BMW Motorrad’s Dealership Network And Warranty Compared To Its Rivals

Do the additional benefits provided by BMW Motorrad make up for its premium pricing?

Having witnessed the launch of the BMW G 310 R and G 310 GS, we now have a clearer picture of their pricing. Although on the higher side, the pricing includes some additional benefits which may prove to be an advantage over the competition.

While we have compared both the G 310 R and G 310 GS against their competitors in terms of specs and features earlier, here we go a step further. We take a look at the strength of BMW Motorrad’s dealership network and its competitors, and the warranty benefits that come with each of these manufacturers.

BMW Motorrad -

At present, the BMW G 310 R and the G 310 GS will be sold and serviced through seven dealerships present in important Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Kochi. Two more upcoming dealerships in Chandigarh and Kolkata, which will also start accepting bookings of the motorcycles pretty soon, adds to the list and brings the total up to nine.

BMW Motorrad will offer three years, unlimited kilometres warranty on the G 310 and G 310 GS. Moreover, the company offers the benefit of roadside assistance free of cost for a year. And just in case this isn’t enough for you, BMW is also willing to extend the warranty for another two years along with roadside assistance for an additional fee. Sweet deal, we must say.

KTM -

The Austrian manufacturer in partnership with Bajaj already has a pretty strong foothold in the country, with around 119 dealerships spread across India. It also has the closest competitors to the BMW siblings. The company provides a 24-month (2 years) or 30,000km manufacturer’s warranty on its products, which earlier had the option to be extended for another 24 months. Furthermore, KTM will charge extra for roadside assistance even during the standard warranty period, something which BMW is now offering free of charge.

TVS -

TVS Motor, who will be manufacturing the G 310 R and G 310 GS for BMW, also borrows the German’s engine platform, frame and suspension for its RR 310. Although, compared to the German firm, TVS has a strong network of 50 dealerships across India which cater to the RR 310. Much like BMW, the Indian manufacturer offers roadside assistance free of cost, however, only for the first two years out of the five-year warranty it provides. Also worth mentioning is that TVS only covers its vehicles for 60,000km, which may run out before the five-year term is over, in contrast to BMW’s 3-year and unlimited kilometres warranty.

Kawasaki -

Kawasaki, another competitor for the Bavarian brand, has 30 dealerships spread across the country. With their newly launched app, Kawasaki owners can keep track of their service history, schedule service appointments and locate service camps held by the Japanese manufacturer's mobile vans. The Versys-X 300 will be the toughest competitor to the BMW G 310 GS as it falls in the same price range but offers a lot more in terms of equipment.

Benelli -

The Italian brand is also one of the competitors for the German manufacturer, although we won’t be listing down its dealership network as the brand is undergoing an ownership transition at the moment. You can read all about it here. While the brand previously boasted one of the highest number of dealerships for a big bike manufacturer, it is fair to assume that most Benelli dealerships will continue to operate under the new management.

All things considered, even though BMW has priced the G 310 R and the G 310 GS at Rs 2.99 lakh and Rs 3.49 lakh respectively - which is quite expensive - it has managed to offer a lot more in terms of after-sales service and peace of mind. Something you should consider before looking at any one of these bikes.