BMW Service cost are extortionate in UK

[XYZMETA]

So I took my bike for it's scheduled service. It's currently at 18K after 14 months of ownership brand new. C400x.

My first service was at 600 miles and was very basic because didn't need to replace much so cost was very cheap around £140.

Second service was around 6k miles and cost a bit more around £350 because I had to replace a few bits.

Now at my third scheduled service at 16k my dash service notification popped up but I waited a bit before booking. Now at 18k miles I took it in at BMW Battersea and got quoted £1600.

Because it's a big service with lots of parts changing including new disc breaks and pads and everything else with a usal service. But half the price of the £1600 cost is labour cost.

That is extortionate. Plus they didn't even give me a courtesy bike. What a joke.

just a rant.

 

[wspollack]

So I took my bike for it's scheduled service. It's currently at 18K after 14 months of ownership brand new. C400x.

My first service was at 600 miles and was very basic because didn't need to replace much so cost was very cheap around £140.

Second service was around 6k miles and cost a bit more around £350 because I had to replace a few bits.

Now at my third scheduled service at 16k my dash service notification popped up but I waited a bit before booking. Now at 18k miles I took it in at BMW Battersea and got quoted £1600.

Because it's a big service with lots of parts changing including new disc breaks and pads and everything else with a usal service. But half the price of the £1600 cost is labour cost.

That is extortionate. Plus they didn't even give me a courtesy bike. What a joke.

just a rant.

It does seem like a lot of money: about a quarter of the price of a brand new bike (https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/models/urban_mobility/c400x.html)!

If it's any consolation, when I was without my C 400 GT for about five months last year -- the bike was physically at my local BMW dealership for about four months -- I asked, early on, about a loaner bike -- any model they could spare, shift or shiftless -- and was told nope. And I asked about renting a bike from them, and was told nope. And I contacted BMW North America, and they said it's up to individual dealers, they couldn't help me, either.

After a month or so of the bike's being at the shop, I decided to just buy a second bike, elsewhere, a Royal Enfield Meteor 350, which turned out to be a lot of fun, and which I've kept. (Eventually, BMW replaced my bike with a new one -- see https://www.bmw-scooters.com/index....brand-new-23-c-400-gt-free-part-i-of-ii.2932/ -- but if I hadn't purchased the RE I would've lost virtually all of my riding season last year.)

 

[XYZMETA]

buying another bike is a flex. unfortunately im broke so now new bike for me. but at least you got a 2 brand new bikes now.

 

[XYZMETA]

It does seem like a lot of money: about a quarter of the price of a brand new bike (https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/models/urban_mobility/c400x.html)!

If it's any consolation, when I was without my C 400 GT for about five months last year -- the bike was physically at my local BMW dealership for about four months -- I asked, early on, about a loaner bike -- any model they could spare, shift or shiftless -- and was told nope. And I asked about renting a bike from them, and was told nope. And I contacted BMW North America, and they said it's up to individual dealers, they couldn't help me, either.

After a month or so of the bike's being at the shop, I decided to just buy a second bike, elsewhere, a Royal Enfield Meteor 350, which turned out to be a lot of fun, and which I've kept. (Eventually, BMW replaced my bike with a new one -- see https://www.bmw-scooters.com/index....brand-new-23-c-400-gt-free-part-i-of-ii.2932/ -- but if I hadn't purchased the RE I would've lost virtually all of my riding season last year.)

also i finnaly mannage to negotioate a courtesy bike. picking up the 310gs.

 

[mjnorris]

So I took my bike for it's scheduled service. It's currently at 18K after 14 months of ownership brand new. C400x.

My first service was at 600 miles and was very basic because didn't need to replace much so cost was very cheap around £140.

Second service was around 6k miles and cost a bit more around £350 because I had to replace a few bits.

Now at my third scheduled service at 16k my dash service notification popped up but I waited a bit before booking. Now at 18k miles I took it in at BMW Battersea and got quoted £1600.

Because it's a big service with lots of parts changing including new disc breaks and pads and everything else with a usal service. But half the price of the £1600 cost is labour cost.

That is extortionate. Plus they didn't even give me a courtesy bike. What a joke.

just a rant.

I would check to make sure that the service says “must replace” instead of “inspect and replace if needed”. The original service on the 650gts were the former and later changed to the second. Made a big difference in maintenance costs.

 

[Ceesie76]

This is why I encourage everyone to undertake to do their own maintenance. You'll not only save on labor, but sometimes the parts are a lot cheaper if you get them yourself as well, not from BMW. Great example are the drivebelts, BMW will charge 3x what the same product costs elsewhere. Of course, you have to have some tinkering skills because mistakes can be costly. But, a dealer can make mistakes as well and they won't have any qualms about charging those onto you as well, if they feel they can get away with it - I've experienced that myself.

 

[Merv]

I have a few beemers and as a rule, I go first service/run in inspection at Dealer then I do everything with a well regarded authorised service shop in Melbourne, Australia. BM Motors, Ringwood, Melbourne.

When I whipped my CE04 in for its first post delivery Inspection/service with dealer at 1000 k’s I just about fell over $300 Aussie smackers. They plug in diagnostics and replace .5 litre of electric motor fluid. My past GSA’s have all been a complimentary run in inspection. I figure they think an electric will never come back for high value $$$ servicing.

 

[Merv]

So I took my bike for it's scheduled service. It's currently at 18K after 14 months of ownership brand new. C400x.

