4 o rings 19.96
1 seal ring 4.99
2 o ring 5.98
4 spark plugs 67.96
1 fuel filter 33.99
2 clip 9.98
1 o ring 29.99
8 shim exchange 120.00

$292.85 for parts

7 hours labor at $700

Grand total $1017!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Youch.  AMS has an awesome reputation, but that end number of $ is just painful. 

I assume this was a 4V engine? 
What O-rings cost that much?  And did they give you the platinum superduper plugs at $15 each?  I normally pay $15 for all 4.
They charged you for a shim exchange?  For 8 shims?  Were all 8 of your valves out of whack?  All 8?

Bike is '08 S2R 1000.  They said all 4 openers and all 4 closers were adjusted. What do you think? It's possible but not likely.

If they said all 8 needed adjustment, then all 8 probably needed adjustment.  Based on what I've heard about their reputation, they're a dealer you can trust.  Besides, you're most likely to need adjustment on your initial valve check because that's when the valve seating occurs and when your valves are most likely to be out of spec.  I bet on your future checks, you won't need to change out many shims. 

It makes me wonder. But inversely. I take my RS in and they tell me NOT one valve was out of spec!!  Ok, so I'm using full synth but really?? I wonder what my next check is gonna be like. Hope yours go easier next time man. That labor time seems a bit much to me.... My dealer charged 4 hours.

Quote from: lilmonster on October 01, 2008, 06:41:10 PM
---------------snip-----------------
4 spark plugs 67.96
---------------snip-----------------
8 shim exchange 120.00
---------------snip-----------------

Those 2 made me flinch.

hmmm...they BETER have given you iridiums and made that plug gap point inside the cylinder. Though even iridiums dont cost That much. thats 16.99 per a plug. You can get them for 10-12bucks.

and ive NEVER heard of 8 shims for $120....you could of almost bought a whole kit by yourself and gotten spare shims. Most places have a 1 time shim exchange fee. its $20-40 bucks for as many shims as you need to exchange.

Heres the math break down.

EMS shim kit = $339 for 36 shims. thats $9.41 per a shim. you get to keep 8 shims if you replace them all, so in your possession is (in terms of EMS value) $395.22 worth of shims (42). Which can be used over and over again. And brought to your dealer to exchange. They keep their value. your just paying for the convenience of swapping.

AMS charged you 8 shims for $120.00. thats $15 per a shim. So they took your shims, did not give you credit for them (you should earn $9.41 per a shim) and they charged you for new shims at $15 a pop (double face value). Aka you didnt exchange shims. they just sold you new ones and took yours.

AMS may have a reputation of quality work, but this is about overcharging for parts. It would be one thing if they charged you a premium on the work hours (aka $100 an hour vs $75) its another to charge you for something like this.

next time bring it to Nick at valley ducati.

Quote from: sbrguy on October 02, 2008, 12:51:03 PM
next time bring it to Nick at valley ducati.

I think he's a wee bit far away. 

Their reputation was one of reasons I bought my bike there. I like the people also. Scott is always helpful with any questions or problems. The first service was $317 for basically an oil change and canister removal. I knew when I got a Ducati that it would be pretty high maint. and service would be expensive. They are a Ducati only dealer so they are higher than the other local dealers. The mark up on parts is rediculous. We called Plano and Ft Worth also. All the estimates were close so I just took it to AMS. The bike has some new scratches on the tank and some rash on the grab rails where they strapped it down to haul it to the Alvaredo store to do the work. Also my bar end mirrors need to be repainted. There is a big hand print in the paint where he had a solvent or something on his hand when handling the bike. On the first oil change the receipt showed I paid for 4 qts of oil. I got a strange look when I asked for the extra qt. of oil. I paid for it, so I want it. I am not rich but can afford the maintenance for the most part. I just don't like being taken advantage of. Jeff did reset my TPS for FREE after I installed the Termi system though. I still like AMS and love the bike, just feel bad because I know they got to me a little is all.

to be honest. my buying experience at AMS was less than great. Scott was too busy wiht the next sale (an 848 and more income for him) to even really go over the bike with me. I called the owner and Terri (co-owner,wife) told me they had lost a salesman at the Dallas shop and Scott was doing his best. Well gave me an excuse to read the manual though.

If I lived in TX I don't think AMS would be my first choice for service. Now mind you, I'm not saying Jeff isn't knowledgeable, didn't have any direct dealings with him. I just think when you spend the kind of money we do for our bikes, a little more customer service (and attention to detail as the last posts shows) would go a long way.

7 hours labor? I can understand it taking your average diy-er 7 hours but I'd expect a trained mechanic to do it faster. Also the shim price seems high but I've never had a shop adjust my valves. I think when I did them myself I bought new shims for about $8 a piece. Could be wrong though. it's been a while.

Your bike takes more than 3 qts of oil.

Yes my bike takes more than 3 qts. of oil and less than 4. I paid $17 for a full qt. I would like to have the rest in case I need to top it up. They seem to be the only place that has the Motul 300v oil that they use. I can't just go anywhere and get a qt. if I need it. So as not to mix 2 kinds of oil.

I also noticed today that the insulation under the gas tank is gone. They never said anything about it. It may not be needed but it is part of my bike and I would like to have it.

Yep! Just luv the $ Ducati service!   Dont feel too bad as I think we are all in the same boat  I did my own 12,000 Klm service on a M695 and had the Duc dealer ;
-Check the valves ( no adjustment required  ??)
-Adjust the Throttle body
-Repace the fuel filter  ( including NEW hose clamps!)
-Repace the 2 Spark plugs  (I would have repaced them myself had I suspeced they needed it)
-Adjust belt tension
-Check trouble codes
When I delivered the bike in my truck, 120 klms to the dealer, I was told that the mech was ill so I would have to leave it with them for another day  (Total distance traveled 480 klms for this service)
Picked up the bike the next day only to find that the oil temp gage not working  I trouble shot that to be a disconeced wire on the sensor
All for the paltry sum of only $500. !!!
Still luv my bike in spite of all the BS