Gearbox - VW Golf

FlowerGarden

My 08 Golf was making a noise and I brought it my regular mechanic who said it was the gearbox but he doesn't do gearboxes. He said it would be an expensive job to fix. I brought to a reputable garage to get a quote. I was quoted €1400 for a reconditioned gear box including vat and labour or €1060 for a second hand one. I asked him what he would do if it was his car and he said definitely the second hand one so I gave him the go ahead. Over the weekend I happened to bump into a friend of a friend who is a mechanic and was telling him about it, he said it sounded very expensive. So this morning I rang to places and was quoted €450 and €500. I also rang a breakers yard and was told €250 for the part.
So it seems that the first guy was totally ripping me off. Anyone else out there know anything about replacing a gearbox on a Golf?

tossy

FlowerGarden wrote: »

My 08 Golf was making a noise and I brought it my regular mechanic who said it was the gearbox but he doesn't do gearboxes. He said it would be an expensive job to fix. I brought to a reputable garage to get a quote. I was quoted €1400 for a reconditioned gear box including vat and labour or €1060 for a second hand one. I asked him what he would do if it was his car and he said definitely the second hand one so I gave him the go ahead. Over the weekend I happened to bump into a friend of a friend who is a mechanic and was telling him about it, he said it sounded very expensive. So this morning I rang to places and was quoted €450 and €500. I also rang a breakers yard and was told €250 for the part.
So it seems that the first guy was totally ripping me off. Anyone else out there know anything about replacing a gearbox on a Golf?

I presume the Garage quoting 1060 was including the fitting of the gearbox in that price, the breakers yard won't fit it for you.

FlowerGarden

tossy wrote: »

I presume the Garage quoting 1060 was including the fitting of the gearbox in that price, the breakers yard won't fit it for you.

Yes parts and labour. The other two garages were €450 and €500 parts and labour.

tossy

FlowerGarden wrote: »

Yes parts and labour. The other two garages were €450 and €500 parts and labour.

Sorry i didn't realise that, i thought you were just quoting the prices for the actual gearbox.

zurbfoundation

450 - 500 seems very cheap for this - parts and lab. i would have been thinking around 1k

magentis

If any garage said they could do this job for €500 including the gearbox i would be a tad wary.

Caliden

I'd agree, 4-500 sounds too cheap for parts and labour.

Special Circumstances

Would you be advised to do clutch and flywheel (if diesel) at the same time?

magentis

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Would you be advised to do clutch and flywheel (if diesel) at the same time?

When were they last done/what kind of mileage have the clutch and flywheel done?

arthur daly

1k is a rip off,as you said op gearbox from breakers 250.I would be thinking 200seems about right to switch boxes unless for some reason the engine has to come out too.
As said in another post for the sake of extra hundred or two get the clutch done to seen as it has to be stripped that anyway and maybe 50 labour for the 10min the clutch will take

FlowerGarden

Thanks all for your replies. Got a third quote for €550 so I think €1,060 is a rip off. He also told me €330 if the clutch needs doing but one of the other garages quoted €160 for the clutch.

Pov06

So you're going to replace a gearbox because a mechanic who doesn't work with gearboxes thinks it needs to be replaced?

I'm not sure where you're based but if you're in Dublin drive up to Active Transmissions Ltd in Greenogue Business Park.

Our Corolla Verso lost 5th gear and we brought it to the mechanic who said he will need to pull out the box and replace the 5th gear. We brought it down to Active Transmissions and they were able to replace 5th without even taking the box out and it saved us a good 150 euro in taking it out.

If you bring it to someone experienced they will most likely have an idea what goes wrong with them.

FlowerGarden

Pov06 wrote: »

So you're going to replace a gearbox because a mechanic who doesn't work with gearboxes thinks it needs to be replaced?

I'm not sure where you're based but if you're in Dublin drive up to Active Transmissions Ltd in Greenogue Business Park.

Our Corolla Verso lost 5th gear and we brought it to the mechanic who said he will need to pull out the box and replace the 5th gear. We brought it down to Active Transmissions and they were able to replace 5th without even taking the box out and it saved us a good 150 euro in taking it out.

If you bring it to someone experienced they will most likely have an idea what goes wrong with them.

No, the car was checked properly to see what was needed.

Desolation Of Smug

Golf gearboxes are generally a pita to take out/refit..space is tight..500 for removing/supplying and refitting a used box sounds like a great deal...be silly not to do the clutch at the same time tho, regardless.

mytime

Give naas gearbox centre a call. They usually have good rates for supply and fit of gearboxes. Have used them a couple of times in the past and they are very professional.http://www.naasgearboxcentre.ie/
They recondition their own boxes and give warranty as well.

bazz26

I'd be spending a bit extra on a reconditioned gearbox with some sort of warranty on it if it were me. A second hand one from a scrap yard is too much of a gamble imo, could be as crap as the one coming out and only last you a week or a month.

greasepalm

you have not said what golf as there are so many variants,thinking maybe diff bearings going with car driven like a rally car,diesel dmf conversion kit?nobody in their right mind would take out and replace gearbox without doing a clutch and hydraulic slave cylinder.


http://bohernabreenagearboxcentre.com/

FlowerGarden

Its an '08 petrol 1.4. Definitely hasn't been driven like a rally car but has 157,000 km on the clock.

MuppetCheck

The bearings go on those boxes. Had to get one done a few years ago, was a grand from memory for a rebuild of the existing gearbox with a 6 month warranty. I only got 80k km out of mine before it needed doing.