Timing belt done for 50 euro ??

Ricardo G · 15-07-2010 08:26PM #1

Was inquiring about getting herselfs mk3 astra 1.4 timing belt done locally. I get a friend of mine (ex mechanic) to do the usual oil and filters, plugs etc every 6k. I asked him today about doing the timing belt and he siad his next door neighbour is a Polish guy and will put a timing belt in most cars for 50 quid !! Now obviously he is doing this in his drive way and its cash in the hand job. Just wondering would you leave this guy do the job knowing full well your saving a fortune by not going to a garage or reputable person???? Bear in mind he has been doing this for a lot of people around the town for the last year or so!! and 50 euro is labour only just to point out the obvious (not 50 an hour)

Nonoperational · 15-07-2010 08:27PM

No chance.

Slunk · 15-07-2010 08:31PM

well if a few people around got it done and you heard no complaints id go for it. I think were jus so used to extortionate prices. Romanian is plasterin room in my house for half the price and his work is good. He's happy to make a few quid and your happy gettin a good price.

mickdw · 15-07-2010 08:34PM

There are some cars that could be done on a driveway for €50 labour. Not many though.

CarMuppet · 15-07-2010 09:10PM

mickdw wrote: »

There are some cars that could be done on a driveway for €50 labour. Not many though.

True. I've personally done a b6 Mazda engine in 60 mins. Of course water pump is extra especially if that gasket does not seal right....

JHMEG · 15-07-2010 09:17PM

My brother got a quote from a local, long established, Irish mechanic for €50 labour to do the timing belt on his Accord.

Ricardo G · 15-07-2010 09:20PM

JHMEG wrote: »

My brother got a quote from a local, long established, Irish mechanic for €50 labour to do the timing belt on his Accord.

I've tried all our local gargaes, approx 7 in the town and they varied from between 100 and 200 quid to do the belt, it seems there all trying to undercut each other and about time too tbh. I remember not so long ago they were all pretty much the same just depended on who's quality of work etc was better.

Tefral · 15-07-2010 09:58PM

Timing belt in an astra is easy enough do.. they are low interval belts, the water pump ALWAYS has to be done with them too.. my brother is an opel mechanic and would charge about 70 quid labour at home to do..

Obviously this doesnt include parts..

CrackisWhack · 15-07-2010 10:01PM

cronin_j wrote: »

Timing belt in an astra is easy enough do.. they are low interval belts, the water pump ALWAYS has to be done with them too.. my brother is an opel mechanic and would charge about 70 quid labour at home to do..

Obviously this doesnt include parts..

is it the same with the last vectra? (before the insignia)

Tefral · 15-07-2010 10:03PM

CrackisWhack wrote: »

is it the same with the last vectra? (before the insignia)

Ill ask him for you man

CrackisWhack · 15-07-2010 10:08PM

cronin_j wrote: »

Ill ask him for you man

Cheers mate!

CiniO · 15-07-2010 11:21PM

Timing belt is actually not that difficult to change in some cars.

I have Fiat Bravo 1.2 16v. I had to do timing belt, went to few local garages, and the avarage price they quoted was 200 to 250 for labour + 100 to 120 for belt and tensioner. Together would cost me probably about 350.

I thought it was too expensive, call my father back in Poland to get timing belt and tensioner (Fiat original parts) - cost me 35 euros + 10 euros shipping.

And I decided I'll try myself, and changed it myself on my drive.
As I didn't do anything like this before, I got some manuals downloaded from the internet. It took me about 4 hours, but I know that if someone knows exatcly how to do it, it's probably about an hour job.

So far car has done over 40k miles and still going perfectly.

And the whole timing belt change costed me 45 quid instead of 350.

Barr · 16-07-2010 12:19AM

Ricardo G wrote: »

Was inquiring about getting herselfs mk3 astra 1.4 timing belt done locally. I get a friend of mine (ex mechanic) to do the usual oil and filters, plugs etc every 6k. I asked him today about doing the timing belt and he siad his next door neighbour is a Polish guy and will put a timing belt in most cars for 50 quid !! Now obviously he is doing this in his drive way and its cash in the hand job. Just wondering would you leave this guy do the job knowing full well your saving a fortune by not going to a garage or reputable person???? Bear in mind he has been doing this for a lot of people around the town for the last year or so!! and 50 euro is labour only just to point out the obvious (not 50 an hour)

Sounds very cheap , where is he located ?

Ricardo G · 16-07-2010 12:38AM

Barr wrote: »

Sounds very cheap , where is he located ?

Dungarvan, Co.Waterford... (NOT KILKENNY'S DUNGARVAN lol)

djdunny · 16-07-2010 01:00AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQhfcdQf1QA

if only it was this easy

CiniO · 16-07-2010 01:04AM

djdunny wrote: »

if only it was this easy

Only thing that's not a timing belt.

Ricardo G · 16-07-2010 01:06AM

djdunny wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQhfcdQf1QA

if only it was this easy

hahaha Excellent !!

Barr · 16-07-2010 01:13AM

Ricardo G wrote: »

Dungarvan, Co.Waterford... (NOT KILKENNY'S DUNGARVAN lol)

Was hoping he was in Cork

djdunny · 16-07-2010 01:20AM

CiniO wrote: »

Only thing that's not a timing belt.

i know but its still pretty impressive.

Timing belt done for 50 euro ??

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