chrisB
Guest
I will try to keep this as short as possible to avoid total boredom but it is important:
June 2005 - Purchased brand new shiny GS 1200
Take out BMW insurance and BMW shortfall Total cost = £750.00+ as recommended by dealer. I haven't had a bike for a while and let my no claims bonus lapse - idiot!!
August 2005 - Tour Normandy - Ace!!
November 11th 2005 -
Thieving B**tards force garage door and attempt to steal pride & joy - Thick twats can't get main door open so decide to kick locked bike over causing damage.
Garage insecure - contact dealer and have bike recovered for repair/safe keeping.
Contact Insurance company - BMW Motorrad - NIG really
November 12th
Dealer assesses bike & finds following damage:
Minor cosmetic scratches to various bits & bobs on Offside
Steering lock broken - causing damage to front frame member where lock pin engages with frame;
Now comes the important bit:
Dealer says front frame section needs replacing - Not a problem until you realise that the VIN plate is welded to the frame section on manufacture. This is a laser cut plate that is welded to the frame AFTER it has been manufactured.
The typeface and setting of the VIN number cannot be accurately replicated. Big problem on a 5 month old bike.
BMW motorrad insurance (NIG) wait almost 5 weeks before an assessor turns up who seems to know virtually nothing about the law & how to repair a motorcycle.
Solution: (NIG) + (Dealer)
Not a problem: we will replace the frame and hand engrave your original number on the new frame and everything will be fine:
ME: 'Oh no you won't because this represents a new frame says the DOT & DVLA and therefore the bike will have a marker on it. You cannot just replace major items on the bike that contain the VIN number at a whim. I know this 'cos I am a plod who investigates collisions, also and expert witness & fully qualified engineer
Well we think it is OK to do this says NIG
Fellow Plods: What a load of Bo***cks - If I saw any bike on a road with such a mickey mouse repair - it would be seized until we were satisfied that it was cosher & not a ringer.
So would I, that is the whole point of having VIn numbers etc.
DVLA & DOT - We agree with you sir - what is the point in having proper legislation to prevent theft & ringing if we are just going to ignore it when it suits.
I then contact BMW UK who say - not a problem - we will order a new component with your original number on from Germany - all sorted - but it will take about 8 weeks.
OK says I ......... 8 weeks later........
BMW Germany:.... get stuffed - we're not stopping the production line to make a new frame just for you my lad!!
ME: But BMW UK said it could be done
BMW germany: Tough it's not going to happen
Back to square one:
Dealer: Not a problem- we will revert tom our original plan and give you a certificate to say what has happened and everything will be just fine.
ME: Surely this will devalue the bike though says I.
Dealer: Oh no it will be a proper repair and everything
Me: OK then will you give me FULL market value for the bike after this repair 'cos I don't want it anymore & I will buy a new one.
Dealer: Err - No - we wouldn't want a bike like that ' cos we would have to sell it cheap:
So what now says I
NIG - I Know - Lets cut the old number off the old frame and weld it to the new frame - thats a great idea
Me: Can you do this accurately 'cos you will only get one chance as there isn't a great deal of metal to play with here?
Dealer: Err No!
DVLA: Hmmm - not really happy about that one either
NIG: Well we like this idea and you will have to take the chance or we can write the bike off at your request but if we do that you will get a lower payout.
ME: OK then I will claim the losses from my shortfall insurance
BMW Shortfall : Oh no you won't, we will only pay out the difference between market value & Invoice cost, tyou will have to stand the loss yourself :
ME: Phone call to BMW Motorrad Insurance
BMW Motorrad Insurance - Its not us Its NIG- we don't actually insure your bike NIG do.
ME: So why is your F**cking name all over the top of the insurance certificate then?
BMW Motorrad:
ME; Phone call to big wig at NIG
NIG:
January 2006 - Stalemate - bike gathering dust -
secret phone call - anonynous
'Chris, you really need to inspect the bike yourself 'cos the damage is pretty minor and this is getting out of hand.'
Me: to dealer:
I want' to see the bike myself and inspect this damage.
Dealer: Err OK
I Inspect bike - damage to frame is very minor & can be repaired easily without replacing frame:
What the F*** is going on here we have wasted all this time over a minor bit of damage just get it fixed I wan't my bike back ASAP:
Dealer: Err OK then
2 weeks later: Bike fixed & back on the road....
June 2006:
BMW Insurance: Dear sir, your policy for the follwing year will be £630.00 - Sorry about your claim etc etc etc
Me: YOU CAN **** off you set of B****RDS
Carole nash: Of Course sir, we fully sympathise with you situation - what a terrible service - we have a policy here for £430.00 - Sorry about the cost but we can't do much about the loss of no claims bonus etc.
Me: what does the policy cover?
Carole Nash: Everything sir including full EU cover, recovery etc etc. and in the event of a claim you will deal directly with us for proper service & cover.
ME: I'll have that then.
BMW: Dear sir... would you like us to find another underwriter for you as you appear not too happy with NIG.
ME:
Moral of this story:
I don't use the steering lock now - just big chains - Disk locks everywhere whenever I leave the bike.
It now takes me 20 mins to get the bike out of the garage and I have the keys!!
Questions:
Do I like the bike - YES
Would I change it? - NO
Am I satisfied with the service received from BMW - I think you know the answer to that one:
Caveat emptor!!
