[Yawp]

Spoil alert; I’m still waiting…

Emailed BMW USA customer service a month or so ago. They called me back (but I didn’t answer and there was no voicemail). However the next day the dealer called (coincidence?) exclaimed they finally got it started! Went on to say they have ordered a couple parts and should be good to go after that.

… if only it was the easy…

A couple weeks after the dealer notified me of a finish-line here and after calling to clarify what exactly was wrong and getting back “I don’t know my tech doesn’t leave good notes”, the parts guy called and said the following:

Called yesterday and got a really nice gal who read they are ordering a new stater and generator something-or-other. She then promised to call back with more details after talking to the rep in person and checking on a loaner bike… no call back.

Boo…

 

[ARBOLMANO]

I sure hope you’re where you can ride year round. What a morass of yuck.

 

[Yawp]

I sure hope you’re where you can ride year round. What a morass of yuck.

I do ride year round despite being in the PNW. Still, summer is the best time of year. Pretty disappointing. Looking at a Honda AT or NC750X. Done with this dealer and BMW.

 

[Yawp]

Still not much of an update. At the shop… apparently they got the part they needed (rotor) but it doesn’t play nice with the “sprag clutch” as it’s an updated part. They failed to notice that when ordering.

Still honestly sounds like they don’t know what’s wrong…

 

[ARBOLMANO]

Holy Sheepdip! Sounds like they didn’t get the message of the upgraded rotor assembly requiring quite the few parts to function. Morons. It’s not like a moon landing. One wonders if even Dealer has repair data…..
Hang in there, makes me so sad for you.

 

[ARBOLMANO]

So new idea on old concept. How about outing the Dealer’s incompetent service Dept? Hit them on Facebook etc. Detail how their failure is costing you. Sign on to other forums, ask others to email the Dealer, Lynwood Motoplex. I know I just did. I felt better after. Sure others wood too. Probably won’t do a thing but many could feel better.

 

[SKX009K1]

As someone who bought a new 310 GS that broke down on the first day and then spent six weeks at the shop before the dealer replaced it with a different model...I feel you. There's nothing more frustrating than having to rely on someone who seems in no hurry to help you.

Funny story, the other day I went to an independent motorcycle mechanic to get some add-ons installed: Barkbusters, a Kaoko throttle lock, and the Rally Raid windscreen. I had tried to install the Barkbusters myself but couldn't for the life of me get the screws out of the bar end weights. So, I thought, instead of spending hours in my parking lot dealing with this, let me just pay someone for an hour to get the job done—at least then I know it's all professional.

What ended up happening? The two mechanics working on the bike took a full two hours. In the process, they broke the screen, failed to install the throttle lock, and installed the Barkbusters incorrectly. No joke. I should have just stopped at some old car repair shop and given someone there $20 to get the bar ends off for me. I could have done the rest myself.

Lesson learned. The next time I need help installing add-ons, I'll befriend another BMW owner with a garage and some tools and get him a bottle of bourbon for his help.

 

[ARBOLMANO]

There’s a shortage of quality technicians and the menial tasks like putting on accessories get delegated to the lower echelon workers. Same with cars and trucks. Every shop different dynamic but that’s what I’ve seen in my many years, having been the flunky too…..
So sorry you got the short end and you’ve the correct solotion, get a space together to work on it yourself. I’ve been known to hit up neighbors for garage space, especially when I lived in West Virginia in Winter. Traded car work.
Warranty you’ll still need dealer, but they are supposed to be qualified n trained.
If your in California, come on over, I’ve a complete shop, your welcome to use it.
PS that’s Not a funny story!

 

[Sarah]

Came to this late, but I had a similar issue and being a woman was laughed at by the shop for a while until I insisted and they found that my camshafts were defective. I have a 2018 and the parts and labor were all covered under warranty last year (and I've put a lot of non BMW parts on the external part of the bike). It's been running great since then. And if you're ever in the PNW, Desert Powersports in Prosser, WA were great to work with and kept me well informed the whole time they had my bike.

 

[ARBOLMANO]

It sure should not be a Gender issue! That’s about whacko. So awesome to hear of yet another dealer doing the deed like supposed to in spite of being gender talent confused. Bogus you had to have the experience but thanks for sharing.

 

[SKX009K1]

It can feel like the motorcycle world in the United States is pretty insular. In many parts of the world, people ride bikes because it’s affordable. In the United States, bikes are mainly a hobby. Hence, the people who are involved in the motorcycle world, whether they are customers or dealers, tend to be a relatively self-selected group. If you don’t fit into that group—because you’re female or because you start riding at an older age, say—it can feel as if people don’t take you serious.

 

[ARBOLMANO]

Good points. I so often forget the Regional differences in motorbike, heck any transport system. I was thinking poster was referring to the whimsical notion that men are more mechanical than females as expressed by the dealer not listening to her. That prejudice gets me hopping! When one looks across species, it’s clear females are the smarter of the two. Contrary to some dogmas of course, like evolution. The quicker a male can accept this the easier his life will be from then on. I’ve no experience with gender fluidity but has to in there somehow happily.

 

[JerryG]

When one looks across species, it’s clear females are the smarter of the two. Contrary to some dogmas of course, like evolution. The quicker a male can accept this the easier his life will be from then on.

Sorry, but I'm going to throw a penalty flag on this: Saying females are smarter than males is as sexist and wrong as saying the reverse. Genders aren't smart or dumb, individuals are.

 

[Yawp]

Still in the shop.

 

[SKX009K1]

That’s really unbelievable. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this. I’m pretty much in the same boat as you are, as someone who is new to riding who also had to deal with serious issues, but at least mine were cleared up in the end. (Although it did take them eight weeks at the height of the riding season.) I’m happy with the 310 GS and like BMW, but the whole thing has left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth. A lot, if not most, seems to depend on your local dealer situation. The reason I think I’ll stay with BMW in the future is that I’m not sure other brands are necessarily better. It seems like you can get unlucky with any bike you buy, or with any dealership you have to rely on. That being said, if the bike served you well for your first three years of riding, I’d say that’s pretty decent. As far as dealerships go, I have sometimes wondered whether they’re not giving warranty issues priority because they can’t make much money on them, since they’ll have to get reimbursed through BMW.

 

[Yawp]

Still in the shop. I got a message on February 14th:

No update since then- but at least it’s coming to a conclusion.

I ended up buying a Honda ADV 150 a couple months ago. It’s a scooter, and doesn’t have a ton of power, but for my commute (which is exclusively surface streets around 25 miles round trip) I’m super happy with it. It can go over sixty and actually accelerates nearly as fast as my GS.

Either way, it starts just fine when cold, which is better than even my brand new GS.

 

[ARBOLMANO]

Honda really makes good stuff. That ADV 150 pretty awesome unit. Will take you anywhere, just at a different pace. Probably never need the warrant. So sorry this happened but at least you got out and still at it!

 

[Cyrille]

I've tried the CB500X two years ago. Excellent engine, gear box and chassis... overall a very good bike but I did NOT like its center of gravity. In that respect the small GS (and its bigger sisters) is superior even if the 310cc engine lacks the power of the CB500X.

 

[ARBOLMANO]

Is it center of gravity or just overall weight? I felt the 310 had a great power to weight ratio but still a tad heavy as expected from a dual sport. One of best under 400lb DS.

 

[Cyrille]

Center of gravity: the mini GS is very well balanced, the weight is properly distributed. And yes it is (a bit) heavy should you have to pick it up after a fall... but at least you can ride it with confidence on gravel roads!