HI ALL BMW LOVERS AND OTHERS
First I thought I will keep this info for myself and loose my money in silence. One reason for my lack of Power to fight Barcelona Motors/ BMW and to go public with this matter is that during the last two years the doctors here in Pattaya have been too interested in my stomach, making 4 surgeries trying to take away no necessary "items" in my stomach. My last surgery left me with 40 stitches in my stomach and every time I have to stay in bed without moving a few weeks, I loose the few muscles I still have/had left and that means that you have to learn how to walk again, how to conduct your toilet visits etc. Of course your physical condition also affects you mentally and a "BMW here or there" is not the most important question in Your life. Being sick a long time will make you get exhausted already when trying to send a email not to talking about keeping up a discussion on internet. I am also "on the run" from the hospital here in Pattaya/Banglamung and we have agreed that they send a ambulance without delay to pick me up if needed. That is why I haven"t liked to go to Bangkok and Barcelona Motors to "fight them personally".
When Barcelona Motors behavior started to to make me angry I tried to find some other persons who had experienced the same but on Internet was nothing really bad aat that time about Barcelona Motors. I found finally one email on GT board where " Charmaz " was complaining about how dirty Barcelonas new Workshop was, a thing I also noticed myself when I visited them one year ago in wheel chair. Of course I know many dirty shops in Thailand that can be very skillful but YOU DO EXPECT SOMETHING ELSE FROM AN AUTHORIZED BMW WORKSHOP ESPECIALLY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PRICE LEVEL AT BARCELONA MOTORS. Enclosed "ATTACHMENT NR 1" you can find the "Charmaz" story.
Then then started to be more and more bad stories about Barcelona Motors on the GT Board, some people didn't like that it was not "first hand information". Since I had first hand experience I once again decided that I contribute to the thread. Unfortunally I fell down with my wheel chair one day while writing it, when I tried to get to my computer and got some cracks to a few ribs, so my project was delayed again, but here I come again...
What is most interesting for me is of course that I want my bike back, even in the same condition as I left it, without any payments but from a broader perspective it is interesting to find out is this just "one bad guy" in Chang Mai or is it a "company philosophy". Taking into account my experience from Bangkok it seems that it is the later. It would also be interesting to know why the companies' management don't do anything to stop this illegal behavior from their employees? Or is there some "kick backs" paid up in the organization or maybe it is an unofficial extra salary accepted by the management
ANYHOW IT IS A VERY VERY STRANGE BEHAVIOR ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE "BMW DEALERS". IN SOME OF MY OTHER HOME COUNTRIES, FINLAND AND SWEDEN, SUCH A BEHAVIOR WOULD END UP IN A CRIMINAL COURT.
I also enclose (attachment number 2) a Bangkok post article about the the MD for BMW motorcycles from last year. With that experience he should know what a foreigner expect from BMW., even in Thailand...’
After a long time not succeeding to find any person accountable and in charge in the Barcelona Motors organization I gave up and “went up in the organization”.First I send (I tried to send) direct to the managing director of Barcelona Motors
But in telephone nobody knew what his name was or his e-mail address….!!!
Anyhow I found an advertisement where there was a ‘talk direct to the MD add” where they asked to send an e-mail direct to the MD with your problem described together with your chassis number and the MD will contact me in 24 hours…
He still today hasn’t contacted me.
On the 22 of March I tried again without any response.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: RE: my bmw cs650
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:04:28 +0300
URGENT!!!!! pls contact me. I have sent at least 20 e mails telephoned a hundred times and all what I have got is empty promises 'HE WILL CALL BACK" BMW STYLE'........
REGD'S
BENGT HAIKOLA
SO THEN THE E -MAIL ENDED UP TO THE MD BMW MOTORCYCLES KAMOLCHART PRAVITRA. Of course nobody knew his e mail address but they told me that I can send it to the address above. Of course no response again except that the e mail receiver Sethipong Anutarasoti sent me an e-mail that he will send the e –mail forward to the MD, but it didn’t help…but I was happy, the first reply in two years….
Here is the copies of my last e-mails to the MDs where you can get some insight about what has happened.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: my bmw cs650
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:50:58 +0300
ATT.Mr Kamolchart Pravitra.
Ref BMW problems.
I read Your story in the life/BP magazine and found out that You are a genuine motorcycle enthusiast, as I also am. I have more than 1,5 million Km:s behind me, a few around the world trips and I actually came the first time to Thailand in 1974 driving a CB750 Honda overland from Finland through Syrias ,Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan just to mention a few. I also have had more than 10 motorcycle shops among them a BMW dealership.
So I hope that You understand that I know what I am talking about.
