Third time lucky.......................?

[Dutchman]

I'm beginning to loose my sense of humour over the total lack of reliability of the BMW R1200GS.........

First we had our Norwegian holiday ruined:

http://www.bmwridersscotland.com/bulletinboards/viewtopic.php?t=159

Then I had another overseas trip ruined:

http://www.bmwridersscotland.com/bulletinboards/viewtopic.php?t=214

Last, but by no means least.......total fekkin' brake failure:

http://www.bmwridersscotland.com/bulletinboards/viewtopic.php?t=277

The Norwegian incident reached a satisfactory conclusion when BMW replaced the bike with a new one......and paid me a £750.00 'goodwill' payment in lieu of the spoilt portion of the holiday.......

So, 8000 odd miles later on the second GS and the list of failured gets longer:

I hadn't ridden the bike since it was returned a month ago after the ABS control unit was replaced.

Went to start it a week ago for a wee ride out and there was no fekkin' power....nothing, nada, zilch........fek-all......not even enough to power up the ignition lights etc........

BMW Assistance man was with me in double time......he's put our house in his GPS as a waypoint........

Using the battery pack he had on board he started the bike, ran the engine, confirmed the alternator output & battery state........said that I had a flat battery.......(staing the bleedin' obvious........!!)

Anyway, he suggested that I charge the battery and then make my way to the dealer to get the cause diagnosed...........which I did yesterday (Monday)......

Took the bike to John Clark (Tayside) in Dundee yesterday and they needed to keep the bike overnight, so they lent me a spanking new 120i which is actually very nice.........

Speaking to mark Wilkie, the main man at Dundee, I expressed my ongoing displeasure in my own inimitable fashion.......and bearing in mind that much correspondence has been whizzing around between myself BMW GB, JC's & my solicitor......Mark uttered those now immortal words, "So, Chris, you're obviously not very happy about the bike........what have we got to do to make you happy.......?"

I pause for thought, thinking I might be able to blag a couple of new System 5 helmets for my trouble........and clearly Mark is worried by the length of time it's taking for me to respond........

'Tell you what', he says, breaking the deafening silence.......'why don't we just replace the bike for you........?'

I'm gobsmacked, it's not what I was after, and I was genuinely stuck for words.......

Mark went on to suggest that if I had one of the very latest production, perhaps the earlier problms would have been worked out..........etc, etc.....

Reluctantly (??) I agreed to yet another new R1200GS....I dallied with the prospect of having a 1200RT instead, but alas, it's not to be.......this time!!

So, I collect my 'old' GS tomorrow, no fault having been found with the electrics or no explanation forthcoming as to the cause of the flat battery....

It seems that a replacement bike of the appropriate spec is either in stock or winging it's way to Dundee as we speak.......

The swap over date has yet to be determined.......I'm agonising over what colour to paint this one........metallic black is top of the list at the moment.......

So, yet another new BMW, 05 plate, another two year warranty, another bag of shyte..........?

Or will it be third time lucky with my 17th BMW motorcycle in 22 years.........?

Clearly JC's are redifining the meaning of customer satisfaction & although I'm aware that even this grand gesture of goodwill will actually cost them very little in terms of hard cash........the wholesale price of the new bike, ex VAT, against what they can retail the 'old' one for..........it's certainly more than I expected and will more than compensate for all the aggro I've had with this current bike.........

Sincere thanks to mark @ JC's for yet again sorting me out.........

..........now, Mark.......about those helmets..............!!

Cheers

Dutch

[dano]

Welcome to the world of BMW.......... :wave

[syeager]

Wow, Dutch... I read a story over at ADVRider from a guy who had the exact same experience :D

[username]

ok, so youve definitely had problems, but that dealer is pretty sweet to offer a totally new bike for it. twice. find out what that service manager is putting in his coffee and ship some to the states, the stuff is working.

i think im going to practice saying 'fek' properly, then call my dealer and tell him i've got a piece of shyte dead battery and fek all, i'm sick of this and want a new bike! ;)

thanks for relating the story, and please keep us posted as to how it works itself out and how the third bike is.

[GlobalRider]

I'm beginning to loose my sense of humour over the total lack of reliability of the BMW R1200GS.........

Mark uttered those now immortal words, "So, Chris, you're obviously not very happy about the bike........what have we got to do to make you happy.......?"

Cheers
Dutch

Hi Chris,

Isn't April 1st sometime next week?

Well you might be able to find an early 80s R80 G/S and with a PD kit, if you want reliable.

You should have told Mark, "tell BMW to build a reliable motorcycle".

17 BMWs in 22 years? You don't keep them long enough that any of them should be of any trouble. Have they all been like your present BMW?

Luckily I have done well, especially with that 25 year old R65...one failure, but then, its from the old school. I don't know about my recent and first oilhead acquisitions. They'll have to prove themselves. :dunno

All very nice of them to give you another BMW, although I'd prefer something reliable instead. Nothing worse than being let down in the middle of nowhere.

[BradfordBenn]

Youch that sucks. Hopefully this one works out better.

[GlobalRider]

Of course, if BMW clubs around the world took a stance on some of the issues with their respective distributors and BMW AG, then maybe some of them would get solved.

As it stands now, a good chunk of BMW riders aren't far off from HD riders when it comes to accepting almost anything, just to ride and own the marque.

That mystique wears thin when left standing at the side of the road.