HD Dealership repair

[rider7]

I recently (Friday 13, January 2012) had abnormal sounds and blue smoke out of the tailpipes of my 2007 Nightster and took it in to B.S. HD in Phoenix (I will use initials not full names).


The service person G. told me that it would cost me $414 to diagnose the problem (could later be applied to cost of repair). He then gave me free ride home in one of his service vans.


I received a call about a week later from J. at B.S. HD, and I was informed that the problem was not confined to the top end, but probably the bottom end because he found metal fragments in the oil.


I asked him how much to repair, and it was my understanding that it would be about $2225. I said I found several '07 motors on ebay same year as mine for about $2220.


I went in to B.S. HD in Phoenix a few days later and spoke to the sales manager M., and saw a VROD I liked for about $9000.


Then D.J., the service manager offered to buy my 07 nightster for $1000.


The salesmanager M. had talked to the service department and he told me that it would cost between $3500 to $4000 (parts and labor to repair the bike - out the door total repair cost).


I felt this was too much to pay for a repair, but didn't buy the VROD for $9000 because I balked at the fact they would not dismiss the $414 diagnostic fee and he would only be paying me $1000 for my '07 Nightster with less than 5000 miles on it.


I said no, I will not buy the VROD for $9000 because D.J. said that I must still pay the $414 service charge (diagnostic).


J. told me that it would now cost me $1700 diagnostic fee to check the bottom end and determine the total cost of the repairs needed.


I agreed to let him go ahead with the diagnostic.


A week later J. informed me that total cost of parts to repair the bike is $2700, plus the $1700 labor.


The total cost out the door to rebuild the motor would now be 2700 + 1700 = $4400, plus taxes about $4700 out the door.


This is a true story, and the facts are true.


I appreciate any opinions about this from members of this forum.


Thank you.

[arthureld]

Your story isn't hard for me to believe

I got shit from people on this site for using the dealer for non warranty work.

Since then I found an independant guy I like.

A good place to find out about independant mechanics is ABATE or other bikers rights groups in your area.
If you find a good mechanic you will get a better job for less money.

[junior]

dealer pricing is pretty standard all over. parts are what parts are, then labor is simply a multiplier of flat rate hours by shop rate. shop rates are usually between 75-110 per hour. all that being said, and me not knowing what the actual r/o said they were gonna do, it is entirely within the realm of reason that service work that had them pulling the top end and splitting the cases would easily be in that range- if not more.

i do the majority of my own work. in some instances i have to use an outside source where for me buying the tooling/equipment to do an operation is either too expensive or it is not available to me. at those times i have a friend who has a reputable independent shop and he gets my business.

HOWEVER

choosing to use a dealer (again, a reputable one. as with anything, there are good and bad) is not a horrible thing. we're talking about a sporty, so chances are you don't go too far out of your immediate are on rides. if something happens to an indy dealer's work, you can tow it back to him for warranty. if you go with a dealer for the work, there is a better chance of getting some help if the work done at your dealer craps out in teaneck new jersey.

so, back to this. is he ripping you off? again, not knowing exactly the scope of work hard to say, but likely he is within the realms of what the repair at their place should be. you can maybe save 20% or so for the same work at an independent shop. it won't be night and day, cuz mr. indy also has a mortgage, insurance and mouths to feed too. who is better? dunno. ask around. either way you are obligated to the dealer for the time they spent to find out what is wrong- that is only right. in closing, my thoughts are that them not waiving this charge on such a lowball offer on a trade ventures into the realm of cheezyness.....dunno if this is just sales, or the whole enchilada..

j (no relation to the j above)

[Wide]

Shit happens, like the others posted


Personally I feel HArly Davidson is a piece of shit company as its run today. Still back in the stone ages from soup to nuts.

They should have much much better warranty, 5 years on the stock powertrain MIN!! Anf more covered under warranty items and less off the "old School" dealers that made such bad impressions of people.
As a parts manufacturer I put a lifetime original owners warranty on my stuff ass does my top competitors. I'm just a small guy immagine what HD could do?

I been in this industry since 1974 and seen it evolve and HD is left FAR behind.

If they want to be on top they need to act like a 1 st class company and trendsetter. Not a commercial for Viagra...

Sorry for the Rant, I love HD and just want them to do the right thing, Rat basturds LOL

[junior]

the problem is that the demographic has changed. old grey beards like you and i that get on a bike and get off 3000 miles away are dwindling. the moco has changed it's image to reflect a botique style offering. the reason why their warranties are so lame is answered in your own daily classifieds- 2004 softail, only 1900 miles. always garaged, yada yada. the reason why the warranty is so minimal is because if they offered a 5/50 power train they'd still be warranting 95% of the bikes they sold in the past few years. no one hardly rides them, so they can get away with it. sad, but true i think....

j

[Wide]

Excuse me I shaved off my grey beard LOL

Now all the scares are seen and I remember each accident

[Horse]

Interesting thread. About 7 years ago I switched from local indy shop(s) to having work, I preferred not to do my self, to my local HD dealership.
Since that time only one mechanic works on my bike, Bennett at Destination HD. Yes I may pay a little more but when you find a competent mechanic
stay with him.

[junior]

as an other side note, the best customer service i ever received was from a dealership in tonawanda, new york. these guys not only resolved the issue quickly and correctly, they also discounted their parts and labor due to a false diagnosis from another source. i was traveling, and the owner himself stopped what he was doing drove me to a hotel for the night (he was loading his flat trackers and headed for indianapolis at the time). he also arranged for someone to get me in the am.

so, like horse's experience above, there are dealers who can do the job right. ask around and do what is right for you.

j

[arthureld]

Yea, I guess it all depends on who you are comfortable with.

I used to assume that I could count on the dealer to do the best job period. And I have had plenty of good work done by dealers.

But my current dealer sends a lot of work out to independent guys. This dealer doesn't have a dyno.
When I found the independent shop that does all of the dyno work for the dealer and found out he is highly recommended for building Harley motors, I just started going to the independent mechanic.
And I have been very happy with his work and prices. He did my current 107 ci build.

I didn't mean to say all dealer's are crap.

[wreckerman]

being a x dealer mechanic myself, for over 30 years , I can see why you are upset but as junior stated, the cost of parts is what it is
there are times when the dealer will use more parts then a independent shop, but a lot of that6 is because he has to warranty his work,
and if he took any short cuts it might come back to bite him in the ass, all that being said it sounds like the trade in was a low figure
and if he was a decent dealer and you where to trade the bike in on the v-rod, he should wave the diagnostic fee, as for finding a good independent
shop they are getting fewer and fewer each year, my shop at home was dead for the last 2 months , but just starting this week,
I am now back logged for the next 3 week !!with bikes to service, I have a base customer list of about 50 folks
and that is just about more work then I want to do, I am retired and just want to ride my own bike! if you find a good shop,
treat them as good as you want to be treated !! it all comes back !!