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BMW repair shop?

Kornholio said:
Since when is using an independent shop "skimping"? I refuse to pay the dealers overhead just so I can have them do the same work the independent shop does for less.
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I love when we get bikes coming in to the shop with poblems that developed from customers going to an "independent shop". Or even better is when the independent dealer calls us with questions on how to fix the problem. It's always funny though when the independent dealer comes in to buy parts needed for the job and chooses to only get half the parts needed to do the fix correctly.

/vent
 
hayabusafiend said:
Independent shops typically don't get service bulletins or recalls, nor can they look up if they were completed.

Dealers are supposed to proactively perform recalls and bulletins.
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Thankfully my BMW independent shop is owned by a guy that got sick of SD BMW's bullshit and quit after 22 years as a certified master BMW tech. He still gets all the bulletins (addressed two for me on my last visit) and will fix or service anything with any BMW motorcycle old or new and charges roughly $200 less on average than the dealer does to do the exact same thing. In short, not all independent shops are the same.

/vent
 
hitman5532 said:
I love when we get bikes coming in to the shop with poblems that developed from customers going to an "independent shop". Or even better is when the independent dealer calls us with questions on how to fix the problem. It's always funny though when the independent dealer comes in to buy parts needed for the job and chooses to only get half the parts needed to do the fix correctly.

/vent
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And you work where?
 
Kornholio said:
Thankfully my BMW independent shop is owned by a guy that got sick of SD BMW's bullshit and quit after 22 years as a certified master BMW tech. He still gets all the bulletins (addressed two for me on my last visit) and will fix or service anything with any BMW motorcycle old or new and charges roughly $200 less on average than the dealer does to do the exact same thing. In short, not all independent shops are the same.

/vent
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Yup, there are a few great independent shops nd mechanics. One of my best friends is an independent and one of the only guys on planet who I would allow to touch my bikes. (Just not BMW CAN-BUS electrical bikes)

gixxerjeff said:
Thats equally true about dealerships as well.
There are no absolutes.
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Yup, only generalities - which is the term in which I was speaking of course
 
hitman5532 said:
I love when we get bikes coming in to the shop with poblems that developed from customers going to an "independent shop". Or even better is when the independent dealer calls us with questions on how to fix the problem. It's always funny though when the independent dealer comes in to buy parts needed for the job and chooses to only get half the parts needed to do the fix correctly.

/vent
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I've had the opposite happen. I took my bike to my dealer for a 6000 mile service. After I got it back it was running worse than when I took it in. At around 5000rpm I could feel the bike lose a little power, like it was struggling a tad. Called up my dealer and told them about it and their response was something along of lines of "Have you filled up lately? Could be a bad batch of fuel. Put some fuel cleaner in it the next time you fill up". Really? Wouldn't that make it have the symptom at any RPM?

Anyways, it just so happened that I needed new tires so I had Lawrence @ Addiction Motors do it (my first time taking my bike there). He went out of his way to adjust a few extra things on the bike, including the chain being too tight from my last service @ my dealer. Not sure if that's what was causing the problem, but whatever he did, it was running like new after I got it back from him. So now I take my bike there for everything. My dealer lost any future service revenue from me after not responding with "Oh really? Well bring it back and we'll check it out asap, free of charge since we probably caused the problem".
 
Ted Porters BeemerShop in Scotts Valley. check their web site.
 
WeekEndWarrior said:
for being expensive
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You get what you pay for. I'm sure there's somebody out there that will fix your teeth for "cheap" but are you gonna do it?
Kornholio said:
Since when is using an independent shop "skimping"? I refuse to pay the dealers overhead just so I can have them do the same work the independent shop does for less.
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Every business has "overhead". Dealers charge more because they have to. You know how much the BMW diagnostic computers cost? An independent shop can only do as much as you as a customer can do. They don't have access to bulletins or recalls, can't perform bulletins or recalls, can't perform warranty work, have no diagnostic computers and can easily close up shop and move down the road if need be. Your BMW motorcycle was designed to be serviced at the dealer. If you're gonna put your life on the line to save $15 per hour of labor then you're not very smart.
 
independents are not better cuz they're independents

dealerships are not better because they're dealerships

the people make them for what they are.

find a place that has good service with good folks, plain and simple.

