Lack of repair manuals- Our Board is Trying-

[omega man]

From the April, 2025 issue of ON-


Thanks for your efforts!
OM

 

[pauls1150]

But with all the $$$$$ the corporate owners have, will they give a rodent's rear?

 

[omega man]

But with all the $$$$$ the corporate owners have, will they give a rodent's rear?

There has been many posts basically asking “What is our Board doing to help our lack of manuals cause”? This is evidence of their efforts.
This has been signed by not only the MOA, but also the BMW Car Club, the BMW RA and our friends to the north- BMW Clubs Canada.
BMW has been officially notified. What will come of it, I don’t know. It may take declining sales to get BMW’s attention.
Looks like a pretty strong statement to me.
OM

 

[oldcamper]

I appreciate the combined club’s efforts to communicate our collective concerns to corporate BMW, but confess I’m not very hopeful.

Given that a dealer installed replacement part can cost the bike owner as much as 10 times what a similar part might be purchased for on eBay or Amazon, I suspect neither the dealers or BMW are going to be eager to give up that captive source of profit anytime soon. FWIW, that’s also true for most brand car dealerships. Service is where the real money is made.

 

[kbasa]

My 2019 GS manual arrived on a USB stick from Europe yesterday. eBay provides. I think it was like $40 or something.

 

[omega man]

My 2019 GS manual arrived on a USB stick from Europe yesterday. eBay provides. I think it was like $40 or something.

I’m fairly sure that this debate is about legitimate, BMW supplied manuals.
Was your purchase from a legitimate BMW supplier or “aftermarket”?
OM

 

[r0ckrat]

I appreciate the combined club’s efforts to communicate our collective concerns to corporate BMW, but confess I’m not very hopeful.

Given that a dealer installed replacement part can cost the bike owner as much as 10 times what a similar part might be purchased for on eBay or Amazon, I suspect neither the dealers or BMW are going to be eager to give up that captive source of profit anytime soon. FWIW, that’s also true for most brand car dealerships. Service is where the real money is made.

Notice that they did not say that they wanted BMW to supply manuals for models that were "in active repair status" by dealers - they stressed that dealers were refusing to repair older models (my dealer and others near still work on classics, but many dealers refuse anything that's not OBD-compliant...) They are looking for info to repair models that are no longer making money for dealer service centers.

 

[motorhead1977]

TO me this is all about the "Show" that this letter presents, not about actually accomplishing anything. It's more important they appear to be doing something than actually accomplishing anything useful. My current Motorad product is the last one I'll buy unless the access to full on repair manuals in the same fashion as they were prior to July 2021 is provided by BMW.

 

[88bmwjeff]

I'm thankful and grateful for the effort that the board put in on this. They got together with three other groups to present our case. While some think it's more show than substance, I don't know what else they could do. The MOA, like most groups, has very little clout with BMW. So, I really don't know what else they could have done.

 

[jandhumphreyme]

I appreciate the effort as well, thank you.

 

[elvis]

I appreciate the effort as well, thank you.

Ditto.

 

[motorhead1977]

Not saying the effort is not appreciated. We all perform within the limits placed upon us. It's much safer that way. However we need to recognize it for exactly what it is despite of our hopes and wishes that it could be something more. Otherwise it's like complaining about poor or dangerous working conditions but not pushing to the utmost to have them changed. YMMV

 

[lee]

I'm thankful and grateful for the effort that the board put in on this. They got together with three other groups to present our case. While some think it's more show that substance, I don't know what else they could do. The MOA, like most groups, has very little clout with BMW. So, I really don't know what else they could have done.

I agree.

 

[adamchandler]

If you have not received your copy of the magazine yet, here are screen grabs from the digital edition:

 

[kbasa]

I’m fairly sure that this debate is about legitimate, BMW supplied manuals.
Was your purchase from a legitimate BMW supplier or “aftermarket”?
OM

Aftermarket. I agree that manuals should be available. I'm not going to wait until it gets resolved with BMW. That's just never going to happen with them. They're very protective of their IP.

I have a bike I'm riding and want to maintain. So aftermarket it is.

I solved for "fix my bike" instead of "get BMW to change their policy". If you want to work on your bike, it's not hard to get the documentation, but it's not coming from Munich any time soon.

 

[omega man]

Aftermarket. I agree that manuals should be available. I'm not going to wait until it gets resolved with BMW. That's just never going to happen with them. They're very protective of their IP.

I have a bike I'm riding and want to maintain. So aftermarket it is.

I solved for "fix my bike" instead of "get BMW to change their policy". If you want to work on your bike, it's not hard to get the documentation, but it's not coming from Munich any time soon.

No doubt this was bound to happen. Rather brave to publish that one has obtained fiercely guarded, copyrighted material.

OM

 

[omega man]

If you have not received your copy of the magazine yet, here are screen grabs from the digital edition:

View attachment 100670View attachment 100671

So much more betterer than my crappy photography Adam.
OM

 

[PGlaves]

Few people have been as dedicated to repairing our own motorcycles than I have been. So I am as in favor of obtaining proper repair manual information as anybody. But I will note that BMW is hardly alone in the position they have taken. The "right-to-repair" movement started with the farmers and their equipment and has spread to cars and trucks. BMW could be a leader but have chosen to be a follower of John Deere and others. I don't like it but it isn't just BMW.

 

[kbasa]

No doubt this was bound to happen. Rather brave to publish that one has obtained fiercely guarded, copyrighted material.

OM

The provider has sold hundreds, if not thousands of them, right out in the open on eBay. FWIW, I've purchased a factory manual for every different BMW model I've ever owned. I even have the factory book for my /2 and DVDs for some. I have a 2019 R1250GS I bought used, after BMW stopped selling owners manuals. I'm getting ready to retire and I need to be able to service my bike myself. I have the Pilz shift cam tool set arriving on Monday, so I needed a manual.

Sorry, BMW. You know I love you, but I'm not getting what I need from you in this 45 year long relationship anymore.

 

[kbasa]

Few people have been as dedicated to repairing our own motorcycles than I have been. So I am as in favor of obtaining proper repair manual information as anybody. But I will note that BMW is hardly alone in the position they have taken. The "right-to-repair" movement started with the farmers and their equipment and has spread to cars and trucks. BMW could be a leader but have chosen to be a follower of John Deere and others. I don't like it but it isn't just BMW.

I can't get a service manual from Porsche for my 2005 Boxster. So I have a bootleg copy of that manual, too.

It's absurd and contrary to how you maintain a healthy relationship with your clientele and future buyers.