Søren Mexico wrote:

Wings: Your: the problem is that the repair shops dont have technicians able to do these repairs. I, as a hobbyist, can use hours to replicate a part that 30 years ago cost 50 cents, and I know how to do it. On the electronic side a person like Martin can find solutions, but only because he has the know how and the experience needed. Together Martin and I have 80 years experience 😁.

Your approach to your problem is IMO wrong. Somewhere in Hong Kong there are someone who can repair your item, its just a question of finding him. Getting mad at the people and B&O is not a solution, instead ask them if they know someone who can help you, or if they know someone who may know someone. The way I know Hong Kong, anything and everything is possible.

Of course you can find other new products, even better ones, but it will still, NOT be B&O

Well said that man! I could not agree more.

I told the OP how to repair his Beogram many moons ago, but he did not want to pay, or thought my suggestion was too much grief or similar.

B&O or their service agents will not repair ancient audio/video items, as they no longer have the spares and/or the personnel capable of fitting them. The OP is in the age of the hobbyist/professional repairer and should get used to the idea.

Somewhere in Hong Kong or an adjacent large country is a guy, like me, beavering away doing the very jobs that B&O won't or can't do. It is a matter of finding him.

Yes, Graham, I believe you did offer advice.  It was at that stage that I realized I was not capable of handling the work or did not trust myself to do this type of work and resorted to the B&O service center. 

In my mind, it is a matter of reconnecting the wires of the replacement part to the existing wires of the main body of the beogram. I am not asking the local service center to manufacture a new part.  Soren suggests finding someone but B&O has not recommended anyone.  None of the other local (i.e., Hong Kong area) Beoworld members have posted any suggestions.  Should I take a chance with a total stranger and hand over my precious beogram?

Please keep in mind that the PRC did not start its economic development until the 1980s.  I think only recently has B&O become established on the Mainland.  Additionally, I do not know when B&O was established in Hong Kong.  However, the "disposable economy" is still very much the practice in this region:  dispose of the old item and buy new, even if there is nothing functonally wrong with the old item  -- just old age.  Hence, I do not expect a lot of expertise or passion for old items such as that possessed by members like Soren or Martin.

Thanks.

Wings wrote:

Yes, Graham, I believe you did offer advice.  It was at that stage that I realized I was not capable of handling the work or did not trust myself to do this type of work and resorted to the B&O service center. 

In my mind, it is a matter of reconnecting the wires of the replacement part to the existing wires of the main body of the beogram. I am not asking the local service center to manufacture a new part.  Soren suggests finding someone but B&O has not recommended anyone.  None of the other local (i.e., Hong Kong area) Beoworld members have posted any suggestions.  Should I take a chance with a total stranger and hand over my precious beogram?

Please keep in mind that the PRC did not start its economic development until the 1980s.  I think only recently has B&O become established on the Mainland.  Additionally, I do not know when B&O was established in Hong Kong.  However, the "disposable economy" is still very much the practice in this region:  dispose of the old item and buy new, even if there is nothing functonally wrong with the old item  -- just old age.  Hence, I do not expect a lot of expertise or passion for old items such as that possessed by members like Soren or Martin.

Thanks.

It baffles me why you should hold the B&O service centre in such esteem? The old fashioned service engineers, with real knowledge, are a relic from the past, unfortunately.

Nowadays, the service centres are generally manned by young, partially educated individuals, who are merely fitters of electronic modules, supplied in a suitcase, with instructions provided from a so called service manual.

If the spare part is not available from the suitcase, they are lost.

Forget B&O service, they will be no help to you and they will not be able to recommend anybody.

What you need is a mechanical/electronics engineer with experience of simple electromechanical devices.

There must be thousands of suitably qualified individuals in Hong Kong, who could undertake the simple task of re fitting the moving parts of a Beogram 7000. After all, disabled as I am, I can still take one to pieces and completely rebuild it, in a different carcase,in an hour or two, so it cannot be that difficult!!!

The guy who works on my M-Class Mercedes won't touch the engine, transmission, or electronics on my 80s SL Mercedes, and vice versa.  A whole lot of stuff is the same, but the differences are deal breakers.  I respect them both.  

I do partially agree with you, demand is very limited for older products, but B&O are proud of the long lifetime of their products. I must admit that I have had both success and failures from some dealers. A few years ago, my beocenter 2200 (I had at the time) packed in and I was charged for inspection, only to be told that parts were no longer available and obsolete. I collected the beocenter and tried another dealer, who told me that parts could be found, but not financially worth replacing. In the end, I was able to source a replacement I/O for the beocenter and get the parts fitted here in my workshop. Surprisingly not at a bank-breaking price, like I had been led to believe. Not impressed at all with that experience.  However, it is not all bad news.  I have found the vast majority of authorised service engineers very helpful. If they are unable to repair an item, they always offer alternative advice.  My very last e-mail helped me to diagnose the fault, and give me a good idea of where to source spare parts.  Sadly, I live too far from a B&O centre to just pop in with my equipment, so I rely on my own experience of refitting classic B&O.  If I get stuck I know which engineers to contact plus the forum.  

 Stocking old parts may not be the best financial option for B&O, but good old fashioned service, had rarely been a problem for this company, and the better dealers.  

I'm interested to know how we're all defining vintage products. I can't even get a quote out of my local dealer to replace the keypad on my Beo5!

It's getting to the stage where it's going to end up on eBay as 'needs attention' 😭

It really is not a drama.  If the workshop has that attitude, they probably cannot fix it, because they are not experienced enough.  All you have to do is double box the item, so it can be used as a football if need be (with no damage incurred) and send it to a member on here to fix.  Why would you waste time with idiots that are not interested in helping you?  Just insure the parcel for $1000 US, and if it disappears, you can buy a mint one when it comes up on ebay.  Very easy!  I have never had a parcel arrive with B&O fragile gear from Europe to Australia turn up damaged once.  Not rocker science.....  The service center in Australia is excellent, but they still cannot repair some vintage items, due to lack of parts, that members on here can access and install/fix.  Pick it up, box it and send it (yesterday).  Then you'll be happy again.  🙂

True, there is a fine line between whether an older B&O is worth repairing and the cost to actually do so. I have found that in quite a few cases, it has been more viable to not carry out a repair, but to salvage for spare parts. 

Recently I've had 2 Beocord VX7000s in, both repairable, but one not in good cosmetic condition. Same with HDR (a relatively newer product) but in most cases, the cost of repair out ways the value of the machine.  DVD1 is my main annoyance, as much as I like this player, there are serious issues with the number I get in for repair. Unless in immaculate condition, a simple repair isn't cost effective. So it's not just older B&O that don't always get repaired.  

 I struggle to understand the minority that will spend so much on beo's but not look after them well. Maybe that's another discussion altogether.