I really liked SJBMW's service dept; buncha down to earth folks. Willie's an awesome knowledgeable person to chat with.

I really like Jim Davis (was that his name?), an independent that has a shop right next to helimot (is he still there?) - he spent a lot of time just chatting with me about motorcycle services.

there's plenty of other places that are awesome but there's plenty of independent and dealerships that wont give u the time of day.
 
mdkcrf250r said:
Every business has "overhead". Dealers charge more because they have to. You know how much the BMW diagnostic computers cost? An independent shop can only do as much as you as a customer can do. They don't have access to bulletins or recalls, can't perform bulletins or recalls, can't perform warranty work, have no diagnostic computers and can easily close up shop and move down the road if need be. Your BMW motorcycle was designed to be serviced at the dealer. If you're gonna put your life on the line to save $15 per hour of labor then you're not very smart.
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Certified shops can perform and bill BMWONA for warranty work. Obviously you don't have any experience with a quality independent shop, nor did you read my post that followed what you quoted. My independent shop can and does address TB's and does have all the manuals and CAN-BUS equipment. He also has more experience than every wrench currently employed at SD BMW.

Yes, all businesses have overhead. But paying a dealer to do something that a quality independent shop can do for far less is just stupid. I don't trust dealership mechanics as they've botched more jobs than I'd care to remember. The level of customer service blows at the larger dealerships as well. Besides, it's more than a $15 an hour difference.
 
My cousin has a shop in San Carlos, if that's an option let me know and I'll hook you up.

*Edit, thought your were talking aboot cars*
 
Kornholio said:
Certified shops can perform and bill BMWONA for warranty work. Obviously you don't have any experience with a quality independent shop, nor did you read my post that followed what you quoted. My independent shop can and does address TB's and does have all the manuals and CAN-BUS equipment. He also has more experience than every wrench currently employed at SD BMW.

Yes, all businesses have overhead. But paying a dealer to do something that a quality independent shop can do for far less is just stupid. I don't trust dealership mechanics as they've botched more jobs than I'd care to remember. The level of customer service blows at the larger dealerships as well. Besides, it's more than a $15 an hour difference.
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What CANBUS equipment does your independent shop have?
 
Kornholio said:
Certified shops can perform and bill BMWONA for warranty work. Obviously you don't have any experience with a quality independent shop, nor did you read my post that followed what you quoted. My independent shop can and does address TB's and does have all the manuals and CAN-BUS equipment. He also has more experience than every wrench currently employed at SD BMW.

Yes, all businesses have overhead. But paying a dealer to do something that a quality independent shop can do for far less is just stupid. I don't trust dealership mechanics as they've botched more jobs than I'd care to remember. The level of customer service blows at the larger dealerships as well. Besides, it's more than a $15 an hour difference.
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+ 1

I have had bad experiences at my local BMW dealership with service. A good independent shop can be better than a dealership. But a Good dealership would be my first choice.
 
mdkcrf250r said:
What CANBUS equipment does your independent shop have?
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Whatever it takes to reprogram my computer's software since that had to be done about three months ago. It was part of a radio upgrade from BMW. Beyond that I have no idea what it is specifically. There hasn't been anything my BMW has needed that he couldn't do so far. I suppose if it eventually happens, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
 
Anybody know of one on the Penninsula? Independent or dealer, I don't care. Werkstatt was walking distance of my old work, but now that I am in Redwood Shores I need one that is closer.
 
Kornholio said:
Whatever it takes to reprogram my computer's software since that had to be done about three months ago. It was part of a radio upgrade from BMW. Beyond that I have no idea what it is specifically. There hasn't been anything my BMW has needed that he couldn't do so far. I suppose if it eventually happens, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
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i looked it up a while ago when i was thinking of doing my own servicing. there is a 600 dollar piece of a equipment that regular consumers can buy (the GS-911). they can check all sort of diagnostics including in addition to resetting service interval indicators. If you got that and some BMW manuals, then any regular ole shop can do BMW maintenance.

they'll need tho access to updated software but if its for regular service, dats goooodddd


monkeythumpa said:
Anybody know of one on the Penninsula? Independent or dealer, I don't care. Werkstatt was walking distance of my old work, but now that I am in Redwood Shores I need one that is closer.
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i can only think of the dealership in mtn view. sorry mate!
 
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