Is Dealer Telling The Truth?

[jamiekiel]

My bike is still in the shop for clutch replacement (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11208). I took it on July 14 to have it repaired. Shop manager told me it would the end of the next week (July21-22) or the beginning of the following week (July 24-25).

I called on Sat July 22 after it had been there for just over a week for a progress report. He said that the parts had come in the day before and they would get to it the first of the week. I called back on Wed July 26 for a progress report and they were "working on it now". They called me late Thurs (July 27) and said that they needed me to overnight my alarm keyfob to them because my alarm was going off. They said they needed to keyfob to disarm the alarm so they could test drive it.

Here's my question: Do you think they had worked on it prior to the alarm sounding yesterday? I asked them if I could just bring the keyfob when I come to pick up the bike (3hr drive). They said no, that they needed it in advance so they could test drive it to see if anything was wrong.

Time line recap:
July 14 -- In Shop
July 21 -- "parts arrived"
July 22 -- Update Call from me
July 26 -- Update call from me -- "being worked on"
July 27 -- Alarm Sounds

[dshealey]

Don't know about the 2002 alarm system, but I once put my 2001 in for warranty work and forgot to leave the remote. When I went to pick up the bike the dealer asked for the remote, and said they had to hook the alarm back up before bringing it back out. So, some dealers have no problem working on a bike with no remote.

[jzeiler]

I would say yes. The alarm system is funny and can do strange things when the battery is hooked back up after it has been off for a while. This is a MAJOR teardown of the bike and I'm sure they were not on it all the time but would hit it between other jobs (gotta pay the bills). Teardown - order needed parts - reassemble - test.

I gave Scotty a week to do my rear seal (a much lesser job) just because I could not come back to get it any sooner and I got a good deal on the slave replacement. You didn't say which shop you ended up going to but this sounds reasonable to me. Maybe others will have a different take on it.

[jamiekiel]

Didn't name the shop because:
1) Not trying to hurt anyone's business
2) Wanted honest opinion without regard to dealership

[jzeiler]

Fair enough. When you get her back PM me - we will go for a ride together!

[jamiekiel]

My bike is still in the shop for clutch replacement (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11208). I took it on July 14 to have it repaired. Shop manager told me it would the end of the next week (July21-22) or the beginning of the following week (July 24-25).

I called on Sat July 22 after it had been there for just over a week for a progress report. He said that the parts had come in the day before and they would get to it the first of the week. I called back on Wed July 26 for a progress report and they were "working on it now". They called me late Thurs (July 27) and said that they needed me to overnight my alarm keyfob to them because my alarm was going off. They said they needed to keyfob to disarm the alarm so they could test drive it.

Here's my question: Do you think they had worked on it prior to the alarm sounding yesterday? I asked them if I could just bring the keyfob when I come to pick up the bike (3hr drive). They said no, that they needed it in advance so they could test drive it to see if anything was wrong.

Time line recap:
July 14 -- In Shop
July 21 -- "parts arrived"
July 22 -- Update Call from me
July 26 -- Update call from me -- "being worked on"
July 27 -- Alarm Sounds
July 27 -- Overnight keyfob
July 29 -- Update Call from me -- no keyfob
July 29 -- Dealer called me for update (received fob)

Just updating my timeline. Dealer said today that they should have the bike ready first of next week (1 week later than promised).

[grifscoots]

I'd say it's pretty much normal to keep them a month for that type of work. Count your blessings!

[dshealey]

I'd say it's pretty much normal to keep them a month for that type of work. Count your blessings!

I would not use the word NORMAL there Grif! My dealer installed TWO clutches under warranty, the first one was in the shop 4 days, the second one was 3 days! Had it been a month I would have been really upset.

[mikerd400]

It may depend on the parts and where they were sent from. I had my bike in the shop for warranty work. The part wasn't in stock and had to be sent from Germany. That repair took one week longer than it should have.

[myk_edwards]

I'd say it's pretty much normal to keep them a month for that type of work. Count your blessings!

Mine was in and out of Oxford UK dealership in 2 day's. They knew the bike was coming in a couple of days prior, because I had rung them from Germany (clutch started slipping in 4th and 5th).

Dropped off bike, they gave me a loaner GS, I had a blast on the GS, and then picked the bike up 2 days later. To be fair, no alarm on my bike, but they did exactly what they promised to do.

[KMC1]

I'd say it's pretty much normal to keep them a month for that type of work. Count your blessings!

I also don't feel this should be "normal".
It may be the way some of our dealers do treat us, but IMHO we should expect more - especially for a chronic problem which really is a design flaw.

[jamiekiel]

They did have to order parts. They came in July 21. I still don't have the bike and haven't heard from the dealer since Sat (July 29).

[cfell]

If your state had a lemon law, print out the paperwork, go to the dealership, ask a salesman to use his/her desk for a while or spread the papers out on the Service managers' counter and start filling it in.. then ask the S.M. details.. "uh, what date did I bring the bike in for service?"

[jamiekiel]

Service Manager called yesterday and said that it is ready. I'm picking it up today. One good note--the repair bill came in under the $1500 estimate at $1196.

[tmgs]

Just updating my timeline. Dealer said today that they should have the bike ready first of next week (1 week later than promised).

a week later than promissed is not bad , my '02 sometimes will reset the alarm when the battery is dissconnect for a while, sometimes it doesn't i alwy;s leave the spare remote with the bike at the dealer

Tom

[cfell]

If all this frustration is smoothed... and the dealer turns out to be a standup guy, say so.

[jamiekiel]

If all this frustration is smoothed... and the dealer turns out to be a standup guy, say so.


I surely will. As soon as I get this resolved:
http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12394

[jamiekiel]

If all this frustration is smoothed... and the dealer turns out to be a standup guy, say so.


After 3 trips to Nashville, I finally got my bike back. Clutch works good. The dealer had knocked my coil loose(still don't know how) while installing the clutch. It was replaced on my third trip at n/c.