Having just purchased a new K1200/GT im at odds on what to do for service. I took my bike into our local sales joint for the break-in inspection and was treated like I was more of a bother then a customer. I really felt like I was making them go out of there way to help me. All i heard was how busy they were and overworked. And then they charged me 200.00 dollars for a friggin oil change. I did put Synthetic oil in it as was suggested by the mechanic, but Jeeeez. The idiot left oil drippings all over the frame on the bike. He couldn't muster up the consideration to even wipe it off. I wonder if they really know what the keck they are doing.
I also had a problem with the helmat i got for my girlfriend while we were in Las Vegas where we purchased the bike. It turns out that their "Expert" fitted her with a hat that was way too small. It was her first helmat and she didn't know. The guy said it was supposed to fit snug. As is turns out it was way too snug. She called and asked if they would work out an exchange and was told "Tuff Ta's Ta's". It is illegal for them to exchange the helmat for some reason. Again the salesperson was a bit rude and unconcerned as to the problem.
Bottom-line, I am wondering if I made a big mistake. I had no idea there was such an uppity additude with BMW dealers. They seem like real SNOBS, at least the ones I have met.
Does anyone know what the warrenty restrictions are if do my own work on the bike. I really DO NOT look forward to dealing with BMW motorcycle service again.
BTW I'm in Colorado Springs, Co., are the Denver folks any better?
Well I'm done for now...Thanks for reading my rant.
JEB,
I assume you were at BMW/Ducati of C.S. You need to voice your frustration to Randy, the G.M. I have not been overly excited with them recently either. I think if there is going to be a chance that service and attitudes are going to get better for us all, it is important to let the management know about the problems we have so they have a chance to correct the issues. Randy is a good guy and he will listen to what you tell him. Thanks.
This seems to be associated more with BMW dealers than any other brand ...its the "didn't buy it here, so we don't care" attitude :wtf .
Really bad....don't understand it either. Combine that with what appears to be sloppy work, well I don't think I'd go there again. And yes, you can do your own maintenance work as long it you document the process and follow what's supposed to be done.
Thanks guys,
I think I'm going to take K1DUDE"S advice and give my local dealer a chanch. My girlfriend is a small business owner down here and I personally feel that I have somewhat of an obligation to try to keep business within my community. The only reason I bought the bike in Las Vegas was that I was told, when I finally fot a sales person to talk to me, that there was a 4 month waiting list to get one here in the Springs. That would mean I would have gotten the bike at the end of our summer....maybe. Got to wonder about BMW marketing when you can't get an 06 model(motorcycle) until "maybe" the beginning of winter of 06.
Oh well, I'm really being a bit hard on BMW right now. It's just a drag that the only "Buyers remorse" I am feeling has to do with the service I am expecting as opposed to the price. The only thing good I can say right now is that i REALLY love the bike.
Like I said, I think I will give Randy a holla and see what he thinks. I really hope my opinion of BMW turns around though. I can't believe that my Dissing them would be a good thing. Especially since I'm an owner and what I'm telling people is that the bike is great but the character of the sales/service people should be checked out and observed carefully before commiting to a relationship.
Yes thank you for sharing your perception of BMW dealerships, I agree it has to change...but probably wont.. The attitude of "if you're riding a BMW, you ought to be wealthy" is a real thorn in a whole bunch of peoples' sides. No I'm not independently wealthy....I just like to ride quality bikes. Yes you made a mistake.....you should have done your own service....assuming you've made it to this level of motorcycling....I think you will find..that BMW bikes are mechanic friendly and are quite easy to work on for an experienced mechanic. Another thing......the dealership is probably screwing the service dept anyway...it's all about the attitude of upper management...and I mean the owner. The owner of these snobby little dealerships is probably vacationing in Greece...while screwing someone else's wife. These guys are worse than George Bush managing the entire middle east.
If you really want to get right down to it...it's called economic discrimination combined with high intensity marketing, combined with the lawyers to back it all up.
Yes thank you for sharing your perception of BMW dealerships, I agree it has to change...but probably wont.. The attitude of "if you're riding a BMW, you ought to be wealthy" is a real thorn in a whole bunch of peoples' sides. No I'm not independently wealthy....I just like to ride quality bikes. Yes you made a mistake.....you should have done your own service....assuming you've made it to this level of motorcycling....I think you will find..that BMW bikes are mechanic friendly and are quite easy to work on for an experienced mechanic. Another thing......the dealership is probably screwing the service dept anyway...it's all about the attitude of upper management...and I mean the owner. The owner of these snobby little dealerships is probably vacationing in Greece...while screwing someone else's wife. These guys are worse than George Bush managing the entire middle east.
If you really want to get right down to it...it's called economic discrimination combined with high intensity marketing, combined with the lawyers to back it all up.
