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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: dunc69 on 11 May 2009, 16:26

Title: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: dunc69 on 11 May 2009, 16:26
Hello All!  This is my first post, so please be gentle with me!!

I bought a mint '05 5-door DSG in grey from one of your members in February and absolutely love the car.  Had a Mk3 GTI 16v years ago, and although I loved that, things have certainly moved on!

Have been reading these forums a lot recently and have had many questions answered and learnt a great deal about my car from all the very knowledgeable comments on here.

Now my question - my extended warranty runs out in July, so have decided to have a thorough service in June before taking the car to France for a couple of weeks.  I originally intended to go with Wayside VW St Albans - who so far have been very good and have fixed a couple of minor niggles for me without incident.  However, the car is also four years old and will need a cambelt change at the same time.  Wayside are quoting about £500. 

I have read several threads on here about this and would love to know if anyone knows of any deals out there at the moment - any dealers in the South East or East Midlands currently doing deals or these £299 vouchers?  I'b be quite happy to drive some distance to save a few quid - any excuse to get the car out and about......

Also, does anyone know of a decent independent VW garage in the Herts area? 

I have the 40k DSG oil and filter change coming up shortly too (before the end of the year), so any info re cheaper options for that would be appreciated too.  VW are quoting £200 if I remember correctly.

Keep up the good work everyone!
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 11 May 2009, 16:29
Iv got a voucher for Maidstone VW that you could have (id have to check when it runs out as I think it might already expired). I cant be bothered to take mine to VW as they are just rip of merchants. My local VW specialist is going to to the same job but for half the price.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: dunc69 on 11 May 2009, 16:37
Thanks!  Let me know if the voucher is still valid.  I'd appreciate it.

I agree re VW's costs.  Hence my need for a good inde.  Ran a 4L Chimaera for three years and halved all my servicing costs with an excellent inde garage.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 11 May 2009, 16:43
Where are you based?
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: dunc69 on 11 May 2009, 16:44
St Albans
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 11 May 2009, 16:46
Ah, there must a local VW specialist place around there? Its a bit of a drive down to Maidstone from there.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: No Golf Clubs at all on 11 May 2009, 16:50
Im getting mine done at a local VAG specialist for about £220, full VW kit.  Havent booked her in yet, only at 35k but will do soon.  My VW main stealer wanted about £500!  :sick: :sick: :sick:

Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: smartypants on 11 May 2009, 16:53
Iv got a voucher for Maidstone VW that you could have (id have to check when it runs out as I think it might already expired). I cant be bothered to take mine to VW as they are just rip of merchants. My local VW specialist is going to to the same job but for half the price.

And where might this place be? :)

I'm all for using indy's for work like this, mine's done 57k now, 3.5 years old - so I plan to get the cambelt done on 60k

Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: No Golf Clubs at all on 11 May 2009, 16:57
http://www.mkv-gti.net/wiki/index.php?title=How_to_change_DSG_transmission_oil (http://www.mkv-gti.net/wiki/index.php?title=How_to_change_DSG_transmission_oil)

Big up to Baccillus on the other site, I take no credit whatsoever.

I just tripped over it and thought it relevant and interesting in light of the dsg service query.

Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 11 May 2009, 16:59
I use a place called Tuning Werkes which is in South Croydon. Ruben, the chap there also owns a nice black MK5 and knows his stuff, plus he is a top guy. Used him a few times now for CAI install and MOT.

Not a VW specialist so to speak but does lots of work on moded VAG cars.

http://www.tuningwerkes.com/
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: celica on 11 May 2009, 21:28
apart from the cambelt, what else is recommended or worth changing at the same time such as waterpump etc.?
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: darren62 on 11 May 2009, 21:45
i work at vw st.albans and there doing a few deals at the mo. cambelts £280 thats nearly half price for a mk5 gti. that doesn't include a water pump but you can add it on for a few extra. we always change the water pump with a cambelt.

http://www.waysidegroup.co.uk/offers/offer/id/80/
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: celica on 11 May 2009, 23:12
i work at vw st.albans and there doing a few deals at the mo. cambelts £280 thats nearly half price for a mk5 gti. that doesn't include a water pump but you can add it on for a few extra. we always change the water pump with a cambelt.

