Is a motorbike shop serving my motorbike ripping me off? It is a BMW K1100LT motorbike?

Question

I have a BMW K1100LT motorbike. The exhaust had to be changed and the bike shop took the exuast off and all 8 bolts where the exuast comes out of the side of the engine snapped off. The shop said they would have to be drilled out. The next thing they said they had to take the top half of the engine off to get to them. Did they have to do this or are they just ripping me off or just do not know what they are doing?

Answer 1

I have no experience with this motorbike, but I have had a similar experience with a turbo-charged engine, the exhaust bolts to the turbo and is held on by 3 bolts, when I had the down pipe changed they sheared off one of the bolts and I had to get the turbo taken off to drill the bolt stub out. I was cursing the place that did it, but it happened the next time as well, what seems a bit curious is that all 8 bolts on your bike snapped. Why did you chose that shop in the first place, and what is there reputation like, I'd try and argue that they should bear some of the cost of doing the repair, presumably by the top half of the engine they mean the head? which means replacing the gasket, so not cheap.

Answer 2

-It doesn't sound right breaking 8 bolts.
-This is the way the mechanic should be thinking.
-Break 1, sure.
-Break 2, sure.
-Break 3, better start thinking about what you're doing.
-Break 4, something ain't right. Heating up the bolts should work.
-Break 5, call the customer. Tell him what's happening. Tell him you can try soaking the bolts with penetrating oil. Tell him what the repair cost will be so far and how much it will cost if the rest break.
-When he told you that the heads had to come off, I would've called another shop for an estimate over the phone.
-The reason they removed the heads, is because the drill had to be going up. They could've done the job by laying the bike on it's side.
-I don't think you have any legal recourse, because you authorised the work. I wouldn't go back to them in the future.

Answer 3

Sounds like it.

Even the most ham fisted idiot would normally only snap a few bolts not the full set, actually the chances or drilling all accurately is about nil so why not bite the bullet and get a new head, otherwise I can see the exhaust pesistently working loose.
Only good thing is the Beemer is off the Road, it cant kill you while it is off the road. I reckon the old K100 was the nastiest bike I ever rode, it crippled my mate chucking him off and the next owner went to Amsterdam and came back without his wedding tackle and wearing a dress. I am sure the 1100 is no better. get a Ducati.

Answer 4

Sounds like they had some "flunkie" working on your bike or the mechanic was in a hurry and decided to remove them with an impact gun.

However something smells fishy. I'm not sure what kind of shop you are dealing with, but back in my days as a mechanic if we stripped a bolt, while doing a standard repair, we had to fix it on our own dime. The customer had already been quoted a price for the repair. Extra labor/parts, because something went wrong during the original repair could not be charged. Unfortunately not every shop out there follows these rules.

Answer 5

The only reason they broke all eight is that they probably used an air ratchet or air impact driver to remove them, these tools put huge ammounts of torque through the bolt and an exhaust bolt would be weaker than a bolt not subjected to constant heating and cooling. penetrating oil and a little TLC would have got most out no trouble. They were cack handed and f*cked up trying to save time. Exhaust bolts are notoriously weak and are better if removed carefully by hand.

Answer 6

Hello biker friend,,,, I would say if someone broke off 8 bolts knowing they would have to be drilled out in a aluminum head, these people aren`t what the average person would call a mechanic, maybe a butcher. After the second or third broken stud, I would start cutting nuts to save the studs....remember trying to drill steel isn`t that big a deal, but once the drill bit runs out of center, it goes through aluminum without any trouble.....I usually heat the nuts with propane and WD40 them for a few mins and they usually come loose....if not, cut the damn nuts........find a new wrench....chitrenegade

Answer 7

Not so sure about the answer "they broke them they should fix them" but it does seen unreasonable that all 8 have broken. When one broke off you should really have been given the courtesy of a phone call to advise you of the problem and then you would at least have been able to make an informed decision as to them carrying on with the job or you deciding to remove your bike. Me personally I would remove the bike with the view of not paying the bill so far. Good luck. I think that they are probably incompetant and having you over.

Answer 8

UNless you had an accident with the bike, or damaged it, there is no way that all eight of those bolts would have snapped off, unless of course the dealer broke them. Before they do anythign else, ask to speak to the service manager. If he gives you a hard time, tell him you'r e going to complain to the company, and your next bike will be a Honda (which would have been my advice anyway).

Answer 9

I have owned 103 bikes in my biking lifetime I also repair bikes I have never come across an incident like this, O.K. anybody can shear one fixing but to carry on and shear eight is unbelievable! there are procedures for removing seized studs/bolts etc. which this person has not followed for some reason? If it were me I would expect the dealer to carry out a repair at his expense, if he is not prepared or is too incompetent I would definitely seek legal advice, it need not cost anything just for advice

Answer 10

they are eligible for the bill by either sheer second rate work or they are trying to rip you off. they snapped the bolts they pay for the repairs. those bolts are set to a torque setting, its unlikley they were rusted on or over tightened or tightened themselves. i would tell them to stop, they don't seem like a credible garage. have the bike brought to a specialist in bmw bikes. its you thats going to ride the bike not them. and report them and get legal advice.