Annual Service cost

[rjsmith26]

Any feedback on annual service on a 1200 gsa hex head?

15k miles on an 08 Bike

Engine and Gearbox oil change
Brake fluid change
(FD oil done last year)
+ MOT

Being quoted between £245 and £270 with courtesy bike.

Seems high to me as my 12,000 service was only £285?

Thoughts?

Any recommendations in Bristol area for an Independent?

 

[Wolfgang]

Servicing ?

Try & find a recommended independent garage local to you.
Someone local to you should reply soon.
It should be about £250-£275 for an inspection.

 

[Beemerman59]

You've only done 3K since the last one. Why get it done now it may well be cheaper in the winter when it actually needs doing?

 

[rjsmith26]

Thanks Guys

BM59 - whats your thoughts - bike is asking for 12 month service - like you say not many miles - bike out of warrenty - I guess it opens the question do you always need an annual service if low miles?

 

[Martyn H]

Stroud OK for you ?

Mike at Stroud Motorcycles is a BMW trained independent & knows his stuff.

http://www.stroudmc.co.uk/

 

[rjsmith26]

Thanks Martyn,

Is that Mike who used to be lead mechanic at BVM Stroud - am guessing so?

 

[oyster]

Hi Martyn, do you recommend Stroud Motorcycles as i have Hexhead wanting a 12000 service soon, i read on hear that
all the Dealers are busy with RT recall. Bought & serviced at NOG since 2010.

 

[Martyn H]

I would recommend Mike (ex-BVM) wholeheartedly. I've put my money where my mouth is, in that he's looked after my bikes at BVM for the last 10-12 years or so, & will continue to do so now he's an "independent" BMW specialist.

 

[rjsmith26]

Thanks Martyn, send an enquiry to Mike, got a call back in 20 minutes. Much more sensible cost that main stealers. Bike booked in with him in a couple of weeks will report back, always nice to speak with mike on phone, have dealt with him b4 when he was at BVM - nice to speaking someone who really knows what he is doing and you can trust rather than you bike disappearing into a polished workshop being serviced by a technician you never see.

 

[Old Wobbly]

I've just been quoted £305.52 for the 6k service with brake fluid change, engine oil & filter, throttle body balance, valve clearance, gearbox oil change - sounds high and why on earth change the brake fluid when the bike's only 12 months old?

Thoughts?

 

[cookie]

I think the official line on the brake fluid is because they don't know how long the bike sat around before you bought it.
After the first change, the interval is 2 years.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I've just been quoted £305.52 for the 6k service with brake fluid change, engine oil & filter, throttle body balance, valve clearance, gearbox oil change - sounds high and why on earth change the brake fluid when the bike's only 12 months old?

Thoughts?

Why is that high? Labour rate at a dealer is around £80 per hour so add the cost of the bits and it's not too bad for a dealer.

I'm always amazed that people never actually ask for an approximate cost before handing their bikes over and are shocked when it's higher than they thought.

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

I think the official line on the brake fluid is because they don't know how long the bike sat around before you bought it.
After the first change, the interval is 2 years.

They know the exact build date of the bike usually a few weeks before delivery to the customer

 

[cookie]

i'm sure they do, but they would still have to tailor the brake fluid change to the individual bike, so i guess it's just easier for them this way.

seems a totally unnecessary step to me, but maybe BMW've replaced enough ABS modulators to know better?

 

[GADGET]

Slightly off topic, but by way of some comparison, just booked my VFR1200X Crosstourer in for a yearly service, just to keep it within the three year warranty package (haven't done the miles) and was quoted £135 (main Honda dealer)

 

[Roymondo]

Why is that high? Labour rate at a dealer is around £80 per hour so add the cost of the bits and it's not too bad for a dealer.

I'm always amazed that people never actually ask for an approximate cost before handing their bikes over and are shocked when it's higher than they thought.

My dealer (Wollaston Motors, Northampton) always went through the list of routine jobs to be done - and gave a price for the whole job - when I called to make the booking. If ever they came across anything else that needed doing (and so would incur extra cost), they would call me to get the OK. TBH I thought it was pretty much standard practice.

 

[Steptoe]

Slightly off topic, but by way of some comparison, just booked my VFR1200X Crosstourer in for a yearly service, just to keep it within the three year warranty package (haven't done the miles) and was quoted £135 (main Honda dealer)

But that's not really a comparision. Your's is just an engine oil and filter change.

 

[Old Wobbly]

Why is that high? Labour rate at a dealer is around £80 per hour so add the cost of the bits and it's not too bad for a dealer.

I'm always amazed that people never actually ask for an approximate cost before handing their bikes over and are shocked when it's higher than they thought.

I asked for a price - that's what I was told - I simply do not agree that the brake fluid needs changing and it's simply a revenue initiative. My K12S had fluid after 24months.

 

[oyster]

Thanks Martyn, i will be in contact with him asap, i bought 2 Guzzi's from BVM when they were in Slad Road 1982

 

[Roymondo]

I asked for a price - that's what I was told - I simply do not agree that the brake fluid needs changing and it's simply a revenue initiative. My K12S had fluid after 24months.

Seems strange that for some models the fluid is scheduled to be changed every year, for others it's after the first year, then every two years and for others it's every two years (and for some models the regime is different for front and rear brakes). I'm sure they have their reasons for doing this (and I doubt it's anything to do with attempting to put another 50 quid in the dealer's till).