Skilled BMW Techs in NZ

[Anonymous]

#4793

I'm curious to see what others think. In other countries in the world there are certain dealers / techs with excellent reputations for doing the more technical work (and reading AdvRider it seems there are plenty of dealers capable of ruining bikes). I'm wondering what people think about NZ.The reason I ask, is I'm now dealing with my R1200GSA final drive failing for the 2nd time in 20k. It hasn't occurred in the exact same location but with almost zero mech skills myself it's hard to decide what's true, what's not etc. I don't have much reason to doubt, but the wheel flange replaced 10k ago (under recall) apparently also needs replacing. Given the bike is now well outside warranty and with more mileage I'm likely to see more age-induced issues (final drive, transmission, clutch etc). The spline I apparently require cannot be ordered in the fiche, so it's a whole new final drive unit...For these reasons I'm now thinking an independent technician may have more skills/experience to deal with the bike in the future, than a dealer where I can now rarely speak to the tech and have no idea just how much skill they have (and if they do make mistakes, given my own low ability its hard for me to pick up). After all, if a job is badly done there will be more issues. It's a given they wouldn't have access to recall / factory tools / updates, but that's the price you pay. I doubt I'll see many recalls on a 2010 now and I doubt there will be much in the way of updates.So... chime in with your favourite technicians?  ;D

[Anonymous]

#19066

You have my absolute sympathy, Gremlin. Used to be there was a very, very good Brit technician around started on the Strand, worked out of HQ at Mt Wellington, then Experience, then went private next door to Motomail old site, haven't heard of him in years. Did similar work to your GSA on my Ki00LT, no comebacks. I really hope somebody can recommend a magic-fingered tech to you: clutches, gearboxes and final dives seem to require an esoteric skill to set up, and unless every component is in precise alignment and preload with every other one it is going to come back and bite.There just isn't another thing crushes your spirit more than premature failure of an expensive repair, although the next piece up or down the line failing shortly after an expensive repair always upsets you, too: should it have been inspected and made good at the same time? (Because each successive failure you pay for the same tech time to strip, clean, reassemble as before. Grrr!)If you make a similar unwilling decision as BlackR1150RT at some point (or won lotto, or ram-raided about 400 service stations), what would the replacement be?

[Arne Rohde]

#19067

I don't know what Ian (can't recall his last name) that Bwucie refers to is doing nowadays, or where he's doing it. But there is another BMW Qualified tech, Dean Jamieson, in Glendene, who advertises in the BMWOR newsletter that would at least give you a second opinion on your problem, Gremlin. Phone 09-8185448. There's a pointer to him in the Links page on the front page of this site.Since R1200GS and GSA are so ubiquitous in the UK it wouldn't surprise me if there is more than one final drive available there off a crashed bike, with far fewer kms on the clock.

[Anonymous]

#19068

Hey Gremlin,This is pants for a second final drive to fail in 20k km.There is a powerful piece of legislation for you to start attacking BMW with - the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (CGA).http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0091/latest/DLM311053.html#DLM312809A handy dandy guide for the CGA is on Consumer's website:https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/consumer-guarantees-actI've used this to 'convince' an electronics retailer (that may or may not sound like Hardly Normal) that when my waterproof camera's seals failed, and that the comment of 'water damage not covered' didn't quite line up, given you'd expect a waterproof camera to stay, ah, waterproof.  A few letters to and fro, et voila, one new camera!Two key parts of the CGA cover your problem - 'service' and 'acceptable quality'.  Tied into acceptable quality is durability.The usual example given is buying something for $5k and $500 - you would expect the $5k version to last longer, and be of better quality than the cheaper alternative.  In addition, New Zealand retailers' love affair with extended warranties is finally taking a hit when people realise the CGA covers much of what an extended warranty covers, and it's FREE.Despite BMW NZ offering a paltry 2 year warranty on new bikes, the US offers up to seven years. I'm fairly confident you could argue that a major component like a final drive failing in a relatively short time does not satisfy the CGA's definitions of 'acceptable quality'.  We pay a small barrow-load of cash for our bikes and parts, therefore the expectation is that they will last a while.  The often-touted line of 'barely run in at 70 000km' implies that BMW bikes will last, and last, and last...  Two final drive failures within 20k km does not meet this expectation.PM me if you want a bit more guidance, or get in touch with your local Citizen's Advice office for help.My Disclaimer?  I'm not a lawyer, employee of Citizens Advice, or anything connected with the legal fraternity.  But I have given a couple of people a nudge with a fairly blunt letter explaining my rights as a consumer, where I think they've erred, and the corrective action that would leave me happy.  Besides, I need you and your bike at the next sports event we're both at to get those award-winning images  ;DScott

[Anonymous]

#19069

If you make a similar unwilling decision as BlackR1150RT at some point (or won lotto, or ram-raided about 400 service stations), what would the replacement be?

Well that's the thing. I don't think I like the new GSA. They're using the new style of switches, and besides really liking my paddles, the switches have terrible reliability by all accounts. Worse, where I've seen parts replaced, they're the same as the failures, so there isn't even a new design. People can be on their 3rd or 4th switch block. Along with that, the new GSA has a smaller tank (30L, I'm putting 36-38L in mine) and lower electrical capacity (510W vs my 720w). In short, eventually, I'll buy another of mine... there is one in the Mount currently, 36k on the clock and a 2013, so the last of my gen. Temptations....  ::)

artig wrote:

Since R1200GS and GSA are so ubiquitous in the UK it wouldn't surprise me if there is more than one final drive available there off a crashed bike, with far fewer kms on the clock.Indeed. I think I've lined up one from Italy with 17k on the clock for under a grand. Been asking a few questions. Also been speaking to Dean and will likely move to him for future work... I didn't want the thread to be about dealer bashing, more about finding the experienced techs you can build a relationship with, trust, communicate etc. As I say, I don't have any proof of wrong-doing, but for me, the relationship with tech is vital (especially my reputation of fully testing the parts catalogue) and I think I don't have that currently...

