S2R Warranty Claim

I don't know if anyone else has had this particular problem, but I would welcome advice as to the best way to get it sorted.

I was cleaning the bike about 3 weeks ago and spotted that I'd lost most of the paint off a small front cover, and that there was a big chip in the paint just below the joint on what I think is called the sump casing. The engine casings are both fine btw.

The bike's a year old has done about 3000 miles with almost no winter use.

I went down to Riders where I bought the bike and showed Duncan the service manager. His first response was

"Ducati aren't very helpful with cosmetic warranty claims."

On seeing the Louigimoto sticker, his second was "anyway, you've invalidated the warranty by having work carried out by a non Ducati Workshop".

He did agree to phone Ducati to arrage for an assessor to come and inspect the bike, but as of this afternoon, the official response is that my warranty is no longer valid.

The damage is shown on the attached photo.

Any advice as to the best way to get this sorted?

Hmm, interesting one. I noticed paint peeling from the edge of the same cover a couple of weeks ago. At the moment it is just on the edge but I expect it to spread. It has done 4000 miles now. My bike is booked into Riders of Bristol for it's annual service on the 31st so will be interested to see what they make of it. I intend for it to be rectified under warranty. I don't see how another dealer can have invalidated the warranty.
There was some big hoo haa over this issue some years back relating to the car trade and I suppose it also relates to the bike trade too. The issue surrounded servicing by non-franchised garages. The manufacturer cannot refuse to honour the warranty if the servicing has been carried out in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations, irrespective of who did the work. The way that some car makers got around it was to offer a two year warranty and extend it by one year if the service record was all dealer network.
I also think that unless the other dealer touched the area in question, why would the warranty be invalid. I have tail chopped mine so would expect Ducati to refuse the warranty if I have issues with the area that I have cut, but issues such as engine or brakes should stil be covered as my reckless actions could not have affected those areas.

Where is the Louigimoto sticker, in the logbook?

If its just on the bike, that doesn't prove they did any work... I had a shell sticker on mine, but shell have never worked on the bike!

If the sticker is on the bike and not the logbook, and you didn't admit to taking the bike elsewhere then I can't see how they can void the warranty.

Good Luck D.

sticker on the bike from another dealer.doesnt mean **** all........dont take that BS from Riders.....(bunch of tossers IMO),thats non of his business and he knows it,just his way of getting out of doing something about it

[singletrack]

As long as Louigi Moto haven't touched the sump cover it should make no difference. I would take issue with them about it. It IS covered by warranty, and Ducati should honour it.

I would send the photo to Ducati UK directly and ask them to sort it out with the dealer. If they are stating the Warranty is now invalid, then ask if they mind if you get the local trading standards involved.

This is not a mechanical issue so nothing to do with who has serviced the bike. Also I would make a complaint to Riders, I would expect far better from them. After all you bought the bike from them. Phil Jessop is the owner of Riders so go to the top if they fail to listen and progress.

Unfortunetly this tends to be where dealers fall down on after sales. They seem to forget that one day you may buy again, or pass on comments of how you have been dealt with. Read comments about Ducati Aylesbury. I have not heard much good about its after sales.

i also had paint peeling off of what i think is the 2 cam covers , took my bike back to my supplying dealer ( cmw in chichester) they had 2 in stock and changed them under warranty while i waited . they said it was a common problem.

[Nonnie]

I had my footrest hangers and clutch cover done when the bike was OUT of warranty. Ducati DO realise there is a problem here. I would just bypass the dealer and get straight onto Ducati UK. Sadbiker is right there.

[NattyBoy]

Take no notice - I agree - riders service dept are probably the most unhelpful/cant be arsed bunch of dealer people ive ever met (I speak from experience).

On the contrary, DUK are very reasonable on this type of thing. At theend of the day, its an inspection cover which lists at only £30 or so..so i'd be confident. Not sure of the marks you refer to on the sump ??

Good luck

Nat

Its a shame about Riders as on one hand Bristol seem to be trying to promote Ducati and local Monsters and then this, Yes a £30 item and hopefully 10 minutes to swap it, but they seem not to want to spend the time simply filling in the Warranty claim forms and making a happy customer. Maybe they need to get some Ducati Customer Training from Italy.

Thanks for all the advice, I have a call in to Ducati's area after sales manager, so we'll see what happens next.

The cam cover is not so much the worry as the paint coming off the sump.

Nat, this photo is a bit clearer. It's the darker area with the straight line across the top. This just shows the paint which has chipped off, most of the paint in this area is loose.

Must say I agree with those saying go straight to Ducati. Following my recent problem with a failed chain that marked the swing arm & hugger, Veloce recommended that I should talk to Ducati, some photos and email into Ducati had it sorted in no time.

Incidently, I would recommend taking it to a friendlier dealer. Veloce (Norwich) had mine in for 2 weeks, lent me a 999 for the first week, a multistrada for the second week while they waited for parts to come in. They didn't even supply my bike from new.

Ducati Warranty paid for a new swingarm, new hugger, and because they couldn't get replacement standard chain and sprockets - supplied a Ducati Performance (goldie lookin) chain, and alloy Ducati performance rear sprocket

Now I have my baby back

I will say when riders of bristol got the Gen C&S set wrong for CORS M620 (they supplied a 600 set which was 4 links 2 short), I was sorted out by Bridgwater as had other things ordered by them. Due to the time it was taking to get the replacement chain, they ended up ordering a chain from a supplier and one of the sales guys even dropped it off at our house. (he lived local) . To our surprise instead of the standard DID O'ring, it was the X-ring gold. It seems to be hit and miss for some people with Riders which is such as shame as some of the service I have had from them over the years has been so spot on. But this seems to be the case with all main dealers. Some people will swear blind by their dealer and others hate their guts.

This is a common problem with Ducati's I am afraid. The finish on the engine/crank/sump casings is terrible. My 2 year old (6000 mile) S4R has paint peeling off the crank cases and in all honesty it is spoiling the bike and driving me nuts, it is common with ducati's and they seem to think we should put up with it..but to be honest it is starting to put me off ducati ownership and i have had 8 ducati's in the past 15 years..!!

[CK & AK]

The paint coming off has been ongoing for a long time - got my first monster 'sorted in 2002, and this one in 2005 and Ducati have been 100% about getting parts replaced.

Just speak politely to your dealer - and also check my previous postings by doing a search about paint peeling off.............

C