My story You can find enclosed. I am still astonished that things like this can happen, even in Thailand and at an official BMW dealership.
To make it short. I left my BMW bike 2 years ago to find out what electrical problem the bike had. That procedure would have taken approx. 30 minutes.
Instead Barcelona Motors started a 80.000 Baht costing odyssey finding all other problems. When they finally found out the real problem they claim that the engine is also broken…
Ok You can read the story for Yourself and don’t hesitate to contact me. I cannot get any response from Barcelona….
Best Rgds
Bengt Haikola 089 2500 635
________________________________________
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: my bmw cs650
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 06:38:42 +0300
e-mail: [email protected]
or tel. 089-205-2777, 02-938-7777 ext. 8401, 8402
Concerning motorbike BMW F650CS
WE10184A93ZH15387
ปมง 928
Dear MD of Barcelona Motors and all other it may concern.
This is the text I have sent to all these other places and from where you can get some insight in what has happened.
I brought the bike specified above in Your shop 7 ½ year ago. when I bought the bike the bike was not registered, under 1000 km in the clock and was supposed to be a 2004 model, manufactured in the end of 2003. I was supposed to get a book with registration in 2004. I was also promised the guarantee as a new bike.
Anyhow the bike got registered in the last days of 2003, so it became an older model, the model year was not 2004 but 2003 and it was manufactured in 2002. All this I had to check up with Germany. So my bike was suddenly worth 50.000-100.00 baht less than we thought. When I confronted the sales manager (Yuit?) he first told me that I am wrong but after he checked it up he confessed that he was wrong. Since he said that he couldn’t compensate me in the price anymore he promised me free service etc for the sum. This was never realized and Yuit left for Britbike/Triumph.
I actually never needed any service from you. Since I have been a BMW dealer in Finland for ten years and I still have many friends in the BMW after sales business, who visits me regularly, I know what has to be included in the service schedule. It is not also very funny for people living in Pattaya to drive the bike to Bangkok and pick up it a few days later. Anyhow I was impressed by Your service shop in the old place. Everything was super clean and the mechanics seemed to be professional. I have many friends here in Pattaya with new BMW:s bought from You because of recommendation from me and I helped them when they have had problems with their bikes. Your service department at that time, was very friendly and helpful and you even took Your service car to bring spare parts to Pattaya together with two mechanics and had them assemble the parts here. GOOD SERVICE!!!
That is one reason why I am chocked to see Your dirty, untidy workshop in Your new place. The workshop full of partly dismantled bikes, with the engine or shaft drive parts just left on the dirty floor collecting dust (I have pictures), the working places not cleaned for weeks, coke cans and half eaten Thai food packages left together with the engine parts on the mc-lifts floors, mc-lifts that hadn’t been used for months etc.
Your workshop today looks like those thousands of other Thai style workshops all over Thailand, not like a serious, BMW authorized, workshop. Pls open Your eyes and go look in Your workshop. I am sure You will shame.
Anyhow, then I had a technical failure with my bike, which I couldn’t handle my self.
The reason was that the bike during a normal drive suddenly stopped and wouldn’t restart again. There was no mechanical noise before it stopped, there was no “stop and start again”, it just died. Since I do not have the necessary computer equipment at home in Thailand to check the electronics of this fuel injected engine I brought it to Your shop to have the bike in a computer test to find out what the problem was. This must have been late summer in 2009.
I thought that this would cost a maximum a few thousand Baht and I even stayed in Bangkok for the day so that I could pick up the bike when returning to Pattaya. That is 2 years ago.IF YOU HAD DONE WHAT I ORDERED, YOU WOULD HAVE FOUND OUT IN 5 MINUTES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE PULSE GENERATOR WAS BROKEN. IF YOU HAD DONE THAT IMMIDIATLY AS I ASKED FOR, I WOULD HAVE HAD THE BIKE WITH ME THE SAME DAY ON MY RETURN TO PATTAYA.
Actually you invoiced me one year later, on the 25.06.2010 Checking Set electronic 12 units a 65 Baht together 780 Baht. If You had done this when I brought the bike you would have found out that the pulse generator was broken and that why the engine didn’t start. That was what I had ordered.
Anyhow you did only charge for the Checking of the electronic on the 25.06.2010, but it was not done until one month later when you informed me by e-mail on the 31.7.2010 that the pulse generator was broken and must be replaced at a cost of 8445,51 Baht+Gaset ( You probably meant gasket) 730.81 Bht. You forgot to mention + VAT and assembly cost, but anyhow I accepted it because I was fed up with Your non existent service, Your total lack of not only BMW knowledge,but also any motorcycle knowledge. Just give my bike back!!! Pulse generator had to be ordered from Germany.
{b}But there was plenty of “strange things” before that.{/b} When I left the bike in 2009, expecting a one hour work and a bill of maybe 2.000, I asked You to {b}check the electronics and the fuel injection to find out why the bike doesn’t start.{/b} I was told yes, yes. I was even so hopeful that I returned the same afternoon before going back to Pattaya to see if the bike was ready. It was not, I was told that somebody will phone me when it is ready
Then nothing happened for a long time. When I contacted Barcelona myself a lady telephoned me back and told me that they have indentified the problem and it is the petrol filter. I told her that I do not believe her since I changed that myself in accordance with BMW:s instructions but if the bike works now then it is ok.
I also told her again to put the bike in the computer test to check the fuel injection and electronics. She said yes.
A few days later she telephoned me and told me that the reason why the bike doesn’t start is that the gasoline filter is blocked. She also told me that they have to put a new battery because I forgot to deliver it with the bike
On the 29th of June I replied by e-mail and told You that I don’t believe the problem is the gasoline filter and I told that you that that I have the battery here in Pattaya, charging it separately, as You are supposed to do.
I think she sent me an e-mail on the 6th of July in which she told me that “her” mechanic had checked the filter and it must be changed because the bike hasn’t been used for a long time. I didn’t want to argue with her but it is impossible to see from the outside if the filter has to be changed, since it is a solid metal package. Also the reason “the bike hasn’t been used for a long time is in principle valid. But the reason for that was Barcelona’s slow and long “service” time. Also I know by now, that Gasohol is not good for the BMW:s if you don’t drive for a long time. On the other hand BMW says that Gasohol is OK and doesn’t mention anything about that you cannot keep Gasohol in the tank for a long time. So please discuss with BMW about the truth with Gasohol and BMW:s.
About the battery I was told another story. I was told that You already had to change the battery because you had to start the engine. This was a big lie because later I found out that you didn’t have the battery in stock so you have to order it from Germany and it will take three weeks. Anyhow I was told that you have started the engine and you have checked the electronics, injection, you have changed the oil and oil filter, you have changed the fluid in the ABS system etc. How can You do all this without a battery and without starting the engine. The oil must be hot to be changed, the electronics/injection cannot be checked without starting the engine and a battery etc. Somebody told me big lies.
Another thing I must take up is the price of the battery. You charged 260 Baht to change the battery. For the battery You charged 3.661,00 Baht. All together almost 4.200 Baht+7Baht sales tax. I can buy exactly the same battery (FB made in Japan) here in Pattaya for 1.000 Baht, and at that price the workshop picks up the bike at my home, assemble the battery, charge it for 6 hours and brings back the bike.
How stupid do You think Your customers are? Do You think that if they are stupid enough to buy a BMW from Barcelona/BMW they are also so stupid that they will pay 4 times as much for exactly the same battery, only to have it assembled in the dirty workshop at Barcelona after waiting 3 weeks (actually I waited one year).UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Then You started an odyssey of non essential “services”. Pls note that at this stage you hadn’t even started the engine. You didn’t even asked me if I wanted the “service”. Yes I know now that you have sent me some strange invoices on excel which I have not been able to open because you send them in such large mode that they cannot be opened in hotmail. Later I had a computer guru open them for me by transforming the size of the files..
You performed oil change, oil filter, coolant change, new brake fluids, new grips spark plugs etc. Everything was lies and I NEVER HAVE ORDERED THESE “SERVICES”. I ONLY ASKED YOU TO FIND OUT WHY THE BIKE DOESN’T START”
This behavior on Your behalf is very close to criminal, in Europe it would be criminal for sure.
Then I didn’t hear from You for a long time. Any time I phone I got funny explanations. I was told that by changing the gasoline filter the bike works. That was a lie.
I am not sure when I got information that the petrol pump must be changed. Actually I think that You never informed me about. Anyhow I know for sure that the petrol pump worked when I left it to You for checking the electronics.
Anyhow I was again informed by You that now it will work when You get the petrol pump from Germany. Then I got a new message one month later on the 31.7 that the Pulse Generator is broken and must be ordered from Germany, as mentioned above. I was so fed up with You so I accepted it.
Nobody tried to explain for me how it was possible that simultaneously the bike, that suddenly stopped in the middle of a ride, can get three different fouls, first the diagnosis was the petrol filter and by changing that the bike works. The next diagnosis was that the petrol pump is broken and by changing that the bike will work. And now I got the last diagnosis, the Pulse generator is broken and I am quite sure that this was the correct diagnosis, it was only made 1 ½ year to late. Your lack of competence is UNBELIEVABLE!!!
But do You think that the farce was over now? No.
Since I didn’t hear anything from you for a long time I contacted You in at the end of 2010 to ask if You have got the pulse generator? The answer was Yes. Does the bike work now? Then I was told that You can start the bike now but there is a mechanical problem inside the engine. I later telephoned the mechanic and he put his telephone close to the engine and told me to listen myself. I shouted to him in the telephone STOP THE ENGINE! First of all You cannot figure out by telephone if there is some mechanical noise. Secondly you should not rev the engine if it has a mechanical problem. I told him that I will come to Bangkok to see for my self.
So now I got the fourth diagnosis and if You use a little logical thinking it is obvious that a bike that suddenly stops doesn’t ends up with }FOUR DIFFERENT FAULTS.
So I came to Bangkok , it must have been in the end of 2010. I telephoned Barcelona in advance to take care that the battery is charged and the bike can be started. But when I arrived I was only presented with a approx 80.000 Baht invoice and the bike still didn’t start. Even the battery was flat and an old one.And now they even say that the engine must be opened for mechanical problems!!!
{b}I got furious. After more than 1 ½ years waiting You cannot still start the bike and you present me with an invoice of 80.000 Baht and You want to give me back the bike in much, much worse condition than it was when I left it!!!
Pls put Your hand on your heart and tell me “well done”?
It was also at this occasion that I got the chock how untidy, dirty Your new workshop was when I walked in the middle of broken BMW:s with the parts kept on the floor…I am sure that is against Your contract with BMW
And my impression didn’t get any better when I asked to see the parts You had “changed “. One of Your mechanics gave me a plastic bag from my bike’s handle bar. I looked in the bag for a while and some parts maybe was from a 650 BMW but when I found some parts from a shaft drive I had to tell the mechanic that this bag is not from my bike. He quickly took the bag and disappeared with it for 15 minutes. He then came back with an “updated” version now with 650 parts. But from which bike?. The petrol filter had some cracks from the outside, where they came from: The plastic fittings on the petrol pump was broken, the filter connected to the petrol pump was like a stone etc. I got a very bad impression of all this but I can understand that it is difficult to keep control of all the old parts lying in chaos on the floor collecting dust in Your “professional workshop”.
I left Your shop, telling Your mechanic to do nothing but taking away all the parts You had fitted and asked him to have some “big boss” telephone me.
But nothing happened and again I had to telephone and this time I asked for the managing director. Anyhow I never reached him but I talked a few time with his secretary, who spoke fluent English. She promised that the managing director will telephone me back. This never happened.
So now we are here. During the process I have got ill (not because of You) and will never be able to drive my BMW. I also have lost a few hundred thousands Baht on depreciation of the bike’s value, I spent 28 hours collecting material to this letter, I have talked with lawyers , I have read the Thai Consumer protection Act,
B.E. 2522 (1979)
BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ, REX.,
Given on the 30th day of April B.E 2522;
Being the 34th Year of the Present Reign.
But one thing is for sure and that is that I want justice. I have talked with a lawyer here in Pattaya and he will be more than happy to help me. I am also quite active on some motorcycle Web sites here in Thailand, but up to now I haven’t told my story. As I told You I also have good contacts with BMW since my days as a BMW dealer. So now it is up to You. Do You want to clear this matter AS A GENTLEMAN IN A FAIR WAY OR DO YOU PREFER TO DO IT THE “HARD WAY”?
I MUST SAY THAT I WAS QUITE AMUSED TO READ YOUR ADD ON INTERNET:
“Barcelona Group provides full range service for BMW motorcycle by our team who has been trained and tested according to German Standard, with special skills in electronics and problem analysis by computer system or Group Test 1 (GT1) together with over 8,000 part items in stock in order to increase speed of service. At present, Barcelona Group has the service capacity throughout the country as for 3 branches located in Vipavadi, Chiangmai, and Phuket.
BMW Motorcycle has been designed to meet customer's needs in capacity, safety and comfort and controlled by electronics system including capacity set adjustment and GT1 facilities to support the advanced technology of new BMW motorcycle. Therefore, Barcelona Group has served BMW Motorrad Online Service System or MOSS which enables smooth and fast flow of service and higher efficiency for our customers.”
I AM QUITE CONVINCED THAT ALSO YOU ADMIT THAT THESE ARE ONLY EMPTY WORDS OR, AS THE GERMANS SAY:
“VIELE SPRECHEN ABER NICHTS”
YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON E-MAIL OR BY TELEPHONE 089 2500 635.
In few days I will send a copy to Khun Kamolchart Pravitra at BMW Thailand and to the German head office to have an investigation started there also. Hopefully You contact me quickly this time so we can avoid further problems.
Best Rgds Bengt Haikola
First I thought I will keep this info for myself and loose my money in silence. One reason for my lack of Power to fight Barcelona Motors/ BMW and to go public with this matter is that during the last two years the doctors here in Pattaya have been too interested in my stomach, making 4 surgeries trying to take away no necessary "items" in my stomach. My last surgery left me with 40 stitches in my stomach and every time I have to stay in bed without moving a few weeks, I loose the few muscles I still have/had left and that means that you have to learn how to walk again, how to conduct your toilet visits etc. Of course your physical condition also affects you mentally and a "BMW here or there" is not the most important question in Your life. Being sick a long time will make you get exhausted already when trying to send a email not to talking about keeping up a discussion on internet. I am also "on the run" from the hospital here in Pattaya/Banglamung and we have agreed that they send a ambulance without delay to pick me up if needed. That is why I haven"t liked to go to Bangkok and Barcelona Motors to "fight them personally".
When Barcelona Motors behavior started to to make me angry I tried to find some other persons who had experienced the same but on Internet was nothing really bad aat that time about Barcelona Motors. I found finally one email on GT board where " Charmaz " was complaining about how dirty Barcelonas new Workshop was, a thing I also noticed myself when I visited them one year ago in wheel chair. Of course I know many dirty shops in Thailand that can be very skillful but YOU DO EXPECT SOMETHING ELSE FROM AN AUTHORIZED BMW WORKSHOP ESPECIALLY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PRICE LEVEL AT BARCELONA MOTORS. Enclosed "ATTACHMENT NR 1" you can find the "Charmaz" story.
Then then started to be more and more bad stories about Barcelona Motors on the GT Board, some people didn't like that it was not "first hand information". Since I had first hand experience I once again decided that I contribute to the thread. Unfortunally I fell down with my wheel chair one day while writing it, when I tried to get to my computer and got some cracks to a few ribs, so my project was delayed again, but here I come again...
What is most interesting for me is of course that I want my bike back, even in the same condition as I left it, without any payments but from a broader perspective it is interesting to find out is this just "one bad guy" in Chang Mai or is it a "company philosophy". Taking into account my experience from Bangkok it seems that it is the later. It would also be interesting to know why the companies' management don't do anything to stop this illegal behavior from their employees? Or is there some "kick backs" paid up in the organization or maybe it is an unofficial extra salary accepted by the management
ANYHOW IT IS A VERY VERY STRANGE BEHAVIOR ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE "BMW DEALERS". IN SOME OF MY OTHER HOME COUNTRIES, FINLAND AND SWEDEN, SUCH A BEHAVIOR WOULD END UP IN A CRIMINAL COURT.
I also enclose (attachment number 2) a Bangkok post article about the the MD for BMW motorcycles from last year. With that experience he should know what a foreigner expect from BMW., even in Thailand...’
After a long time not succeeding to find any person accountable and in charge in the Barcelona Motors organization I gave up and “went up in the organization”.First I send (I tried to send) direct to the managing director of Barcelona Motors
But in telephone nobody knew what his name was or his e-mail address….!!!
Anyhow I found an advertisement where there was a ‘talk direct to the MD add” where they asked to send an e-mail direct to the MD with your problem described together with your chassis number and the MD will contact me in 24 hours…
He still today hasn’t contacted me.
On the 22 of March I tried again without any response.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: RE: my bmw cs650
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:04:28 +0300
URGENT!!!!! pls contact me. I have sent at least 20 e mails telephoned a hundred times and all what I have got is empty promises 'HE WILL CALL BACK" BMW STYLE'........
REGD'S
BENGT HAIKOLA
SO THEN THE E -MAIL ENDED UP TO THE MD BMW MOTORCYCLES KAMOLCHART PRAVITRA. Of course nobody knew his e mail address but they told me that I can send it to the address above. Of course no response again except that the e mail receiver Sethipong Anutarasoti sent me an e-mail that he will send the e –mail forward to the MD, but it didn’t help…but I was happy, the first reply in two years….
Here is the copies of my last e-mails to the MDs where you can get some insight about what has happened.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: FW: my bmw cs650
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:50:58 +0300
ATT.Mr Kamolchart Pravitra.
Ref BMW problems.
I read Your story in the life/BP magazine and found out that You are a genuine motorcycle enthusiast, as I also am. I have more than 1,5 million Km:s behind me, a few around the world trips and I actually came the first time to Thailand in 1974 driving a CB750 Honda overland from Finland through Syrias ,Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan just to mention a few. I also have had more than 10 motorcycle shops among them a BMW dealership.
So I hope that You understand that I know what I am talking about.
My story You can find enclosed. I am still astonished that things like this can happen, even in Thailand and at an official BMW dealership.
To make it short. I left my BMW bike 2 years ago to find out what electrical problem the bike had. That procedure would have taken approx. 30 minutes.
Instead Barcelona Motors started a 80.000 Baht costing odyssey finding all other problems. When they finally found out the real problem they claim that the engine is also broken…
Ok You can read the story for Yourself and don’t hesitate to contact me. I cannot get any response from Barcelona….
Best Rgds
Bengt Haikola 089 2500 635
________________________________________
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: my bmw cs650
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 06:38:42 +0300
e-mail: [email protected]
or tel. 089-205-2777, 02-938-7777 ext. 8401, 8402
Concerning motorbike BMW F650CS
WE10184A93ZH15387
ปมง 928
Dear MD of Barcelona Motors and all other it may concern.
This is the text I have sent to all these other places and from where you can get some insight in what has happened.
I brought the bike specified above in Your shop 7 ½ year ago. when I bought the bike the bike was not registered, under 1000 km in the clock and was supposed to be a 2004 model, manufactured in the end of 2003. I was supposed to get a book with registration in 2004. I was also promised the guarantee as a new bike.
Anyhow the bike got registered in the last days of 2003, so it became an older model, the model year was not 2004 but 2003 and it was manufactured in 2002. All this I had to check up with Germany. So my bike was suddenly worth 50.000-100.00 baht less than we thought. When I confronted the sales manager (Yuit?) he first told me that I am wrong but after he checked it up he confessed that he was wrong. Since he said that he couldn’t compensate me in the price anymore he promised me free service etc for the sum. This was never realized and Yuit left for Britbike/Triumph.
I actually never needed any service from you. Since I have been a BMW dealer in Finland for ten years and I still have many friends in the BMW after sales business, who visits me regularly, I know what has to be included in the service schedule. It is not also very funny for people living in Pattaya to drive the bike to Bangkok and pick up it a few days later. Anyhow I was impressed by Your service shop in the old place. Everything was super clean and the mechanics seemed to be professional. I have many friends here in Pattaya with new BMW:s bought from You because of recommendation from me and I helped them when they have had problems with their bikes. Your service department at that time, was very friendly and helpful and you even took Your service car to bring spare parts to Pattaya together with two mechanics and had them assemble the parts here. GOOD SERVICE!!!
That is one reason why I am chocked to see Your dirty, untidy workshop in Your new place. The workshop full of partly dismantled bikes, with the engine or shaft drive parts just left on the dirty floor collecting dust (I have pictures), the working places not cleaned for weeks, coke cans and half eaten Thai food packages left together with the engine parts on the mc-lifts floors, mc-lifts that hadn’t been used for months etc.
Your workshop today looks like those thousands of other Thai style workshops all over Thailand, not like a serious, BMW authorized, workshop. Pls open Your eyes and go look in Your workshop. I am sure You will shame.
Anyhow, then I had a technical failure with my bike, which I couldn’t handle my self.
The reason was that the bike during a normal drive suddenly stopped and wouldn’t restart again. There was no mechanical noise before it stopped, there was no “stop and start again”, it just died. Since I do not have the necessary computer equipment at home in Thailand to check the electronics of this fuel injected engine I brought it to Your shop to have the bike in a computer test to find out what the problem was. This must have been late summer in 2009.
I thought that this would cost a maximum a few thousand Baht and I even stayed in Bangkok for the day so that I could pick up the bike when returning to Pattaya. That is 2 years ago.IF YOU HAD DONE WHAT I ORDERED, YOU WOULD HAVE FOUND OUT IN 5 MINUTES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE PULSE GENERATOR WAS BROKEN. IF YOU HAD DONE THAT IMMIDIATLY AS I ASKED FOR, I WOULD HAVE HAD THE BIKE WITH ME THE SAME DAY ON MY RETURN TO PATTAYA.
Actually you invoiced me one year later, on the 25.06.2010 Checking Set electronic 12 units a 65 Baht together 780 Baht. If You had done this when I brought the bike you would have found out that the pulse generator was broken and that why the engine didn’t start. That was what I had ordered.
Anyhow you did only charge for the Checking of the electronic on the 25.06.2010, but it was not done until one month later when you informed me by e-mail on the 31.7.2010 that the pulse generator was broken and must be replaced at a cost of 8445,51 Baht+Gaset ( You probably meant gasket) 730.81 Bht. You forgot to mention + VAT and assembly cost, but anyhow I accepted it because I was fed up with Your non existent service, Your total lack of not only BMW knowledge,but also any motorcycle knowledge. Just give my bike back!!! Pulse generator had to be ordered from Germany.
{b}But there was plenty of “strange things” before that.{/b} When I left the bike in 2009, expecting a one hour work and a bill of maybe 2.000, I asked You to {b}check the electronics and the fuel injection to find out why the bike doesn’t start.{/b} I was told yes, yes. I was even so hopeful that I returned the same afternoon before going back to Pattaya to see if the bike was ready. It was not, I was told that somebody will phone me when it is ready
Then nothing happened for a long time. When I contacted Barcelona myself a lady telephoned me back and told me that they have indentified the problem and it is the petrol filter. I told her that I do not believe her since I changed that myself in accordance with BMW:s instructions but if the bike works now then it is ok.
I also told her again to put the bike in the computer test to check the fuel injection and electronics. She said yes.
A few days later she telephoned me and told me that the reason why the bike doesn’t start is that the gasoline filter is blocked. She also told me that they have to put a new battery because I forgot to deliver it with the bike
On the 29th of June I replied by e-mail and told You that I don’t believe the problem is the gasoline filter and I told that you that that I have the battery here in Pattaya, charging it separately, as You are supposed to do.
I think she sent me an e-mail on the 6th of July in which she told me that “her” mechanic had checked the filter and it must be changed because the bike hasn’t been used for a long time. I didn’t want to argue with her but it is impossible to see from the outside if the filter has to be changed, since it is a solid metal package. Also the reason “the bike hasn’t been used for a long time is in principle valid. But the reason for that was Barcelona’s slow and long “service” time. Also I know by now, that Gasohol is not good for the BMW:s if you don’t drive for a long time. On the other hand BMW says that Gasohol is OK and doesn’t mention anything about that you cannot keep Gasohol in the tank for a long time. So please discuss with BMW about the truth with Gasohol and BMW:s.
About the battery I was told another story. I was told that You already had to change the battery because you had to start the engine. This was a big lie because later I found out that you didn’t have the battery in stock so you have to order it from Germany and it will take three weeks. Anyhow I was told that you have started the engine and you have checked the electronics, injection, you have changed the oil and oil filter, you have changed the fluid in the ABS system etc. How can You do all this without a battery and without starting the engine. The oil must be hot to be changed, the electronics/injection cannot be checked without starting the engine and a battery etc. Somebody told me big lies.
Another thing I must take up is the price of the battery. You charged 260 Baht to change the battery. For the battery You charged 3.661,00 Baht. All together almost 4.200 Baht+7Baht sales tax. I can buy exactly the same battery (FB made in Japan) here in Pattaya for 1.000 Baht, and at that price the workshop picks up the bike at my home, assemble the battery, charge it for 6 hours and brings back the bike.
How stupid do You think Your customers are? Do You think that if they are stupid enough to buy a BMW from Barcelona/BMW they are also so stupid that they will pay 4 times as much for exactly the same battery, only to have it assembled in the dirty workshop at Barcelona after waiting 3 weeks (actually I waited one year).UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Then You started an odyssey of non essential “services”. Pls note that at this stage you hadn’t even started the engine. You didn’t even asked me if I wanted the “service”. Yes I know now that you have sent me some strange invoices on excel which I have not been able to open because you send them in such large mode that they cannot be opened in hotmail. Later I had a computer guru open them for me by transforming the size of the files..
You performed oil change, oil filter, coolant change, new brake fluids, new grips spark plugs etc. Everything was lies and I NEVER HAVE ORDERED THESE “SERVICES”. I ONLY ASKED YOU TO FIND OUT WHY THE BIKE DOESN’T START”
This behavior on Your behalf is very close to criminal, in Europe it would be criminal for sure.
Then I didn’t hear from You for a long time. Any time I phone I got funny explanations. I was told that by changing the gasoline filter the bike works. That was a lie.
I am not sure when I got information that the petrol pump must be changed. Actually I think that You never informed me about. Anyhow I know for sure that the petrol pump worked when I left it to You for checking the electronics.
Anyhow I was again informed by You that now it will work when You get the petrol pump from Germany. Then I got a new message one month later on the 31.7 that the Pulse Generator is broken and must be ordered from Germany, as mentioned above. I was so fed up with You so I accepted it.
Nobody tried to explain for me how it was possible that simultaneously the bike, that suddenly stopped in the middle of a ride, can get three different fouls, first the diagnosis was the petrol filter and by changing that the bike works. The next diagnosis was that the petrol pump is broken and by changing that the bike will work. And now I got the last diagnosis, the Pulse generator is broken and I am quite sure that this was the correct diagnosis, it was only made 1 ½ year to late. Your lack of competence is UNBELIEVABLE!!!
But do You think that the farce was over now? No.
