600 for a timing belt change... EEK

ando · 09-03-2010 04:05PM #1

Hi,

Does €600 sound decent for a timing belt and water pump change? Car is at 57k miles and due both

It seems really steep imo but I havent got many timing belts done in the past so dunno?? I asked a local mechanic that I deal with a good bit but he said he doesnt have the tools required for the Seat Leon diesel. So I rang the local Seat dealer and they gave me a quote of 600 :O

smash · 09-03-2010 04:08PM

I'm sure you'll get someone to do it cheaper, but a t-belt and water pump service is usually expensive anyway.

flanzer · 09-03-2010 04:10PM

Go north for half the price..This crowd are supposed to be good http://www.walshmotors.co.uk/prices.html

no1beemerfan · 09-03-2010 04:24PM

A bit of a comparison for you. My GF's Focus II (timing belt only though!) is due its timing belt changing and I've been ringing around. Finlay's of Naas was €266 all in. I can buy the timing belt kit in my local Motor Factors for €65 and get a local mechanic to change it for around the €100 mark.

bladespin · 09-03-2010 04:25PM

Price can vary wildly from car to car, on the Alfa I was quoted €300 all in by the local Nissan centre, just rang because they're close, it's a simple enough job with fairly good accessability on the 156, I'm just not brave enough lol.

I've heard astro figures on the old model Passat, apparently the whole front end has to come off :eek:

no1beemerfan · 09-03-2010 04:28PM

bladespin wrote: »

I've heard astro figures on the old model Passat, apparently the whole front end has to come off :eek:

True :eek:. I was at a fella's when he was doing a '04 passat and it takes a few hours. He was sick of it!

johnnyfruitcake · 09-03-2010 04:34PM

A VW golf is around the €500 mark for timing belt and water pump plus a full service, and thats not from a main dealer

bladespin · 09-03-2010 04:36PM

johnnyfruitcake wrote: »

A VW golf is around the €500 mark for timing belt and water pump plus a full service, and thats not from a main dealer

Sounds very expensive (for an indy) £230 for the belt job in Walsh's, I'm sure they'd discount a full service on that if you went for both.

Gumbo · 09-03-2010 04:46PM

no1beemerfan wrote: »

A bit of a comparison for you. My GF's Focus II (timing belt only though!) is due its timing belt changing and I've been ringing around. Finlay's of Naas was €266 all in. I can buy the timing belt kit in my local Motor Factors for €65 and get a local mechanic to change it for around the €100 mark.

why go through all the hassle of changing the timing belt and not change the water pump etc at the same time while the head is off?
Water pump and associated pullies etc should be done with the timing belt imho.

ando · 09-03-2010 04:51PM

Yea I never really considered the North, with all the traveling and relying on public transport but with those kind of savings it may be worth it!

Get this, I rang two Seat dealers in Dublin within half an hour of each other.. For the exact same job there is €100 difference between the two dealers?? The more expensive being located in Baldoyle is all I'll say, the cheaper being in Blanchardstown which quoted €500 for timing belt and water pump

cabrwab · 09-03-2010 04:55PM

Is it a leon

I think its a pretty big job in the leon alot of labour involved.

no1beemerfan · 09-03-2010 04:58PM

gumbo wrote: »

why go through all the hassle of changing the timing belt and not change the water pump etc at the same time while the head is off?
Water pump and associated pullies etc should be done with the timing belt imho.

I rang 4 or 5 Ford garages, gave the reg number and all said water pump is every second timing belt. I was told its rare to change a water pump on the first change. Its a Jan 2005 car and will have approx 155,000 km when I'll get the belt done. Now you've got me wondering if it should be done when the Ford fella's had put my mind at ease :mad:

!

ando · 09-03-2010 05:01PM

cabrwab wrote: »

Is it a leon

I think its a pretty big job in the leon alot of labour involved.

Oh right, yea its a leon fr diesel, it would be the same as a golf or a3 I reckon

JHMEG · 09-03-2010 05:04PM

Friend recently paid €100 to get a belt done in a Civic. Would have been an extra €120 if the water pump was included in the job.

