Air con compressor mk 6 golf

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Hello all. Had the car in for a service on Thursday and vw kindly offered to replace my apparently broken air con compressor for the bargain price of 950 quid. I passed. Is this a possible diy job or is it a complex one? They showed me a video of it and it looks pretty accessible of you can get it up in a ramp which I could do. I'd like the air con to work but can't really afford another grand on the car in the near future.

Toyotafanboi

Not really diy-able imo. Between releasing and re-pressuring the gas etc and it'l location, it'd be an unenviable task on a driveway.

The pumps can be diciked up in such a way that the pulley won't threaten to slip off anymore once you refrain from using the a/c.

The pump unit itself is 75% of the quoted price i'd say, there isn't much fitting time involved.

TherapyBoy

I was quoted close to €600 for the compressor alone for the mk5 Golf, probably not far away for mk6.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Be cheaper at an indie I suppose? Is it a touchy job? As in could a cowboy make bits of my car if they make a mess if it?

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Not really diy-able imo. Between releasing and re-pressuring the gas etc and it'l location, it'd be an unenviable task on a driveway.

The pumps can be diciked up in such a way that the pulley won't threaten to slip off anymore once you refrain from using the a/c.

The pump unit itself is 75% of the quoted price i'd say, there isn't much fitting time involved.

Yeah they quoted 650 for the part. Are they really that expensive or are they trying to do me cause they are a main dealer.

Toyotafanboi

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Yeah they quoted 650 for the part. Are they really that expensive or are they trying to do me cause they are a main dealer.

Main dealers don't just "do" people for sport.

They are the only people who supply the part new, however. So you haven't many options in that regard.

Main dealer labour rates are high, but that is no secret and you are aware once you walk in the door. If the part is €650 and they are looking €950 for the job, then the labour they want is €300. In reality it's even less by the time you discount a new aux belt and a/c regas, but lets forget that for now.

Will a non main dealer fit the pump for considerably less than that do you think? Perhaps an indy would fit it for €200, but is is worth a 10% saving to let someone at the car who may or may not know what they are at half as well as the main dealer and will they offer as comprehensive a warranty over the job?

That's what you need to ask yourself.

Zcott

An Indy may be able to source a part and fit it for less. On a Laguna it cost me ~€550.

George Dalton

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Main dealers don't just "do" people for sport.

They are the only people who supply the part new, however. So you haven't many options in that regard.

Main dealer labour rates are high, but that is no secret and you are aware once you walk in the door. If the part is €650 and they are looking €950 for the job, then the labour they want is €300. In reality it's even less by the time you discount a new aux belt and a/c regas, but lets forget that for now.

Will a non main dealer fit the pump for considerably less than that do you think? Perhaps an indy would fit it for €200, but is is worth a 10% saving to let someone at the car who may or may not know what they are at half as well as the main dealer and will they offer as comprehensive a warranty over the job?

That's what you need to ask yourself.

Those compressors are readily available outside the dealer network. You can buy OEM Delphi compressors considerably cheaper than the Delphi one that comes in the VW box.

As for the job itself; Any garage that has the gear for draining and refilling the system would be well used to changing these compressors as they are so troublesome. It's not a difficult or complex job.

Expect to pay €550-600 for the whole job in an independent garage.