Scottmac wrote:

This is pants for a second final drive to fail in 20k km.Just to clarify, it's the same final drive, rebuilt, and apparently failing in a different place. To a layperson like me, yes, could be entirely unrelated, and from reading, parts can fail quickly with little warning. The steel flange was done less than 10k ago, so there is a question around that... but I'd prefer to focus on finding a tech I trust and move on...

[Mark]

#19070

Hi GremlinFrom what I've read on the net some parts on our bikes are better off being replaced rather than repaired, one of them is the final drive.We seem to think our BMWs are made better than other brands but there not really. BMWs seem to have lots of parts that have been badly designed and end up giving us problems like the ABS units.I bought a used K1200s that had a ABS replaced under warranty and then packed up in 18mths later with only 15,000kms on the new ABS, as BMW had warrantied the 1st unit and the bike was bought privately they would not look at warranty on the 2nd unit.I have owned BMS since 1986 and have not really gone off BMWs but the newer bikes surely scare me that something will soon go wrong and cost me heaps.

[Mark Mackay]

#19071

Hi Gremlin  I. Think You are on the right track in getting a good used one from overseas, don't  forget to factor in the GST and clearance fee from customs in NZ. Dean had My GS  all apart to replace a $24 cam chain guide a few weeks ago, It's running like a new one now and I  have gotten over the bill which was very fairOn another bike My 800GS had the chain and sprockets replaced at 27,000ks which is normal for this model. $419 fitted. So at 130,000ks it would of had 4.8 chains replaced cost of just over $2000 So the jury is out on chain versus shaft they are both to expensive.New Triumph Tiger Sport 1050 is looking nice at $20995.

[Anonymous]

#19072

From what I've read on the net some parts on our bikes are better off being replaced rather than repaired, one of them is the final drive.We seem to think our BMWs are made better than other brands but there not really. BMWs seem to have lots of parts that have been badly designed and end up giving us problems like the ABS units.

Yeah, I'm not under too many illusions that BMW is happily trading on it's own brand created a while ago. Fact is however, I've done road rides of 1850km in just over a day, adventure rides involving rough terrain, water crossings, events working in close quarters with athletes and so on. All on one bike, which I still love over 5.5 years later. It just annoys me that things like a final drive consisting of regular splines, bearings etc can't be repaired. I believe parts are eventually fully available, but 7+ years after the bike was sold. Potentially I'll have 2-3 final drives by then, but if they can eventually be fully serviced, I can rotate them in, sending units for repair etc. On one hand you could argue the factory unit should be excellent, but it's made on a production line, while a rebuilt unit, if done by a skilled tech, could be the best quality available...

richardk wrote:

Think You are on the right track in getting a good used one from overseas, don't  forget to factor in the GST and clearance fee from customs in NZ. Don't worry. New final drive: $3300+ (don't know if it includes fitting). Whole swing arm including final drive, 2 boots, brake disc but not the shaft, and done 17k km: $850 (inc shipping, not GST etc). I think it's a good route?  ;D

[Mark Mackay]

#19073

$850 plus GST  is cheap I sold my 04 final drive which did have a new main bearing in it for $1000 so with a rear disc that is good value. Did it come of a 08 or later bike? That's when they droped the ratio a little.

[Anonymous]

#19074

$850 plus GST  is cheap I sold my 04 final drive which did have a new main bearing in it for $1000 so with a rear disc that is good value. Did it come of a 08 or later bike? That's when they droped the ratio a little.

Yes, yours wouldn't have been compatible with mine. My GSA is a 2010, 2.91 ratio (32/11) and the ebay one is a little later again, being that dark gray colour, but also 2.91 etc.

[Anonymous]

#19075

Hi gremlinJust thinking out loud.... a good engineer is way more easy to find than a good BMW tech. Perhaps with specialist "failures" like the rear hub your best repair could be just around the corner at a general engineering workshop.Gosh I wish I was closer as I'd have your bike fixed for the price of a beer and some company.Ralphy

[Anonymous]

#19076

Wish I was closer… the only problem with a general engineering workshop is a, finding one, b, finding one probably more motorcycle orientated.Still, Deano has sorted the bike for now. Replacement swingarm is on. Wheel flange so loose on the old one that it slid right off the spline (aka... so yeah, that would explain the rear wheel play). Dean had another flange from another job, pretty much slid on, so the spline is almost certainly scrap metal. He thinks it's a waiting game until the parts are fully available (posts on advrider as Ralphy has seen hasn't quite given an answer, but I'll try the UK forum).Dean doesn't have much experience on the camhead, bit new compared to the others he works on, but give it a bit of time and he'll have plenty of practise from mine  ;D As I said to him, the Camhead is probably too new for most to have issues with final drive etc, unless they were early random failures, not mileage/wear related. Quite a few results for 07-08 Hexheads (who often fit Camhead FDs for improved reliability - haha), but not so much the Camhead.So keeping an eye on the new swingarm, need it until 20th Nov ish, then it will be back to Dean for a general service (only about 1k to go until 120k). Now planning a backup drive shaft, as searching on that shows plenty of wear out failures with less mileage than mine. It's in good nick, but front spline was dry when Dean pulled apart... so we'll see how it goes.

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