I FIGURED it OUT! (thanks to JAIME...)

[Skutorr]

Why, oh why, would BMW replace entire ENGINES or BIKES when the timing chain tensioners fail and bend valves? Because the PARTS to fix it are NOT AVAILABLE!

That's right! I went to the link Jaime just posted for those OEM deflectors, and the BMW Parts Microfiche is available on that Dealer's Website. COOL! So, being NOSEY, I poked around...


Prices:

1.) variator rollers...$145.06! (get Dr. Pulleys!!!)
2.) clutch...$347.18! (HIT Clutch is about the same...and WORKS...)
3.) variator belt...$233.08! REALLY! It's TAIWANESE! Someone track the supplier down and get it CHEAP or go Aftermarket...
4.) front brake pads...$68.30/caliper OUCH! Brembo, Galfer, Malossi, EBC are all much less. EBC is about HALF the price and much better!
5.) front rotor $228.97! Go WAVE, or an OVERSIZED kit for the same $$$
6.) timing chain tensioner...(that kills engines...) $53.72. THAT"S IT??? Change it! Carry a SPARE!


And here is the WEIRD part:

NO brake front calipers or the repair kits for them are available, NOTHING.

NO exhaust valves are available...only intake. Better just bend an intake valve...

NO Cylinder heads are available. NONE.


So, you bend an exhaust valve, you replace the ENGINE or ENTIRE SCOOTER. That's INSANE!!! But, it finally explains the long delays at the dealerships, who probably can't BELIEVE there are NO PARTS, and the wholesale replacement of engines and/or scooters. If a caliper leaks you also get a new bike???

Gotta be the worst Business Plan I've ever encountered...

 

[Oldscoot]

So is your point that under your three year BMW warranty you're going to get a new engine instead of a new part?

 

[Skutorr]

You get a new engine. BMW does not have the component parts. Only wear/maintenance items; many engine parts aren't available for there is no common parts inventory to pull from...the engines aren't built in Germany. BMW is apparently just supplied with select parts, based upon perceived future need. One Italian owner whose C600 motor cratered only got a new engine by having one pulled off of the assembly line in Germany. Nothing was in Inventory at the time.

...and after 3 years? What then? If the aftermarket doesn't step in, you essentially have an orphaned vehicle...

For the LIFE of me I can't figure out why BMW has it set-up this way. Are they that far behind in just getting initial replacement parts into stock, or what?

Maybe someone out there has the answer...

 

[Oldscoot]

Under your theory for at least for three years I get a brand new engine for every minor mechanical problem. I like that. I doubt however that this arrangement is financially feasible and they will be building up the parts inventories as BMW would stand to lose a lot of money on this line.

 

[SteveADV]

Under your theory for at least for three years I get a brand new engine for every minor mechanical problem. I like that. I doubt however that this arrangement is financially feasible and they will be building up the parts inventories as BMW would stands to lose a lot of money on this line.

BMW is not a 501c(3). They do not enter into a business without considerable business contingency planning for product line fulfillment. As Oldscoot suggests, BMW (or any high quality product/service provider) will not enter into a financially irresponsible business line or one where there is a high degree of brand risk. Mistakes happen, but companies at the level of BMW mitigate those risks through a complete analysis of the product line and their ability to service that product line.

Not sure that anyone is suggesting this, but thinking they just started making scooters to see what happens is naive and uninformed.

 

[bill steele]

In the passed manufacturers did not have to worry about pissed off customers a few bad mouths didn't go very far and all was good since the advent of the internet well things have changed in the consumers favor,people are more well informed and word gets out in an instant of a bad product. As much as the manufacturers would like to work in the old ways they can't any more and have to respond to the problems at hand, they may not go very fast to repair the problem but they do have to take care of it.

 

[Skutorr]

I'm not really suggesting anything, or saying you get a new engine for "every minor mechanical problem'. If they don't have the engine interior hard parts, it CAN"T be repaired. I agree with Steve that they obviously aren't complete idiots, but maybe some supply-side snafu has developed.

When the initial product roll-out was delayed from Feb. 2012, BMW initially gave no explanation. Eventually they pinned it on quality-control problems with body panel fit & finish from their subcontractors. Eventually it came out 5 months late in Europe, in July 2012.

So, I'm just wondering if there is a similar explanation for those HOLES in the parts inventory. Maybe BMW is addressing it. Very puzzling!

 

[Doraemon]

Some parts may be batch ordered, meaning they may have ordered 5000 of a particular part and expected to use 4000; in building the bike, recalls, and usage the Part managment system didn't get set with a min order and therfore not enough was kept in stock for outside MFG sales.
In my work this is the issue we have with new parts and suppliers, however, we are customer service orientated and will call the factory and have the part pulled off a machine in assembly and rush ship it to the customer.....

 

[SteveADV]

Delayed product roll-outs happen all the time in every industry. Sometimes, in the case of the higher quality manufacturers that have a reputation to protect, those delays are even caused by a demand greater than what once originally estimated by the product management team.

If any product rollout is delayed as a result of a vendor's perceived problems with quality not being up to their typical high standards, that is a good thing.

 

[Skutorr]

Great info from both of you! I KNEW this was a smart group!