Has Anyone Found A Shop That Provides Competent Bmw Motorcycle Service Here In Thailand?

Apr 21, 2015
12
5
3
Bang Lamung
I've read through a number of related threads on this site regarding BMW Motorcycle service. At this date most of the posts that I have read are older describing a poor first hand experience or hearsay of a poor experience. Maybe that is still the situation here in Thailand. I have a 2008 BMW R1200GS Adventure and am considering having it serviced by a BMW Motorrad dealer or maybe an independent shop such as Motorrad Cave - TART Motorrad Lampang (Motorrad Cave - TART Motorrad Lampang). Here are some questions:
  • Does anyone have a positive experience to tell?
  • Has anyone found a competent shop that can work on BMW motorcycles?
  • Has anyone found a truly competent, trained, and experienced BMW motorcycle Mechanic?
  • Has anyone found a shop that actually stocks a service kit or parts in general?

Just looking for some competency. Anywhere. On anything. Just a little.
 
Apr 2, 2008
331
78
63
Phuket
www.bmwoverlander.com
The TART Motorrad Cave in Lampang is managed by excellent English speaking Khun Jay. This is the branch of TART Motorrad from Nonthaburi.

It has been established by best aircraft mechanic in Thailand, widely regarded as the best motorcycle mechanic of any brand in entire country.

Motorrad Cave / Tart Motorrad, Lampang: 18.204384, 99.3896012

Contact Jay directly at 093-2952495

17017065_1314373781955795_7585051810686511016_o.jpg


16836556_1314373791955794_2871581870851090731_o.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 16836556_1314373791955794_2871581870851090731_o.jpg
    16836556_1314373791955794_2871581870851090731_o.jpg
    185.7 KB · Views: 225
  • Like
Reactions: brian_bkk
Apr 2, 2008
331
78
63
Phuket
www.bmwoverlander.com
  • Does anyone have a positive experience to tell?
  • Has anyone found a competent shop that can work on BMW motorcycles?
  • Has anyone found a truly competent, trained, and experienced BMW motorcycle Mechanic?
  • Has anyone found a shop that actually stocks a service kit or parts in general?

To answer your other questions.

1. I do have negative and positive experience but so far the good things outweigh the bad ones. BMW services and dealerships in Thailand are quite a snobs. If you are long time client who keeps upgrading BMW bikes every few years and buys lots of stuff from them, they treat you super. I have witnessed awful treatment given to new BMW owners, quite amazed by such attitude. But one service center is by far the worst of any kind in Thailand: Barcelona Motor, Chiang Mai. The level of incompetence, lack of interest in helping clients not to mention generally awful attitude and quite simply dumbest staff you can find anywhere. Stay away from them, they will actually ruin your bike.

2. Since Barcelona Motor disbanded in Phuket and Siam Motorrad took over, things have dramatically improved. I used to ride with current owner and the general manager way before they ever thought of even opening Siam Motorrad. Very happy with customer service, no complaints at all. I hear MF Motorrad in Samut Sakhon is good too, in fact best selling branch in entire country. Must be reason for that. Did few basic services and adjustments with them, no problem. But I did deal direct with the owner though. When he isn't around, which is not quite often, staff is not up to par, just like anywhere else in Thailand.

3. I do have a mechanic here in Phuket, he's been working on my bikes for past 6 years. There was no issue he could not handle, including complex electronics wiring. Trained in Europe but hardly speaks any English. He quit BMW and work on his own these days.

4. BMW Motorrad Thailand is the main stockist for parts and they redistribute them as per requests from individual service centers. Most of the time they do have a parts, these days they improved dramatically because of huge BMW bike sales within last 2 years. Only older models like yours could be affected so they have to order direct from Germany. Individual service centers are poorly stocked, only basic stuff.
 
Apr 21, 2015
12
5
3
Bang Lamung
Goran,

Thank you for your expeditious response. Do you have any experience with Motorrad Cave / Tart Motorrad, Lampang?

