What is the Norm for BMW dealers?

Big Derek

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Lat year I contacted my local BMW dealer who had serviced my 2007 1200 GSA and asked them for a trade in price against a new 2009 1200 GSA loaded with prem and dyn pack. To which they gave me a price and a availabilty time.

After buying a new BMW X5 suv in January i noticed that the BMW Rochadale dealer also had a bike section mottorad dealership in Manchester some 80miles away from my home. Long story short after asking them for a price I got a better deal off them and they had the bike available within 7 days so I commited to buy the new 2009 trading in as PX my 2007 1200 GSA and collected the bike about 4 wks ago. As it is now ready for it's 600 mile first service, whilst out with other Tossers yesterday on a local IAM ride we went to my local dealer(called something to do with a pot of gold at the end of one?)

Where after asking I was told the first service is FREE? "O you have to pay for the fluids as in oil and the filter? Ok no probs " "O there is a Hours labour charge ? is that the same as all dealers I asked ? and was told no it can be different at each dealer?:confused:

Then they informed me that as I had not bought the bike from them(remember they could not suppliy the bike at the time of asking even if i had agreed to their 2.5k higher ex price?) it would be 2HRS labour charge!:confused: How can it suddenly change ? :confused:" O Well the dealer who sold you the bike has a margin in it already for the first service. So take it back to them?

I then talked to the shop MGR who said the same So my question is if BMW give the dealers a margin to be included in the first so called FREE service why is it not transferable from dealer to dealer. "Think about it you could have a chap go all the way to LONDON from Scotland to purchase his bike. Then he has to go all the way back for a first service or forget his so called saving.

I dont understand it maybe its me? But what is the norm? Also it's not such a good way to keep customers as if and when I go back to Manchester I may well strike up a relationship and continue to go there for my servicing and take friends and buy accessories clothing etc etc.

thoughts?:confused:

Big D
 
You'll probably find it's R***bows way of saying "The other dealer wasn't too far away for you to purchase the bike off them....so p**s off and get your free service off 'em too"
:nenau
 
AFAIK it's the supplying dealer who gives a reduction on the first service price.

Probably something to do with the sales department not stiffing the service department.
 
You'll probably find it's R***bows way of saying "The other dealer wasn't too far away for you to purchase the bike off them....so p**s off and get your free service off 'em too"
:nenau

as i said its a bit hard to buy what they dont have to sell?
 
as i said its a bit hard to buy what they dont have to sell?


That maybe because they're a very good dealer and have sold all their bikes to faithfull/regular customers, even at their overpriced £2.5k premuim.
That's also why they might have to charge you for the servicing, to fit you in amongst all the other free services, you can't expect them to fit you in ahead of and do for free what their customers have paid for in the buying price while supporting their local dealer. :D

What's wrong with the dealer you bought the bike and your X5 from for servicing ?.
 
Yes as a norm the dealer you buy off subsidises your first service however I always use a free first service as part of the deal when I buy a new bike.

At my dealer they tried to charge me the 'subsidised' standard £100 first service until I politely showed them my sales invoice :D
 
Its all in the negociations at point of sale. Got mine free from Pidcocks because that is what I asked for and got. :thumb
 
An attempt to clarify the situation. If you purchased the bike from dealer A & then return it there for its first service then you usually pay for the fluids used plus 1hrs labour, The labour is discounted from its usual time of 2 and a bit hours and is factored in to the purchase price (most dealers follow this practise however for some unknown reason some do not).
If you purchase your bike from dealer A and take it to dealer B for its 1st service then dealer B will charge you the full cost of the service, this has always been the case.
If your dealer was unable to supply you a bike at the time it may be due to the fact that they had no available stock at the time due to the fact that dealers have a forward ordering system in use & cannot always guarantee immediate delivery. Your supplying dealer may well have had the spec you required already in stock as he will have specced various bikes previously when he was forward ordering.
 
I always do the deal for the first service at the point of sale. Last time I agreed to £100. I've heard of people getting charged the "true cost" at £250.
 
BMW recommend ...........

I know this subject is raised many times and there have been many attempts to find the right answer, so here's mine.

