BMW workshop in Christchurch?

[EJK]

Good to see you're back on a bike man! That didn't take long

Yeah it's good to be back :-) Picking it up next week.

[yevjenko]

I believe they struggled under the Honda only requirements, so now they aim to service everything.

Been great guys to myself and a couple of friends when we've needed work done down there.

So how do MotoMart in Lower Hutt do it? They're Ducati and Honda

[rastuscat]

I recommend Jimmy to anyone. Mark at Hamptons too. I just happen to use Jimmy myself.

Hamptons parallel import Hondas after Honda NZ insisted on using their in house finance exclusively. Fools.

[yevjenko]

More money in finance than in motorbikes

[awayatc]

For what its worth .......
When they just opened up in their new premises years ago, they were selling Italian bikes......
On the opening day, the old man and I had a yarn, and he said that the whole set up was done to BMW dealership specs and requirements, but that BMW were bullying them to the point that they told them to stick it.
After the Italian brands, Honda moved in , and now apparently BMW as originaly planned.
Don't know who gave in in the end....BMW I hope....
Coz as has been mentioned here before Hampton are the good guys

[BMWST?]

So how do MotoMart in Lower Hutt do it? They're Ducati and Honda

And BMW too

[JATZ]

I recommend Jimmy to anyone. Mark at Hamptons too. I just happen to use Jimmy myself.

Hamptons parallel import Hondas after Honda NZ insisted on using their in house finance exclusively. Fools.

Had my bike there last week. Absolutely top service from a really top bloke who knows his stuff. It was worth the day and a half lost wages, accom in Akaroa and shithouse drive home over the Lewis in the middle of the night through the snow
I'll definitely use him again

[rastuscat]

Anyone know why the BMW car dealer let go the bikes? Maybe the riff-raff hanging about reduced car sales?

When the bought the BMW Motorrad dealership, JGBMW took two or three of their car mechanics, and put them on a two week conversion course. They had experience of their own bikes, and were motorcycle centric, but they weren't motorcycle mechanics. Nice blokes too. But that doesn't make you a motorcycle mechanic.

That created problems. Our servicing was slow and expensive, as they charged the book rate for everything, and were hamstrung by the company trying to run the motorcycle business just like their car business.

Thing is, the relationship between a bike and a rider isn't like that between a car and a driver. Riders are far more engaged with their bikes, and the relationship with the mechanic is part of that.

One example. We took a patrol bike in one day and spent a few minutes talking to the mechanics. About the bike, their work, our work, just shooting the breeze. Next day I got a call from the service manager telling me we had to just drop the bike off out in the reception area, and that we weren't to enter the workshop. If we wanted to talk to the mechanic we had to get a service person to go and get the mechanic, who would meet us in the reception area.

Like I said, trying to run the bike business like a car business.

What also didn't help was that Daniel, the sales guy, was selling so many bikes that came back for service, they workshop couldn't keep up with the work. People were dropping their bikes off and waiting a week for a service.

Anyway, eventually the grizzles made their way to the BMW head office, and a short time later, JGs didn't have the Motorrad dealership any more.

The key was that the management there thought it would be a good fit with their car business, when in fact it's vastly different.

The reason we like Jimmy is that he listens to what you have to say, and pretty much knows what the problem is without having to do a 2 hour diagnostic on it. He doesn't rely on the computer to tell him what the fault is.

We're having the work bikes done at Hamptons now, as they have the dealership. They are awesome too. But we all tend to use Jimmy for our own bikes.

[SS90]

When the bought the BMW Motorrad dealership, JGBMW took two or three of their car mechanics, and put them on a two week conversion course. They had experience of their own bikes, and were motorcycle centric, but they weren't motorcycle mechanics. Nice blokes too. But that doesn't make you a motorcycle mechanic.

That created problems. Our servicing was slow and expensive, as they charged the book rate for everything, and were hamstrung by the company trying to run the motorcycle business just like their car business.

Thing is, the relationship between a bike and a rider isn't like that between a car and a driver. Riders are far more engaged with their bikes, and the relationship with the mechanic is part of that.

One example. We took a patrol bike in one day and spent a few minutes talking to the mechanics. About the bike, their work, our work, just shooting the breeze. Next day I got a call from the service manager telling me we had to just drop the bike off out in the reception area, and that we weren't to enter the workshop. If we wanted to talk to the mechanic we had to get a service person to go and get the mechanic, who would meet us in the reception area.

Like I said, trying to run the bike business like a car business.

What also didn't help was that Daniel, the sales guy, was selling so many bikes that came back for service, they workshop couldn't keep up with the work. People were dropping their bikes off and waiting a week for a service.

Anyway, eventually the grizzles made their way to the BMW head office, and a short time later, JGs didn't have the Motorrad dealership any more.

The key was that the management there thought it would be a good fit with their car business, when in fact it's vastly different.

The reason we like Jimmy is that he listens to what you have to say, and pretty much knows what the problem is without having to do a 2 hour diagnostic on it. He doesn't rely on the computer to tell him what the fault is.

We're having the work bikes done at Hamptons now, as they have the dealership. They are awesome too. But we all tend to use Jimmy for our own bikes.

I may be reading this incorrectly, but I am taking this as the BMW dealer you mention was selling so many bikes that the service department couldnt keep up, and that the mechanics where not allowed to spend all fucking day yarning...... Sounds like the grondworks of a successful bike shop to me....... If the dealer principal jacked that in he's either a fool, or lacks commitment.