36654
New member
The current dealership / distributor relationship does seem to be unhealthy. In addition, I'm not sure that subsidizing the dealership to absorb the distributor's demands is a long term solution.
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Supporting My Local BMW Dealers
- Thread starter bobs_one
- Start date
The current dealership / distributor relationship does seem to be unhealthy. In addition, I'm not sure that subsidizing the dealership to absorb the distributor's demands is a long term solution.
22600
rsbeemer
Seems you only have three choices
This is what I think since you asked.
1. Use a BMW dealer and pay the price. I do agree they charge much even for the simple work. Most dealers I have come across are good guys though. I was up in Mt. a few years ago on a '04 1150rs I had just purchased and needed to change the oil. The dealer there in Missoula wanted an arm and a leg for the oil and work. I told him I would have to pass that I was on a budget at the time. He told me no problem, I will let you use my oil pan and you can change it in the parking lot, which I thanked him and I did.
2. Take your bike to a non-bmw mechanic that you trust or has been referred to you by someone you trust. There are lots of good mechanics out there who can work on bmw's and charge less as they have less overhead. They will probably even encourage you to get the parts which will save you some dough.
3. Learn to do the work yourself. I have only owned three bikes younger than a 1980 bmw and when I realized that I could not work on them; I sold em. None of my older bikes I have owned have been to a dealer in over 30 years. And yes my bike runs fine and I ride as often as I feel like it.
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This is what I think since you asked.
1. Use a BMW dealer and pay the price. I do agree they charge much even for the simple work. Most dealers I have come across are good guys though. I was up in Mt. a few years ago on a '04 1150rs I had just purchased and needed to change the oil. The dealer there in Missoula wanted an arm and a leg for the oil and work. I told him I would have to pass that I was on a budget at the time. He told me no problem, I will let you use my oil pan and you can change it in the parking lot, which I thanked him and I did.
2. Take your bike to a non-bmw mechanic that you trust or has been referred to you by someone you trust. There are lots of good mechanics out there who can work on bmw's and charge less as they have less overhead. They will probably even encourage you to get the parts which will save you some dough.
3. Learn to do the work yourself. I have only owned three bikes younger than a 1980 bmw and when I realized that I could not work on them; I sold em. None of my older bikes I have owned have been to a dealer in over 30 years. And yes my bike runs fine and I ride as often as I feel like it.
36654
New member
I'm happy, I think...
Yesterday, I had the 6K service done on my 2016 RS and was pleasantly surprised at the moderate cost. However, at closer inspection, the costs have been constrained by changing the service intervals. Valve checks and final drive lube changes are now 12K items and the transmission lube change went away with the wet-clutch. Perhaps, it's a new world where final drive failures have been cured and the spline shaft lube designed away.
Yesterday, I had the 6K service done on my 2016 RS and was pleasantly surprised at the moderate cost. However, at closer inspection, the costs have been constrained by changing the service intervals. Valve checks and final drive lube changes are now 12K items and the transmission lube change went away with the wet-clutch. Perhaps, it's a new world where final drive failures have been cured and the spline shaft lube designed away.
therideistheway
therideistheway
Dealer Inflated Prices
Hi, Bob. Yeah, this is always a difficult question. I brought it up to the BMW service manager where I have our BMWs serviced and he actually agreed that most prices are over-inflated. He also said that, at 100$ USD per hour, labor is very high at BMW dealers. (The Republic of) Southern California is within a day's ride from where we are, and there's a multi-brand shop there that I'm going to try for some things where special BMW tools or techniques aren't necessary. For example, if I were to have a transmission rebuilt, I'd go to BMW, but for tire changes, pressure sensor replacements, oil changes that I don't want to do myself (I do most of them myself - see below), and other like items, I'm going to try out this multi-brand shop. I'll post the name and contact info after I verify it.
We as BMW riders and customers should have the option to make smart choices for service work. BMW realizes this and complies with US law, where an owner can perform in-warranty maintenance if the owner documents the process with receipts and a logbook. BMW will honor that work as if performed by a certified BMW dealer without voiding the warranty. Check with your BMW service manager for details.
