| Author | Message | ||
     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. | ||
| Bpt |
First, what caused the failure? Did they ever tell you? Second, call H-D customer service and complain. With the bike so new and few miles I would expect them to help even if you are out of warranty. | ||
| Greg_e |
You probably should have bought the used motor and put it in by yourself. | ||
| Ourdee |
Some things never change. | ||
| Ironhead1977 |
1700 diagnostic fee, You need to name,names so no one else walks into the crooks doors. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Seems to me paid were offered and paid full retail for a full retail experience. They made you a low offer on the Nightster, and you refused it, fair's fair. The diagnostic fee sounds kinda goofy, but I guess you can't expect someone to completely tear down a motor for free. If they are applying it to the total repair, you should just look at the total cost of repair. $4700 for total rebuild is really expensive, but seems in line with everything else I see in a Harley dealership (which seems overpriced). The one really big beef here is a motor that needs a new bottom end in 5k miles. That's not even the second oil change. Unless there is evidence of abuse or stupidity on behalf of the owner, that seems like the kind of thing that Harley ought to be taking some ownership over. | ||
| Bartimus |
Sounds like Chandler HD on the east side. They are real back stab stabbers! 5000 miles, and it's making noise? I would tell the shop to put your bike back together and go and pick it up. PM me, I know a former "authorized" trained Harley/Buell tech that used to work at a stealership on the west side. He can figure out what's wrong at a reasonable price, and he won't try to sell you another bike in the process. At 5000 miles there should be no serious issues with your bike... | ||
| Guell |
so if there was an engine for 2200 bucks, and they wanted a 1700 dollar diagnostic fee then why did you ok that? While it is sad that a dealer would charge that kind of fee, its tough to feel bad since they told you up front and you ok'd it. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
 You can buy an decent or even nice XB, or two tubers for that amount of money!!! Unless your bike is a total luxury item (as in you have a lot of disposable income), or your only form of transport (as in cost isn't much of a factor compared to cost of not having transport at all) I would have run away, fast. My 2000 Cyclone needed a top end rebuild about four years ago, sucked a screw into the front cylinder. For a new head, rings and seals front and back, and new cams as stockers were showing what they called excessive wear (I still question having done that part of the job) I paid about $1700. $4700 is too much to fix a 5000 mile motor. Nothing should go that badly in that few miles unless you drained it and rode the bike with no oil. HD Co. is probably not going to want to help as profits are way down from a few years ago but it really smacks of a manufacturing problem. |
