Short Version: After years of loving this place, 2012 has been so bad I can't imagine going back.
AMENDMENT: Max made the trip from Portsmouth to Blue Hill, Maine to get the bike and make things right. I've been told the leaks are all set now, and they got it back in just a couple of days. I've bumped the review up another star, and while it was a bummer missing all this riding time I do plan on sticking with them.
All The Details:
I've been a Max BWM customer since I believe 2007. I live in the Boston area so I started off trying to get my bike serviced locally before finally sending it to this place up in New Hampshire I kept hearing so many good things about. I've sent my bike there for routine scheduled work as well as sudden breakdowns and everyone was always at the top of their game up until this year.
This year when I had major issues with the front brakes, I sent the bike up to Max to have the front hydraulics repaired as well as routine pad and rotor replacement done on the rear brakes which had no problems. It was over six weeks, June into August, from when I sent the bike up to when it made it back. This was uncharacteristically long given my past experience, but the bike went up in late June and there were some parts issues which were out of their hands. In addition, they recommended third party parts which did save me money over the stock BMW options. Luckily enough I was out of town for a lot of the wait too, so even six weeks and over a thousand bucks later I was still telling everyone 'no, no these guys are great' when they asked how I put up with my bike being gone for so long.
After only getting a few chances to ride in August due to weather I noticed that the rear brakes were now leaking a significant amount of fluid when the bike sat still for even a few hours. I tried to find a leak myself, and the guys helped over the phone offering suggestions for something I could check, but nothing on my end stopped the leak and I ended up having to send the bike back again. They were able to come pick it up again on September 22nd while it sat there leaking in the meantime.
So at this point I had missed almost all of the season, mostly waiting for Max to either pick up my bike, order parts for my bike, or actually get my bike on a stand to have the work done. I'd paid over a grand to send in a bike with working back brakes and faulty front brakes, and received a bike with working front brakes and faulty back brakes. I'll cover the rest in bullet points:
*After one week of hearing nothing back, I called the service department asking what the status of the work was and left a message when no one answered. This was on a Friday.
*The following Thursday, still having heard nothing, I left another message. (In my experience it's very rare to not hear from the shop within 24 hours)
*The next day, still having heard nothing. I called again. I got a little more determined this time and eventually had to leave two messages and call both the parts and sales departments asking to speak to anyone who could tell me anything. I finally got a voicemail back which told me my bike 'should be going on the stand early next week'.
*The next morning (Saturday) I get a call from service, and I'm assured that they "can't imagine how they'd missed it the first time" but it's actually a leaking drive seal which is going to cost me another $450.
I tried to politely explain that the leak wouldn't have been noticeable before the first round of work because it wasn't there. It's a very visible leak, the back brakes were fine, and after the shop opened them up is when stuff started spilling out. The service department manager just repeated exactly what he'd said the first time like I'd said nothing.
At this point I felt completely ignored and taken advantage of. I'd already been charged, my calls hadn't been returned over a period of weeks, and I was being treated like a complete moron when I tried to explain what was basic and obvious.
I understand people can't just throw repairs around for free, and that the summer is peak riding season. But even assuming that the new problem was my complete, very coincidental, bad luck, that still leaves a shop that ignores you when you call, takes your money, takes your bike again, and then starts ignoring you even more. If you call enough, they'll suddenly have time to quote you immediately.
I know one other person who's had similar experiences with this shop. When they're good, they're great. When they slip, the start giving you the dodge, making up excuses, and still expect you to pony up.
I did for a long time. Part of me still wants to because I just want my bike fixed, but the part of my brain that learns lessons won't let me go back. All it sees is a machine that eats money, gives back broken bikes, and avoids its own customers. read more