36k mile service cost, wow it's expensive!

[Colorado Jeff]

I just got a quote of $1,387 for a 36k service here in Denver.  I've looked through my past receipts and the only time I've spent over $1k for service was when I included tires.  There are no tires replacement in this price.  Are you folks seeing such high pricing right now for basic service or are these guys pricing out of whack?

[BABABeemer]

I was quoted $1900 for a 60,000 mile service!😳

[alegerlotz]

Did they give you a break down of what's included in that 36K service?

 

One way to save some money, and still have them do all of the work, is to ask them to re-use the valve cover gaskets.  The dealer usually prices out new gaskets in their estimate and they are very rarely needed.  Looking at the Max BMW parts fiche, that could be almost $200 of the cost right there.

 

 

[Colorado Jeff]

6 minutes ago, alegerlotz said:

Did they give you a break down of what's included in that 36K service?

 

 

 

I asked for a cost breakdown, but all they sent was an Excel that said "36k Miles Service" in one line and then the $1,387 as a total.  They also sent me a PDF of the checklist they'll go through.  The checklist is exactly the same as I have for a previous 36k service they performed.  That price was $1.3k too BUT I also had new tires on that service.  Take out the tires and the 36k service was probably only $500 or so.

[Colorado Jeff]

12 minutes ago, BABABeemer said:

I was quoted $1900 for a 60,000 mile service!😳

 

Yikes! 

 

I know we own expensive bikes and yes, I can afford it, but darn it I hate to be taken advantage of!!  

[92Merc]

I do all the fluids and air filter myself.  So all that I have done by the dealer is valve and cam timing checks.  It's been 2 years, but I think I only paid the $350-400 area.

[Stiggy]

I do all my own service so when I visited the dealer 3 weeks ago, I asked him if the new spline lube at 12,000, then 24,000 followed by a drive shaft replacement at 36,000 was still free of charge, as its mandated by BMW now.

 

As to lube / inspections, he said no. not if I do my own service. But if something breaks in the meantime, I'll be covered.  (As to the driveshaft, (since I'm only at 18,000,) he said we'll discuss it "then.")

 

I suspect that dealers are going to compensate for the extra burden put upon them by the Mothership(?) for extra work at the service dept.

[strataj]

1 hour ago, Colorado Jeff said:

I just got a quote of $1,387 for a 36k service here in Denver.  I've looked through my past receipts and the only time I've spent over $1k for service was when I included tires.  There are no tires replacement in this price.  Are you folks seeing such high pricing right now for basic service or are these guys pricing out of whack?

I wonder if this is just for a valve check?  If they need to change out shims it going even higher.  They may be charging for service to the drive shift, lube at both ends.  If they are replacing it, that should be all covered by BMW.  I've been hearing quotes like this.  Time to learn how to do your own service. 

[RadioFlyer]

BMW service costs will only continue to increase as BMW works to monopolize servicing by refusing to sell service manuals thus denying DIYers and indepemdent techs of the information they need to maintain its bikes.

[Colorado Jeff]

56 minutes ago, strataj said:

I wonder if this is just for a valve check?  If they need to change out shims it going even higher.  They may be charging for service to the drive shift, lube at both ends.  If they are replacing it, that should be all covered by BMW.  I've been hearing quotes like this.  Time to learn how to do your own service. 

 

The check-sheet they sent only indicates a valve check.  I've attached it here.  They did say the drive shaft was covered by BMW, but they could be hiding that cost in the estimate.  I asked for a detailed breakdown on costs, but simply received one big number.

 

I know how to do the service.  I simply don't want to do so given how much time it takes and quite frankly, my past history of working on cars/trucks/motorcycles doesn't leave me or my wife with a lot of confidence when we're 200 miles from anywhere.  I've not always had good success.

 

I simply want to know if others are seeing a price for a 36k service that is this expensive.  Anyone?