http://www.waysidegroup.co.uk/offers/offer/id/80/

nice one

when would you recommend getting it changed from how old/years or mileage?
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 12 May 2009, 12:38
This has been covered before. It 4 years or 60,000 miles, which ever comes first.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: adw555 on 12 May 2009, 14:28
So my dealer says they have two prices for cambelt changes....£280 or £440 and because my engine code is AXX it's the dearer one...this correct ? ..Anyone else paid the £280 to change theirs on a 05 GTI ?
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: DJGTi on 12 May 2009, 16:27
St Albans

I thought there was a VW specialist on the A414 next to the Total garage near St Albans.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 12 May 2009, 18:35
So my dealer says they have two prices for cambelt changes....£280 or £440 and because my engine code is AXX it's the dearer one...this correct ? ..Anyone else paid the £280 to change theirs on a 05 GTI ?

No, I think St.Albans VW seem to be doing a deal at the moment regardless of the engine code. Best bet is to give them a call.

01727 890100
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: dunc69 on 12 May 2009, 19:43
Darren62 - many thanks for your post.  That's interesting as I was quoted about £500, as I said earlier.

How much more is it to have the water pump changed? You say you always do it with the cambelt. Is this necessary?

Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: darren62 on 12 May 2009, 21:16
Darren62 - many thanks for your post.  That's interesting as I was quoted about £500, as I said earlier.

How much more is it to have the water pump changed? You say you always do it with the cambelt. Is this necessary?



i think the water pump works out about £60 inc vat but don't take that as a quote its just a guess it could be more and labour is 0.4hr
 
its not entirely necessary to change it but its a percussion. VAG water pumps are known for braking up and you dont what that happening 3 months after the cambelt was change. i done a cambelt on a sharan tdi today and the customer declined the water pump, when i got all the covers off it was leaking anyway. i would have it done, its better to be safe than sorry.

Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: dunc69 on 13 May 2009, 19:44
Thanks.  Looks like you'll get my business!  I'll book in with you guys soon. 

Regarding my other query, what is the likely cost of a DSG oil and filter change? - will need it done before the end of the year (32k at the moment).

Many thanks to you all for your help.

Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: dunc69 on 14 May 2009, 07:03
St Albans

I thought there was a VW specialist on the A414 next to the Total garage near St Albans.

Found it - Follett Motors AL4 0NF.  Thanks!  I'll give them a call re prices.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: smartypants on 11 September 2009, 10:04
Hi I am coming up to 64k miles so now in need of a cambelt change, I'm wondering what people have paid for this in the past (recently), and also if there are any indy's anyone can recommend in the Berkshire area?

So far I have got quotes from

Ridgeway Newbury: £560
Ridgeway Reading: £410


Seems steep - but then again I don't know what it should cost! I have also mentioned the water pump, and think thats £40 on top (no extra labour)

Any price info or indy search help much appreciated!!
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: smartypants on 11 September 2009, 10:54
I know you are all interested so I will continue :D

Getting it done at Ridgeway Reading for £410 + waterpump (£50-£60), best I can get.

I am definitely not buying a cambelt car again, why cant they have chains? :(

Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: winrya on 11 September 2009, 11:34
no idea but the new gti and rocco are chains
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: jaydubveedub on 11 September 2009, 12:19
Martins of Basingstoke have quoted me £350 all in (parts, labour, VAT). I asked about the water pump, they said I only needed to add the cost of the pump if i wanted it doing at same time, no additional labour.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: smartypants on 11 September 2009, 12:32
Thats a pretty good deal - cheers!

Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: pridders on 11 September 2009, 12:42
Hey All,

I got a service done at Ridgeway in Reading a couple of months agao and they priced matched a quote i got from a indy garage. Saved £££'s

I need to get the cambelt changed as was 4 years old in April, i will do the price match again. Going back to the cambelt i have just realised i should have changed it 5 moths ago, should i be worried? its on about 55k at the moment
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 11 September 2009, 17:23
As long as its changed now you have nothing to worry about pridders.

