12k Service Cost

[Hawkman]

I just rolled over 11,500k on my secondhand '03. I had the 12k service done and I am pleased with the result. I just need new tires soon. It runs great!" I every time I get on it I remember that I love it.

I was mostly aghast at the cost however. The dealer said it is the "most costly service" they do. I am just hoping that I did not get screwed with my pants on.

What would you expect to pay/have paid for the 12k service?

[boxermania]

Hawkman

Costs for the 12K service vary depending on the dealer, you wonder if they screwed you.....not posting what you paid, I would tend to agree with you....

[Buckster]

You're 12k, 24k, 36k, etc., will be the most expensive. I will always ask for a estimate so I will not get too shocked AND I mostly do all my own maintenance myself now. I'm sure you paid at least 500.00+ on your 12k service.

[Hawkman]

I paid $608.41 actually... I did get an estimate so I knew what it was going to cost.

So it seems that I got screwed to an extent, but this is the first major service since I bought the bike so I figured that having a tech look at it was a good idea in the long run. There are not a lot of BMW dealers around this area and the labor rate that they can charge in Fairfield county is pretty high. oh well.

[taosports]

Eric,

My 6,000 mile service back in 2005 came to $460. Only $18. of that was parts. As noted by Buckster, a 6,000 mile service is not one of the major ones.

I felt back then, what you are feeling now. That was the last time my bike was in the shop. I now do all of my own work, including ABS brake bleeds and tire installs.

My suggestion to you is find another dealer, maybe even an independent mechanic or do your own maintenance.

[iowabeakster]

A good middle ground, is to do your own engine and filter/tranny/FD oil changes. That will take some of the bite out of the bill.

Maybe you can do brake bleeds and air filter, that'll make it cheaper still.

If you can do the valve adjustment, and TB synch...even better.

I did all this stuff (and I have ABS). Then I took it to the dealer for the "inspection sticker" for warranty purposes. The techs gave it a check...I got my sticker...and it cost very little. Now that my bike is long out of warranty...I haven't been back except to buy accessories and tires.

Just do what your comfortable with, tell them to skip those things, and leave the rest to them.

[llahbocaj]

Jim von Baden's instructional DVD's were what helped push me over the edge and gave me the confidence to do my own services having watched it a couple times. For me it was one thing to read the different guides and look at the pictures and totally different to watch the video of someone doing it. Moving pictures...go figure. I've got no affiliation and don't mean to SPAM the group but his website is here: http://www.jimvonbaden.com/JVB_Productions.html

I needed the 1150 and the 1200 because I have the servo ABS brakes. No servo/ABS, then you don't need the 1200 DVD.

[R1150Rclean]

Bought my R1150R out of warranty at 5,800 miles and did all the oil changes, clutch/brake bleeds, air filter, installed a Stebel Natilus air horn, and did the valves/TB balance. And ran some fuel injector cleaner through it to smooth out the slightly rough idle. So no need to go to the dealer now, and the bike runs great

[Speedo66]

Hawkman-

Which dealer did the service for you? Recent new owner of an '04 Rockster.

I'm in Westchester Co., not far away, and just curious. Looking for a good service facility, dealer or private. The factory BMW dealer in White Plains closed.

Aside from the price, were you happy with their service?

You can PM me if you think it best.

Thanks

[Hawkman]

Speedo,
I went to Cliff's in Danbury. I am pleased with the service even with the price. The bike has not run better! They are personable and helpful, once you get someone's attention (I'm pretty young, so they always seem to think that I am not there for any other reason but to gawk at the machines).

I found a service center closer to home and they seem to be reasonably priced. http://www.solomoto.org/in Greenwich. They restore old bikes, but they will also service newer bikes. They are much smaller than Cliff's and thus more willing to work on pricing.

Where in Westchester are you? I work in Armonk.

[Speedo66]

Thanks for the repair shop info.

I'm in the Pleasantville area.

