New Dealer for West of Scotland

[Shug]

Cheers - interesting to hear. In which case, next call I get, I'll be demanding the courtesy bike that the warranty paperwork promises. Will see what they have to say on timescale, of course - not getting shirty with them yet, as I've only really dealt with the proper service manager once since his return.

 

[Shug]

Dunno if my input to this thread is boring anyone yet, but just got a call from Parks, saying they've had someone from BMW UK come up to the garage and take away the pieces that were found in the engine, to be taken to Munich for full investigation. They are now giving me a hire bike for the duration mine is out of action.

So, my impression of the dealer is improving vastly since the service manager got back and started handling it. Regular communication (that's been a call every couple of days to keep me in the loop now) and it seems like it's being taken very seriously.

Impressed.

 

[phil]

Not Boring me Shug, keep us posted, Thanks.

 

[dave80h]

Not boring, more to the point what sort of bike they giving you as a replacement??

 

[Porridgewog]

Ask for an HP4

 

[Shug]

Aye - sadly, he did say that there unfortunately wasn't a spare S1000 to give me. Can understand it, not like they're drowning in spare bikes, fair enough. I did mention on the phone however, I'd be happy as long as it's not an F800 or some entry-level commuter tool - the warranty does mention that it has to be an equivalent motorcycle... Given there's only one sportsbike in the range, I'll settle for something at an equivalent new value and enjoy the differences with whatever they give me. GS or something might be a hoot, if I can hand it back relatively soon

 

[Shug]

Just been called to say that BMW have reviewed all the photos sent to them of the engine, stripped on the bench and have made the call to rebuild. Might need to speak to them directly to see if they are willing to extend out a warranty on the engine (have already renewed the approved used warranty) given we're still not sure how the foreign body got in, what it hit on the way past and whether parts spent any time in oil galleries restricting flow... Parks have their orders from BMW now, so they are going to proceed with rebuild. The shrapnel is in Munich now, where they are trying to identify what it's been - latest best-guess is a press-tool for valve stem seals or the end tool on a valve spring compressor, but that's just a guess currently.

Oh, and I got an F800R (despite my chat on the phone) which is.... fine. Enabled me to get out on a run with my mates at the weekend anyway, which was something...

 

[Shug]

They're just awaiting a few gaskets before starting rebuild. Popped in on Saturday and got shown into the workshop (the place is 99% done now, so working out of their own proper workshop) and had a good poke round my engine on the bench - looking for any witness marks of anything hitting whatever was in the sump. Couldn't find anything (and neither could BMW, with the photos they were sent) so happy enough to crack on with the rebuild.

Happily, I've been handed the demo S1K this week, which is a lot more like it - also suggests that getting mine back this week is more likely than not (can't imagine them wanting their only demo S1k out of circulation long with the weather dry)

 

[dave80h]

Good to hear your bike is getting built back up, hopefully there will be no more issues.

They did tyres on mine but damaged the rear wheel while fitting the tyre. I know these things shouldn't happen but it did and people make mistakes. Fair play to them there was no attempt to fob me off, they arranged for the bike to come back in and get repaired. I got their GS Adventure to use for the last week and bike is now ready, picking it up tomorrow. I feel that it's how these sort of places deal with these issues that makes the difference and in my experience I can't fault Parks for sorting it. Here's hoping I've not spoken too soon as I haven't seen what sort of job was done.

 

[Porridgewog]

It's their open day this weekend and there's an Hp4 for test ride. I'm away in Skye but good luck getting a shot if you're going there!

 

[Shug]

If anyone is going along, do take a look in the workshop and see if my engine is still sitting in a million bits on one of the ramps, would you?

So, that's the thick end of a fortnight since they told me they'd be starting the engine build-up. Got a text last Friday saying it was progressing well and they'd call when it was in the bike and running. Nowt since then.

A fortnight to put an engine back together? Really? They'd not even stripped the gearbox fully, or the top end. It's a day's work by a competent tech to put it together, maybe another day to get it in the frame and all the plastics on...

As I have their demo S1k, I'm not being put out overly (despite it still being on the running in limiter) but it's not amazingly confidence inspiring for it to take this long. Obviously doing it in downtime between service work and other jobs, but that's not exactly tip top service...

 

[phil]

I am surprised your rebuild is taking so long, I do hope they pull their fingers out for you. Maybe you need to shout a little louder on their open day (shouldnt need too).

Good luck mate and keep us posted.

 

[dave80h]

Shug, I was in yesterday and saw your bike on a ramp through the viewing window. Engine appeared to be in it but a lot of bits missing from what I could see. No one was working on it, one guy building up a customers HP4, he appeared to be on his own. I'm going along tomorrow so will try and catch a better look when I'm in.

 

[dave80h]

Shug, had a quick look, couldn't see your bike on a ramp but did see a set of light grey panels lying on a shelf if they were yours?

 

[Shug]

Yep, they would have been mine. Thanks for taking a look mate. Got a bit of work on just now, so no real time to chase them, which probably means my bike is slipping down the list of importance. I've only ever seen one tech myself - lots of front-of-house staff, one mechanic, not the best for a dealership that size, if they intend to operate like that. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and suggest that they might still be hiring though - supposedly, bike mechanics are thin on the ground (I'm told by a friend in the trade)

Long story short, got a bit grumpy with them a month or so back, things happened and communication upped. I've been quiet since then, things have slowed down and communication stopped, essentially. Not happy that to get anything done, it seems I've got to be on their backs. Not got the time to do that at the moment...

 

[dave80h]

Was back down on the Sunday to get a shot on the HP4 and had a good look around. As I previously said just a set of panels lying around no bike to be seen anywhere. I'm assuming they didn't want a bike in the garage that was in bits when people were able to wander about. Mine is going in for a service next week, here's hoping nothing untoward comes out my sump.

 

[Porridgewog]

Currently in getting bike serviced, tempted to ask for a shot on the turbo busa they have here, 350bhp. Doubt they'll let me

 

[Porridgewog]

Shug, yours is on the ramp getting worked on, you'll be happy to hear.

 

[Shug]

Shug, yours is on the ramp getting worked on, you'll be happy to hear.

Yes and no, when I was sent a text (aye, a text) last Monday telling me that I should have been getting it back last week. What I'm not getting is how they can't schedule anything. If it's taking time, fine, but you put the hours in the diary and do it (and give the customer a factual completion date, not vague assurances it'll be 'soon'), not let the bike sit there and the customer get more and more pissed off - clearly it's getting worked on when every other single little job that comes in is done. Not good.

 

[Shug]

Still not got it back and no satisfactory explanation... Engine is running now, supposedly, but they are making sure there's no issues before handing back. Still won't give me a date for return - all you get is vague "we hope to... sometime this week..." Farcical now. Has taken them 5 weeks to go from clearance to build the engine back up to the stage we're at now and when I asked the service manager why, he could not actually give me an answer. Even sat in front of his PC, with (I assume) the job card software up for the bike, he couldn't tell me. Nothing seems to have been recorded on the job since 28th May!

Just escalating to the area manager, who has annoyingly taken this week off. But what's another week in this saga... That's 2 months and a week since it went in for a routine service, as of yesterday.