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6,000 miles service cost is ridiculous!

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ZogJones said:
I went back and looked at the receipt I received and I think I was charged for 5 hours. I suspect that this is a "book rate" thing where BMW says it takes a certain number of hours to do the 6k service and additional time for the annual even though some of the tasks can be done concurrently. I'll ask for clarification when I go back on Saturday to get the air filter replaced. It was out of stock but the labor charge was included by the service computer.
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Good thing they didn't stack the costs of individual components when you bought the bike.....

I appreciate you have no service options at this point and their business model is their own compared to my shop, but for reference my 6,000 service with doing valve adjustments was just over $400.00, so you are being charged double by adding an air filter, easy to do brake fluid flush and transmission oil refresh. I'd have to accept it if in the same circumstances, but it's like acknowledging while they come from the same source I know the taste left in my mouth if I'm served B.S. with my requested steak. Good luck.
 
Fred Harmon (of Gen 6 Goldwing fame) did an online comprehensive DIY service manual that owners could purchase from him. It seemed everyone who bought it was more than pleased. Maybe someone (talented & good with IT) might consider doing something for our R18’s? This might have been covered in this long string somewhere but I have read a number of times (UK press) in recent years that Euro regs actively discourage owners from being able to home service, so much so that I believe the next generations Euro6, Euro7 etc even want the engines sealed for life/tamper proof. It’s just the way everything is going I’m afraid.
 
My annual service with only 2800 miles on the bike (due in part to a new hip being fitted that year), came in at around £450.00 which I felt was a bit on the high side. Will start looking for a recommended 'none franchised' BMW specialist. Hard to believe that BMW have been able to keep a lid on pirated manuals.
 
Cheshire Cat said:
My annual service with only 2800 miles on the bike (due in part to a new hip being fitted that year), came in at around £450.00 which I felt was a bit on the high side. Will start looking for a recommended 'none franchised' BMW specialist. Hard to believe that BMW have been able to keep a lid on pirated manuals.
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From what I understand the manual is the not accessed online at the dealers. I’m sure they have it digitally locked.
As much as I like my R18 and I will be keeping it, I would have not bought it knowing there was no service manual available. I never thought to ask because I’ve never heard of anything like it before.
 
MilwDave said:
From what I understand the manual is the not accessed online at the dealers. I’m sure they have it digitally locked.
As much as I like my R18 and I will be keeping it, I would have not bought it knowing there was no service manual available. I never thought to ask because I’ve never heard of anything like it before.
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I know how you feel. I think its incredibly short sided. As a work around, I figured out how to do it myself and bought the stand from Hornig. Thankfully it's actually pretty easy to work on...I will say that the quality of component seems way above the other bikes I've had. It's a quality bike, not chinsey at all.
 
LCRC18B said:
I know how you feel. I think its incredibly short sided. As a work around, I figured out how to do it myself and bought the stand from Hornig. Thankfully it's actually pretty easy to work on...I will say that the quality of component seems way above the other bikes I've had. It's a quality bike, not chinsey at all.
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I was just saying the same thing to a colleague here at work. I have done extensive work on Yamaha, Indian and Harley Davidson bikes and none of them approach the level of quality and engineering that I’ve found on this bike. From the fasteners to the metalwork.
It’s a keeper no matter how frustrating it may be.
 
I spoke with our BMW dealer here in Indianapolis about their $700.00 cost and how it's justified. They said that their shop time is 1.5 hrs. on each cylinder, or 3.0 hours to do the valves. (I don't know why or how that is possible.) He also said there is a special tool to hold the cylinder in place so that it doesn't move upon insertion of the gauge and that most people do not have or use that tool so they get incorrect measurements.
 
Maybe we are all missing the bleeding obvious. The higher than ‘normal’ service costs are their (slightly underhand) way of clawing back money lost on the MSRP? Like goldfish in a bowl, having bought we are now a captive market (mostly) 🤷‍♂️
 
RyBread said:
Cross Country?

I'm not at my first service yet, but they were the most expensive in our area.
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Did mine at CC Metuchen last week. First service is $427 plus tax. 2 hours at $140/hr plus supplies... Basically engine and final drive oil change. I asked about getting the software updated, and since there is no TSB out, they charge half an hour to update it. I did not opt for the software update.
 
Zamar said:
I spoke with our BMW dealer here in Indianapolis about their $700.00 cost and how it's justified. They said that their shop time is 1.5 hrs. on each cylinder, or 3.0 hours to do the valves. (I don't know why or how that is possible.) He also said there is a special tool to hold the cylinder in place so that it doesn't move upon insertion of the gauge and that most people do not have or use that tool so they get incorrect measurements.
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Hold the cylinder in place? Is that a boxer thing or talking out his tailpipe?
 
Zamar said:
I spoke with our BMW dealer here in Indianapolis about their $700.00 cost and how it's justified. They said that their shop time is 1.5 hrs. on each cylinder, or 3.0 hours to do the valves. (I don't know why or how that is possible.) He also said there is a special tool to hold the cylinder in place so that it doesn't move upon insertion of the gauge and that most people do not have or use that tool so they get incorrect measurements.
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That is about the biggest load of BS I have heard in a long time ! I did my valves myself, without any 'special' jigs to hold anything ... hell I did it with the bike siting on the kickstand and it worked just fine!
 
