Price for cambelt on 130PD

[PeteK]

My Passat is coming up to it's cambelt change shortly, it had the belt changed last at 80k miles when it was owned by the previous lease company owner along with a new radiator. I am planning on changing it at 140k (currently on 139k) as I doubt that it has ever had a new water pump fitted during it's life.

I rang the local VW dealer who have a special offer on of £299 including vat for the cambelt, they said to do the pump as well they would want an extra £109 including vat. I also rang a local indy who quoted £264 including vat for the belt plus an extra £40 for the pump (all using genuine parts from the same VW dealer).

My question is, do you think the dealer is trying to rip me off by charging an extra £109 for the pump? The indy advised that the genuine pump is only approx £30, the labour for fitting is negligible as the pump only has to be unbolted and the new one refitted. Even allowing 15 mins for removing, fitting and cleaning the mating surfaces plus the cost of 4 litres of long life antifreeze, this seems a little excessive?

[caldirun]

My Passat is coming up to it's cambelt change shortly, it had the belt changed last at 80k miles when it was owned by the previous lease company owner along with a new radiator. I am planning on changing it at 140k (currently on 139k) as I doubt that it has ever had a new water pump fitted during it's life.

I rang the local VW dealer who have a special offer on of £299 including vat for the cambelt, they said to do the pump as well they would want an extra £109 including vat. I also rang a local indy who quoted £264 including vat for the belt plus an extra £40 for the pump (all using genuine parts from the same VW dealer).

My question is, do you think the dealer is trying to rip me off by charging an extra £109 for the pump? The indy advised that the genuine pump is only approx £30, the labour for fitting is negligible as the pump only has to be unbolted and the new one refitted. Even allowing 15 mins for removing, fitting and cleaning the mating surfaces plus the cost of 4 litres of long life antifreeze, this seems a little excessive?
Do it yourself and save around £200. The pump seal is an o ring so the mating face should be clean (unless its been leaking, that you would know about for sure when you take the cover off) the old pump can be pulled out and the new pump fitted for the loss of just a cup full of coolant. Tools required for cam belt change are cheap and easily obtained, I had never done one and took my time, it was about 5 hours work (be much quicker next time though and no tool costs!)

[PeteK]

Trust me, in the past I would have taken this option! I worked at a main dealership for 14yrs (not as a mechanic) and always had access to the workshop. However times have changed and I left the motor trade 2yrs ago, I don't really have the space to do my own servicing and prefer to let someone else do it these days. Thanks for your reply anyway!:beerchug:

[passat 130 tdi]

my local quoted me £180 for a cam belt change , but its grim up north - hence the price. :biglaugh:

[PeteK]

my local quoted me £180 for a cam belt change , but its grim up north - hence the price. :biglaugh:

I'm also up north mate! Just outside Liverpool.

[passat 130 tdi]

thats central , north is where footballs go in off beachballs. :biglaugh:

[Issac Hunt]

my local quoted me £180 for a cam belt change , but its grim up north - hence the price. :biglaugh:

Thats very cheap. Surely it cant include all the tensioners and rollers as well? Or a water pump? All the parts you should change will be £150+ without any labour charges being added. I'd be worried about quality of parts and/or workmanship at that price.

[passat 130 tdi]

i did say cam belt change. :D

[Issac Hunt]

i did say cam belt change. :D

So whats the point in geting that done? Thats more likely to induce a failure in the rollers, tensioner or water pump. Bit of a false economy isn't it?

[PeteK]

Both the VW dealer and Indy advised me they use the cam belt kit which includes all the necessary tensioner pulleys etc.