--Kaiser-- · 09-03-2010 05:13PM

I bought a timing belt kit (belt, tensioner and pulley) and water pump from Toyota recently, 350 notes all told. They then wanted 400 euros ( + VAT) to fit it so I got it done somewhere else for 150.

My total cost was 500, so 600 seems reasonable enough

Bodhan · 09-03-2010 05:22PM

See here for the price of your timing belt and pully set http://www.micksgarage.ie/autoparts.aspx?dept=278&ga=&b=31&AssemblyID=100405&MakeID=104&ModelID=5431 it ain't €600, so the labour must be rough.

BTW I have the 1.6 petrol version and I'm on the 100000km mark now, so I'm due it too.

EPM · 09-03-2010 05:32PM

Seat Leon 1.6 petrol. €530 for timing belt, tensioners and water pump plus a full service including courtesy car.

Seat main dealer

Bodhan · 09-03-2010 05:57PM

What dealer is that?

EPM wrote: »

Seat Leon 1.6 petrol. €530 for timing belt, tensioners and water pump plus a full service including courtesy car.

Seat main dealer

EPM · 09-03-2010 05:59PM

Cashmans in Midleton, Cork

Bodhan · 09-03-2010 06:08PM

EPM wrote: »

Cashmans in Midleton, Cork

Damn a bit far from me, but it looks like a decent price

TM RACING · 09-03-2010 06:21PM

€530 may sound expensive but how about €1650 on my old alfa 156 GTA!

bladespin · 09-03-2010 06:23PM

TM RACING wrote: »

€530 may sound expensive but how about €1650 on my old alfa 156 GTA!

Wow, Porters in the UK do that for £430 all in :eek:

mickdw · 09-03-2010 07:19PM

TM RACING wrote: »

€530 may sound expensive but how about €1650 on my old alfa 156 GTA!

I got a quote of €1400 many years ago for timing belt on a 2.0 alfa 166.

Drummerboy08 · 09-03-2010 08:13PM

Unless its up in the years, am I the only one who thinks 57k miles is a bit early to change a belt? Thats less than 96k kilometres, and most VAG stuff is at least 128k Kms.

vw4life · 09-03-2010 08:22PM

bladespin wrote: »

I've heard astro figures on the old model Passat, apparently the whole front end has to come off :eek:

takes about 20 mins to half an hour to take the front end off,makes it one of the handiest belts to do,same as most Audi's;)

-Corkie- · 09-03-2010 08:58PM

Im getting my 07 passat diesel done soon vw main dealer is 450

JHMEG · 09-03-2010 09:49PM

Dunno how people think €500+ is a good price. Last time I brought a car to a main dealer it was €200 all in.

cadaliac · 09-03-2010 10:22PM

The VAG engine is difficult to work on (if it is transversely mounted like a passat).
The front bumper and front panel will have to come off and they always recommend that the pump and tensioners to be done at the same time. Probably due to the difficulty of the job - meaning that if a bearing, tensioner or indeed water pump was to fail, you would have a huge labour bill to change a relatively cheap part, when in fact the job could have been prevented if done with the timing belt.

bbability · 09-03-2010 11:01PM

no more than 300-400 euro should leave your pocket for that. Its not as difficult as it used to be on the VAGs. The kit has been modified in newer models. If you have the proper tools to do the job, 2-3 hours max for full change. Plenty of guys looking for work so shop around. Don't get tied up with main dealers, plenty of good indy's and guys looking for nixers out there...

I got full service and timing belt change on Bora for 450euro at 60k.

whiterebel · 10-03-2010 08:03PM

vw4life wrote: »

takes about 20 mins to half an hour to take the front end off,makes it one of the handiest belts to do,same as most Audi's;)

I presume you're taking the p*ss?

the_barfly1 · 10-03-2010 08:19PM

Definitely go private for the job, main dealer will rip you off big time.
I had timing belt, water pump, full service and front and rear brakes done on my '01 focus last year for €400 all in.

the ford garage wanted €750 for the job :rolleyes:, and the guy that did the job used all ford parts too.

600 for a timing belt change... EEK

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