R1200 RT 36,000 MILE BMW SERVICE.pdf

[Skywagon]

My 24k about 18 months ago was $375 with a valve check…. But I already changed the oil, brake fluid flush, and final drive fluid. I suspect it took me less than an hour. I would guess those 3 things would be about $200 from the dealer. Cost to me maybe $65

 

Let’s just say their part cost is $100. At $130/hr labor price that is over 9 hours labor which IMHO is way too much. No way it takes them more than a day

[Bill Murray]

I had a 24k service performed for my 2021 R1250 GSA in August 2023. That service did not include a brake system flush (which was performed the prior year). I was charged $781.06. The invoice listed this as a 24k service without brake flush, but did not provide an item-by-item breakdown of the service charges nor did it specify how many hours of work were performed. I recall several valves (three, I think) required adjustment. I have a 30k service scheduled in two weeks, so it will be interesting to see how that compares, charge wise.

 

[Tron]

Not sure if this is helpful, but I got totally lucky on brake flushes and pads since they first had a recall to BWM brake calipers (apparently some where slightly leaky, mine weren't) and then almost to the day two years later another one to switch back to Brembo calipers. Each of those obviously requiring a brake flush.

 

That said, even my regular annual service last year was north of $500, with really nothing special being done.

[Dave_in_TX]

21 hours ago, Colorado Jeff said:

I just got a quote of $1,387 for a 36k service here in Denver.  I've looked through my past receipts and the only time I've spent over $1k for service was when I included tires.  There are no tires replacement in this price.  Are you folks seeing such high pricing right now for basic service or are these guys pricing out of whack?

That's one reason why I do my own servicing.

[Janky59]

Here’s my receipt for the stuff done in Dec ‘23 for the 36K service on my R1200RT.

The cost was $844.

 

[JCtx]

13 hours ago, BABABeemer said:

I was quoted $1900 for a 60,000 mile service!😳

I'd pass on that even if it included a very desirable escort. Geez. Fortunately, I enjoy doing my own maintenance, and actually consider it relaxing. But I feel for those who don't, or don't have the time/knowledge/tools/etc. Those prices are downright insulting.

[Stiggy]

With $$$ like these quoted for a 2 cylinder bike, I have to wonder what my 6 cylinder K1600 is going to cost when It hits it's 18000 service (which requires a valve check.) I'll no doubt end up doing the service myself.

 

As to my RT, Boxflyers excellent tools pay for themselves 2 X over every time I go another 12,000 miles on that machine. 

 

(It's always been that way though. Over the past 50 years, I could never justify the dealer maintenance costs of any machine I've ever owned given the miles I rode, regardless of brand. Back then I couldn't have afforded it. Today I'd just have to justify it, and I still can't.)

[LAF]

And so it begins.  The BMW No Service DVD RIP OFF!

 

Wait until the 1300's start quoting prices.

 

You pay 27K for a 1250 GSA and face those types of service costs.  Insane.

 

I love the boxer motor, BMW, not so much!  I want a new 1300 or even a leftover 1250 but this is only the beginning of the force you to dealer service.  Wait until warranty work comes up.

 

I know for many it is not the cost.  For me it is!  But I also enjoy maintaining my bike.  I get to know it, and have faith in it.  It is a part of owning a motorcycle to me, a big part.  Always has been.  I will not buy another new bike as my 1200 GS is what I will die with.

[dirtrider]

1 hour ago, Stiggy said:

With $$$ like these quoted for a 2 cylinder bike, I have to wonder what my 6 cylinder K1600 is going to cost when It hits it's 18000 service (which requires a valve check.) I'll no doubt end up doing the service myself.

 

As to my RT, Boxflyers excellent tools pay for themselves 2 X over every time I go another 12,000 miles on that machine. 

 

(It's always been that way though. Over the past 50 years, I could never justify the dealer maintenance costs of any machine I've ever owned given the miles I rode, regardless of brand. Back then I couldn't have afforded it. Today I'd just have to justify it, and I still can't.)

Morning  Stiggy

 

I know more than a few riders that trade their modern BMW in just before the major service is due, they use the money saved to put towards a new motorcycle. The dealer then does the maintenance then re-sells the used motorcycle (I'm sure that some of the service money is recovered by the dealer but not the full customer pay amount). 

