Cost of Front Brakes/Timing Belt/Full Service

dulpit

Hey, my car is due a service (actually it's a bit overdue). The car is a 2001 Ford Focus, 1.4 petrol. When I got the car I was told that the timing belt will need to be replaced this year, you get either 10 years or 100K miles out of it, car's not at the 100K but is 10 years old, so I need that fixed. I was also told last year that I'd get a year out of front brakes, but then they'll need to be replaced.

Rang a few places to get all this priced, first crowd got back to me and quoted as follows:

1. Timing Belt - €380
2. Front Brakes (discs & pads) - €200
3. Full Service - €180

So all told €760 (all figures he quoted were parts & labour). Does this sound like a correct figure? I've not heard back from other garages yet but I was just wondering what people here think..

BTW: I'm in Cork - anyone know a good mechanic/garage?

dulpit

Update: Got a second quote of €550 plus VAT of 13%, which is better...

dulpit

dulpit wrote: »

................

BTW: I'm in Cork - anyone know a good mechanic/garage?

Con Forde, Greenmount

AutoMotif, Kinsale Road

John O'Driscoll, Tramore Rd (in Harrington Ind Estate)

McCarthys, Lough Rd

Mark Murphy, Douglas

All decent operations.

jimmyw

I wouldn't be leaving the belt change to 100k, even though the makers say so.60-80k would be a lot better.

George Dalton

€550 plus 13.5% VAT is approx €625. That is not a bad price but you should be able to get it done a bit cheaper than that.

dulpit

Brother of my buddy will be able to do the brakes/service for about 200 quid, he said that the price for the timing belt sounds right too, so that'll be 580. Waiting to hear back from my neighbour tomorrow, here's hoping...

Guy:Incognito

Are you just getting the brakes done because you were given the relatively arbitrary figure of "about a year" last year or have you checked them and they need doing. A year to two different drivers could be anything from 5000km - 50000. Have the discs been checked, do they actually need doing or are they just being changed for the sake of it?

dulpit

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Are you just getting the brakes done because you were given the relatively arbitrary figure of "about a year" last year or have you checked them and they need doing. A year to two different drivers could be anything from 5000km - 50000. Have the discs been checked, do they actually need doing or are they just being changed for the sake of it?

I was told that I would need them done this year, so I'm pricing around as if I do... Doesn't necessarily mean I'll actually get them done, but at least I'll know the top-end figures...

C4Kid

Brought my car to Mark Murphy in Douglas and wont be going back there again.

Had some wiring fault which was repaired for the guts of €300 and his reasoning for the cost on the receipt was non existent. More or less just said labour + parts = 300 no breakdown.

George Dalton

dulpit wrote: »

Brother of my buddy will be able to do the brakes/service for about 200 quid, he said that the price for the timing belt sounds right too, so that'll be 580. Waiting to hear back from my neighbour tomorrow, here's hoping...

I reckon €550-600 is a fair price for the work. I disagree with the breakdown of costs of your buddy's bro though even though the overall total is about right. He is too cheap on the service and brakes and too expensive on the timing belt. Timing belt definitely shouldn't cost any more than €300 and should be more like €250. On the other hand it is hard to see how he can do a full inspection service with oil, filters and spark plugs and supply and fit front brake discs and pads for €200 all in. The service would normally cost €175-200 on its own and the front brakes €150-170 or so.