A bike that's easy for an experienced mechanic wouldn't necessarily be an easy bike to service for most people. There are riders out there that can make the bike sing and dance, but if you saw them holding a screwdriver and some pliers you'd be praying they didn't touch anything.
I think talking to Randy in person is the best next step. He needs to know the attitude customers are getting, and the sloppy state the motorcycles are being returned in. No improvement? Try the next dealer.
As for buying the bike in Vegas, heck...you won big at a craps table and you wanted to celebrate by riding back home. Too bad the dealer in C.S. couldn't negotiate a bike to the dealership for you.
A bike that's easy for an experienced mechanic wouldn't necessarily be an easy bike to service for most people. There are riders out there that can make the bike sing and dance, but if you saw them holding a screwdriver and some pliers you'd be praying they didn't touch anything.
I think talking to Randy in person is the best next step. He needs to know the attitude customers are getting, and the sloppy state the motorcycles are being returned in. No improvement? Try the next dealer.
As for buying the bike in Vegas, heck...you won big at a craps table and you wanted to celebrate by riding back home. Too bad the dealer in C.S. couldn't negotiate a bike to the dealership for you.
I agree and will talk to him.
At the time, he salesman gave me the impression that there was no means of getting the bike from another dealer. Either that or it was too much of a hastle. When I told him I was going to check it out all he could say was good luck.
A friend of mine went in there last weekend and asked a salesman, after he finally chased one down, if he had a brochure for a particular bike that they didn't have on display. The salesman said "Yes, but I'll have to go to the back to get it" and just stood there.....My friend then said " Do I need to go back and get it?". At that point the salesman responded with "no,I'll get it for you." like he was doing him a favor. He doesn't think the guy even caught on to a bit of sarcasm and disappointment.
He is going up to check the scene out at the Denver dealers tomorrow.
Hi,
I wonder how wide spread the "snobbery" is with the BMW dealers. I bought my first BMW in may from BMW of Charlotte. A k1200gt and love the bike. The owner and sales staff have been excellent to work with. Sat. mornings it is a meeting place for bmw riders, with the owner cooking hotdogs most sat. at noon. The 600 mile service was $110 and they had a bike waiting for me to ride while the service was being done. Only warranty work I have had was the clip holding the ambient temp probe broke. When I took it in to see about it the service manager wired it up in the parking lot untill the he could get the part. Going there is more like visiting friends. The only other BMW dealership I have been in is Blue Moon in atlanta. Again the people were very friendly, and made you feel like they really apreciate you coming in. I just wonder if the problem is a few isolated shops or if I have been lucky and only been in the few friendly one's.
Ride Safe, Ed
My experience since 1976 with BMW, multi-brand, Italians, and US dealers of the Harley ilk is that the BMW dealer and service network is superior in every way.
Multi-brand simply move cash. Harley move attitude and aura. Italians cannot provide service, only sales.
BMW: Mortons, Hammersley, Adventure, Bob's, Carolina, Capitol, Northern Colorado, and others I've forgotten have always treated me well as a customer, always done high quality work, always came through for me. Your experiences don't surprise me, but I have been fortunate to deal with the better ones.
Manhattan, NYC BMW folks are the nicest and not snobbish at all. The 2 sales women, salesman and sales amanger are very patient and I have seen them discuss the bikes with people who they know are NOT going to buy. I have been dealing with their service department and parts manager recently, and outside of not wanting to install any accessories for my GT that involve electronics until they get some Canbus compatible equipment, they are just super and give what they promise which is good and timely service even thought they are pricey, buts that is BMW !
folks are the nicest and not snobbish at all. The 2 sales women, salesman and sales amanger are very patient and I have seen them discuss the bikes with people who they know are NOT going to buy. I have been dealing with their service department and parts manager recently, and outside of not wanting to install any accessories for my GT that involve electronics until they get some Canbus compatible equipment, they are just super and give what they promise which is good and timely service even thought they are pricey, buts that is BMW !
To be honest, I would plan a trip to go wherever I needed for good service. New York is a beautiful state and rolling out the miles needed to get there would be a blast on a GT.
I'm going to retire(again) in three(ish) years and plan on being on the road a lot. Getting feedback like this is great. I am going to file your recommendation away and, you never know, I may need or want to stop by Manhattan, NYC BMW someday to showoff my scooter. I can't imagine it would be for anything major.
i'm lucky that there are three bmw dealers within an hours drive of my home and all three have provided me with good service. good service or bad service starts from the top down, if you have management that doesn't give a damn their workers won't give a damn. if you have management that cares their workers will care. to me customer service is everything i'd rather pay more money and receive good service than pay less money and get treated like crap. however it seems like some of the bmw dealerships that have crappy service and attitude also charge top dollar. while there are no doubt poor bmw dealerships out there i'm sure other brands have poor service/attitudes as well.
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