My first service was at 600 miles and was very basic because didn't need to replace much so cost was very cheap around £140.

Second service was around 6k miles and cost a bit more around £350 because I had to replace a few bits.

Now at my third scheduled service at 16k my dash service notification popped up but I waited a bit before booking. Now at 18k miles I took it in at BMW Battersea and got quoted £1600.

Because it's a big service with lots of parts changing including new disc breaks and pads and everything else with a usal service. But half the price of the £1600 cost is labour cost.

That is extortionate. Plus they didn't even give me a courtesy bike. What a joke.

just a rant.

You’d have to be racing the thing to need that $$amount of servicing. Or you’re just ‘Wough’ on your bike (life of Brian quote). And off course you’re paying for the staff retirement plan.

 

[mgg]

I've owned an electric car for a year now and so far no maintenence cost. No fluid changes, or anything. I do put on snow tires and rotate all tires but the place I purchased the snow tires from provides both services for free. You would think an electric bike would be simialer. I have seen posts from people with 50.000 plus miles and no maintenance accept refill window fluid wash, and tire rotation. Just saying.

 

[OM3RTA]

So I took my bike for it's scheduled service. It's currently at 18K after 14 months of ownership brand new. C400x.

My first service was at 600 miles and was very basic because didn't need to replace much so cost was very cheap around £140.

Second service was around 6k miles and cost a bit more around £350 because I had to replace a few bits.

Now at my third scheduled service at 16k my dash service notification popped up but I waited a bit before booking. Now at 18k miles I took it in at BMW Battersea and got quoted £1600.

Because it's a big service with lots of parts changing including new disc breaks and pads and everything else with a usal service. But half the price of the £1600 cost is labour cost.

That is extortionate. Plus they didn't even give me a courtesy bike. What a joke.

just a rant.

Seems a helluva charge for such a small engine

 

[moto-cavallo]

I may be pessimistic, but I think they just charge exorbitant amounts because they get all bent with scooters and having to take all the plastics off. My dealer went on a 5 mins rant on how service "hates" working on them for that alone.

 

[Reguam]

Seems a helluva charge for such a small engine

Actually, as a person who does not enjoy working on bikes, I kind of get it. My store sells four different brands. Those are some decent skills and I doubt the shop can fill those positions without decent pay. And the price they charge for a scooter is the same as a K1600. Unfortunately no sliding scale.

 

[OM3RTA]

Actually, as a person who does not enjoy working on bikes, I kind of get it. My store sells four different brands. Those are some decent skills and I doubt the shop can fill those positions without decent pay. And the price they charge for a scooter is the same as a K1600. Unfortunately no sliding scale

I get that. However it should be a sliding scale. Otherwise it would be like a VW Polo owner being charged the same amount for a service as a Bugatti Chiron owner.

 

[Reguam]

Hey, I get it. I have a fairly new BMW 430i convertible and I live in fear of the warranty running out. I am basically against extended warranties but when it comes to BMW's I think it is required. It makes sense the hourly rate would be the same regardless of the complexity, but BMW begins with a very high hourly rate so no escape.

 

[OM3RTA]

Hey, I get it. I have a fairly new BMW 430i convertible and I live in fear of the warranty running out. I am basically against extended warranties but when it comes to BMW's I think it is required. It makes sense the hourly rate would be the same regardless of the complexity, but BMW begins with a very high hourly rate so no escape.

G20 330i owner here. You should have no real concern with that lump, it's rather well known for it's robustness.......and can easily take big tuning.*
Oh I totally understand the standing hourly rate but it's the seemingly blanket all engines are basically the same level of complexity thus cost the same to service that I find jarring.

*saying that should something drastic happen please don't blame me

 

[Dickw]

So I took my bike for it's scheduled service. It's currently at 18K after 14 months of ownership brand new. C400x.

My first service was at 600 miles and was very basic because didn't need to replace much so cost was very cheap around £140.

Second service was around 6k miles and cost a bit more around £350 because I had to replace a few bits.

Now at my third scheduled service at 16k my dash service notification popped up but I waited a bit before booking. Now at 18k miles I took it in at BMW Battersea and got quoted £1600.

Because it's a big service with lots of parts changing including new disc breaks and pads and everything else with a usal service. But half the price of the £1600 cost is labour cost.

That is extortionate. Plus they didn't even give me a courtesy bike. What a joke.

just a rant.

My local BMW dealer in Bristol has just quoted me as follows, "The rough pricing for the services is: 6k/annual service £250 – 12k service £450". Of course, that doesn't include any necessary parts. They offer a loan bike at the rate of £18 per day. The service rate seems pretty standard with a couple of independents that I have checked. As someone else says, below, check that replacement parts are needed not just done automatically.

 

[mgg]

I change oil and filters on my bikes. I have not changed break pads but I have a friend who is a good mecnanic and says it is really easy and he will help when needed. I have changed the rollers, belts, spark plugs, and cleaned the CVT on my Vespas. It was not that difficult. From the little I have seen this does not look more difficult than the Vespa. I might just do these things myself. I really like to do these things and feel confident that they are done correctly when I do them myself.
There were many (how to) videos on You Tube when I was working on them. I have already seen BMW C400gt videos as well. We'll see.

 

[BayAreaCelt]

If you think London prices for servicing are expensive, come over to the Bay Area.... I used to live in Battersea for a bit, and random places all over London over the years but US Motorrad BMW dealers over the pond are next level pricing!