Very Pissed...BMW

[Bones]

Quick rant:

My 1200GS with now 2700 miles on it started having speedometer problems last week. I took it to the dealer yesterday. Short version: the speedo itself is OK, the cluster is OK and the sensor/pickup is OK. So it is either a wiring issue OR the entire wire harness needs to be replaced.

This is no 5 minute solution. They need my bike for at least a week, possibly 2, but they are "busy" and their shop schedule is backup up (understandable....it is Spring here) and may not be able to get to it for a couple of weeks.

Oh, I can ride the bike, though my confidence in all things electronic with BMW have just plummeted. I have two trips of several days scheduled on the MC in mid may and early June. I may not have the GS fixed at this rate.

Great. I spend about $16K, the bike is new and I will possibly miss two trips I have waited a year for. I am not a happy camper at this moment, as you might detect. I guess it is good that I haven't sold my FZ1 yet, because that is what I will have to take on my trip(s). It is a very fine bike, but not as much as the GS. Plus I would rather not put another few K miles on it while I am trying to sell it. Ahhhhhh....its only money, right?

I know we all have fun bashing different brands, because it is fun. But I have to tell you, this pisses me off. All the Japanese bikes I have owned have had no problems. None. I don't own a Harley, but all the banter about those (the modern ones) is bullshit because the zillions of them around here don't seem to have these kinds of problems. This is the third BMW I have owned and now , two have had electrical problems of significance.

I still find my GS to be the most fun ride of any of the bikes I have owned, but I am NOT happy.

I drop it off today and we will see what happens.


Rant over.

Jeff

[fganger]

Jeff,

Just a thought (beginner's luck) on this; how about clamping on a small GPS? Then you will have all the functions of the speedo, plus.

Bad deal,
Frank

[Bones]

Frank,
I had thought about that. I have also previously figured out certain "standard" speed and tach readings, so without the speedo, I can figure out how fast I am going within a few mph. For example, 4K in 6th is 70 indicated, which means about 65. 3rd gear at 3K is about 33 mph, which should be OK for those in town 30 mph zones. 4th gear at 3K is about 45 mph. So those are decent landmarks.

I drop the GS off today and then take the kids (or they take me) with my wife to Disney for a week. That should cool me down because just watching my kids laugh and smile for days in a row puts me in good humor.

Jeff

[BobFV1]

Boner -

I agree with what Frank said - I use the speed off my GPS more than my Berlin-built speedo and it is more accurate.

Clamp on a Tom-Tom and get on with your riding life!

[mnnden]

Bones, I agree, I would be (and have been) a little "Pissed Off" and it wouldn't be so much as to the problem with the bike as it is the problem with the dealership, I am of the opinion that warrenty work should be taken care of ASAP!!! not slipped in when the shop slows down or when it is convenient to Dealer. I understand that there is probably more money in service work than in warrenty work, but that should be between BMW and the Dealer, if the dealer is not being compensated properly.

I understand that "things" happen, and "things" can happen to any make, and I also understand that the world should not stop just because I have a problem, However, I do feel that every effert should be made by the dealership to get the warrented bike out the door.
I have been very disappointed with the dealership where I purchased my BMW and although I really like the BMW it may be my last. I hear ya Bones, and know the feeling. I would also like to add, a GPS is a great idea, with or without problems. Good Luck, Den

[Tipstall]

Bones,

Any chance of having another dealer look at it?

Have fun with the kids. Mission Space is awesome.

Ken

[fganger]

Jeff,

I happen to have a small GPS (Garmin e-map), which you are welcome to borrow. I'd lend you my 2610 but I need to send it in for service - AGAIN.

The e-map runs off the bike or replaceable batteries. I even have a holder for it. You clamp it to your bars and you're good to go.

The two down sides of the e-map are it's not in color and it's not waterproof. When it rains I used to just place a baggy over it.

Frank:)

[Wild Will]

seems to be the rule at BMW these days. The wiring harness is quite smaller than before, because so many signals share the "highway". I'm sorry for you, having to deal with this on such an expensive machine. It should be perfect and bulletproof, but these are just very complex motorcycles.
I love my BMW, but often I do not respect BMW corporate. The direction they're going is far, far away from the machinery that a rider will keep for years and fettle himself. It's all about profits, eh! The new BMW owner takes his bike to the dealer who is able to make his huge BMW shop payments with some of his profits. Love makes the world go round, etc.
When the oilhead first came ouut, GS guys were sure that the carbureted bikes could go the dirty distance, adventuring, and that the new FI bikes would be dead in the water if they broke down. Funny, but airhead bikes are not often seen any more. Where have they all gone? Our disposable society is creeping into all our lives, urging the "newest and best" for us.
But when will havoc reign?

[Ed K]

Hey Bones... may be too late now... but was thinking the same as Tipstall...

