1.8 20v Cam belt Advice ?

[richy]

Hi all.

Got my car serviced recently at Smith Knight Fay VW in stock port.  Dealt with a guy called John who's into his Mk2's - top service.

Anyway, they recommended a cam belt change soon due to the age of my car.  They quoted £380 including labour.  Is this a fair price?  What should I be paying, and does anyone know any good independents in the NW?

John at VW recommened Golf Nutz in Middlewich - anyone heard of it???

[kniterider]

fookin ell!!!!... well for genuine vw parts from what i remember belt £20, tensioner £45, intermediate roller £20, so about £80 in parts thats if there gonna change them other bits also, so £300 in  labour... bit steep mate really, whilst its in bits get your water pump changed to £45 ish but £15 returned for old unit as its it bits and easy to get too, worth doin cause these are know to fail round the 80k mark. if you can find some one who can change all that lot for £250-300 tops that would be a good price id say, they are a pain in the ass as you have to take the engine mount off to change them....

but no matter what you end up paying.... make sure you get them done!!!!! not just the belt, or just the tensioner get th other 2 bits done aswell!! look how much mine cost me when me tensioner failed last year

 

[kniterider]

ill fish me history/reciepts out in a min and get the part numbers...

 

[richy]

Cheers matey, would be interested to know them part nos. 

Anyone know any good independent garages in the NW (esp. Cheshire / Manchester type area??)

[kniterider]

right the par numbers for the following for the AGN 1.8 20v none turbo engine are....

roller (intermediate) 06B109244  £20.07
water pump 06A121011TX         Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£25.80
cam belt 06B109119A                £20.00
tensioner pulley 06B109243         Ãƒâ€šÃ‚£37.87

ALL PRICES ARE PLUS VAT!!

and they may have changed since last year but as a rought guide...get all them done to be safe, then you know your worry free!!

 

[bleasy]

I got a quote for doing the cam belt on my gt tdi 150 the other day from dutton forshaw in preston. 

they wanted £318 inc parts, labour and vat.  they reckoned about 3 hours work so if the parts for a diesel car are similar price to petrol ones, they are charging enough for labour 

[charri42]

I have been impressed with WH Jervis in Stoke on Trent - VW specialists for many years and much cheaper than even my local garage.

Personally I am a gambler and am taking VW's 120k service intervals for cambelt literally. I'm only at 75k and the car is 2001 with mainly motorway cruises.... I am trying to convince myself it'll be OK.....

[PaulMK4GTI]

I got maine changed earlier in the year and VW (Bury) quoted me the same - £380, nearly fell off my seat!

Anyway i ended up getting it done at G&N Autoco in Haslingden (01706 223116), not too far from Manchester. It cost me about £270 inc VAT. However they charged me this because they'd quoted me first but it ended up taking them longer than the 4 hours labour they quoted! The mechanic also said it was the biggest pain in the ass and he'd never touch another! I think he was joking but they may quote you more now they know how long it takes.

Also, this didn't include the water pump, but then, neither did the quote from VW.

[gtibob]

charri42
dont risk it!! I have seen 3 of these engines with broken belts between 92,000 and 97,000 miles. Its not a difficult job, 2.5 to 3 hours max. The engine mount is easily removed from the engine bay. Agree with everything Kniterider said.

[charri42]

I know Bob, you are right! but I'm a gambler....... watch this space for a 'WANTED 1.8T engine' ad

besides, had the car 6 months now, am bored, fancy something different, but what? test drove a mk5 GTi and looked at Focus ST today, but have vowed never to suffer big depreciation again, so that rules out most new cars.

Mk5 Golf is so impressive... I like the looks of my mk4, but parked beside a mk5 it looks really dated.