New dealer in New Orleans area; anyone have experience?

[JayElDee]

I received the recall letter telling me that now the parts are in and to make an appointment for the work. But, where to bring my 2009 r12r?
The two choices are BMW of Baton Rouge which means tying up a Saturday and riding 75 miles each way, but I would deal with the service guys I know and trust, and who know me.
VS
the new kid in town, Halls Motosports, who have since late January become BMW certified and are a dealer--as well as for Yamaha and Suzuki. They are only about 15-20 minutes away, but at this time are to me an unknown quantity quality wise.
My gut tells me to go to Baton Rouge, but I write this to see if anyone here has had service dealings with Halls and can advise yay or nay on having the recall work done there (as well as changing out an alt belt).

Appreciate any info and thanks

John

 

[martyhill]

The parts are in at both places? Baton Rouge charged me $95 to install a rear tire on my 12GS while on a cross country trip. Glad you like them. I'd go to the nearest place for the wty work.

 

[JayElDee]

I was charged ~~300 for a replacement, a Z6, in Kerrville Tx, at the Yamaha dealer back in January. I think many places charge their hourly rate and it isn't cheap. I know the hourly rate at the new place was 100/hr in January and in BR it was lower--prob 95. But, your experience is why I change my tires myself.

Don't know if they both have the parts, but my concern is are they up to speed in the experience dept? Removing the tank is not that hard/technical, but it can be done wrong, and I have lots of wiring for farkles heading along there. I have a west coast trip coming quickly and I do not want to suddenly smell or feel gas somewhere between Lamesa and Levelland.

 

[lkchris]

I'd initially always mistrust a multi-line dealer, moreso a new one.

To attract BMW people they should make available resumes of their technicians.

My experience is unique and maybe not useful, however.

For many years we had the 2nd longest in business BMW dealer in the USA and it was a multi-line dealer and didn't really have the skill to do an oil change correctly.

Now we have a combined BMW car and bike dealer and I'd easily bet no one can name a better bike dealer.

 

[osbornk]

Since it is warranty work, I would try the new dealer so you can get a feel for the quality of their work and see if you like the way they treat you. The new dealer in the Roanoke, Va area has turned out to be a good place to go.

 

[PGlaves]

New dealers can't become good dealers without good customers.

I tend to assume that any dealer is a good dealer unless and until they prove otherwise.

 

[weschmann]

I received the recall letter telling me that now the parts are in and to make an appointment for the work. But, where to bring my 2009 r12r?
The two choices are BMW of Baton Rouge which means tying up a Saturday and riding 75 miles each way, but I would deal with the service guys I know and trust, and who know me.
VS
the new kid in town, Halls Motosports, who have since late January become BMW certified and are a dealer--as well as for Yamaha and Suzuki. They are only about 15-20 minutes away, but at this time are to me an unknown quantity quality wise.
My gut tells me to go to Baton Rouge, but I write this to see if anyone here has had service dealings with Halls and can advise yay or nay on having the recall work done there (as well as changing out an alt belt).

Appreciate any info and thanks

John

Isn't it obvious that the 75 mile ride will bring more smiles than a 10 mile ride? I'd go for the Baton Rouge dealer just to justify the longer time spent riding on a Saturday..... I just replaced a pair of waders at Cabela's in St. Louis under warranty, which is a 125 mile round trip, and they had to order the replacement size. They would have mailed it to my home, but I opted to pick up, just for the excuse for another great ride in the sun in a couple of days, just to justify another ride....But, of course, I'm in the retired and redirected phase of my life, so any excuse to get on the bike is welcomed.....Oh wait, I think I just heard a blue bird singing two counties away..... guess I'll have to jump on the bike with the camera to get a first of the season pic.....See ya!

 

[ka5ysy]

If you come to Baton Rouge, you get to run LA-22 both ways and have a lot of fun, plus will be able to hit Middendorff's for lunch or early dinner. If you want to eat around BTR, lots of possibilities over on Siegen Lane, Hooters, Twin Peaks, T.J. Ribs, etc.. Plus, you can test ride some other stuff while you wait. Clark has lots of goodies to play with right now. If you come on Saturday, Jim usually cooks something good for lunch. Be careful of his hot sauce though. He has some seriously hot peppers he cultivates. The mouth you save might be your own

Just curious: You said the recall letter said the parts are in. Who sent that to you, and where did they say the parts were actually "in" ?