I like the photo. Who are the folks in it?

Thanks!
 
Apr 2, 2008
331
78
63
Phuket
www.bmwoverlander.com
Goran,

Thank you for your expeditious response. Do you have any experience with Motorrad Cave / Tart Motorrad, Lampang?

I like the photo. Who are the folks in it?

Thanks!

Yes positive experience with them, was there just last month. Had a gear sensor problem, they fixed it in 5 minutes and even refused to charge me. Then they even took me out for a dinner, great folks.

Pictured owners Jay and his super pretty wife Eirene. Both uni graduates and speaking excellent English.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brian_bkk
Apr 2, 2008
331
78
63
Phuket
www.bmwoverlander.com
And here are the details for best BMW Mechanic in Thailand I mentioned in first reply:

TART Motorrad BMW Service Station
Tha Sai, Mueang Nonthaburi District, Nonthaburi 11000
Phone: 095 597 4917
GPS: 13.869743, 100.510430
MAP: goo.gl/dbkBhU

Owner is Mr. Art, most reputable aircraft and motorcycle mechanic in entire country.

14448961_648852765283916_2840534473999402913_n.jpg


11760270_471376066364921_291863154472480804_n.jpg


11703163_467547983414396_1713030758821181493_n.jpg


 

Attachments

  • 14448961_648852765283916_2840534473999402913_n.jpg
    14448961_648852765283916_2840534473999402913_n.jpg
    132.1 KB · Views: 271
  • 11760270_471376066364921_291863154472480804_n.jpg
    11760270_471376066364921_291863154472480804_n.jpg
    96.3 KB · Views: 187
Last edited:
May 25, 2006
771
22
18
70
HuaHin
I've read through a number of related threads on this site regarding BMW Motorcycle service. At this date most of the posts that I have read are older describing a poor first hand experience or hearsay of a poor experience. Maybe that is still the situation here in Thailand. I have a 2008 BMW R1200GS Adventure and am considering having it serviced by a BMW Motorrad dealer or maybe an independent shop such as Motorrad Cave - TART Motorrad Lampang (Motorrad Cave - TART Motorrad Lampang). Here are some questions:
  • Does anyone have a positive experience to tell?
  • Has anyone found a competent shop that can work on BMW motorcycles?
  • Has anyone found a truly competent, trained, and experienced BMW motorcycle Mechanic?
  • Has anyone found a shop that actually stocks a service kit or parts in general?

Just looking for some competency. Anywhere. On anything. Just a little.
Hi Friends,

With no hesitation, I will go to MF Motorad in Samut Sakhon. I use to maintain my BMW 1200 GSA 2009 there and I am very happy from their service. They don't overcharge. Kind people, effective and competent.

Keep the Power On !
 

bradmeister

Ol'Timer
Subscribed
Mar 7, 2017
78
33
18
61
Bangkok
www.bdsperformance.co.th
I've read through a number of related threads on this site regarding BMW Motorcycle service. At this date most of the posts that I have read are older describing a poor first hand experience or hearsay of a poor experience. Maybe that is still the situation here in Thailand. I have a 2008 BMW R1200GS Adventure and am considering having it serviced by a BMW Motorrad dealer or maybe an independent shop such as Motorrad Cave - TART Motorrad Lampang (Motorrad Cave - TART Motorrad Lampang). Here are some questions:
  • Does anyone have a positive experience to tell?
  • Has anyone found a competent shop that can work on BMW motorcycles?
  • Has anyone found a truly competent, trained, and experienced BMW motorcycle Mechanic?
  • Has anyone found a shop that actually stocks a service kit or parts in general?

Just looking for some competency. Anywhere. On anything. Just a little.
M1,
Greetings and Salutations.

If its related to Suspension or Drivetrain, we can help. We raced and tested many BMW models over the last 20 years.

