Contacting BME Engines
 

Any body know what is up with BME engines, I tried all day long to get in contact with them. I called several times and left messages 3 times.

Ernie

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

I called the other day and spoke with them for a few minutes. . I seem to get an answer about as often as I do when I call the "Other" engine companies.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Maybe they were out flying today, I called several times and couldn't get an answer. They also never returned my call. I also emailed them.

I put in my Sukhoi this weekend and need to talk to them about repairing my engine (BME 105).

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

I don't know how many emails I have sent them......and never an answer..........I am about ready to give up on Keith even though I am a big fan of his engines......customer service is starting to go out the window.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

I too have called BME and left messages with no luck or reply.

I also called Chief Hobbies since their magazine adds say "in stock" and they refused to take my order. They said they cannot get BME to call them back and are coming to the conclusion that this motor will never happen. They said they have 100 engines on order and to date after three months they have only received one. He took my name and number and said he would call if things ever changed. It can't be good when the dealer who orders 100 engines cannot get a phone call returned.

Next I called Don's hobbies. They where willing to take my order but said they doubted I would have one prior to the spring flying season. The lady said that Keith has been sick for 3 weeks and that's why the back log exists. If true I hope Keith is doing better, but I think there is more to the back log than that.

This motor looks like the best in it's class and I am giving Keith the benefit of the doubt. Prior to the 110 people had nothing but good things to say about BME and after BME gets over the hump I'll bet things return to good customer service. He can only hope there are still customers left to serve. Obviously this product has been to sucessful.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

What good is a product when there is no customer support for it? I was looking at the BME 110 Extreme for my next project in the beginning with all it's "inflated hype" and now I have second thoughts. I have noticed a more negative tone with posts after the release of the engine. From what I hear, BME is having trouble with just the day to day stuff with running a business and is in reclusion. Kinda makes sense with these current posts. Who knows....all I know, is that without customer support (questions, repair, and warranty issues) it doesn't matter how good the actual product is, it is not everything. Customers and manufacturers have to look at the big picture.

Kris, what "other" engine company are you talking about? Can't speak for any others, but when I call Desert Aircraft (pretty often) I get through. I understand they had staffing issues in the past, but now they have a 2-3 R/C pilots in their sales staff that answer phones full-time. Maybe the "other" engine company can follow their lead. Just my observation.....

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

I have the same problem with BME.
I ordered 2pcs 110 xtreme´s in March 2003, the plane for the first one is ready since June 2003.
I hoped to be the leader of the pack here in Germany with this engine but...
After the first contacts in March and one reply in June i never got an answer to my emails, faxes or phone calls.

My decision to order was made because I heard that Keith had good Service, not only good engines.
(I cant get this "had" out of my mind...)

Ralfster

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

One of the great things about these forums is the immunity of the "Bully Pulpit" that is full of disgruntled people who just love to slather criticism without seeing the big picture, or accepting responsibility for their mistakes. When the BME XTreme110 was first announced I sent Keith full payment for 2 engines, told him to deposit the checks, and waited. I KNEW it would be a while, but I had confidence in BME and the product. I now have my 2 110's, and a 102 modified to a 106X, and just sent payment for another Xtreme. I'm not particularly worried about when the engine will get here, but I know that it WILL get here.

The MISTAKE a lot of people in this hobby make is expecting things to go perfectly, no matter if it's with their own equipment, flying conditions, or a company or vendor. As has been proven time and again with other companies, the product is NEVER finished on time (How long did you ALL wait for the DA100 and 50???. . oh, and WHERE or WHERE is the 75???), the product many times is not as good as it is promoted as being (3W. .are you listening?????), and then I often see inane mistakes made by a modeler that result in blame-mongering toward the manufacturer.

I think it's time a lot of us grew up and accepted that many times thigns do NOT happen WHEN we want them to, to the degree we wished, and sitting around kvetching about it does nothing but make matters worse in most cases. Many times these forums remind me of a caffe-klatch, full of old women complaining about bad marriages for their daughters, and this thread has already descended to that level.

Someone stated that the folks at Don's Hobby said that Keith had been sick lately. Coming from Don's Hobby, I'd take that as an accurate statement because they are a very reputable business. If that is the case, I'd SUGGEST that you take your business to the next vendor on your short list of acceptable (PERFECT!!!. . yeah. . right) businesses you deal with. What you will get, though, is a product that is much heavier, less powerful, yet still costs the same. If, however, you are determined to have a BME engine, I'd SUGGEST sending Keith payment for it (knowing it might be a while), and accept the fact that it might not be on your doorstep yesterday. If you send a check, it will be deposited when the engine is shipped, and not beforehand.

BME has the capacity to build about 15-20 110's a week, and a like number of 50's or other engines. They are working off a 500 person backlog, repairing damaged engines, AND trying to talk on the phone. . . I've handled the phone for them once. . it took a LOT of time, 4-6 hours in only one day alone. Maybe, just maybe, they can't talk on the phone AND build engines at the same time . .Maybe, as Don's Hobby intimated, Keith is not quite 100% right now, so being all cheery and the "perfect" business everyone demands is just not possible . .and maybe, just maybe, no one realizes just how tough it really is to do this sort of thing for 10 years straight, put up with the constant complaints and whining, problems and shortcomings, and still smile at people on a daily basis.

This little Kaffe-Klatch is over.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Not as long as every one is waiting on the Xtreme! As well Dave has never ask to have the DA100 returned either!! As far as the 75 goes, it was never advertsed was it? This is your way of defending BME, with a post like this? If I were Keith and saw posts like this, I'd ask you to keep your big mouth shut as your not helping BME at all!!

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

As a matter of fact, Doug, DA announced 2 YEARS ago that they were developing a 75.