[Colorado Jeff]

Thanks for all of the responses everyone, I do appreciate your views!

[Stiggy]

3 hours ago, dirtrider said:

Morning  Stiggy

 

I know more than a few riders that trade their modern BMW in just before the major service is due, they use the money saved to put towards a new motorcycle. The dealer then does the maintenance then re-sells the used motorcycle (I'm sure that some of the service money is recovered by the dealer but not the full customer pay amount). 

On the RT, my 12,000 mile services (valve check, cam timing check, oil/filter, spark plugs, rear drive oil and an air filter costs me about $130 in materials (My Ultra One Plus 5W-40 works out to $6 / quart.)

 

On the 1600B, it'll get the 6,000 mile oil/filter changes religiously while the valve adjustment check with spark plugs scheduled for 18,000  might well get backed up to every 30,000 miles. (Please note their BMW car motors with essentially the same valve train design never require checks or adjustment.) 

 

Hey, they started it with the outrageous service costs :)

[BABABeemer]

Here is the parts and labor breakdown that I was quoted from A&S BMW for a 60,000 mile service.

[Dave_in_TX]

Cylinder seal kits are rarely,  if ever, needed.

[Scotto336]

Apologies for repeating myself, but my dealer in NJ did the shaft inspection and spline lube for free when it was in for tires at 13K miles, no other service.

[92Merc]

I thought clutch fluid never needed replacing....

[Dave_in_TX]

1 hour ago, Scotto336 said:

Apologies for repeating myself, but my dealer in NJ did the shaft inspection and spline lube for free when it was in for tires at 13K miles, no other service.

That's because BMW is paying for it as part of the drive service campaign.

[Rougarou]

Im slightly different, the 2019 GSA is at 37k and had only been to the dealer for the 600 mile run in and that brake swap. The valves have not been checked and the bike is running just as good as when I brought it home. I do the 6k oil and filter, did spark plugs at 24k snd air filter is annual. 
 

I think theres two recalls on it, but Ive not got round to bringing it in for those. 

[Dave_in_TX]

1 hour ago, Rougarou said:

Im slightly different, the 2019 GSA is at 37k and had only been to the dealer for the 600 mile run in and that brake swap. The valves have not been checked and the bike is running just as good as when I brought it home. I do the 6k oil and filter, did spark plugs at 24k snd air filter is annual. 
 

I think theres two recalls on it, but Ive not got round to bringing it in for those. 

Although the valves are probably fine, the prudent thing to do would be to check valve clearence even if is running good.

[Rougarou]

16 minutes ago, Dave_in_TX said:

Although the valves are probably fine, the prudent thing to do would be to check valve clearence even if is running good.

 

The RT is approaching 160k.  In that time, I've check the valves twice, no adjustments,....even bought the nifty checkers from beemerboneyard.   Rt is still going strong with 45-48mpg.

 

 

 

 

[Dave_in_TX]

39 minutes ago, Rougarou said:

 

The RT is approaching 160k.  In that time, I've check the valves twice, no adjustments,....even bought the nifty checkers from beemerboneyard.   Rt is still going strong with 45-48mpg.

 

 

 

 

My 2014 GS did not require any adjustments in 132k miles of ownership

 However, my 2020 GS required a shim change at 72k miles.

[JCtx]

11 hours ago, BABABeemer said:

Here is the parts and labor breakdown that I was quoted from A&S BMW for a 60,000 mile service.

Man, $52.50 for maybe topping off coolant (if needed)? That's ridiculous.

 

 

15 hours ago, LAF said:

I know for many it is not the cost.  For me it is!  But I also enjoy maintaining my bike.  I get to know it, and have faith in it. It is a part of owning a motorcycle to me, a big part. Always has been.

