New Headgasket

[daniel-1986]

i need to fit a new headgasket to my 1.3 mk2 golf as it has got an oil leak from the head for about 10000 miles but ive only had it for 6000 miles i didnt notice it wen i bought it. im gonna buy the parts to keep costs down and was wondering what i need. i know i obviously need a headgasket kit but wud it be worth having the cambelt changed plus wat it the average labour cost if i buy the parts myself and i know it can vary between garages

[H981CVV]

well mate, the 1.3 is easy to do! it depends if your on a budget because whilst you have the head off its a perfect oppurtunity to do a light head over-hall and skim! if not all you will need is a gasket set, replace your exhaust and inlet manifold gasket while you are at it as you have them off anyway. You will also need so new head bolts as they are stretch bolts and are useless after the have been tightened down. Then just follow a manual slowly and professionally! it really is a easy job. You could do your cambelt aswell but you will need a new water pump. any questions im sure will be answered quickly

[rubjonny]

i would do the cambelt at the same time, and do the waterpump too as this is the tensioner for the cambelt.

[Ben Lessani]

Are you wanting to buy the parts yourself and then take them to a garage to get fitted? You'd probably be better off letting them order the parts, most garages get a significant trade discount over normal people, so they could probably still get you the parts cheaper - even with their markup.

Labour is about 6/7 hours, so about £250 I imagine, all your replacement bits...

£12? -  5l Oil
£4?   - Oil Filter
£16? - Head Bolt Set
£20? - Head Gasket
£25? - Skim
??    - Any special tools req. (Torque wrench, Torque angle gauge)

Not necc. but reccomended
£15? - Timing Belt
£3?   - Aux Belt
£30? - Water Pump

Roughly £125-150 on parts alone.

[daniel-1986]

went to a couple of garages one was a general mechanics garage and the other was a vw/audi specialist.
the general garage quoted me £180+vat and parts and labour, the vw garage quoted me £285+vat and parts and labour.im gonna get the money together in a couple of months and get it put in to have it done, plus one more wat would be the cause of a tempremental temp guage the car has never overheated