ChrisB
June 2005 - Purchased brand new shiny GS 1200
Take out BMW insurance and BMW shortfall Total cost = £750.00+ as recommended by dealer. I haven't had a bike for a while and let my no claims bonus lapse - idiot!!
August 2005 - Tour Normandy - Ace!!
November 11th 2005 -
Thieving B**tards force garage door and attempt to steal pride & joy - Thick twats can't get main door open so decide to kick locked bike over causing damage.
Garage insecure - contact dealer and have bike recovered for repair/safe keeping.
Contact Insurance company - BMW Motorrad - NIG really
November 12th
Dealer assesses bike & finds following damage:
Minor cosmetic scratches to various bits & bobs on Offside
Steering lock broken - causing damage to front frame member where lock pin engages with frame;
Now comes the important bit:
Dealer says front frame section needs replacing - Not a problem until you realise that the VIN plate is welded to the frame section on manufacture. This is a laser cut plate that is welded to the frame AFTER it has been manufactured.
The typeface and setting of the VIN number cannot be accurately replicated. Big problem on a 5 month old bike.
BMW motorrad insurance (NIG) wait almost 5 weeks before an assessor turns up who seems to know virtually nothing about the law & how to repair a motorcycle.
Solution: (NIG) + (Dealer)
Not a problem: we will replace the frame and hand engrave your original number on the new frame and everything will be fine:
ME: 'Oh no you won't because this represents a new frame says the DOT & DVLA and therefore the bike will have a marker on it. You cannot just replace major items on the bike that contain the VIN number at a whim. I know this 'cos I am a plod who investigates collisions, also and expert witness & fully qualified engineer
Well we think it is OK to do this says NIG
Fellow Plods: What a load of Bo***cks - If I saw any bike on a road with such a mickey mouse repair - it would be seized until we were satisfied that it was cosher & not a ringer.
So would I, that is the whole point of having VIn numbers etc.
DVLA & DOT - We agree with you sir - what is the point in having proper legislation to prevent theft & ringing if we are just going to ignore it when it suits.
I then contact BMW UK who say - not a problem - we will order a new component with your original number on from Germany - all sorted - but it will take about 8 weeks.
OK says I ......... 8 weeks later........
BMW Germany:.... get stuffed - we're not stopping the production line to make a new frame just for you my lad!!
ME: But BMW UK said it could be done
BMW germany: Tough it's not going to happen
Back to square one:
Dealer: Not a problem- we will revert tom our original plan and give you a certificate to say what has happened and everything will be just fine.
ME: Surely this will devalue the bike though says I.
Dealer: Oh no it will be a proper repair and everything
Me: OK then will you give me FULL market value for the bike after this repair 'cos I don't want it anymore & I will buy a new one.
Dealer: Err - No - we wouldn't want a bike like that ' cos we would have to sell it cheap:
So what now says I
NIG - I Know - Lets cut the old number off the old frame and weld it to the new frame - thats a great idea
Me: Can you do this accurately 'cos you will only get one chance as there isn't a great deal of metal to play with here?
Dealer: Err No!
DVLA: Hmmm - not really happy about that one either
NIG: Well we like this idea and you will have to take the chance or we can write the bike off at your request but if we do that you will get a lower payout.
ME: OK then I will claim the losses from my shortfall insurance
BMW Shortfall : Oh no you won't, we will only pay out the difference between market value & Invoice cost, tyou will have to stand the loss yourself :
ME: Phone call to BMW Motorrad Insurance
BMW Motorrad Insurance - Its not us Its NIG- we don't actually insure your bike NIG do.
ME: So why is your F**cking name all over the top of the insurance certificate then?
BMW Motorrad:
ME; Phone call to big wig at NIG
NIG:
January 2006 - Stalemate - bike gathering dust -
secret phone call - anonynous
'Chris, you really need to inspect the bike yourself 'cos the damage is pretty minor and this is getting out of hand.'
Me: to dealer:
I want' to see the bike myself and inspect this damage.
Dealer: Err OK
I Inspect bike - damage to frame is very minor & can be repaired easily without replacing frame:
What the F*** is going on here
we have wasted all this time over a minor bit of damage just get it fixed I wan't my bike back ASAP:Dealer: Err OK then
2 weeks later: Bike fixed & back on the road....
June 2006:
BMW Insurance: Dear sir, your policy for the follwing year will be £630.00 - Sorry about your claim etc etc etc
Me: YOU CAN **** off you set of B****RDS
Carole nash: Of Course sir, we fully sympathise with you situation - what a terrible service - we have a policy here for £430.00 - Sorry about the cost but we can't do much about the loss of no claims bonus etc.
Me: what does the policy cover?
Carole Nash: Everything sir including full EU cover, recovery etc etc. and in the event of a claim you will deal directly with us for proper service & cover.
ME: I'll have that then.
BMW: Dear sir... would you like us to find another underwriter for you as you appear not too happy with NIG.
ME:
Moral of this story:
I don't use the steering lock now - just big chains - Disk locks everywhere whenever I leave the bike.
It now takes me 20 mins to get the bike out of the garage and I have the keys!!
Questions:
Do I like the bike - YES
Would I change it? - NO
Am I satisfied with the service received from BMW - I think you know the answer to that one:
Caveat emptor!!
ChrisB
