Do you adjust and repair your own scooter?
- Thread starter nhoelb
- Start date
shadowventure
New member
I'm not hand when it comes to anything really. I prefer taking it to a expert and have them do it the right way. I could do my own research and try to do it myself but I don't want to do something wrong. I rather go to a professional and have my peace of mind. With that being say if your handy and know what your doing then go for it!
lindsay365
New member
I am also not necessarily hands when it comes to something truly. I favor using the item to a professional and have these take action properly. I could truthfully do my study and also make an effort to take action myself personally however When i will not need to do one thing wrong. When i instead go to a expert and have my personal reassurance. To be able becoming claim but if your useful and also really know what your current undertaking and then do it now!
danealegana
New member
I am not a real mechanic but if the problem can be solved by my hands and I got expert knowledge and experience dealing with that specific problem without further incurring any more damages, I would personally fix it. But, if it's way more complicated, I seek professional help.
If the problem is a basic one and I can resolve it, I will handle it myself. But of course there are problems that only the mechanic can resolve so in that case, I have it checked with a professional. I would not compromise my safety just because I felt I can remedy the problem myself. There might be something that I might miss out along the way and that can lead to further damage or further problems in the long run. What I do, however, is to watch the mechanic do his thing. I have a trusted mechanic who prefers to repair my scooter in my place and he just comes over with his tools. If I have no work, I would watch him and have some notes from him to atleast have an idea of what the problem is and how he resolves it. Not that I am trying to replace him, but at least I know if the problem attacks again.
bill steele
New member
I'll do the oil and filters, battery bulbs,etc. can't do the tires or valves and things of that nature so I will bring it to BMW and have them do it, and since I have the 6000 mile check up coming in about 75 miles I'll have to have them do it so the warning light doesn't stay on and bug the hell out of me, because they are the only ones who can reset it as of now,kind of a built in way for them to have you come to them for service.
Oldscoot
New member
Laying on a cold cement floor to fiddle with the bike is something I did in my younger days. I don't have a bike stand to elevate the machine and I have too many toys and stuff in my garage to put one in. More importantly, laying down is easy, getting up again more problematic. I don't live far from the dealer so getting it there and back is easy. At this stage is easier for me to pay to play.
bill steele
New member
So the 6000 mile service is the same as the 600 mile service So I'm thinking it will be about $200 to $250, When I go this coming Thursday I'm going to tell them not to change the oil and filter since I just did it at 5000 miles with better oil and filter than they would use so since there oil and filter retail at about $80.00 I should pay $170.00 to $120.00so lets see how they treat me.
Xian Forbes
New member
Bill, show up at the dealer with all the body panels already off and see if that'll knock a 1/2 hour or more of labor off the charges. 
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Skutorr
Active member
Unfortunately, for many the only difference between a "pro" and the home tinkerer is that the pro gets PAID. That's IT.
The owner of a bike has a vested interest in getting it RIGHT first, and then save some money. The pro has one overriding goal; do it as FAST as you can to beat the book. Faster=more $ for him. Oh, and keep the "comebacks " to an acceptable level. If there are NONE he's told he's being too meticulous. Work FASTER!
Going ANYWHERE is a Crap Shoot the first time, and to SOME degree EVERY time you let someone else work on it. This is from a 20+ year professional mechanic and two-time shop owner. A competent AND honest mechanic is a RARITY; you usually get one but rarely get both...
Get a manual and DECENT tools, read it all 3x before you start, and ASK QUESTIONS if you are not sure. In the long run you will save LOTS of $$$ and do BETTER work that the "pro".
E.G.: when surveying my brother's Tmax 530 after it got here, I checked it stem-to-stern. The "5-STAR Yamaha Dealership" who swapped-out his dash face also left 3/4 of the TABS that snap the bodywork into place out of their slots. GOOD JOB, PROS!!! It's only most of what holds it all together...
The owner of a bike has a vested interest in getting it RIGHT first, and then save some money. The pro has one overriding goal; do it as FAST as you can to beat the book. Faster=more $ for him. Oh, and keep the "comebacks " to an acceptable level. If there are NONE he's told he's being too meticulous. Work FASTER!
