What do you do when the dealer says they don't service 20 year old bikes?

[Blueman]

Just called my local BMW dealer to schedule a 62,000 mile Inspection on my 2004 R1150RT. He said they don't do work on older bikes as all the techs are trained on the newer models. I change the engine, gear and rear drive oil but not prepared to do other procedures.

Are you aware of any independent mechanics in the central Indiana area that will work on "older" BMW's?

Thanks, as always, for the advice.

 

[20774]

Check this list out:

Independent BMW Mechanics - The Internet BMW Riders

Independent BMW motorcycle mechanics in the USA and Canada

ibmwr.org

Guenther West is a well respected mechanic. Not exactly central though.

 

[omega man]

There are a lot of Oilhead owners that love that generation of bike and do their own work…… They seem to be completely serviceable. You might check for local clubs and see if they have “Tech-Days” which, if you can’t get the actual service done, you can probably catch a name to try.
Hopefully an active Oilhead owner will chime in with more information.
Let us know how you make out.
OM

 

[kbasa]

YouTube Video University provides.

 

[pauls1150]

In the Marketplace, in the "Everything Else" section, a guy is selling his DVD service manual...

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

The 1150's are actually easy to work on and a few instructional video's should get you on your way. It is amazing to me that some dealers can't or won't work on bikes older then X years. Meanwhile the recalls on the "latest and greatest" keep rolling in.... Pun intended....

 

[willhawks51]

Just called my local BMW dealer to schedule a 62,000 mile Inspection on my 2004 R1150RT. He said they don't do work on older bikes as all the techs are trained on the newer models. I change the engine, gear and rear drive oil but not prepared to do other procedures.

Are you aware of any independent mechanics in the central Indiana area that will work on "older" BMW's?

Thanks, as always, for the advice.

Find a new dealer and don't accept the We don't work on 20 year old motorcycles BS, My dealer (Hermys BMW, Port Clinton, PA, even works on the R50,R60,R69 Rubber Cows)

 

[dduelin]

Sorry this is becoming very common among brands and not just motorcycles.

 

[oldcamper]

Just called my local BMW dealer to schedule a 62,000 mile Inspection on my 2004 R1150RT. He said they don't do work on older bikes as all the techs are trained on the newer models. I change the engine, gear and rear drive oil but not prepared to do other procedures.

Are you aware of any independent mechanics in the central Indiana area that will work on "older" BMW's?

Thanks, as always, for the advice.

Big dealers don’t want to assume the responsibility for working on older stuff. I’m guessing your dealer knows of an independent shop in the area that does work on older bikes and probably buys parts from the local dealer. I’d ask them for a recommendation.

 

[brownie0486]

Big dealers don’t want to assume the responsibility for working on older stuff. I’m guessing your dealer knows of an independent shop in the area that does work on older bikes and probably buys parts from the local dealer. I’d ask them for a recommendation.

First thing I did when I bought the GS in 2018 [ my second beemer but the first was in 87 a long time before that ] was search for a private mechanic. Took 20 minutes to find the main guy I've used since on 3 more beemers [ master bmw tech ]. Found another shop that's not a bmw dealer but that's all he and his staff work on [ another master bmw tech ]. Both worked for dealers for years before doing their own thing.

When my brother took my 07GT, I found him a master mechanic who works out of his garage in Denver. His GT hasn't seen a bmw dealer for service.

I prefer people with master wrenching skills that aren't working at bmw dealers. Sometimes a little less expensive but we both know when the work is performed, it's performed properly. I use a master mechanic for the two cages as well. Support the little guys, they're keeping many bike on the road where bmw dealers won't service them.

 

[88bmwjeff]

Big dealers don’t want to assume the responsibility for working on older stuff. I’m guessing your dealer knows of an independent shop in the area that does work on older bikes and probably buys parts from the local dealer. I’d ask them for a recommendation.

Continuing on the tangent here....
A local dealer indicated repairs on older bikes quickly add up to the value of the bike at which point many owners decide not to proceed with the repairs. According to the head of the shop area, that scenario does not prove very cost effective. Depending on how old the bike is, there's also issues with the technicians having the right knowledge and expertise, and parts availability.

I am surprised that the Bay Area has five dealers (and that's not including the Central Valley portion of CA, which has another three), but very few independent shops.

 

[exgman]

If you're close to the NY/NH area you might take a look here: https://www.maxbmw.com/classic-service-center

 

[jaybird1150]

Grassroots BMW in Cape Girardeau offers service on older models. I’d call them. Very reputable family owned dealer.

 

[DavidEBSmith]

Not exactly local to central Indiana but Motoworks in Chicago started out as an independent shop and later became a dealer. Old BMWs are pretty much part of their DNA.

 

[suzyamerica503]

Sorry this is becoming very common among brands and not just motorcycles.

Harley and Kawasaki don't want to look at any bike older than 10 years.

 

[AntonLargiader]

There are BMW dealers who cut off at ten years, which makes for some pretty odd policies when you have long model runs like BMW does. Yes we will work on your R1200 Wethead, but we won't work on HIS R1200 Wethead. I recently had a Hexhead come through the shop who had been turned away by a BMW dealer.

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

I do have to say though that the "mechanics" in these motorcycle shops aren't mechanics in the true sense anymore, but parts canon operators after reading of a computer screen what needs to be replaced.... They fire that thing in the hope that eventually it fixes the vehicle....
Thus the older vehicles that don't have these fancy computers can't be worked on by generation useless...

 

[omega man]

I do have to say though that the "mechanics" in these motorcycle shops aren't mechanics in the true sense anymore, but parts canon operators after reading of a computer screen what needs to be replaced.... They fire that thing in the hope that eventually it fixes the vehicle....
Thus the older vehicles that don't have these fancy computers can't be worked on by generation useless...

Along those lines…..
I like to guess what the problem is… maybe just solve it… and am feeling pretty good when I have to plug in a computer a find my guess was correct.

A lot of the guessing is based on a lot of past experiences For the new “mechanics” they never had the chance to see/hear/fix vehicles from 40 years ago. A 10 year old vehicle is old to them. They pretty much need the computer to give them a clue and a place to start.
OM

 

[oldcamper]

Obsolescence is beneficial to both manufacturers and dealers, not owners. If everyone rode Suzuki DR650’s we probably wouldn’t be discussing the problem of dealers not working on bikes more than 10 years old.

There is some hope for a return to simplicity, though. Recently there have been National security concerns raised about complicated vehicles and required computer connectivity. A bad actor could theoretically plant software in vehicles with malicious intent. It’s possible future legislation may require a more secure approach to vehicle maintenance.

 

[omega man]

Obsolescence is beneficial to both manufacturers and dealers, not owners. If everyone rode Suzuki DR650’s we probably wouldn’t be discussing the problem of dealers not working on bikes more than 10 years old.

There is some hope for a return to simplicity, though. Recently there have been National security concerns raised about complicated vehicles and required computer connectivity. A bad actor could theoretically plant software in vehicles with malicious intent. It’s possible future legislation may require a more secure approach to vehicle maintenance.

Along those lines- there has been a proliferation of “just scan this QR Code” offers- EVERYWHERE.

23andme…and you….and some relatives….

All that makes sense. I wonder if approaching all three credit reporting agencies and posting (with them) all your important information is a good thing? Seems like the credit reporting agencies, knowing that they have ALL the important information, would be a prime, consistent target for...

forums.bmwmoa.org

Once a QR code has been posted (sticker) is scanned, it’s tough to know what is really going on.

Be safe out there.

OM