I'm a bit older, 60s, so when I walk in a dealer I sometimes get a similar reaction. They don't think I'm there to buy.

[famousperson]

I just had my 12k service done at the dealer. Yes, I'm a wimp. I hate shelling out the money but I feel a little shakey about doing it myself.

The cost was $537.40 + $60 to replace rear brake pads. The second part of the recall for conversion to new brake lines was done under warranty at the same time. The bike doesn't feel any different but at least it doesn't feel worse (that's happened to me before with cars). I was hoping for a little more smoothness at idle as a result of the valves being adjusted, but I doubt if they do them Don E's way to his level of perfection.

I had it done at European Motorcycles of Pittsburgh (the local BMW dealer). They don't cut me any slack, and I don't know how experienced their mechanics are, but overall they're trustworthy (as in, they haven't screwed up or me so far).

Just another data point.

Peter

[eduardobelmonte]

I bought a tire through the internet and needed the dealer to install it and do some other maintenance chores.
The answer was they would gladly do everything except installing the tire, reason being they DO NOT INSTALL TIRES THAT THEY DON'T SELL.

Great...! as a consequence I found some other non BMW place to install the tire and do the rest of the job.

Finally I ended learned to do all maintenance myself.

Next episode was I bought a big amount of spare parts like cables and electrics.
I send the dealer an email inquiring about if they would install BMW parts they have not sold to me. The answer was not YES, it wasn't NO either. They said, just call and we'll talk about it.
Next thing that will happen is that I'll learn how to do it, and do it without any further "talking."

Price wise has been nice, bought tools which I like to own and use.
And I'm sure that has been less expensive than paying a bill.

When I have a big one like the CARDAN needed to be changed or perhaps the clutch...
then I'll take the bike to the dealer and pay for everything.
Being the R1150R so good..., perhaps it will never happen.

I prefer not to name the dealer, all I can say it has been one for 30 years +-
The big question is/would be: Does BMW know things like this happen?

[boxermania]

Repeat after me...."TEUTONIC ARROGANCE", that being said let the record show that there good dealers and bad dealers. These bikes cry for the owner to do basic maintenance, saving $$$$ and increasing the riding experience

[AirForceDirt]

So I just scheduled my bike for the BMW service ala carte based on the 42k service and some extra stuff:
valve adjust, throttlebody sync, clutch fluid, tranny and final drive fluid, read the fault computer for anything of note, grease sidestand pivot.

I'm fully expecting a bill of over $500, but I figure once every two years I take it to the shop and have them look at it and advise me of anything they think I should do won't kill me. I could do a lot of it myself, but I don't have the time right now, and I want it done right before the track-school the following week.

[CycleRob]

$608.41 for a 12K service is almost criminal, even if their labor rate is $100/Hr. A bike with ABS will have a higher service cost, but not THAT high. The aloof, indifferent, near arrogant, superior attitude along with high prices some BMW dealers have only signals they will soon be out of business. The dealer I bought my F800ST from (AtlGa-BMW, Marietta) has none of those traits and does quite well. Their customer interaction is generous (group rides, tasty open houses) and sincere because they know the customer is their paycheck. I have said before, that if you do all your own R1150R/R1200R servicing, it is one of the cheapest bikes you can own. If you have a BMW dealer do all the servicing, it is one of the MOST expensive bikes you can own.

The OilHeads and HexHeads are easy bikes to work on compared to most Japanese bikes, being that they have an automotive type design with valve gear and throttle bodies that are easy to access. As one of the fortunate few that do all their own servicing, the money saved over the 68,000 miles I put on my 2002 R1150R mostly paid for the new BMW I traded it in for, 8 years later. That, and I know it was done as well or better than the BMW tech would do on his/her own bike. Had it not been for the carried in FD assembly's failed axle bearing ~$300 replacements by BMW and the $128 disintegrated clutch slave assembly I would have been further ahead.

