So, I did a quick search and got the numbers for BMW Motorrad, vs BMW cars, vs VW group and I've summarised them in a table below...
(now make sure you sit down before studying this table...)
Manufacturer | BMW Motorrad | BMW+Mini | VW+Audi+Seat+Skoda |
2012 vehicle sales (annual report) | 106,358 | 1,841,611 | 7,305,000 |
Volume factor | 1 | 17 | 69 |
Tool | GS-911blu | Bavarian Technic Enthusiast | VCDS (VAG-COM) |
Tool price | $349 | $287 | 349 |
VIN limit | 10 | 3 | unlimited |
Bluetooth | YES | No | No |
Mobile version | YES | No | No |
* Cost multiplier | - | $4,969 | $23,970 |
** Difference amortised as annual update fee at $49*** | - | 101 years | 489 years |
NOTES:
* Assuming we have the same market penetration, then this is what we would need to sell each GS-911 for, in order to make the same sales turnover as the comparative tool
** Assuming we keep the current sales price and make up the difference to sales turnover (to the comparative tool), at an annual fee of $49, then this is the amount of years of updates it would take to reach the same sales turnover
*** $49 is used as an example only, as it shows the "best case scenario" for amount of years (i.e. with a smaller fee the years would simply increase)
I hope this creates some perspective
I wonder if somebody really studied this table.
If Hexcode could sell the same number of diagnostic tools for BMW motorcycles compared to tools sold for cars, there would be no problem in offering free updates.
It also looks like nobody ever had a look at the pricing and update cost of other alternative BMW motorcycle diagnostic tools.
Compared to the competition, the GS-911 is a bargain.
@Stephan: maybe you could put some examples on the forum.
I bought a Bavarian Technic Pro tool in 2009 for my 2 BMW cars (an E93 and a F11). Price: 675 EUR ex 21% VAT.
If you read the site of BT, it all looks very promising.
Reality: bad support, nearly no updates and new functionality, very slow when resetting fault codes of all modules, the real-time values interface is a mess, coding is possible with the Pro version but is not documented at all, and a lot more I can comment about. But since there wasn't a more affordable tool on the market, I bought one and live with the limitations for the time being.
The latest beta release is from 7 june 2012. There hasn't been a new version since and no info about new versions coming.
And Durametric hasn't a support forum and e-mail list.
If I compare this with Hexcode, there's a world of difference. There have been problems with development and there were periods not much changed.
But the last years there have been a lot of improvements and new functionality to the product.
Support is excellent, both to distributors and end-users. There is a forum and mailing list, both monitored by Stephan and Kobus. Customers can give feedback and Hexcode listens to their customers.
And all this for a tool of $ 299. One maintenance visit to the BWM dealer costs more.
Over here, BMW dealers charge up to 50 EUR to readout a bike with the BMW diagnostics tool. I even know about a BMW dealer who charges his own technicians to use the BMW diagnostic tool to read-out there own bike in there own free time.
All of you who use a commercial anti-virus software on there PC, how much do you pay each year for an update? Do you discuss this with Norton or G-Data or F-Secure or whatever brand you use? Do you mail them updates should be free forever, since you paid for the original product?
It looks like many of you have no idea what support and development cost.
I'm a distributor of the GS-911 and also have an IT company. If I look at my margin and the free support I offer to GS-911 customers (including taking over there pc remotely and installing the software and even sometimes solving there pc problems if things don't work the way they should with the GS-911) compared to what I charge my IT customers for support, I would better stop selling GS-911's.
But since I'm a BMW enthousiastic and hate the monopoly of manufacturers like BMW on bike (and car) maintenance tools, I'll happily sell GS-911's.
Best,
Jos