Find another dealer... any will do warranty work.

You prolly already considered this... and perhaps there are not other dealers within a reasonable distance from where you live (?)

[mnnden]

When I went to another dealer to have warrenty work done I was NOT refused BUT was encouraged to take the bike to where I had bought it, The new dealer explained to me that BMW just barley covers the cost, (and most times it is a loss) and he did not want to tie up his mechanics doing warrenty work on a bike purchased somewhere else (if it were purchased out of the area it would be different) He did say he would do the warrenty work as he had to, but he hoped I would understand his situation, (which I did) I later found a private (Certified BMW Mechanic) who now does all my work.
Just my experence, Den

[Bones]

Thanks for the input and hearing me out about all of this.

The main reason I didn't consider a different dealer is that this dealer has really been excellent in all the ways one would hope. The shop director/service manager is quite good technically. He just is very moody, I guess. The owner has been outstanding and the parts guy, fantastic. Just all around good folks who need to make a profit but I never felt gouged, ever.

So, yesterday, I showed up with the GS in a trailer, not because I couldn't ride it, but because my wife couldn't clear a day to follow me there and drive me home. My 9 year old son went with me. THAT was a bonus day, for me.

I showed up, the owner happened to be out in the parking lot loading a bike into a trailer and came over and said "hey, what's going on?" I explained that even if the service manager could give me an appt. in a week, or ten days or whatever, the main issue for me was clearing time to bring the bike back. I might not be able to get it there on a given day. SO, I preferred to use my day off (yesterday) to bring the bike up. At least that way, when they had an opening, the bike was there.

And here is why I will stay devoted to this dealer: The owners next words were: "Look, I hate open ended arrangements....all it does is creat an opportunity for both sides to get pissed." He then turned to the service manager who was now standing next to us and said "Let's help Jeff get the bike out of the trailer and get on this asap. He has some trips he wants to take on the bike and I don't want half the season going by while his bike sits here." He then turns to me and says "Can you write down the date you get back from you family vacation, when you think you can get back here to get the bike and when your first motorcycle trip is, and let's see if we can't get this thing all worked out. OK?" You bet.

I didn't even approach the owner with all my details. I think he just saw me looking dejected the day before when I was leaving. THAT kind of help takes the sting out of the whole thing.

Interestingly enough, when I walked into the shop area, the service manager (now in a much better mood than the day before) said they would get into the bike within the hour and had me sign some papers. We then chatted about his Frankenstein bike he is building out of an FJR1200 engine in a Ducati trellis frame, a tank he designed and fabricated,etc.

So yesterday was a better day. Let's hope they get it fixed in time for my trip because I rode the FZ1 yesterday afternoon and just love the GS so much more.

Meanwhile, I will start shopping around for a GPS, though I much prefer not to use one on the bike. I like looking at maps and I KNOW I will start relying on the GPS if I get one.

Will keep you posted. Off to Florida with the family in a few hours.......yeeehaaaa. Sunscreen!

Jeff

[Ed K]

Glad it appears to be all working out for you Jeff...

[BobFV1]

Sawbones -

Glad this cloud seems to have a silver lining! The owner needs to trickle his attitude down to the entire service department now so you don't have to rely on chance meetings in the parking lot - although it sounds like your chance meeting may have had the effect of making you a VIP with the service department.

Hope your bike is running great by the time you get back!

Don't forget to slap Snow White on the ass for me....

[arkline]

Bones,

Let me humbly suggest that you purchase a Nuvi 350 from Garmin. Not only is it a GPS, but it is also an MP3 player. A 2gig SD card will hold most of a day's worth of music and there are only voice prompts from the GPS when you need to alter course. Reduces tension riding through large conurbations, since you'll know to stay in the left lane if you need to. It is a little bigger than a pack of smokes folded up and when the antenna is deployed, it fits into an inside jacket pocket like for a wallet or check book. Run earbud wires up inside your jacket and into your helmet and Robert is your father's or mother's brother. If you normally wear ear plugs to protect your hearing, you will notice that Etymotic ear buds will provide a similar reduction in helmet noise. Having a little music in the background will make any long ride a little better. No substitute for heated gear, mind you, but it can help with the sting of things...

[geechie]

I just love happy endings, or at least the prospect of same. I would give a lot for a BMW dealer who gave a rat's ass about me.

Good for you, Bonesy.

George

[socalrob]

Bones,

Reading down the post, before I got to your happy ending, I was going to suggest that you let the dealer know your trip times. My dealer is normally booked for service, but has indeed helped out time wise when needed.

Mnnden,

I had not heard that dealers were taking loses on warranty work, just the other way around, I always figured it was there bread & butter. I would have thought that at least 50 percent or more of repair work by a dealer is done under warranty. Dean, any thoughts on this?