anyone have any experience with BMW in Guatemala or Panama. I need some warranty work on an oil leak on my 2010 F650 GS twin.

No personal experience, but dealers are here:

Bavaria Motors, S.A.
6 Av. 4-54, Zona 4 , Apartado Postal 651, 01901 Ciudad de Guatemala
+502 2384-8000
info@bavaria.com.gt
BMW Motorrad

and here:
Bavarian Motors S.A.Edificio BMW
Calle 50 y 65, San Francisco , Apartado 0819-06630 El Dorado Panamá
+507 301 5400
gbriceno@fasa.com.pa
BMW Motorrad

(any/all BMW dealers worldwide are available from the corp website:
BMW Motorrad International)

Thanks for the information. I already have a list of dealers. Just trying to find out if one is better than the other. Received an email from the Panama dealer.They seem efficient and have already checked my vin. I will service there. Will let you know how good they are in a week or so. Thanks again for your reply.

I used the dealer in Panama for my '07 F650GS single in 2010. They were quite professional when doing my 40,000km service but seemed to take quite a bit longer than the time they told me it would take.

While I managed to do everything in Spanish, there were English speaking service folks around as well.

I wasn't entirely happy with their work. They failed to test the brakes after replacing the brake fluid. I ended up crapping my pants in Panama City traffic when nothing happened when I applied the front brake. They were subsequently fine for the rest of the trip. I suspect they had pushed the pads in to get the wheel off and failed to squeeze the lever a few times to get them back where they belonged after they were finished ....or whatever. Also, 4 weeks later my battery was bone dry while in some small mountain town in Mexico. There are definitely all kinds of reasons that could happen in 4 weeks but I suspect that they never checked it as part of the 40,000km service. I failed to check it as well, so there you have it :-)

That was my personal experience and others may have had a different experience. Having said all this, I've actually had much worse service in the US and I'd consider Panama to be in the "average" range for BMW service.


...Michelle

Thanks Michelle!
I hope they have improved since then but will double check all their work and mention what you experienced to them. Pretty damn scary when your brakes don't work.
Clive

I used the BMW dealers in San Jose Costa Rica. They were very friendly and helpful.

__________________

I used the dealer in Panama city for my 07 f650gs in 2009 after a buzzard tried to kill me at 60mph near Yaviza
Broke my windshield in 3 pieces and my headlight, they got me fixed up the next day by stiching the windshield with wire and glue thickened with baby powder. Did the light and an oil change and I was on my way. Seemed a very reasonable price also!
Cheers

Thanks, Time costraints now after taking my sweet time means I will have to service in Panama.

[QUOTE=Calvin;404642]I used the dealer in Panama city for my 07 f650gs in 2009 after a buzzard tried to kill me at 60mph near Yaviza
Broke my windshield in 3 pieces and my headlight, they got me fixed up the next day by stiching the windshield with wire and glue thickened with baby powder. Did the light and an oil change and I was on my way. Seemed a very reasonable price also!
Cheers[/QUOTE
Guess he was hungry but picked the wrong target. Thanks...looks as if I will service there.

I took my bike to the BMW dealer in Panama City...Bavarian Motors Panama S.A. Calle 50 y 65 in Panama City. I had spoken with and exchanged emails with Roberto Pinto ( speaks English) the director of service at this dealership. I expained that I was from Canada and was riding to South America. Roberto had checked my VIN and had assured me the problem would be fixed under my warranty. He had alao requested some pictures of where the leak was.
I arrived at Bavarian Motors on Jan.2nd at 2pm and was met by both Roberto and Isael Urriola the technichan who was going to work on my bike.The dealership is as big and professional as any I have seen.
I also wanted my brakes checked and left both front and rear pads with them.
I left my bike and was driven back to my hotel. I received an email the following day saying my bike was ready. Once again they provided transportation from my hotel.
The oil leak was fixed under warranty. The front pads were replaced, the rear pads were okay, the bike was washed and cleaned,the chain lubed and the clutch lever adjusted. it was a like a new bike. I was charged $30.00. ( Thirty dollars).
Impeccable service. It is dealers like this and Motohaus BMW in Leon, Mexico that make it a pleasure to ride a BMW.
My experience with these two dealers and their employees has been exceptionally good. Absolutley no complaint.

Glad to hear you had a good experience.


....Michelle

I had to go back...for something different. I stopped at a vulcanizing place for air. Somehow in putting air in the rear tire the guy actually cracked the stem on the wheel. This also has the the tire pressure monitor and temperature sensor.This was in Chepo on my way to Carti on Sunday. So back to Panama City. This was on Sunday. Monday was A holiday. Today...Tuesday I arrived at BMW bright and early. They had the stem/sensor in stock. Replaced it in a short while and I was back on the road. Same great service and care. Once again Roberto, was exceptional. Knowing I was travelling he got a technician on my bike immediately. Labour was extremely reasonable...the sensor expensive of course. BMW...Bring More Wallet! The price we pay for riding a damn good bike.
In future I will be the only putting air in my tires!