guest
Thanks Bigtwin. I'll let you know how I get on but the whole reason that I'm trying Vines when SPC is my closest dealer is for precisely the same reason that you've identified, that is that I'm cheesed off with them and felt as though my business (3 bikes from them since Jun 03 and plenty of other bits and pieces besides that) was being taken for granted. Indeed I was even told off by Bob (The guy who owns the place) for having posted something on this website that he didn't like.
Let's make this clear, I wasn't abusive (Wouldn't have made it through the moderator anyway) personal or economical with the facts in any way, merely pointed out what I wasn't happy with. All this to be told that he "Wasn't very impressed" and that if I thought that if I fancied I could take my bike (I was looking to trade-in my R1100s for my 12GS) to CW if they were so good.
All this and being told how to change gear "Ooh I wouldn't try clutchless gearchanges" by Tim in front of all and sundry when I took the 12GS in for it's 600 mile service finally persuaded me to take my business elsewhere.
A real shame as they're my closest dealer and I want to use them but as long as I'm spoken to in a manner such as this I'll take my hard-earned elsewhere. I'd love someone from SPC to actually speak to me about my grievences but thus far no joy...
Let's make this clear, I wasn't abusive (Wouldn't have made it through the moderator anyway) personal or economical with the facts in any way, merely pointed out what I wasn't happy with. All this to be told that he "Wasn't very impressed" and that if I thought that if I fancied I could take my bike (I was looking to trade-in my R1100s for my 12GS) to CW if they were so good.
All this and being told how to change gear "Ooh I wouldn't try clutchless gearchanges" by Tim in front of all and sundry when I took the 12GS in for it's 600 mile service finally persuaded me to take my business elsewhere.
A real shame as they're my closest dealer and I want to use them but as long as I'm spoken to in a manner such as this I'll take my hard-earned elsewhere. I'd love someone from SPC to actually speak to me about my grievences but thus far no joy...
My experience of SPC has been very disappointing. I bought a used low mileage 1150GS from them which was under BMW warranty. I took it back to them three times because the cam-chain was noisy (more so than normal) and each time got fobbed off. The service manager was not really very interested and the best he could come up with was he would have a look at it when it came in for a service, knowing that by that time the warranty would have expired. I stopped off at Vines on the way home and asked their service manager to listen to the bike, which he did and immediately diagnosed the problem as the left-hand cam-chain tensioner faulty. I booked it in with them and they changed it a week later under warranty. Needless to say Vines made a much better impression on me than SPC .Obviously the cynical amongst us could say that Vines were going the extra mile to win a customer away from their rivals but at least they did it and very good service it was.
Johnocyprus
Guest
I used Vines for an accident repair back in August and they were appalling. The bike had to go back twice until it was done properly. The posh showroom and "Would you like like a coffee, Sir?" just doesn't do anything for me , I just want my bike fixed/ serviced whatever for the minimal cost. After their first effort ( admittedly they tried to squeeze me in during the holiday period ) I took it to Steptoe for his opinion and he straight away told me what needed doing which I relayed back to Vines.
I think Vine's problem is a lack of experienced techies. It's the usual main dealer rip off. Usually a main dealer will have a service manager on maybe 20-25k with a car, with up to 10-15k more on a bonus if he meets his targets. Additionally, most of the service guys will be semi skilled who will get a few pounds extra if they find extra work on your bike. There will probably one good mechanic at each service dept who will do the difficult jobs, you'll be OK if he does your bike. The quicker they do the work the better their wages.At the end of the day the Service Dept is not there because they want to keep your bike on the road , they are there to relieve you of as much money as possible. You're much better off finding a genuine independent who understands his product. Like Steptoe....last year he put a clutch in my R80RT and there were problems which meant him spending a lot more time than expected on the bike but he didn't want to charge me for his extra time, just for the materials - impressive. A main dealer would no doubt have skinned me alive. Just wish Steptoe made better coffee.
I think Vine's problem is a lack of experienced techies. It's the usual main dealer rip off. Usually a main dealer will have a service manager on maybe 20-25k with a car, with up to 10-15k more on a bonus if he meets his targets. Additionally, most of the service guys will be semi skilled who will get a few pounds extra if they find extra work on your bike. There will probably one good mechanic at each service dept who will do the difficult jobs, you'll be OK if he does your bike. The quicker they do the work the better their wages.At the end of the day the Service Dept is not there because they want to keep your bike on the road , they are there to relieve you of as much money as possible. You're much better off finding a genuine independent who understands his product. Like Steptoe....last year he put a clutch in my R80RT and there were problems which meant him spending a lot more time than expected on the bike but he didn't want to charge me for his extra time, just for the materials - impressive. A main dealer would no doubt have skinned me alive. Just wish Steptoe made better coffee.
blackburnlee
Guest
Just picked up my K12s this afternoon. Vines were very good with Mike being helpful and up front with me.
Nice service guys! Keep it up.
Nice service guys! Keep it up.
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