The only thing you are doing by running the cambelt after if should be done is running a risk of it snapping, you wont have done any damage.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 11 September 2009, 20:14
St Albans

Try www.Inde-Tech.co.uk - very good independents, and Gods with the Audi multitronic gearbox.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: NewbieGTi on 14 April 2010, 14:03
i work at vw st.albans and there doing a few deals at the mo. cambelts £280 thats nearly half price for a mk5 gti. that doesn't include a water pump but you can add it on for a few extra. we always change the water pump with a cambelt.

http://www.waysidegroup.co.uk/offers/offer/id/80/

Long shot I know but I need to get my cam belt done. I live in the St. Albans area. Are there any offers on for the cam belt service?
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: jaydubveedub on 14 April 2010, 16:45
That's a pretty good price.

Best quote i've had is from Stafford Audi (main dealer), they are advertising on ebay and quoting £249 inc VAT for a cambelt and tensioner change on any 4 cylinder VW, Audi or Seat (probably Skoda too). Not bad for a main dealer garage using genuine parts!

I contacted them, if I want the water pump doing at the same time it's £338 all in.

Someone on this forum put me onto it (see other threads). Will be getting it booked in very soon.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 14 April 2010, 16:49
You can make a HUGE saving by just taking it to an indy VAG specalist. I dont get the whole "take it to the dealer" for something as routine and simple as a cambelt and water pump change.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: NewbieGTi on 14 April 2010, 16:54
That's a pretty good price.

Best quote i've had is from Stafford Audi (main dealer), they are advertising on ebay and quoting £249 inc VAT for a cambelt and tensioner change on any 4 cylinder VW, Audi or Seat (probably Skoda too). Not bad for a main dealer garage using genuine parts!

I contacted them, if I want the water pump doing at the same time it's £338 all in.

Someone on this forum put me onto it (see other threads). Will be getting it booked in very soon.

Yep that is good price up in Stafford but I am down in the St. Albans area. Watford dealer wants £521 +£60 for the water pump!! Anybody know of a specialist in the St. Albans area? The one mentioned earlier in the thread doesn't check out.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 14 April 2010, 16:55
Cant say I do, I know a good one where I live which I use in Croydon, but a bit of a drive.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: jaydubveedub on 14 April 2010, 18:53
You can make a HUGE saving by just taking it to an indy VAG specalist. I dont get the whole "take it to the dealer" for something as routine and simple as a cambelt and water pump change.

Usually I would agree, but £249 seems pretty good to me.

I did try my local indy first, a VW Audi specialst - can you guess the price?

£600!!!  :shocked: I doubled checked the price but it was correct! Madness.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: ub7rm on 14 April 2010, 20:56
^^ Agreed, indy wants £500 ish for cambelt and water pump but the stealer sent me a voucher to get it done (cambelt etc) for £295 ... Its worth trying the stealers just to see if they are doing an offer.  At their usual rates it must be a loss leader for them.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: bacillus on 14 April 2010, 22:01
Got a quote from Awesome for full belt kit + water pump, £365 all in...
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: rotor on 15 April 2010, 00:11
Cant say I do, I know a good one where I live which I use in Croydon, but a bit of a drive.

Which one is it? I need a service soon, and I'm looking for a recommendation. I'm based in East London.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: dunc69 on 15 April 2010, 08:28
NewbieGTI, try M Chapman Auto Services Ltd, Hatfield Rd, St Albans. 01727 844179. VAG specialist. I'm very happy with them.

Good luck.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: AlanD on 15 April 2010, 10:20
Cant say I do, I know a good one where I live which I use in Croydon, but a bit of a drive.

Which one is it? I need a service soon, and I'm looking for a recommendation. I'm based in East London.

A chap called Ruben over at Tuning Wereks. I got told about him from someone on here and have used him ever since. He also has a very nice modded MK5 :)

http://tuningwerkes.com/contact.html
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: NewbieGTi on 15 April 2010, 11:02
NewbieGTI, try M Chapman Auto Services Ltd, Hatfield Rd, St Albans. 01727 844179. VAG specialist. I'm very happy with them.

Good luck.

Thanks I will give them a call and see how I get on.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: jaydubveedub on 01 May 2010, 20:31
That's a pretty good price.

Best quote i've had is from Stafford Audi (main dealer), they are advertising on ebay and quoting £249 inc VAT for a cambelt and tensioner change on any 4 cylinder VW, Audi or Seat (probably Skoda too). Not bad for a main dealer garage using genuine parts!