BMWs recommended OTR price includes 1 years Road Fund Licence, First Registration Fee, Number Plates and a Free Running In Service, however, its a recommendation and for the same reasons as they can't force dealers to sell at list price, they can't enforce a free service is included.

Most dealers will vary, at Bahnstormer we will only ask you to pay for the oils & filter on any bike* we supply as its considered to be part of our cost of sale.

Often we hear of folk going off to other dealers to save a few quid on the purchase, only to be hit for a couple of hundred pounds by the same supplying dealer, charging the full cost of the 600 mile service. Something they never reveal at time of sale.

I hope this helps.

*excludes G450X
 
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What sort of engine in this day and age should need to back for servicing after just 600 miles? It's hardly wear and tear. - If it needs these things checking and adjusting so soon after PDI surely that's a BMW quality issue and should be put right foc within the purchase price of a ten grand bike.

My car (BMW) didn't need the bonnet opening for 20K and I've thrashed the nuts off it from day 1
 
An attempt to clarify the situation. If you purchased the bike from dealer A & then return it there for its first service then you usually pay for the fluids used plus 1hrs labour, The labour is discounted from its usual time of 2 and a bit hours and is factored in to the purchase price (most dealers follow this practise however for some unknown reason some do not).
If you purchase your bike from dealer A and take it to dealer B for its 1st service then dealer B will charge you the full cost of the service, this has always been the case.
If your dealer was unable to supply you a bike at the time it may be due to the fact that they had no available stock at the time due to the fact that dealers have a forward ordering system in use & cannot always guarantee immediate delivery. Your supplying dealer may well have had the spec you required already in stock as he will have specced various bikes previously when he was forward ordering.


Thanks for that skywalker I can see what its all about now its different than Goldwings and Harleys way of working so now I know I can deal with it.

cheers
D
 
[QUOTE

What's wrong with the dealer you bought the bike and your X5 from for servicing ?.[/QUOTE]

There is nowt wrong just the travel time but now I understand how BMW work I will sort it, just not used to how their system wks. Its a service issue/sometimes being used as a sales tool.

No probs I bought a Mercedes once that included the first 3 services a spart of the price!

Big D:)
 
[QUOTE

What's wrong with the dealer you bought the bike and your X5 from for servicing ?.



Having listend to the comments re my origional question "What is the Norm re first service? I went this morning 80 miles to Manchester back to the dealer who sold my the 2009 GSA. And am I glad I did they were fantastic, far better reception than I get in my so local dealer.:thumb2 I can't recommend them highly enough! They were spot on introduced me to the Fitter Lee who did the work on my bike, Sales staff were friendly and had a laugh and were clued up too.

Not toffee nose and stuck up an ddisinterested like some I could mention!

They even sent out to the local cafe! and had a couple of Full English breakfasts (with upgrades) if you wished delivered to us in th eshop waiting area,gave us steel cutlery and salt and pepepr sauce etc . Hot coffe, Tea,pop, even Cookies were all readilly available FOC!!!!!!

And wait for it all this stuff about dealerships being different and charging up to £250 for the first service.... "Yes they toqued the heads "yes they do the full recomended BMW service plan... and "Yes I had to pay for the Oil and Filter.

But I did not have to pay 1 hour or as my Local dealer who is recomended? :nenau2.5hrs? plus oil etc.....

All I had to cough up was £10.00 for two massive breakfasts(No they were not both for me) I had a friend ride over with me on his bike.:thumb2

And my BMW bill was £49.55 INC VAT!!
Nice one I say very fair! Good luck to the Team I for one will be back for more
:beerjug:

Here is the dealer and so far so GOOD!

Williams Motorcycles
326 Chester Road
Old Trafford
Manchester
M16 9EZ

Tel: 0845 194 8669
Fax: 0161 907 0341
[email protected]

Big D:)
 
They even sent out to the local cafe! and had a couple of Full English breakfasts (with upgrades) if you wished delivered to us in th eshop waiting area,)

This only applies to the GS model and it's pie eating owners, any other model of bike has a bowl of muesli and a carrot juice.
 
I bet they lost more money on that deal than RBS or HBOS.
Does Sir Fred Goodwin work in the sales dept??:blast
 


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