Cost of Spark Plugs

[Arbee]

The cost of spark plugs for my bikes

Yamaha XS 400 = $5
Yamaha YZF-R6 =$11

BMW R1100R =$18

Now considering that BMW dont even make the spark plug why do they charge almost double to my leading edge racetrack R6 bike??

[towerworker]

I went to my local Autozone auto parts store and bought the original equipment plugs. They had to order them but only took a couple of days. Paid approx $9 for the pair. I have an '03 r.

I think I paid a little over twice that a year ago from my BMW dealer for the last set.


Wayne

[TicTac50]

I did hear many times: "Support your local dealer", but when I see that the same spark plug sold at the local Autozone for $4.50 Vs my dealer's price $12.00 each, I think twice before I take wallet out. My tires come from South West Moto Tires @ $220.00 pair and I get them mounted and balanced somewhere else for $75.00 both Vs $190.00 at my dealer. I get my Oil and Filter from Amsoil and the rest of the parts come from Chicago BMW with 20% off. I like my local dealer, but not to that extend $$$$$$$.

[BoiseBeemer]

I like my local dealer, but not to that extend $$$$$$$.

See how you like him after he closes his doors. I don't need another cap or T-shirt, but I buy something like it every now and then when I visit the dealer--usually just to window-shop the expensive inventory he keeps on the floor. Ten (or twenty) extra dollars for a set of spark plugs isn't going to break the personal bank, and small-item sales are what keep a dealer in business. Customers certainly shouldn't be gouged as a penalty for their loyalty, but unlike the situation with the car parts chain store on the corner, those motorcycle customers are the only people walking into a dealership. He's not doing any volume on oil or tires, and reputable dealers don't charge more than they need to in order to return the level of profit that keeps them in business. It's a fine line, and I'm willing to give the dealer some leeway. Mine gave me a $1200 discount when I bought my Roadster, plus a 10% break on accessories and clothing for the next year. I'm going to chisel him for five bucks on oil?

My saddest experience in motorcycling was riding up to the service door of my local Suzuki dealer for a scheduled maintenance, only to find a "Closed/Out of Business" notice posted. Turns out they'd cut every price they could to the bone, but still couldn't compete with mail-order. Guess how much extra money it cost me (not to mention the inconvenience) to start arranging my bike services at the OTHER dealer 50 miles away.

Sure, I'd say an extra $100 for a tire change might start me thinking about alternatives, but not $20 for oil or spark plugs. Similarly, the $30-50/year that I might save using the middle grade of gasoline instead of premium hardly seems worth the risk to me (however insignificant the risk might be). In the grand scheme of a recreational activity that costs many thousands to get into in the first place, these are trivial expenses. We all make that decision based on our own personal economic comfort level, and that's okay. I just try to remind myself to weigh the values both ways when I choose to deprive my own dealer of an aftermarket sale because some volume discounter I don't have a vested interest in keeping alive is willing to undercut the dealer's price.

Just one motorcyclist's opinion. I certainly respect those whose perspectives differ.

[yjleesvrr]

I support local dealers as long as they seem genuinely interested in looking out for my needs, which they do. I tell you what - owning a motorcycle dealership is one of the last businesses I'd want to enter into. The margins are too thin, and the business is too seasonal. Most Japanese dealers counter this by selling ATVs during the hunting months, i.e. - the late fall and winter period.

But BMW doesn't sell ATVs, nor does it sell merchandise anywhere near the extent that Harley-Davidson does. So being a BMW dealer is a tough deal to take. So I don't care if I pay a few bucks extra, or even a hundred to a dealer whose mechanics I trust.

[NZPOM]

I like seeing my BMW dealer busy and I'm happy to recommend them. I am pleased to hear how many bikes they have sold. And it's a buzz listening to prospective buyers returning from test rides (generously offered, unlike other brands).

The convenience of being able to "borrow" any bike simply on a whim is worth a lot to me.

This is a relationship, which only survives if both parties work at it.

I want my dealer to be successful and am happy to support them.....within justifiable financial reasons.

I do expect them to make profit from me. But I don't want to feel abused.

Hey, sometimes they even advise me to buy elsewhere - how's that?

But if your local dealer doesn't want your business and/or wants too much of your money, then he deserves whatever he gets!

As for the price of spark-plugs - I'd say individual choice on where to buy.

[TicTac50]

BoiseBeemer
I perfectly understand you point and respect your loyalty and support for your local dealer. However, in my opinion, owning a BMW dealership is not a hobby, it is a business. In addition, since we have such a love for our BMW bikes, we develop some kind of so called “LOYALTY” to our dealers. We just have different limits of loyalty. My limit is 3 times the retail price of the spark plugs and yours is up to $100.00 saving on the tires. I think that BMW dealers have been enjoying our loyalty for a very long time. I will give you an example. While my bike was in the shop for 600 miles service, I was looking at the accessories in the BMW store, and found something that I like. The part was clearly marked $299.99 and I decided to buy it. When I got to the counter with the part in my hands, with the tag $299.99 attached to the part, my dealer started clicking on the computer and stated to me that someone made a mistake and the price of the part is $399.99 and not $299.99 as it was clearly marked. I did understand that it could have been a mistake and I asked the dealer to meet me half way. I was willing to pay for the part $350.00, but the dealer said: “no can do”. If this would have happened in Wal-Mart or Target, I bet you, 99.9% of the people would call for the manager and get that thing for $299.99, but I peacefully walked away without saying a word, and that is what I call a loyalty. Also at my first tire change, I brought new AVON tires to the shop, without even asking the price of the labor to mount the tires, I was turned away, since I did not buy the tires from BMW dealer, so I found the shop that was willing to do it, and for much less. Am I angry with my BMW dealer? Of course NOT. He is a very nice person and I have sent plenty of people to his shop. Does he need my 12 dollars spark plug business? I do not know. I do not pay his bills. I am not going to live in fear that my dealer will go out of business because I did not support him, same way I do not buy gas at the station of the corner of my block, for 45 cents per gallon more than COSTCO gas. I think that we all have our limits, preferences and standards the way we conduct our businesses. I hope that I did not offend anybody, nor did I intend to criticize anybody’s opinion.

I love BMW bikes, but if I have to live in fear, I will go HONDA!

[Arbee]

Someone asked me if BMW used platinum/iridium sparkplugs as standard and i was hoping they did then i could excuse them for such an unnnecessary high price for a spark plug, so i called them Southbank BMW the initial answer was "i am not sure" followed by no those are the really expensive ones 'GULP' and $18 is not expensive for a standard plug

Iridium spark plugs for my YZF-R6 are $22.... guess that says it all.

[towerworker]

TicTac50--

Well said!


I try as much as possible to support my local dealer in what ever I buy or need whether it be working on my home or my bike. I use the local hardware store for example instead of going to Walmart. (when I can)

But my local BMW dealer is not local. He's 2 hours away. I will buy whatever I can from them when I can.

My dealer also handles the BMW car line and Mercedes, I think the bikes are almost a hobby for them. BUT----they are good to me and always friendly. I have to head that way today on work related business--I plan on stopping by to visit the parts dept.

I do what I can when I can.

Wayne

[NHighCotton]

Personally I look for the lowest price for whatever item I'm wanting, I'm pretty stingy with my money to begin with.

I'll talk with and ask for a deal but, my dealer hasn't earned my loyality for me to pay an extra 25%-50%.
Perhaps if I were treated like one of his "$highrollers$" I would feel differently.

What was that I once heard in the showroom??? oh yeah, "if you can't afford the part prices, maybe you shouldn't have bought a BMW".