BMW Motorrad is based in Munich and not Berlin. Anyways, why does it matter where BMW keeps its service records? Things are indeed pretty tightly controlled by BMW Munich: but that's OK, it keeps the cowboys out.

What does happen is that the main electronic parts like the ECU's and the Instrument module are keyed to your serial number and you cannot swap parts from bike to bike yourself: you have to buy through the dealer/BMW. So that means if those fail it's a lot of $$$$. But that's the same for most modern cars now anyways. And you don't get these components failing very much, and if so, will likely fail whilst on warranty if it's on warranty if it's a manufacturing defect. If you have a big crash, then it's not that expensive to cover the bike with insurance.

But you can do about 99% of everything else yourself with a reasonable set of tools: and that includes a GS-911 and a multi-meter.

A GS-911 is not for just "resetting fault codes". You can read just about all the sensors on the bike, and record it real-time while the bike is running. So you can see if it's running OK. Do preventative maintenance. I have an HP2 Enduro, so my ABS faults are minimal (I don't have ABS...:-} but ABS is a very common issue on GS-s, and the GS-911 helps you trouble shoot these. Even if you don't pick up a wrench, you can see what's causing a problem and save the mechanic a few hours trying to find the issue (and save you $$$).

A BMW is a pretty simple bike: even the more recent ones. If you read the manual, have some tools and use common sense you can solve many issues yourself. The really complex stuff is too much hassle for the dealer to fix in any case: they'll just pull the part and put a new one in.

Yep, Munich Bavaria, but the 1200GS used to be put together, by gastarbeiten staff, in Berlin - I guess they are to this day (many an individual has made a visit to that factory, but not I as it happens).

No matter, the computer records will be backed up on servers all over the place in accord with the corporations' policies.

I don't know enough about logging parts to specific bikes but there are certainly a boat load of individuals in the UK offering BMW servicing, often as ex-technicians of the main dealers from the days when they were "released" (to employ a euphemism) and replaced with youths straight out of school at a quarter of the hourly pay rate - a sensible business decision for any main dealer accountant.

As for the GS-911 capability, I readily agree that I gave up typing far too early with my earlier description if only on the basis that there are earlier posts in here which extol the virtues.
Your last sentence is of passing interest: it is why I went to night school years ago to learn the innards of computer hardware - from there I learnt to build my own desktops which is, nowadays, a declining knowledge and interest with the rise and rise of tablets, mobile phones etc etc. That was in the days when there were computer "fairs" all over the country for purchasing components and a decent specification desktop cost north of 1000 UK pounds.
"chuck it and buy another, why bother repairing" is the mantra now with labour rates at around 50/hour.

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Dave