Unfortunate coincidence or dodgy dealer?

wuuaf · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Karma :

Evening BCF'ers - just wanted some others opinions on the following.

I dropped my BMW f650gs (twin) in for a big 24,000miles Service on Friday with my local BMW garage, they called mid afternoon saying the air-box was damaged, and needed to be replaced, I agreed & they kept the bike till Saturday.

On my way over to collect the bike on Saturday I received another phone call saying they'd road tested the bike & it was only firing on one cylinder....as I was on my way I wanted to see the problem, apparently it is the coils & they both need replacing.

Now the bike was running 100% ok before the service, and I only wanted to get it done as it will go over 24,000miles during a trip to Europe next month.

The service was £320, air box £130 & coils £190....I managed to get them down to £550 for the parts & service in total.

But my question is, is it just an unfortunate coincidence the coils went whilst it was in for a service, or is it something they could have broken?

Unfortunately the bikes out of warranty so either way I'm shafted & have to pay...thoughts much appreciated!

Off to collect the bike on Tuesday evening after waiting for the parts...

Cheers;
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Previous Bikes: Honda CG125 / Suzuki Gladius Current Bikes: BMW F650GS Twin / Suzuki 110 Twatped

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Not being overly familiar with your bike, how on earth does an air box get damaged?

SIG1981 · Derestricted Danger Joined: 09 Dec 2015 Karma :

from experience the airbox can be damaged if not removed / fitted properly ( there are 2 small black panels on the frame ( 1 either side of the frame) with vacuum pipes from throttle bodies to air box.) if the pipes are pulled off incorrectly ( air box lifted too high at back ) the plastic pipes on airbox snap off - same when fitting if not straight force can snap them off - both ways are the garage fault as they don't " just break off " ( I assume this what happened? )

coils can fail - but as it was running ok, I would suggest poor connection to coils ( panels and airbox come back off to check / replace ).
Having a look at old coils they normally rust and split if the black type.

why were both replaced if running on 1 cylinder?

sounds like you been shafted for a poor diagnosis with the coils

af1 · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 09 Mar 2016 Karma :

Bmw dealers doing the 'kwikfit' scam,

Kwickfit offload dampers to 'stupid ' people saying dampers need replacing on their car.

Bmw doing the same to bikeists , they do it to cars , now creeping in to the bike side ? I bet they had the spares sitting there just waiting to be used.

wuuaf · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Karma :

With regard to the air box, having looked at it I think the previous owner may have broken it - it's the T piece which is moulded into the whole box which is broken on one side. The break looks quite old with dirt / dust in it.

It's the coils I am more concerned about though Sad

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Previous Bikes: Honda CG125 / Suzuki Gladius Current Bikes: BMW F650GS Twin / Suzuki 110 Twatped

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=274403
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Nope. · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Feb 2011 Karma :

A friend of mine had the coils fail when she was servicing her F650 twin. No real reason for it, they were removed, new plugs put in, went back on, bike was re-assembled and one of them failed. Had to fit new ones. Seems like a fairly common failure point on these.
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BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Nope. · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Feb 2011 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Nope. · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Feb 2011 Karma :

mentalboy · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2012 Karma :

Oldie · Brolly Dolly Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Karma :

I do wonder whether it is actually worth performing major servicing on these bikes.

One guy on the F800 forum has just turned 100,000 miles on his F800GT and never once checked the valves. Here's his summary....

L&R grip switchgear
Faulty indicator
Head races
Fork seals
Exhaust link pipe weld slightly blowing (not enough weld filler material) - sealed with Loctite 5920
Seized rear floating calliper - captive boss end sawn off to free up stud
Paint flaking off mirror stalks, crankcase & sump, bar-ends

I might scare some of you with this but I have never had any intention of having the valves checked; have never changed the air filter (I tap the largest debris out once a year) and have changed the plugs once. I believe I am on the 4th belt

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

wuuaf · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Karma :

The only reason it went to BMW was because they were only £40 more than the local independent who'd never worked on a f650gs before Crying or Very sad

I'd have done the service myself normally, however didn't want to mess with the valve clearances.

Just had a call from them they fitted the new coils & didn't resolve the problem, computer is telling them it's all ok - they're keeping it till tomorrow now.

Very frustrating when the bike was fine when dropped off Thumbs Down

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Previous Bikes: Honda CG125 / Suzuki Gladius Current Bikes: BMW F650GS Twin / Suzuki 110 Twatped

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Jesus wept, peace of mind, eh? Sorry to hear it. Hopefully it's just a bad plug rather than... well, let's see what they say.

At this point, I think I'd be saying "I dropped off a fully working bike, now I don't have one. How are you going to make that right?"

Allegedly, when my local Motorrad realise that they've mullered something, they take it round to the local indie dealer and say "Fix it, misters". Shhh!

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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

DrSnoosnoo · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2012 Karma :

wuuaf · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Karma :

I have just had a phone call from them, the bike is ready for collection & guess what was wrong....a faulty spark plug!!

The first this I asked was whether the spark plug gaps had been set correctly & they assured me they had & been tested fine.

6 Days to work this out.....

Seriously unimpressed, but pleased it's something so simple.

Thanks for all your comments & feedback, will let you know how I get on with them later.
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Previous Bikes: Honda CG125 / Suzuki Gladius Current Bikes: BMW F650GS Twin / Suzuki 110 Twatped

lihp · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Karma :

Have you asked about who is covering the cost of the coils that were not necessary?
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

That does piss me off when diagnosis is formed after the repair.
Misfires, so, replace plugs, replace coils, replace crank sensor and oh! local auto elec traced it to a broken wire, so, a new sub loom.

That'll be £650 thank you ta.
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wuuaf · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Oct 2015 Karma :

To be fair to the dealer all ended well, £400 all in for the service & the air box, the service should've been £320 & £130 for the air box.

Not impressed though & won't be using them to service the bike again!

Just to top the whole saga off, the bike toppled on the trailer on a particularly bumpy road on the way home, thankfully the crash bars saved the bike & there's only a light scuff on the body which will polish out. Struggled my tits off trying to get it upright & back in the wheel run on the trailer, none of the 3 vans behind me who all had smart comments whilst driving past offered any help!

Such is life, I believe the bike wasn't rolled into the front chock properly as I let the dealer roll it on, but after I strapped it down the second time it was solid all the way home.

Thank god it wasn't 5 minutes later on the M5 & under an artic - very lucky with the minimal damage!

Thanks for all your input guys Thumbs Up

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Previous Bikes: Honda CG125 / Suzuki Gladius Current Bikes: BMW F650GS Twin / Suzuki 110 Twatped

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Result, although it does sort of sound like your bike wants to die. Thinking

____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike