I bought a 2001 BMW 650 GS from Rodney at the end of Jan with a buy back plan when I returned to UK on 11th March.I had various troubles with the bike in faraway places but at my expense & help from NZ's marvellous people always sorted it!
The rear number plate fell off & got jammed in the plastic rear wheel "spoiler".This was due to the brackets from the panniers rail being broken.Something we both overlooked.A temporary fix was not good enough so Blundells? lawnmower shop in Queenstown welded new stronger brackets to the pannier--this involved stripping the tank plastics to remove the battery which was nearly dry of acid!!! to protect the electrics.They were great & let me loose in their workshop for over half a day using all their tools.
Previously only 2 days out from a pre delivery "service" a rear chain tensioner came loose & bent the bolt.I had to search for a new one but could only get an allen bolt not a BMW torque type.I then had to buy a set of allen keys to add to the tool kit.
In Rawene on a Saturday the clutch needed adjustment & I discovered the cable fraying at the lever nipple.Auckland BMW would get one to me in 4 days!!The local garage by the ferry & I made up a cable but he charged me $130.
The aluminium pannier covers came loose BUT half way round the Coromondel the bike started to run weakly & kept stalling!!I rode 60kms to the KTM dealer at Thames & we rang BMW Auckland who would wait for me to arrive.They diagnosed a split in the inlet rubber manifold & they had never seen this before NOR were there any spares in NZ.After much persuasion they robbed one off a repair bike.The air filter was clogged & this was deemed the cause of the trouble from A so called serviced Bike from Canterbury Rides!!??I'd had to ride 140kms to Auckland then 140ks back to Thames & in their wisdom BMW Auckland charged me $573.80.
To add to my misery because it was after 8 o-clock the only bed I could find cost me $130
The BMW would have been the ideal bike for me & the repairs cost me $920 in total plus about 3 days of my holiday.
Strangely none of these things upset me as much as the cheque I received at home which was to have been $7000NZ.We shook hands on the deal But when the money finally arrived in UK Rodney had only sent $6750!!!!
Many of the faults were due to poor servicing some of which I could not see (empty battery,split manifold)
AllI want is my $250 dollars which I was promised & I will be happy.
I was due to buy another bike from Canterbury rides next Jan but now will probably rent .
Can anyone suggest how to get my money back?

A lot of tourists get robbed by dealers in NZ, you've got to be careful... I was talking to a guy a while ago who got sold a car with faulty brakes. The dealer then tried to sting him for the repair bill and took his car off him three weeks while it was being fixed. This is actually illegal if the person that sold you your car is LMVD (licensed motor vehicle dealer)....

It's not exactly clear from your post what the relationship between Rodney and Canterbury Rides is. Is Rodney the place where you bought the bike or the man you bought the bike from? Is he a recognized employee of Canterbury Rides?

Under NZ consumer protection law a registered motor vehicle dealer cannot sell you a dud bike. But if you bought the bike from a private individual you don't have any rights at all. Is the man Rodney or the place Rodney a registered motor vehicle dealer? If so you can make a complaint.

Do some homework on the complaints procedure here

You need to be more clear about exactly what happened and when though. Construct your argument clearly and specificity dates and amounts etc. I know you're upset but your post reads like a bit of a rant and it's hard to follow exactly what happened, and which characters were involved.

Write a letter to BMW NZ about it too.

I'm really sorry that you had a bad experience in NZ. It upsets me that my fellow countrymen have ripped you off.

All the best. Let us know how you get on..

Mark

Jane and Mark - Russian Traverse 2007

Rodney Faulkner is the "Company Director" Sole BMW dealer in South Island.I got on very well with him until this!
Will try BMW NZ

Does anyone know this please?I keep getting the car site!Thanks.

Here ya go

Cheers Scott

BMW Motorrad New Zealand

Kiwi rider it just sends you round in circles.I want to complain to BMW NZ not to a dealer.Is there an address for BMW NZ to which I can send a letter?I really need help from NZ here please.
Thanks

Hi mate, I have a friend who works for a BMW dealer, so I will send him an email tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Nigel in NZ

__________________
The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with . -- 2200 BC Egyptian inscription

We should have a list drawn up of dealers, shops etc that have tried or actually ripped any of our members off and avoid using them, and let them know so, possibly if we all stick together we could hopefully make them realise we are onto them! I'd quite happily walk into a rogue dealer on the pretense of making a large purchase and the at the last moment say "hang-on, your the dealer that ripped off a HU member over such and such" then tell him to shove the 'deal' where the sun don't shine.

__________________
'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

BMW New Zealand Ltd

Mailing Address:

BMW New Zealand Ltd
P O Box 9510
Newmarket 1149
Auckland

Physical Address
BMW New Zealand Ltd
7 Pacific Rse
Mt Wellington
Auckland

Phone 0-9-573-6999
Facsimile 0-9-573-0923
Website BMW New Zealand

Good luck...

Thanks to all.Sent an air mail letter today to BMW NZ.I will keep you posted.I intend coming again to NZ late Jan to early March what shall I do this time for a bike? & where Shall I get one?
Do I rent or buy?

If you do decide to buy, the most popular NZ auction site is trademe. That should give you an idea of market prices. If you're willing to drop a grand or so, you could buy at a high price and sell for a low price to speed things up. You don't want to spend 2 weeks buying and another 2 weeks selling if you're only here for six weeks.

Also you could buy before you get here from the auction site... There's always a risk its a lemon though.

Not sure about renting... Never done it before.

Cheers

Hi,

The address for BMW New Zealand is

7 Pacific Rise
Mount Wellington
Auckland
New Zealand. Phone (NZ) 09 5736999

I have just phoned and confirmed that they are the BMW agents for NZ, not a dealer or middle man. They quote a web site BMW New Zealand but this is just for general info on products.

Good luck with your follow-up.

BErnard

I have had 2 emails from John Glasswell at BMW NZ---he is looking in to the matter for me. I will keep you all posted.
Thanks for all your help.

It appears that on the 28th March the exchange rate moved one tenth & with my UK excessive bank charges I lost $250NZ or £100GB So Rodney at Canterbury rides did pay me what we agreed! I have emailed him & apologised.
John Graswell at BMW NZ sorted it out.
If there is a next time I will take a cheque home with me or ask for NZ cash & open an account in NZ.
I will also buy a much newer bike still in warranty so I do not have to rely on the good faith of a Dealer when miles away from his shop or on the other Island.I assume BMW guarantee works the same in NZ as it does in UK?They transport your bike to the nearest BMW shop for repairs.
Thanks to all for your concern & help & hope someone may learn from my experiences & not make the same mistakes!