Servicing

[Prizam]

Got the Bike a year ago with 2k on the clock.

First service i had with the bike was expensive, and had 2 new tyres. So i just sucked it up.

Now on 15k and in for another service. Standard service and new break fluid.

THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY QUID

How the fk about NO!

I knew servicing would be expensive from a BMW dealer, but didn't expect to be taken for a complete and utter mug. Cant be more than 100 quids worth of fluids and parts in a service and half an hour.

In fact, looking on-line I can get a complete service kit from Germany. including oil for £87. It wouldn't take me half an hour to do the service.

So, suggestions please. The bike is on BMW PCP so needs a stamp in the book. (I get paid mileage for work so the bike makes me a profit every month)

Do i need to go to a main dealer? Or should i become VAT registered and make up my own garage stamp?

[airsafari87]

Prizam said:

Got the Bike a year ago with 2k on the clock.

First service i had with the bike was expensive, and had 2 new tyres. So i just sucked it up.

Now on 15k and in for another service. Standard service and new break fluid.

THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY QUID

How the fk about NO!

I knew servicing would be expensive from a BMW dealer, but didn't expect to be taken for a complete and utter mug. Cant be more than 100 quids worth of fluids and parts in a service and half an hour.

In fact, looking on-line I can get a complete service kit from Germany. including oil for £87. It wouldn't take me half an hour to do the service.

So, suggestions please. The bike is on BMW PCP so needs a stamp in the book. (I get paid mileage for work so the bike makes me a profit every month)

Do i need to go to a main dealer? Or should i become VAT registered and make up my own garage stamp?

I'd buy the service kit and do it yourself.

After all there is no need to brake the bank is there?

[tom_e]

Check the terms of your agreement to see if having it serviced outside of the dealer network will affect you.

You may have to suck it up, no one buys a new BMW for the bargain prices from BMW servicing.

[sjtscott]

Surely its all down to the small print on your PCP. Would they allow you to get a stamp from a trusted/VAT registered independent bike garage say?

[trickywoo]

Sure there wasn't a valve clearance check in there? About the mileage for it.

[Prizam]

PCP agreement is at home but will check out the fine print later.

The BMW Bahnstormer garage in Maidenhead is convenient for me to just dump the bike off, but not at a £200 quid premium it isn't.

I was looking to buy a S1000RR from them soon too (Cash this time), but i think they have missed out on that now. 3 BMW's in the house would be a bit much anyway.

Time to look at the new R1 perhaps?

Does anyone know what the penalties would be if i serviced it my self?

[Prizam]

trickywoo said:

Sure there wasn't a valve clearance check in there? About the mileage for it.

You are correct, there was a clearance check.

Do modern engines even need this? Quid says they don't bother but charge for it anyway.

[lindrup119]

airsafari87 said:

I'd buy the service kit and do it yourself.

After all there is no need to brake the bank is there?

[tom_e]

A valve clearance check is a head off the engine job and it needs to be left with them overnight ideally so it's stone cold. £370 is actually pretty reasonable considering it's including that.

Modern engines are still subject to the same mechanical wear as any other engine so it still needs checking, if you want to be extra sure they do it mark the engine bolts with tippex or something so you can see if they've been touched.

[mgv8]

You will not save that much by chaing bike, just look up service cost on a Ducati.
But also not that cheep. I would get a second hand bike and work you it your self. Honda Fireblade would be good?

[trickywoo]

Prizam said:

You are correct, there was a clearance check.

Do modern engines even need this? Quid says they don't bother but charge for it anyway.

Clearances do need adjusting but more commonly on a engine which is revved hard and often.

I have heard that generally the first adjustment / check is the most important and after that you can be a bit more relaxed.

[trickywoo]

mgv8 said:

I would get a second hand bike and work you it your self. Honda Fireblade would be good?

Have you worked on a 'blade? They are a bit of a bd / tank off for pretty much anything and fairings aren't very friendly.

[Prof Prolapse]

Prizam said:

You are correct, there was a clearance check.

Do modern engines even need this? Quid says they don't bother but charge for it anyway.

Right so you can do the job in 30 minutes, and know BMW are ripping you off, but you don't know what they actual do at the service or whether, or know if it's part of routine maintenance or not.

You check your valve clearances at the intervals outlined in your manual, it might be fine, it might not, but you won't know until you check will you?

[srob]

Prof Prolapse said:

Right so you can do the job in 30 minutes, and know BMW are ripping you off, but you don't know what they actual do at the service or whether, or know if it's part of routine maintenance or not.

You check your valve clearances at the intervals outlined in your manual, it might be fine, it might not, but you won't know until you check will you?

OP did you not check the servicing costs when you bought/leased the bike?

I wouldn't want to pay that for servicing (but then I can see the valve clearances on my bike whilst it's running ) but surely you'd check the running costs, especially if you're running it through a company vehicle scheme?!

[Prizam]

trickywoo said:

Clearances do need adjusting but more commonly on a engine which is revved hard and often.

Ooopsssss

[Prizam]

srob said:

OP did you not check the servicing costs when you bought/leased the bike?

I wouldn't want to pay that for servicing (but then I can see the valve clearances on my bike whilst it's running ) but surely you'd check the running costs, especially if you're running it through a company vehicle scheme?!

Its my bike. I get paid mileage i do for work. This is more than the PCP amount each month. I am getting paid to have this bike.

I also checked the servicing costs before i purchased / leased. They were not as high as the quite i have just had.



Just been on the phone to them, having had another BMW garage quote for the same work and coming in at over £130 cheaper.



Guess what.. ohh sorry sir. we made an error. the price will now be exactly the same as they other quote you had.

And im on an S1000RR as a test / loaner bike for the day.

[Prizam]

Prof Prolapse said:

Prizam said:

You are correct, there was a clearance check.

Do modern engines even need this? Quid says they don't bother but charge for it anyway.

Right so you can do the job in 30 minutes, and know BMW are ripping you off, but you don't know what they actual do at the service or whether, or know if it's part of routine maintenance or not.

You check your valve clearances at the intervals outlined in your manual, it might be fine, it might not, but you won't know until you check will you?

I suppose i will have to agree with you, And revise my working time up by an hour.

I will be marking the head bolts to see if they have been moved. Same with the BRAKE fluid. It is rather easy to work on these bikes...

[srob]

All sorted then. So you knew it'd be less than they quoted for a job you didn't know needed doing and it's easy so you'll try and catch them out.

Job's a goodun

[Prizam]

Erm... something like that.

[terry tibbs]

Prizam said:

G

THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY QUID

assuming its including vat, that is £308 nett, labour 4 hours at £60 £(240)(valve check) leaves £68 for parts/sundries/fluids etc

not that bad, they are a business not a charity