[Crumble]

Got two prices today one from a VAG main dealer and one from a non main dealer ( but not a side street operation ) VAG dealer €680 non VAG €425.

I know that the VAG dealer will be using genuine VW parts ( I presume ) and that i will get a stamp in the log book, but considering the age of the car (04) and the loss in value since the downturn I cant see this being much advantage.

Just shows you really do have to shop around and you would be mad to accept the first price you get.

[gowger]

Some quotes to add to the pool of information There are some quite dramatic variations:

98 Passat 1.9 TDI Leonard motors Skibbereen quoted : €1200 yes really!!
The guy eventually got it done privately for only €250!! not sure if he got the pump and tensioner changed but I think so.

02 Audi A4 2.5 TDI (v6) all including tensioner and pump:
Foster motors sandyford: €1000
JetStar Dean's Grange: €800
Jim McCann a local fella in blackrock: ~700
John Calnan in Drimoleague: 650

Can someone beat this price? :-)

[kceire]

Originally Posted by gowger

Some quotes to add to the pool of information There are some quite dramatic variations:

98 Passat 1.9 TDI Leonard motors Skibbereen quoted : €1200 yes really!!
The guy eventually got it done privately for only €250!! not sure if he got the pump and tensioner changed but I think so.

02 Audi A4 2.5 TDI (v6) all including tensioner and pump:
Foster motors sandyford: €1000
JetStar Dean's Grange: €800
Jim McCann a local fella in blackrock: ~700
John Calnan in Drimoleague: 650

Can someone beat this price? :-)

250e is very very low, sure the parts alone from a motor factors are half that or thereabouts.

[johndaman66]

Originally Posted by kceire

250e is very very low, sure the parts alone from a motor factors are half that or thereabouts.

You would be doing very good to get the parts for that.

[gaillimhabu]

Hi Guys..

My brother's car broke down and wouldn't restart. Towed it to garage they said it needs the timing belt done
It's a 00 golf 1.4 petrol. Not sure about mileage on the clock

He was quoted €2000 from main dealer and €1100 from the garage that we towed the car to...

Is €1100 still too dear. Seems excessive to me.
I've seem prices being quoted here for €400. Is that parts+labour?

He's meant to leave a deposit in this evening so quick replies would be greatly appreciated...Based in Galway by the way

[JHMEG]

1998 Civic - Mechanic in Leixlip - €100 labour
1998 Accord - Mechanic in Duldalk - €60 labour

Belt "kits" are €35 (which is only the belt and a plastic bag!)

^ All those prices are within the last 7 days.

Maintenance schedule says water pump and tensioner are inspect and replace if necessary. ie there is no replacement schedule. I have never replaced either in any car and have never had any trouble.

[Gone Drinking]

Originally Posted by gaillimhabu

Hi Guys..

My brother's car broke down and wouldn't restart. Towed it to garage they said it needs the timing belt done
It's a 00 golf 1.4 petrol. Not sure about mileage on the clock

He was quoted €2000 from main dealer and €1100 from the garage that we towed the car to...

Is €1100 still too dear. Seems excessive to me.
I've seem prices being quoted here for €400. Is that parts+labour?

He's meant to leave a deposit in this evening so quick replies would be greatly appreciated...Based in Galway by the way

The timing belt needing to be replaced wouldn't cause the car to break down, unless the timing belt snapped.. which can be very very expensive (and write off a car in some cases).

I doubt they're quoting that money just to replace the timing belt, id say there's more to it.

[gaillimhabu]

Originally Posted by Gone Drinking

The timing belt needing to be replaced wouldn't cause the car to break down, unless the timing belt snapped.. which can be very very expensive (and write off a car in some cases).

I doubt they're quoting that money just to replace the timing belt, id say there's more to it.

Well I presume it snapped as car broke down...This is not a replacement job...I'm not sure what else they are replacing so looks like a good few things for that price

[alias no.9]

You have to be very careful with timing belts, the belts very rarely fail prematurely themselves, it's usually a tensioner, an idler pulley, or a waterpump that should have been changed but wasn't that will cause the problem.
The cost will vary greatly because the complexity of the job varies greatly. In general with a SOHC engine, it's a quick and easy job but a DOHC will be a lot trickier. Space in the engine bay will be a big factor too, it's an engine out job on some cars.
Doing a belt DIY is not impossible, but time, patience and the right tools are a must and these vary greatly from car to car. Once you've done one on a particular engine, you'll probably do it more than twice as quick the next time.

[yellow012]

Originally Posted by Crumble

Got two prices today one from a VAG main dealer and one from a non main dealer ( but not a side street operation ) VAG dealer €680 non VAG €425.

I know that the VAG dealer will be using genuine VW parts ( I presume ) and that i will get a stamp in the log book, but considering the age of the car (04) and the loss in value since the downturn I cant see this being much advantage.

Just shows you really do have to shop around and you would be mad to accept the first price you get.

Whereabouts are you located, I know Maxwells in Athy (VAG main dealer) have a price list on their window:
- for timing belt and water pump change from €480.
- A service ranges from €99 - €299 depending on whats required.
If you are near south Kildare it might be worth giving them a call.

[gaillimhabu]

Originally Posted by gaillimhabu

Hi Guys..

My brother's car broke down and wouldn't restart. Towed it to garage they said it needs the timing belt done
It's a 00 golf 1.4 petrol. Not sure about mileage on the clock

He was quoted €2000 from main dealer and €1100 from the garage that we towed the car to...

Is €1100 still too dear. Seems excessive to me.
I've seem prices being quoted here for €400. Is that parts+labour?

He's meant to leave a deposit in this evening so quick replies would be greatly appreciated...Based in Galway by the way

He was talking to the garage. It would be €400 if replacing it as part of a service. But in this case the timing belt has snapped so lots more work needed i.e head, tensioners, pulleys..

He never replaced it when the car reached 60k so will have to pay the price now..So that is a lesson for him I suppose. Service the car when it's due for one

[johndaman66]

Originally Posted by gaillimhabu

He was talking to the garage. It would be €400 if replacing it as part of a service. But in this case the timing belt has snapped so lots more work needed i.e head, tensioners, pulleys..

He never replaced it when the car reached 60k so will have to pay the price now..So that is a lesson for him I suppose. Service the car when it's due for one

Never had the experience of a timing belt snapping but a friend has and its a nasty experience. He ended up replacing his engine. A bit sketchy on the details now but as far as I recall a trainee mechanic once told me that it can be as simple as putting on a new belt in a very few number of cases and especially so if it was an 8 valve engine but unlikely you would get of that lightly and very few if any new engines would be 8 valve now I reckon? Also as far as I recall he told me that in some cases all or some of the valves can get bent beyond repair if it snaps. They can be 60 euro a pop or thereabouts each as far as I recall him saying so if you need to replace all 16 (or more) or em, well rather you than me! If this is the case it may probably be best to source an engine from a breakers yard but if it is a very new model or a rarer engine you might be sausaged!