Why do I perform oil changes myself when I have time? Most mechanics, even the good ones, usually over-tighten the oil drain bolt (T=41 nm on a GSAw) so that King Kong, on his very best day, couldn't remove it. That's why I like to do oil and filter changes myself. I use a torque wrench and do it right, and I save 175USD on labor in the process. Air filter replacement is another simple job we as riders can do ourselves instead of paying huge labor costs just to loosen and tighten some screws.
In summary, I'd suggest finding a reliable shop that can perform the low-level maintenance items, and then take your machine to BMW for things that are more complex or critical. If BMW really wants us to spend our money at their dealer service centers, they'll lower prices to compete with the independents to attract our business. But I'm sure I won't see that happen in my lifetime.
Ride on!
-Wolfgang #200025
therideistheway@gmail.com
Hi, Bob. Yeah, this is always a difficult question. I brought it up to the BMW service manager where I have our BMWs serviced and he actually agreed that most prices are over-inflated. He also said that, at 100$ USD per hour, labor is very high at BMW dealers. (The Republic of) Southern California is within a day's ride from where we are, and there's a multi-brand shop there that I'm going to try for some things where special BMW tools or techniques aren't necessary. For example, if I were to have a transmission rebuilt, I'd go to BMW, but for tire changes, pressure sensor replacements, oil changes that I don't want to do myself (I do most of them myself - see below), and other like items, I'm going to try out this multi-brand shop. I'll post the name and contact info after I verify it.
We as BMW riders and customers should have the option to make smart choices for service work. BMW realizes this and complies with US law, where an owner can perform in-warranty maintenance if the owner documents the process with receipts and a logbook. BMW will honor that work as if performed by a certified BMW dealer without voiding the warranty. Check with your BMW service manager for details.
Why do I perform oil changes myself when I have time? Most mechanics, even the good ones, usually over-tighten the oil drain bolt (T=41 nm on a GSAw) so that King Kong, on his very best day, couldn't remove it. That's why I like to do oil and filter changes myself. I use a torque wrench and do it right, and I save 175USD on labor in the process. Air filter replacement is another simple job we as riders can do ourselves instead of paying huge labor costs just to loosen and tighten some screws.
In summary, I'd suggest finding a reliable shop that can perform the low-level maintenance items, and then take your machine to BMW for things that are more complex or critical. If BMW really wants us to spend our money at their dealer service centers, they'll lower prices to compete with the independents to attract our business. But I'm sure I won't see that happen in my lifetime.
Ride on!
-Wolfgang #200025
therideistheway@gmail.com
therideistheway
therideistheway
It's All About Trust and Value
Anton, I agree with your observations. For us, it's always about finding trust, knowledge, and skills as a combined value package that we are willing to pay for. Everyone has strengths, things they're good at. My wife and I aren't very skilled mechanically so we look for the Big Three, Trust, Knowledge, and Skills at fair - not bargain-basement! - prices. We want to pay fair or sometimes slightly elevated prices to service providers who have those qualities so they can prosper and stay in business for a long time. We also believe in tipping the technicians who are competent and perform well. This is the type of customer loyalty we show for great service providers. If, on the other hand, the service is bad for any reason, we discuss the problem at the technician and service manager levels once and only once. If it happens again, we find another service provider.
Obviously not everyone likes or wants the extra expenses of doing business this way, but but we can do it at this time in our lives, so that's how we roll. And it solves the inconvenience, pain, and delays our mechanical incompetence causes, keeping us on the road (oorah!!) instead of under the machines. The results are a win-win for everyone involved.
By the way, I change the oil and filter, air filter, and rear end gear oil on our motors myself. I do this like a calming meditation and much sooner than recommended. When our engines are (rarely) rebuilt or inspected, they look perfect even with 200K+ miles!
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Anton, I agree with your observations. For us, it's always about finding trust, knowledge, and skills as a combined value package that we are willing to pay for. Everyone has strengths, things they're good at. My wife and I aren't very skilled mechanically so we look for the Big Three, Trust, Knowledge, and Skills at fair - not bargain-basement! - prices. We want to pay fair or sometimes slightly elevated prices to service providers who have those qualities so they can prosper and stay in business for a long time. We also believe in tipping the technicians who are competent and perform well. This is the type of customer loyalty we show for great service providers. If, on the other hand, the service is bad for any reason, we discuss the problem at the technician and service manager levels once and only once. If it happens again, we find another service provider.