I contacted them, if I want the water pump doing at the same time it's £338 all in.

Someone on this forum put me onto it (see other threads). Will be getting it booked in very soon.

Got this done this morning - fantastic service!  :cool: I was expecting them to crawl all over the car looking for other jobs needing doing that they could charge me for, but no. Job completed in 2.5 hours and they even checked out an issue with the steering FOC which was good of them.They even offered to clean the car inside and out for free aswell, although I said no. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: crimsonfin on 04 May 2010, 20:28

just had my 06 gti in for 4 year service and dealer recommended cambelt change (its only covered 35k so i may wait a bit yet), for comparison they offered to do the belt for £400  :laugh:
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: bacillus on 04 May 2010, 21:48
The belt change isn't only dependent on milage but age as well hence the dealer wanting to change it at 4 years.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: bzqtang on 04 May 2010, 22:06
an advice if you go to France. Don't take a roundabout at any cost! Either you won't come out or won't get in. Just make sure you don't ram into someone cause most the French don't have insurance.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: mb on 05 May 2010, 02:40

just had my 06 gti in for 4 year service and dealer recommended cambelt change (its only covered 35k so i may wait a bit yet), for comparison they offered to do the belt for £400  :laugh:

Just booked mine in for its 4th year service and asked about the cambelt. They said it would be £600 and something to do!!  I told them I wasn't paying that and could get done for £299 at another VW dealership (which is about 30 miles away).  They agreed to price match straight away.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: wuker on 05 May 2010, 10:10

just had my 06 gti in for 4 year service and dealer recommended cambelt change (its only covered 35k so i may wait a bit yet), for comparison they offered to do the belt for £400  :laugh:

Just booked mine in for its 4th year service and asked about the cambelt. They said it would be £600 and something to do!!  I told them I wasn't paying that and could get done for £299 at another VW dealership (which is about 30 miles away).  They agreed to price match straight away.  :smiley:

Great workon getting them down on price.. I spoke to my dealer and they wanted about 680 for a cambelt and waterpump..


Out of interest how many miles has your car done?
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: mb on 05 May 2010, 16:26

just had my 06 gti in for 4 year service and dealer recommended cambelt change (its only covered 35k so i may wait a bit yet), for comparison they offered to do the belt for £400  :laugh:

Just booked mine in for its 4th year service and asked about the cambelt. They said it would be £600 and something to do!!  I told them I wasn't paying that and could get done for £299 at another VW dealership (which is about 30 miles away).  They agreed to price match straight away.  :smiley:

Great workon getting them down on price.. I spoke to my dealer and they wanted about 680 for a cambelt and waterpump..


Out of interest how many miles has your car done?


My car is a 2006 on an 06 plate just coming up to 30k miles.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: wuker on 05 May 2010, 16:51
Cool ive got a 2006 56 plate with around 60k on the clock

So Cambelt for me by the end of the year unfortunately

What were the two garages you got the cambelt prices from? I think I may travel someway to get the price of the change down

Either that or get an independant to do it
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: mb on 05 May 2010, 17:20
My local VW dealer that I use is Citygate in Ruislip.  The VW dealer that I quoted doing the £299 offer was Wayside in St Albans.

There were a few others I found doing offers.  All I did was find the dealers in an area then go to their own websites to see what service offers they had running.
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: Pintman on 05 May 2010, 17:52
Just had mine done at the local dealer.

£285 for the cambelt, think the water pump was around £35 (with no labour charge for fitting it either) also got a discount.  All fitted for £309.

Fairly pleased with that.  :wink:
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: winrya on 05 May 2010, 20:49
Just had mine done at the local dealer.

£285 for the cambelt, think the water pump was around £35 (with no labour charge for fitting it either) also got a discount.  All fitted for £309.

Fairly pleased with that.  :wink:

That's a great price, I'm paying £323 inc water pump and £89 for interval service with long life oil
Title: Re: Cambelt change - deals out there?
Post by: mattyboy1982 on 05 September 2010, 13:49
What dealer gave you that deal pintman? Im in the Bristol area as well and need my Cambelt done this month!