 

[JayElDee]

Thanks for the varied advice

The guys in BR are nice guys and do good work, but I will not have the time to take the scenic route; it will be a blast up and down miserable I 10. I will get my ride fix starting 5/10 when I leave for California for a couple of weeks via mostly backroads; and yes the eats on a Saturday morning are often very tasty.

If I were not getting ready to get on the bike and ride prob 6k+ miles I'd be willing to try the new guys and give them a chance, but without some real world experience ...
I will prob be one of the early fixes wherever I go, and I want to be as certain as possible it is repaired right the first (and only) time. I suppose I can make a detour to one of the Sandias if push comes to shove.

Came in the same type envelop that the recall notice came in, from BMW MOtorrad" and is dated "April 2014."

It does not get dealer specific re the parts availability, just saying that they "are in."

 

[bc1100s]

If I were not getting ready to get on the bike and ride prob 6k+ miles I'd be willing to try the new guys and give them a chance, but without some real world experience ...

Leaving on a big trip May 10th? In that case, you'd better call the Baton Rouge dealer NOW as there very well could be a waiting list to get this fix done. With them being so far away, its probably not practical for you to drop off your bike and pick it up when its done.

The dealer closer to you, however, may be more flexible and, if they've been around for a few years selling other motorcycles, are probably competent in repairing them. I mean, working on BMWs isn't a black art, is it?

 

[PGlaves]

Thanks for the varied advice
If I were not getting ready to get on the bike and ride prob 6k+ miles I'd be willing to try the new guys and give them a chance, but without some real world experience ...
I will prob be one of the early fixes wherever I go, and I want to be as certain as possible it is repaired right the first (and only) time.

I'm not at all sure what recall the OP is talking about but more or less thought it is the fuel pump flange crack recall. If so they are going to take off a piece of body plastic, look at the fuel pump, and then either replace the pump or sorta glue a metal ring around the plastic output port on the pump. If this is the recall we are talking about I don't think it takes a high level of skill and sophistication to accomplish it.

 

[AntonLargiader]

I would not shy away from the new store. Dealerships have staffing requirements set by NA. The techs have to be certified, meaning they've been through Service School and probably have prior MC experience. They can run the diagnostic computer and all of that, there is at least one guy trained on rebuilding engines/transmissions/final drives, etc. They are not new guys who just walked in off the street and were bagging groceries last week. They may not have been working on BMWs for decades, but everyone here realizes that inspecting and replacing the fuel pump is not rocket science. Some fairing screws, a BMW tool to grab the flange collar, a torque spec, whatever.

 

[JayElDee]

Yes, the flange/fuel pump recall, sorry, should have made that clearer.
Just received the "parts in" letter Saturday, so today, Tuesday, is the first day I can act on making an appt.

 

[motodan]

I would not shy away from the new store. Dealerships have staffing requirements set by NA. The techs have to be certified, meaning they've been through Service School and probably have prior MC experience. They can run the diagnostic computer and all of that, there is at least one guy trained on rebuilding engines/transmissions/final drives, etc. They are not new guys who just walked in off the street and were bagging groceries last week. They may not have been working on BMWs for decades, but everyone here realizes that inspecting and replacing the fuel pump is not rocket science. Some fairing screws, a BMW tool to grab the flange collar, a torque spec, whatever.

For the most part, I agree. However, I've known BMW NA to look the other way on there being a Master Tech in house. I saw it go on for a few years at a dealership. BMW Rep kept pushing for requirements to be fulfilled, but dealership only promised they would...and never did. Some very poor work was done at that dealership...there was a lot of guessing with much hit and miss work going on. Dealership is gone now...and the Rep, promoted to a New Jersey headquarters admin job. So is life.

If in question, ask to see certificates of their mechanics, which my dealer gladly posts at his service desk.

 

[JayElDee]

well, the die is cast...made an appt for Baton Rouge next Tuesday am. I am told that if just a reinforcement is needed they have the parts, but if the fuel pump is required, it will need ordering. They said that there are criteria for replacement of the fuel pump that includes the "depth" of any cracks on the flange.

Lots of advice here and all valid and appreciated, but no one who has actually been to the new dealer.
So, I looked at reviews on various sites re the dealership and its sister store; it was comparing apples to oranges, I know, because the reviews were not at all specific about getting a BMW motorcycle serviced there.
Decided I wanted to go to BR.
I will try them in the future most likely, but not in such a time critical situation.

Thanks again for all the recs tho.

John