Obviously not everyone likes or wants the extra expenses of doing business this way, but but we can do it at this time in our lives, so that's how we roll. And it solves the inconvenience, pain, and delays our mechanical incompetence causes, keeping us on the road (oorah!!) instead of under the machines. The results are a win-win for everyone involved.
By the way, I change the oil and filter, air filter, and rear end gear oil on our motors myself. I do this like a calming meditation and much sooner than recommended. When our engines are (rarely) rebuilt or inspected, they look perfect even with 200K+ miles!
your money your choice
After reading a great deal of this thread I am not surprised it can tend to wander. Paul's right when it come s to the price of tires vs what it takes to run a shop.
Case in Point: My local dealer is a small shop that is one of the best motorcycle shops I've found. It is a local one owner shop here in NW Arkansas. When I ran into a similar issue as the Original Poster (OP) I asked about the high tire pricing. They were high! The owner was very straight forward - he just can't buy tires in bulk to get the discount. He has to go through a distributor bc his shop's not big enough for a trailer load of tires. I appreciate his candor. But he will mount a tire for me if I were to show up at his door with a flat on my rim.
As for areas where they excel - for mechanical work there is no one I trust more. The owners knowledge, experience and shop training are all excellent. When I watch how quickly and effortlessly he dissembles my R1100RT or '14 1200 I am reminded that practice makes permanent and familiarity of working on bikes day after day instill a knowledge most of us don't have time to possess. I read so often about people struggling to get there bikes apart and back together. With these guys it's second nature. And for that I will gladly pay.
Yes, I have No Mar for tires, change my own oils, etc but that's about all I want to do on the newer bikes. My time is consumed by work and I want to ride whenever I can. After flying all over the country the last thing I want to do is to come home and spend my free time pulling apart a bike and putting it back together (even if I were as skilled as some of the demigods on this forum!).
Get to know your dealer, your mechanics, and the staff (not just the sales guy). Bring them donuts (top cases help). See if you can watch them work. Heck, once when short handed the owner was replacing the HES on my '01 RT and a parts order had landed at the BMW auto shop nearby. I asked him not to leave my bike and that I'd take the shop truck to fetch it. "Key's are by the door" was his response. We spent the rest of the morning talking about old Texas swing music and laughing. It's my experience that dealers are great. This one is exceptoinal. Perhaps it's my area of the country, perhaps it's an easy going style. Either way - I'll support them and appreciate them whenever I am able.
CW
After reading a great deal of this thread I am not surprised it can tend to wander. Paul's right when it come s to the price of tires vs what it takes to run a shop.
Case in Point: My local dealer is a small shop that is one of the best motorcycle shops I've found. It is a local one owner shop here in NW Arkansas. When I ran into a similar issue as the Original Poster (OP) I asked about the high tire pricing. They were high! The owner was very straight forward - he just can't buy tires in bulk to get the discount. He has to go through a distributor bc his shop's not big enough for a trailer load of tires. I appreciate his candor. But he will mount a tire for me if I were to show up at his door with a flat on my rim.
As for areas where they excel - for mechanical work there is no one I trust more. The owners knowledge, experience and shop training are all excellent. When I watch how quickly and effortlessly he dissembles my R1100RT or '14 1200 I am reminded that practice makes permanent and familiarity of working on bikes day after day instill a knowledge most of us don't have time to possess. I read so often about people struggling to get there bikes apart and back together. With these guys it's second nature. And for that I will gladly pay.
Yes, I have No Mar for tires, change my own oils, etc but that's about all I want to do on the newer bikes. My time is consumed by work and I want to ride whenever I can. After flying all over the country the last thing I want to do is to come home and spend my free time pulling apart a bike and putting it back together (even if I were as skilled as some of the demigods on this forum!).
Get to know your dealer, your mechanics, and the staff (not just the sales guy). Bring them donuts (top cases help). See if you can watch them work. Heck, once when short handed the owner was replacing the HES on my '01 RT and a parts order had landed at the BMW auto shop nearby. I asked him not to leave my bike and that I'd take the shop truck to fetch it. "Key's are by the door" was his response. We spent the rest of the morning talking about old Texas swing music and laughing. It's my experience that dealers are great. This one is exceptoinal. Perhaps it's my area of the country, perhaps it's an easy going style. Either way - I'll support them and appreciate them whenever I am able.
CW