Going ANYWHERE is a Crap Shoot the first time, and to SOME degree EVERY time you let someone else work on it. This is from a 20+ year professional mechanic and two-time shop owner. A competent AND honest mechanic is a RARITY; you usually get one but rarely get both...
Get a manual and DECENT tools, read it all 3x before you start, and ASK QUESTIONS if you are not sure. In the long run you will save LOTS of $$$ and do BETTER work that the "pro".
E.G.: when surveying my brother's Tmax 530 after it got here, I checked it stem-to-stern. The "5-STAR Yamaha Dealership" who swapped-out his dash face also left 3/4 of the TABS that snap the bodywork into place out of their slots. GOOD JOB, PROS!!! It's only most of what holds it all together...
Doraemon
New member
While I am a mechanic myself, I have worked in machine shops and worked on vehicles from lawnmowers (sears) to Submarines (Navy), I prefer to have some of the critical work performed by the factory techs. Depending on the need for specialized equipment. If you look at the clutch, the spring compresser you might use at home may kill a shadetree mech. when I changed out the clutch, Puget Sound BMW was more than happy to perform the work with thier equipment and didn't charge so much. Sure (enter factory name her) charges alot, but I think it goes back to the Service center and the quality and professionalism from the individuals. Thats where you have to wonder what happened to Integrity and pride in workmanship.
thats my .001" per inch input.
This does not include updates (software) and tech recalls; I believe BMW corp should be responsible for putting out that info and scheduling.
thats my .001" per inch input.
This does not include updates (software) and tech recalls; I believe BMW corp should be responsible for putting out that info and scheduling.
JaimeC
New member
The pro also has to stand by his work and do it RIGHT or he won't be in business much longer. AND, if he screws it up, he has to fix it for you free of charge since it was HIS screw up.
The pro also gets service bulletins and updates so he is fully up to date with the requirements of your vehicle.
None of that applies to the home mechanic. I'll support the local labor force and let them service my bikes. They've done all right by me so far.
The pro also gets service bulletins and updates so he is fully up to date with the requirements of your vehicle.
None of that applies to the home mechanic. I'll support the local labor force and let them service my bikes. They've done all right by me so far.
bill steele
New member
So being a mechanic my self (Lic. Master Electrician) I have found that the person with some knowledge of what they are doing and not a Pro at it has gotten them selves in quit a pickle, and have cost them selves more than twice as much money than if they had it done by the Pro. As I have said in the past I will change the oil and filter,air filter, battery, bulbs etc. but when it comes to the more complicated stuff I will bring it to BMW they have the tools etc. and updates and so on to do the job right and I don't have to worry if I had missed something. P S the home electricians have really kept me well supplied with work and a very good income.
JaimeC
New member
As a mechanic at a shop once told a friend of mine: "Either you pay me now, or you'll pay me later." The words were prophetic because my friend attempted to do his own valves and ended up spinning the cam shaft. Didn't line it up properly (but THOUGHT he did) and the sickening crunching/grinding noises he got when he fired up the engine told him all he needed to know...
Skutorr
Active member
People will ONLY work to whatever standard the market requires. On my restoration work, I told the machine shops that I really didn't CARE what had to be done, or for that matter how much it cost. It had to be PERFECT the first time. I'd show up to pick-up the engine parts with my micrometers in hand, and GOD HELP THEM if it wasn't to the specs I had laid out when I dropped the work off.
I went through 5 "good" machine shops to get 2 that would/could actually work to tight tolerances. And one of THEM still screwed-up a cylinder head for me...stuck a valve and bent it, and after it had been "FIXED" it happened again and holed a piston.
I had to figure out why and show the show owner the mistake, who immediately fired his cylinder head guy. And they built $60,000 Caterpillar motors...but the guy was in a hurry...
Pros. EVERY bad job I had to repair was from some supposed "PRO"...the owners themselves almost ALWAYS got it right...
I went through 5 "good" machine shops to get 2 that would/could actually work to tight tolerances. And one of THEM still screwed-up a cylinder head for me...stuck a valve and bent it, and after it had been "FIXED" it happened again and holed a piston.
I had to figure out why and show the show owner the mistake, who immediately fired his cylinder head guy. And they built $60,000 Caterpillar motors...but the guy was in a hurry...
Pros. EVERY bad job I had to repair was from some supposed "PRO"...the owners themselves almost ALWAYS got it right...