As for "Defending" BME. . I'm not. I'm expressing my disgust that grown men act in such a predictably childish manner. The complaints and "wah wah" tactics have become almost boring in their repetitiveness.

I fully expected a response like yours. . .so glad you proved your own predictability. And I, personally, don't give it any credence.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Hey guys, I didn't mean to start a war, I was just a little impatient in getting a response from them. I tried again this morning and got right though. I belive I talked to Keith (I am not sure, he never gave his name) and he was real helpful. I live in Florida and we fly all year, I just wanted to get a plane back in the air as soon as possible. I don't own multiple planes and don't like being with out one flying.

Thanks for all of the input.

P.S. He said the reason I couldn't get anyone yesterday is because he was out. I guess it is a small operation, I know one thing though, I really liked the way my BME engine ran, before I crashed it (actually the radio crashed it, but that is another story).

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

No war going on Ernie. .just a few differences of opinion is all.

Glad you got hold of BME. I'm sure they will take good care of your engine for you. :D

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Hey, I too finally got a hold of Keith today. He was very nice, but definitely has learned from his mistakes and won't give an estimated shipping date. He said he is making progress on the back order list, down to about 220 motors left plus the dealer orders. I told him I had one ordered through Don's and he said he is planning on shipping two a week to each dealer. Finally progress, I hope the wait is worth it. Obviously things are slowly getting better.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

I would like to see the advertisements for the DA-75. Preferrably from an official source. I would also like to know how many orders DA has taken for the 75. Maybe a release date.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Why do you want to see that Ryan, are you looking to get a 75cc airplane?

Jess

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

I think a 75cc size plane would be fun to have, but I'm more interested in claims being proven than anything else.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Roger.

Jess

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Does anyone know the latest hold up on the BME's? There has to be something, if he is not making any shipping dates. I last heard there was a problem getting ignitions. Maybe a call to CH Ignitions would help get an understanding on that situation. Does anyone know?

As far as the DA75, I would also love to see it available. To my knowledge, I have never seen, in any form, print from Desert Aircraft about that engine. I too have talked about things I have wanted to do for the last couple of years, but haven't got to fulfilling them. I imagine we all have similar stories. Doesn't mean it won't ever happen though. Let's all hope the DA75 comes out someday.

Let's also hope, the person talking about the "childish behavior," realizes his posts are a perfect example of such. :D

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Hi Guys,

In the 3 years that I have been running BME engines, I have never not been able to get a hold of Keith. I have received excellent service. My 102 ran great and my 105 ran great. I put my name on the list for the 110 a long time ago. I was somewhere between 400 and 500 on the waiting list for the 110. I called him three months ago and he told me that I was number 75 on the list. He said they were being held up because their crank case supplier was re-tooling. I called him two weeks ago and he checked the list and said that they would be building my engine next week and that I would be getting it the week after that. This is the week after that and my BME 110 arrived today!!!!!!!! I also received my new postal scale today and the first thing I did was take the BME 110 out of the box and weigh it. It weighed 3 lbs. 15.6 oz. It should fit nicely in my Composite ARF 2.6. See all the guys at the Northwest IMAC contests this spring and summer.

Big Bob

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Since FlyFalcons wants to stir the pot some more (a seeming fascination with a lot of people). . . .

DA announced, after they finally got the 100 on the market (and a lot of people had basically lost their minds for over a year waiting for the 100), that they were going to be doing a 50, and then a 75, single. I got this in conversations with the reps there, including DaveJ himself, and it was plastered all over the Net and Forum lists from a lot of people who got the same information from DA. They were also seriously discussing a 200 4-cylinder and 300 4-cylinder, and people, for a long time, were conjecturing what a 200cc 4-cylinder would be like in a plane. Then Chip Hyde comes to the TOC with a 200cc motor and kicks butt . .but where is the 200?? We've seen the "prototype" in action. .that was 18 months or so ago.

It took 18 months from the time the 100 came out for the 50's to start shipping from DA .. They announced a 75 was in the works, and we've seen a 200 4-banger. . Let's flip this around and all start questioning DA's "promises" FlyFalcons. It seems you are have a bad case of "selective Memory" concerning this subject, and the fact that DA, too, has stated intentions for engines that have been in the works for an awfully long time.

Now, did BME overstep themselves a bit? Yup, they sure did, we all agree on that. To continually lambast them for it is ridiculous, though. "Things" happen, even with the larger companies in this hobby. Even 3W still has problems they do not address properly.

And, as Bob pointed out, the naysayers are wrong .. .again. . . about BME putting engines out the door.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Well well well....if thats not the kettle calling the pot black!!


You Think!:eek:

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

Maybe a call to CH Ignitions would help get an understanding on that situation.

CH was never the problem, that has been well established long ago.

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

If you can get an engine with out an ignition, give us @ CH a call we have ignitions for 110 on the shelf

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

How many of you ardent fans/ detractors, have ever had a small mfgr business?
(Terry -you are excluded)
The reasons for missing delivery forcasts are simply too many to number.
I am not waiting for an engine -but that's besides the point.
I am always interested in new engines -and how they perform - after they are in the marketplace.
Speaking of which-Early on -- I heard a few stunning commentaries the new 52 being sold by Brison.
So far the in the field, comments portray it to be a fine engine comparable with other engines of it's size -
Did anyone find it to be a strong as the 80's - in actual hands on comparisons, as claimed early on?
Anyone?
or is it speculation-----------

RE: Contacting BME Engines
 

So I guess "talk" is now considered an official launch of an engine... interesting. I don't see DA advertising, or taking orders on engines that don't exist. A flying prototype doesn't necessarily mean that a production version is on the way. In fact, when I talked to DA in November, they said the production of a 75cc engine had not been decided on yet. I guess if you read it on the internet then it must be true.