Ripped off?

Vix took her K6 SVS to Fowlers for its 4000 mile service, and came home with an invoice for £211.90 which quoted major service, replacement of spark plugs, oil & filter and sundries.

The service schedule indciates that plugs are not necessary until 7,500 miles. Bike was on 4,300 miles and will be a year old at the end of May.

She's going back on Saturday to test ride a couple of bikes, do you feel that unnecessary labour and parts were used?

Does anyone have a recent 4000mile service invoice fromanother main dealer that they would be prepared to scan and send me as a comparitor (you can blank out any personal info of course).

Ta.

Originally Posted by Xan173

Vix took her K6 SVS to Fowlers for its 4000 mile service, and came home with an invoice for £211.90 which quoted major service, replacement of spark plugs, oil & filter and sundries.

The service schedule indciates that plugs are not necessary until 7,500 miles. Bike was on 4,300 miles and will be a year old at the end of May.

She's going back on Saturday to test ride a couple of bikes, do you feel that unnecessary labour and parts were used?

Does anyone have a recent 4000mile service invoice fromanother main dealer that they would be prepared to scan and send me as a comparitor (you can blank out any personal info of course).

Ta.

I don't actually know because I do all my own servicing, but servicing and what should be done is not always dependent on mileage alone. It is time also. If the bike has only done a thousand miles over a year then everything that is listed on the yearly service should be completed and not lets say a 4000 mile service.

It could well be that the plugs are listed on the yearly service but not on the 4000 mile service. See what I mean

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Xan173

Vix took her K6 SVS to Fowlers for its 4000 mile service, and came home with an invoice for £211.90 which quoted major service, replacement of spark plugs, oil & filter and sundries.

The service schedule indciates that plugs are not necessary until 7,500 miles. Bike was on 4,300 miles and will be a year old at the end of May.

She's going back on Saturday to test ride a couple of bikes, do you feel that unnecessary labour and parts were used?

Does anyone have a recent 4000mile service invoice fromanother main dealer that they would be prepared to scan and send me as a comparitor (you can blank out any personal info of course).

Ta.

Just so happens mine was in for its 4k service @ Infinity, Clapham (so Central London (ish))

Cost £139.50.

Service was whatever they do (I assume another "check all the bolts", adjust everything back to spec so that the owner thinks we did stuff (my clutch is just about back to how I like it).

Parts used list was 1 x Oil Filter, however many liters of Engine Oil, and the bit that MAY have been un-neccesary, a new air filter (have been told by good sources that the chances of an SV needind a new filter at 4k is slim to none, to give them the benefit of the doubt I assume that some of the muck that I had to clean off the bike after my off got into the filter.

£140 is the figure I went in expecting to pay for a 4k service - its a figure I had heard before.

David

I thought the Fowlers had a set fee system (major £179) see here..

http://www.fowlers.co.uk/service/service_menu.html

I had a 25,000 mile service recently, which coverered oil, oil filter, air filter, plugs, new bulb in tail and a general lube and check over (3hrs labour) for £160 (Thunderoad).

I could try to get you a copy of the receipt and workshop schedule if it would help, but not for tommorrow. Sorry.

It's worth a compliant in the shop in front of other customers.

My 4k service was quoted at £160.

I took the bike in, left, came back to pick it up... That'll be £97 please Mr. Robertson.

Erm, OK

[fizzwheel]

Just as an aside, Liz has taken her bike in for services and they've not changed the plugs because they didnt need changing. But this wasnt at fowlers.

I'm wandering if as Bigape has said they changed them due a time period elapsing rather than a milleage period.

TBH £211 does seem a bit steep for a 4K service I would have though it would have been around the £160 ish mark.

If the bike has only done a thousand miles over a year then everything that is listed on the yearly service should be completed


Dont agree with that at all!!! sorry but that is probably the best way to waste money. why would an engine need an oil filter cange or oil change after only 1000 miles. it wont!

Yes after a year certain things of the anual service will need doing such as the lubing and greasing of joints etc, as over the course of the year things will naturally dty out regardless of millage.

but i stand by my point that there is no need to change things such as filters and plugs a long time before the mileage required for change has been met.

As for the service schedual i am sure there are downloadable PDF's on this forum detailing all that is done at each service.

IMO invest in a maint CD ROM and a haynes manual, do the majority of servicing yourself, as on the SV its easy. just get the valve clearances done properly.

As a final point Fowlups are probably the bigest rip off bike dealer in the sout hwest. used them once, un impressed with the price, never again!!

[rictus01]

You'll have to forgive me because I haven't used a dealer in a very long time, but one thing struck me, no one has mentioned something I'd do if I ever did ?

when you drop off the bike, agree with the dealer what work is to be done, what it's expected to cost (written quote) and a contact number in case anything else is found, no unauthorised work to be carried out.

Seems clear to me, that way you either agree to additional work or at least know what needs doing after they finish.

I would also add, they do have an obligation to do thing to the manufacturers standard in order to maintain there authorised make statues, so if it says in the book change oil every year or 4000 miles and you only have 100 miles on a year old bike, then they don't have a choice, they have to change it or risk loosing the affiliation, however if you book the bike in for spesific (sp?) work and no "4000 mile service" they won't know how old the oil is and it's upto you to say whether you want it changed or not.

My Point, if you don't specify, you'll get what's on the book, price, well it could always be something unforseen, but should be listed and agreed.

Cheers Mark.

[mattSV]

Originally Posted by neio79

If the bike has only done a thousand miles over a year then everything that is listed on the yearly service should be completed


Dont agree with that at all!!! sorry but that is probably the best way to waste money. why would an engine need an oil filter cange or oil change after only 1000 miles. it wont!

Yes after a year certain things of the anual service will need doing such as the lubing and greasing of joints etc, as over the course of the year things will naturally dty out regardless of millage.

but i stand by my point that there is no need to change things such as filters and plugs a long time before the mileage required for change has been met.

As for the service schedual i am sure there are downloadable PDF's on this forum detailing all that is done at each service.

IMO invest in a maint CD ROM and a haynes manual, do the majority of servicing yourself, as on the SV its easy. just get the valve clearances done properly.

As a final point Fowlups are probably the bigest rip off bike dealer in the sout hwest. used them once, un impressed with the price, never again!!

Just click the link:-

http://www.sv650.org/sv_manuals.htm

[Viney]

Oil will deterioate(sp?) over time not just use, mine just disapears with use!!

Also, if the bike is warrantied, then it will have to be serviced according to the schedlue to maintain the warranty.

£211 is steep, but then, who much is thier labout charge. This varies an imense amount around the country. I think i paid about £112 for a 4k service, but that was 46000 miles ago! I now change the oil and filter on my bike every 5kish, clean the plugs, bang the air filter out every now and again, and just check and do things as needed.