Motorbike Servicing Rant
So my BMW S1000XR is now a year old and it's going in for its first "full service". It had it's "break in" service after a few weeks of ownership, but that's just an oil change.
New bikes come with a very thin oil inside the engine that's used to help with the break-in process. After 500 or so miles, this needs to be swapped out for proper oil.
I contacted the dealership for a price and some potential dates, this is the breakdown they came back with:
- Labour - £150
- Oil disposal - £20
- Oil - £80.60
- Sump plug washer - £0.96
- Oil filter - £17.29
- Brake fluid - £11.92
- Tax @ 20% - £56.15
- Total: £336.92 (~$455)
So nearly £350 for what's effectively an hour's work and around £50 in parts. I'm mechanically minded and could easily do this at home, but like most modern vehicles, my BMW doesn't come with a service book that is stamped. These days the service history is all stored centrally with BMW, so means that the service has to be carried out by them.
Brilliant.
There is a misconception that home servicing will void the warranty of a new bike. It won't as long as the person doing the service uses OEM parts and has done it to manufacturers specification - which I always do. But I bought this bike from BMW, so if I hand it back after 3 years with a generic eBay service book that's been stamped by me, even though it's been done to a high standard, it will affect the trade-in value.
Ipso facto, they have me by the balls.
I get it, margins are small and this is how dealerships make money, but I wish they would make it accessible for mechanically minded people, like me, to service at home.