Bolivia La Paz BMW
 

Hi I would just like to let everyone know that despite popular opinion (BMW Motorad website) there is a BMW dealer in La Paz. The place is called Andar Motors, it is primarily a car sales showroom but contains a motorcycle sales and workshop also. We had some repairs done there and where very happy with the results and price. Carlos Toro is workshop boss and speaks perfect english. They are at Calle 8, Obrajes La Paz, Bolivia. Ph +591 2 2783030.

Great Help
 

We had some repairs done here, although we pre-ordered parts and they did not arrive, the shop was very help-full and they were willing to fix many parts of the bike that I am used to BMW just replacing. This saved us huge costs.

They were also very friendly and the mechanic was good. Definitely recommended!

My experiance...
 

I went to this workshop yesterday to change a tyre, oil and clean my airfilter. The tyre was necesary but i must admit i was lazy and trusted the big bmw logo on the wall... Big mistake. First i asked to do some work myself in their facilities. Not surprising the answer was no. I returned 6 hours after and nothing was done. First sign... Get out and do it myself, but no. They promised to finish within three hours. Returned again to find the airfilter still full og sand(spungetype filter) and they had filled only half of the oil required. Not only that: they had played around with the computer and injectors which i had strickly told them not to.the bike wad running in only one cylinder. First thought was to run away from the bill and give them all the finger. But they insisted i pay everythibg including 5 hours of laybor. And let me add 5 hours that damaged my bike. Today i have spend 5 hours in my hotel to correct and faultfind and thank god i managed to get it all back to normal.

So my lesson here is; dont be lazy, if I can do it myself do it! The truth is these guys do not grasp the consept that a travelbike is very valuable. We are not like the La Paz BMW owners who ride 1000km per year. We do care and we get very pissed off when someone messes up our bike.

Anyway thats my rant for today. Trust but verify and if you are capa le, DO IT YOURSELF!

I took my G650x to these guys with a specific problem, the bike was dying on idle on cold start up. I even told then what the issue would most likely be, the idle actuator.

All I wanted was for them to plug it into the computer and find any error codes and fix the issue.

I also asked for an oil change while it was there.

Two days later they tell me it's ready. They say the idle actuator showed a fault, they cleaned it out and it's all good.

They then give me a bill for a full service which includes $80 to check the brakes, suspension and fluids. I'm a bit pissed but they fixed my problem so I pay. I then think I haven't had a look at the brakes myself for a while and the rear pads are completely gone. I point it out to the mechanic who agrees, glad I paid previously to have my brakes inspected.

Went to ride out of the shop and the bike dies on idle. I confront the manager who says "oh, no we can't fix the problem, you need a new part, hear I'll give you the part number" this is after the same guy told me the problem was fixed.

In the end it was a $250 oil change, a lie about fixing the part and me having to point out with brake pads to the mechanic.

Joke.