Even though the Boxers are relatively easy to work on, not everyone should do so. Some owners are total mechanical klutzes that will only end up causing expensive damage and/or an unsafe ride. Seek out a reputable, accomplished mentor/friend or local wrench that knows Boxers and you'll save some $$$ you'll be able to put toward your next bike.

.

[famousperson]

Strangely enough, although the title of this thread is "12k Service Cost," only one other poster has mentioned a dollar figure, and that was for the 6k service. Am I really the only person who has the servicing done by the dealer, or is it just that I'm the only one who will admit to it? I woulld really like to know what others have paid, if anybody has.

[prachster]

Jim von Baden's instructional DVD's were what helped push me over the edge and gave me the confidence to do my own services having watched it a couple times. For me it was one thing to read the different guides and look at the pictures and totally different to watch the video of someone doing it. Moving pictures...go figure. I've got no affiliation and don't mean to SPAM the group but his website is here: http://www.jimvonbaden.com/JVB_Productions.html

I needed the 1150 and the 1200 because I have the servo ABS brakes. No servo/ABS, then you don't need the 1200 DVD.

I used this one....It is a good instructional DVD. Also 'valves for Dummies' was helpful. I am a first timer for the valves and I think I did fine. Done everything but the TB sync. The valve clearance werefine (I thought! ).. so, decided to not mess with it. wondering though - was it a wise thing to do? Any idea where to buy cheap TwinMax?

I have to admit, if it was not for this forum, I would not have thought of doing this myself. A lot of encouragement from the pros here.

[AirForceDirt]

Strangely enough, although the title of this thread is "12k Service Cost," only one other poster has mentioned a dollar figure, and that was for the 6k service. Am I really the only person who has the servicing done by the dealer, or is it just that I'm the only one who will admit to it? I woulld really like to know what others have paid, if anybody has.

Okay, so I just took the bike to the dealership so I'll share the results:

Parts
1.5 Litre Gear oil: $9.25
BMW Brake Fluid: $4.99
2 sealing washer: $1.60
Ignition coil(primary): $125.50
2 protection cap: $3.00

Labor
Valve adjust: $85.50
TB Sync: $51.30
Change clutch fluid: $51.30
Final Drive Oil: $38.48
Gearbox Oil: $38.48
Check fault codes: $21.38

Total(including tax and $11.46 of 'other'): $456.41

This was not a mileage service, just my "BMW Service Ala Carte." They did valves and sync, changed the clutch fluid, final drive and tranny fluid and checked the fault codes for me. They also had to change the right side primary ignition coil which they found out was bad. Without the coil, it would have been just over $300 for the service.

[macx]

Bought an 04 in 08. First BMW.

Found this forum, started the learning curve. Have done virtually all my own wrenching on all my vehicles for years, to the point of building modified engines and automatic trans and modifying efi systems and swapping diff gears and setting them up. I knew stealerships would be high, so did the first round of service myself incl plugs, valves, rockers, TB balance, fluids excluding bleeding the ABS & the clutch. Had read such dire warnings about how touchy bleeding the ABS was, but wanted the fluids changed ASAP as I had no way of knowing when / if it had been done by the prior owner.

Dealer nicked me $210 to bleed the ABS, brakes, & clutch. And they left the left front caliper bleeder loose so lost some fluid so the warning light came on. More to make a point than anything, and being I was around home which is not often being I work construction jobs on power plants all over the country, I took it back and let them top off the brake fluid.

Since then I've got the $40 plastic funnel and learned to do the ABS bleeding which turned out to be a piece of cake -

I've also recently changed my clutch, and opened up the trans to do some gear ratio swapping. I shudder to think what the labor on that may have been.

I even built myself a hydraulic lift so now I can work on it in comfort.

If a person were to have the dealer do all the work and servicing, it would cost as much to drive a BMW bike per mile as a luxury car, sans initial cost. But after having owned many bikes of the other major brands over the years, and recently riding a couple for short periods, I still can't think of owning anything else. Real solid, quality feel to it.