I'm just like you, and I'm sure many others here. But keep in mind there are videos and other documentation to basically do any kind of maintenance and/or repair on 1250s, like mine, so that wouldn't stop me from owning one. They're very similar to the 1200s, and also quite reliable. I haven't heard of a TFT going bad, for instance. And neither the shift-cam mechanism. The rest of the frame, drive-train, and suspension is almost the same as 1200s from '15 on. Not sure how different the 1300s will be, but my 2020 basically has everything I could ever want on a bike, from Brembo radial brakes with upside-down forks, cruise, ESA, heated grips, TFT, and more power than a naked bike needs, so there's nothing I need from a 1300, which doesn't have Brembo brakes anymore, so actually a step down. Ha ha. But at least there were service manual at the beginning of the 1250s. With the 1300s that won't be the case, so curious to see how folks will be able to obtain service manual info to properly maintain them.

[Stiggy]

15 hours ago, 92Merc said:

I thought clutch fluid never needed replacing....

Correct. Clutch fluid is non-hydroscopic mineral oil. Replace only when you've got the system apart.

[Rougarou]

12 hours ago, Dave_in_TX said:

My 2014 GS did not require any adjustments in 132k miles of ownership

 However, my 2020 GS required a shim change at 72k miles.

So i goy about 40k on the GSA before any concern

[Dave_in_TX]

5 hours ago, Rougarou said:

So i goy about 40k on the GSA before any concern

Maybe.

[bendbill]

I don't mean to stray too far from the topic, but did [m]any of you guys get valve measurements during inspection?  My independent service center simply said "all in spec."

[JCtx]

Just ask for them. If he didn't write them down, I'd never go back there. When I check valve clearances at 12K miles, I'll set them all as close as possible to BoxFlyer's recommendation of 0.12 intake and 0.36 exhaust, even if they're within specs. By the way, next time ask your shop if they have shims in 0.02 increments, since the cheaper kits are 0.04 apart, so much harder to get them close to the 0.12 and 0.36 figures. The kit BoxFlyer rents have all the tools you need, and also all the shims you could need in 0.02 increments, as an FYI.

[dirtrider]

14 hours ago, bendbill said:

I don't mean to stray too far from the topic, but did [m]any of you guys get valve measurements during inspection?  My independent service center simply said "all in spec."

Morning Bill

 

 A lot of dealers don't give the actual pre & post check measurements. They should but for one reason or another they don't. 

 

The "within specs" covers a lot of variation so they have to do less work for the same amount of money. If they write down the "as found" & "as set" then they have to deal with customers questioning why it wasn't set to this or that, or why it's all the way to this side or that side, why wasn't it set to the middle? Or the customer will question why, if none of them were changed, then why charge full price. 

 

You can ask them to record the pre & post settings & I'm sure most will give you some numbers. Problem is, are those numbers just guessed at, or made up to pacify the customer, or are they real pre & post check numbers? 

 

Some dealers are very precise & take pride in their work & others are just going through the motions then collecting big bucks for little effort.   

 

Basically it comes down to (do you trust the tec that did the job)? 

[c10]

I'm a long time service tech / mechanic , and just getting deep into BMW after owning my RS1250 for almost a year .  I've tooled up with All BMW tooling for cam timing both 1250 and 1200's .   I recently performed cam timing adjustment on my friends 2023 GS1250 and check valves ( tim ing was off but valves in spec ) , replaced plugs , bevel box fluid , oil / filter / air filter , and new tires @ 11,000 miles .   This took me just under 5 hours with David present , and asking questions .  

 

Last Saturday I had a customer ride in on a 2015 RT with 23,xxx miles .   I had to remove body work , crash bars , lighting .  Change oil / filter , air filter , spark plugs , bevel box , check cam timing , and valves ( both in spec ) , Repaired a broken upper left body panel broken by previous owner / shop .   Scan with GS-911 pro license and pdf report to customer . 

Set new date out two years / 20,000 miles .     Time 6 hours with customer present asking questions , and organizing body bolts in cardboard 

 

There was a bit of story telling on both jobs .   Davids favorite thing about getting his service done at my little shop is he can clean his bike up on the lift , and see the work performed. 

 

Both bikes had shaft splines lubed and checked too 

 

 

[c10]

This 2016 K1300S needed more work than the normal situation . New Tires ,  fuel pump , brake fluid flush , shaft splines lubed , bevel box fluid changed , both air filters replaced , 

Oil / filter changed , coolant changed , clutch fluid changed , Scan and reset ,  Fuel pump fittings upgraded to steel from plastic , spark plugs replaced , install a factory center stand , and cut OEM body panels on pre marked lines for center stand , and a few other minor things done .  It was here for a week doing all the work after my regular job .  about 16 hours . 

