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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
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Old 15 Dec 2013
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Labor cost in Europe
Hi,
My bike (05 r1200gs) is currently parked in Germany.
I am planning to purchase aftermarket shocks from USA and get them installed in Europe when i visit my bike. How much should i estimate to pay for the installation of the front and rear shocks. The service will probably be done in germany.

also, how much should i budget for a full service at the bmw shop.

thanks
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Old 15 Dec 2013
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I would suggest you find the address of the nearest BMW dealer to your bike and ask them for a quote, unless you plan to use an independent service centre in which case a question to the nearest community to your bike for a recommendation.

http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/i...l/dlo/dlo.html
Last edited by mark manley; 15 Dec 2013 at 08:57. Reason: more info
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Old 15 Dec 2013
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I changed a front shock on a new 1200GS just two days ago.

It takes about an hour if you know how to strip the bike down.

Rear shock maybe two hours as it's a bit more tricky.



A UK BMW dealer will charge about £110 an hour.

An independent about £40
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Old 15 Dec 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
I changed a front shock on a new 1200GS just two days ago.

It takes about an hour if you know how to strip the bike down.

Rear shock maybe two hours as it's a bit more tricky.



A UK BMW dealer will charge about £110 an hour.

An independent about £40
thanks for the helpful input - that gives a starting reference point for the budget.
now onto how to find an independent shop
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Old 15 Dec 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
I changed a front shock on a new 1200GS just two days ago.

It takes about an hour if you know how to strip the bike down.

Rear shock maybe two hours as it's a bit more tricky.



A UK BMW dealer will charge about £110 an hour.

An independent about £40
F......g hell wrap up...£110 quid an hour......I know everything costs money and the fuhrer at BMW motorcycles in Germany probably wants their pound of flesh out of the dealers for 'approved equipment' etc but I was expecting 80 quid or so an hour..
Its not like you can have a complimentary Hoover with a bike like they do to with the cars to justify the bill..ouch..
I know certainly with a some of the car dealers now most things major are priced out of the door,unless its warranty and mechanics just become bored out of their tiny brains as service material..
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Old 15 Dec 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marcm View Post
F......g hell wrap up...£110 quid an hour......I know everything costs money and the fuhrer at BMW motorcycles in Germany probably wants their pound of flesh out of the dealers for 'approved equipment' etc but I was expecting 80 quid or so an hour..
Its not like you can have a complimentary Hoover with a bike like they do to with the cars to justify the bill..ouch..
I know certainly with a some of the car dealers now most things major are priced out of the door,unless its warranty and mechanics just become bored out of their tiny brains as service material..
They charge £90 + VAT @ 20%

With price of the Diagnostic equipment and ridiculous amount AND cost of special tools needed to work on modern BMW's, I can almost see where the cost comes from. You're also paying for the technicians to be sent on a few training courses every year which costs hundreds per day to attend.

More than I would pay but that's because I haven't got it to pay.

Plenty of people think it's worth the cost. And to be honest, the state of some of the repairs I've seen done by non-training BMW mechanics, you sometimes wonder if they're right.
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