We understand your conundrum. It's difficult finding BMW mechanics who care and actually use the prescribed prevenative maintenance checklist. We know, as we have several On Road and Off raod BMW customers who are now, our clients.

We have brought this same issue up with several BMW dealerships in the greater Bangkok area. We have actually seen the training programs and yes, they do have training but I would guess that something gets lost in the translation from German to Thai Language.
Probably the same way you and I lose something from english to Thai.
If you would prefer someone who has Beemer experience in the international Market,. we have had excellent experience with Khun Petch at BMW German Auto in The Bang Na area not far from Central.

Let him know that Brad at BDS Performance sent you. Krub.
Best of Luck and enjoy that great machine!
 
Jun 24, 2011
19
6
3
To answer your other questions.

1. I do have negative and positive experience but so far the good things outweigh the bad ones. BMW services and dealerships in Thailand are quite a snobs. If you are long time client who keeps upgrading BMW bikes every few years and buys lots of stuff from them, they treat you super. I have witnessed awful treatment given to new BMW owners, quite amazed by such attitude. But one service center is by far the worst of any kind in Thailand: Barcelona Motor, Chiang Mai. The level of incompetence, lack of interest in helping clients not to mention generally awful attitude and quite simply dumbest staff you can find anywhere. Stay away from them, they will actually ruin your bike.

2. Since Barcelona Motor disbanded in Phuket and Siam Motorrad took over, things have dramatically improved. I used to ride with current owner and the general manager way before they ever thought of even opening Siam Motorrad. Very happy with customer service, no complaints at all. I hear MF Motorrad in Samut Sakhon is good too, in fact best selling branch in entire country. Must be reason for that. Did few basic services and adjustments with them, no problem. But I did deal direct with the owner though. When he isn't around, which is not quite often, staff is not up to par, just like anywhere else in Thailand.

3. I do have a mechanic here in Phuket, he's been working on my bikes for past 6 years. There was no issue he could not handle, including complex electronics wiring. Trained in Europe but hardly speaks any English. He quit BMW and work on his own these days.

4. BMW Motorrad Thailand is the main stockist for parts and they redistribute them as per requests from individual service centers. Most of the time they do have a parts, these days they improved dramatically because of huge BMW bike sales within last 2 years. Only older models like yours could be affected so they have to order direct from Germany. Individual service centers are poorly stocked, only basic stuff.

Hi Goran - any chance you can provide the contact details of the experienced bmw mechanic in phuket you mentioned in point 3?

I’ve been using Siam Motorrad who as you say are much better than Barcelona were, but the experienced mechanic (don’t know his name but he was with Barcelona for years before moving to siam) has left them and they seem to have a bunch of young boys in the workshop there now - i did ask where he’d gone but not surprisingly they wouldn’t say, just “left phuket to go live with wife”......maybe he’s actually your guy?

Anyway I’d like an alternative, and my bikes out of warranty so interested in finding somewhere good who doesn’t charge like a wounded bull.

Cheers. Mike.
 
Jun 24, 2011
19
6
3
He's been fired quite some time ago.
I still use his services though.

Call him at 0890447663
Keep in mind his English is very poor.

Thx I’ll get the missus to give him a call. Is it the guy who used to work at Siam? And left ~ a year ago?
 

bradmeister

Ol'Timer
Subscribed
Mar 7, 2017
78
33
18
61
Bangkok
www.bdsperformance.co.th
Update October 7, 2017

As we continue to serve the BMW market for suspension service, and recently (no miraculously) was able to have Ohlins find parts for a 14 year old GS1000..... front and rear shock( Thank you Ohlins Asia) ....

We were contacted by the capable and competent independant shop called : Boxer Bike who services only BMWs for the past 7 years or so... F, K and R bikes.

They are located in Bangkok, in the Lad Prao area and have a website: www.boxerbikeshop.com

Good Travels and enjoy.

Cheers
 
  • Like
Reactions: DavidFL