A couple of reasons why I went from my K1600B to the R18TC had to do with maintenance. On the boxer, I expect to be able to do the routine stuff myself. The other reason was what the dealer was looking to get for milestone routine maintenance. The bagger was coming up on the 16,000 mile service and the dealer was quoting "around $3,600" for it which is totally insane. When I am hearing some of the numbers here I think I made the right decision... Besides I really love the bike! Just my two cents...
 
Zamar said:
I spoke with our BMW dealer here in Indianapolis about their $700.00 cost and how it's justified. They said that their shop time is 1.5 hrs. on each cylinder, or 3.0 hours to do the valves. (I don't know why or how that is possible.) He also said there is a special tool to hold the cylinder in place so that it doesn't move upon insertion of the gauge and that most people do not have or use that tool so they get incorrect measurement
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I agree with Ulrich. I have performed 3 valve checks on R18’s. No pin is required to prevent cylinder movement. The older boxers had a place for the pin to slide in, these do not!
 
Scott Semone said:
Yes, Bob at Cross Country BMW Hasbrouck Heights. I used the Metuchen shop with my 2008 GS Adventure; however, I had a chance to visit the Max BMW shop in CT - they look like they live, eat and breath boxers..
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I use Max in southern CT. Always has treated me well. I’m not yet at a 6K on my R18, but on both my S1000R and my GS they are no more than $500. I did my annual on the R18 and it was about $300. Harder with the R18, but they also do pick up and drop off service for free in winter. I don’t mind doing my own work on the GS or my /5 but the S1000R is more of a pain, so I have them do the valve service.
 
Paying higher dealer costs for service is partly due to the mandates BMW places on Dealers as to continued training of staff and maintaining a proper shop with the necessary tools to service BMW's product properly. For very little upfront $ and huge ROI they could use a "professional" model GS911 to clear codes and reset service intervals on an unlimited number of bikes like any of us could, but they don't as they are required to plug the bike into the Mother Ship at every service and the very fancy=$$$, proprietary system checks the VIN and all ecu data. The updates, any recalls, etc., are already being processed so it's not like there is a special task the shop has to do justifying a "need" to charge you an extra access fee.

Maybe I'm missing something or my shop doesn't try to bone me as the computer does it's thing while the tech does his. I've had many modern BMWs serviced over the many years since BMW went with this system and have simply enjoyed fair pricing and good service without the nickel-dime me to death distrust I would have for these shops based on nothing more than the consistent "weak shit" justification for these shared very high billing of customers. I hope some of you owners have the opportunity to find better dealers and/or independent shops sooner than later.
 
pbosik said:
I agree with Ulrich. I have performed 3 valve checks on R18’s. No pin is required to prevent cylinder movement. The older boxers had a place for the pin to slide in, these do not!
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Thanks for this. That is probably what he meant.
 
I live the same distance from two dealerships. One has been in the same building since 1956, the other built a large addition last year to the existing building. One of them charges a higher service rate.
 
So I just got back from my 6k. $722.61

I used to work with the dealer principal and know the techs so I grabbed some info while I was there for all who care.

Let me preface this with while I can do all my own maintenance, I decidedly wanted to have at least the first (major) service on record at a BMW dealer for warranty purposes. I say this knowing damned well the hourly was going to kill me.

According to the tech, BMW calls for engine oil and filter, trans fluid, air filter, brake fluid flush, and valve tappet clearance check. He invited me in the shop several times through the process so he could show me the various processes and steps involved since no service manual, and let me hand pick the processes since they know me.

I opted to not have the brakes flushed as I just did bars over the winter and flushed the system then. I also opted to not replace the Head cover gaskets, at $166 / ea, after the tech showed them to me. They are 1/8" thick steel with formed rubber seals. Really heavy duty, and honestly, if they arent marred or damaged in some way, I could see no reason to replace them every 6k miles. Especially for the $330 it would cost....

That said, all of the parts and fluids used to complete the 6k service, minus brake fluid and head cover seals, ran up to a total of $152.09. This is of course unsing "Genuine BMW" fluids. Add in the gaskets and brakes if your dealer wont let you opt out.

Labor was $553.90 ($145 / hr) at 3.82 hrs. Tech told me the BMW manual quotes it at 3.5 hrs. Take that for what it is worth.

Seeing the service steps, most of what needs done is incredibly simple. The most difficult part seemed to be the trans fluid as the filler point is buried and not easily accessible (per manual change 1st time after one year then every 24k mi). The Air filter is some what time consuming to get too, but not difficult, so if you can, swap it for a reusable, and save the step in the future. valves are easy to access, 0.02 - 0.03 per spec as someone else said is what I was also told. easy to adjust as well.

If you have the ability and the space to do the work yourself you can certainly save lots of $.

My paper air filter wasnt too bad (I would say this could easily take 10 - 12k of riding before changing), so get a washable, and clean it as needed. Trans and brake are once after 1 yr then every 24k mi / 2 yr respectively. Then do tappet check and oil every 6k, plugs and rear drive oil every 12k. and you'll be rather golden, and save yourself thousands at the dealer.
 
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