Since I didn’t hear anything from you for a long time I contacted You in at the end of 2010 to ask if You have got the pulse generator? The answer was Yes. Does the bike work now? Then I was told that You can start the bike now but there is a mechanical problem inside the engine. I later telephoned the mechanic and he put his telephone close to the engine and told me to listen myself. I shouted to him in the telephone STOP THE ENGINE! First of all You cannot figure out by telephone if there is some mechanical noise. Secondly you should not rev the engine if it has a mechanical problem. I told him that I will come to Bangkok to see for my self.
So now I got the fourth diagnosis and if You use a little logical thinking it is obvious that a bike that suddenly stops doesn’t ends up with }FOUR DIFFERENT FAULTS.
So I came to Bangkok , it must have been in the end of 2010. I telephoned Barcelona in advance to take care that the battery is charged and the bike can be started. But when I arrived I was only presented with a approx 80.000 Baht invoice and the bike still didn’t start. Even the battery was flat and an old one.And now they even say that the engine must be opened for mechanical problems!!!
{b}I got furious. After more than 1 ½ years waiting You cannot still start the bike and you present me with an invoice of 80.000 Baht and You want to give me back the bike in much, much worse condition than it was when I left it!!!
Pls put Your hand on your heart and tell me “well done”?
It was also at this occasion that I got the chock how untidy, dirty Your new workshop was when I walked in the middle of broken BMW:s with the parts kept on the floor…I am sure that is against Your contract with BMW
And my impression didn’t get any better when I asked to see the parts You had “changed “. One of Your mechanics gave me a plastic bag from my bike’s handle bar. I looked in the bag for a while and some parts maybe was from a 650 BMW but when I found some parts from a shaft drive I had to tell the mechanic that this bag is not from my bike. He quickly took the bag and disappeared with it for 15 minutes. He then came back with an “updated” version now with 650 parts. But from which bike?. The petrol filter had some cracks from the outside, where they came from: The plastic fittings on the petrol pump was broken, the filter connected to the petrol pump was like a stone etc. I got a very bad impression of all this but I can understand that it is difficult to keep control of all the old parts lying in chaos on the floor collecting dust in Your “professional workshop”.
I left Your shop, telling Your mechanic to do nothing but taking away all the parts You had fitted and asked him to have some “big boss” telephone me.
But nothing happened and again I had to telephone and this time I asked for the managing director. Anyhow I never reached him but I talked a few time with his secretary, who spoke fluent English. She promised that the managing director will telephone me back. This never happened.
So now we are here. During the process I have got ill (not because of You) and will never be able to drive my BMW. I also have lost a few hundred thousands Baht on depreciation of the bike’s value, I spent 28 hours collecting material to this letter, I have talked with lawyers , I have read the Thai Consumer protection Act,
B.E. 2522 (1979)
BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ, REX.,
Given on the 30th day of April B.E 2522;
Being the 34th Year of the Present Reign.
But one thing is for sure and that is that I want justice. I have talked with a lawyer here in Pattaya and he will be more than happy to help me. I am also quite active on some motorcycle Web sites here in Thailand, but up to now I haven’t told my story. As I told You I also have good contacts with BMW since my days as a BMW dealer. So now it is up to You. Do You want to clear this matter AS A GENTLEMAN IN A FAIR WAY OR DO YOU PREFER TO DO IT THE “HARD WAY”?
I MUST SAY THAT I WAS QUITE AMUSED TO READ YOUR ADD ON INTERNET:
“Barcelona Group provides full range service for BMW motorcycle by our team who has been trained and tested according to German Standard, with special skills in electronics and problem analysis by computer system or Group Test 1 (GT1) together with over 8,000 part items in stock in order to increase speed of service. At present, Barcelona Group has the service capacity throughout the country as for 3 branches located in Vipavadi, Chiangmai, and Phuket.
BMW Motorcycle has been designed to meet customer's needs in capacity, safety and comfort and controlled by electronics system including capacity set adjustment and GT1 facilities to support the advanced technology of new BMW motorcycle. Therefore, Barcelona Group has served BMW Motorrad Online Service System or MOSS which enables smooth and fast flow of service and higher efficiency for our customers.”
I AM QUITE CONVINCED THAT ALSO YOU ADMIT THAT THESE ARE ONLY EMPTY WORDS OR, AS THE GERMANS SAY:
“VIELE SPRECHEN ABER NICHTS”
YOU CAN CONTACT ME ON E-MAIL OR BY TELEPHONE 089 2500 635.
In few days I will send a copy to Khun Kamolchart Pravitra at BMW Thailand and to the German head office to have an investigation started there also. Hopefully You contact me quickly this time so we can avoid further problems.
Best Rgds Bengt Haikola