[c10]

I believe my local BMW dealer is 185 an hour shop rate .   I'm not free and my time is valuable , but no one has a issue with my $65 an hour rate .

Current project in a 1980 R100RS converted by Kevils in UK to a scrambler .. Has VM34 carb swap that has sat for 3 years .  

[bendbill]

5 hours ago, dirtrider said:

 

 

Basically it comes down to (do you trust the tec that did the job)? 

 

Thanks, D.R.__   I do trust him, as he's the long-time service center for Bend, Oregon PD RT police bikes.  

[BABABeemer]

On 4/28/2024 at 6:27 AM, c10 said:

I believe my local BMW dealer is 185 an hour shop rate .   I'm not free and my time is valuable , but no one has an issue with my $65 an hour rate .

I wish you lived closer to Reno,NV!😀

[JCtx]

Yeah, I don't know where C10 lives, but wish he was local to me too. I honestly wouldn't take my bike to the only local dealer (nothing else 300 miles around), even if it was free to me. Ha ha.

[craydds]

On 4/25/2024 at 8:05 AM, Colorado Jeff said:

I just got a quote of $1,387 for a 36k service here in Denver.  I've looked through my past receipts and the only time I've spent over $1k for service was when I included tires.  There are no tires replacement in this price.  Are you folks seeing such high pricing right now for basic service or are these guys pricing out of whack?

WOW!  Now, do you wonder why I do all my own service?  I bought all the special tools, too.

[c10]

I'm in Sugar Land Tx.   I have ZX based kawasaki bikes brought from all over .

Zrx / zx11 / zzr . However there are less and less of these . I also specialize in the Hayabusa, but not the stretching garbage. 

Hyper tour build and other light weight modifications while retaining all functions.  

[RadioFlyer]

On 4/28/2024 at 6:03 AM, c10 said:

This 2016 K1300S needed more work than the normal situation . New Tires ,  fuel pump , brake fluid flush , shaft splines lubed , bevel box fluid changed , both air filters replaced , 

Oil / filter changed , coolant changed , clutch fluid changed , Scan and reset ,  Fuel pump fittings upgraded to steel from plastic , spark plugs replaced , install a factory center stand , and cut OEM body panels on pre marked lines for center stand , and a few other minor things done .  It was here for a week doing all the work after my regular job .  about 16 hours . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So when you did the brake fluid flush did you change that stupid piece of foam in the front brake reservoir? The one that was a retrofit due to a recall? The one that BMW says should be changed at every brake pad change and brake fluid flush? The one that costs a mere $31 at a BMW dealer?

 

[c10]

2 hours ago, RadioFlyer said:

 

So when you did the brake fluid flush did you change that stupid piece of foam in the front brake reservoir? The one that was a retrofit due to a recall? The one that BMW says should be changed at every brake pad change and brake fluid flush? The one that costs a mere $31 at a BMW dealer?

 

No . This unit had no outstanding recalls , and vin was clear from BMW .  Brake pad change or flush that's a funny one from BMW . 

[RadioFlyer]

16 minutes ago, c10 said:

No . This unit had no outstanding recalls , and vin was clear from BMW .  Brake pad change or flush that's a funny one from BMW . 

It was a recall some years back that required the installation of the sponge. BMW makes a design mistake, corrects it with a sponge then sticks owners with the cost of replacing the sponge multiple times at $31 a shot. I nominated the sponge as the most outrageously overpriced BMW part over on the MOA forum and the moderator nuked the thread because it was damaging to BMW.

[alegerlotz]

On 4/28/2024 at 5:51 AM, c10 said:

 This took me just under 5 hours with David present , and asking questions .  

 

This reminds me a sign that I've seen at a repair shop.  It went something like:

 

Job estimation rules:

• Your job will take the number of hours quoted
• Twice as many hours if you watch
• Three times as many hours if you help