AKE Camshafts-Replacement and emptying my wallet

[Yorky Col]

Hi all.
2001 2.5 TDi Avant Quattro Auto.

Had to be recovered from M1 on Saturday,total power loss and unusual engine noise.
I use an independent garage-Audi Dave in Clowne-and I've just come back from looking at 4 very badly scored camshafts and 24 very worn followers.
Now the crunch part.
To replace Camshafts,Followers,Timing belt kit,Water pump,Thermostat,Oil and Air filters,Turbo boost hose (split) ditto Air hose to turbo,remove sump,clean strainer plus all gaskets and coolant........£3k. Gulp! (He has removed and checked the Glow plugs,they're fine)

Is this a fair price for parts and labour? I know he uses genuine VAG parts-2 year warranty and all that and the parts prices look to be in the region of £2k plus.
This is a hell of a lot of money but....as the car stands it's worth £50 in scrap value.
I know about the 10k-not-20k oil changes (now) so can anyone tell me if I'm getting a fair deal and should I possibly use another garage?

TIA.

Regards.
Col

[Monkey117SE]

After reading this forum for a few years now i would say that £3k sounds about right, all genuine parts etc. I think the standard four pot 150 tdi ARL in the mk4 golfs cost about £2k when they need cam, lifters etc, so £3k for a v6 quattro sounds about right.

[allan_audi]

Wow 20k oil changes, I don't understand where you got that figure from? The service indicator should be informing you at around 10k, normally about 9.5k on my AKE.

Its not just the interval more the type of oil used. Don't listen to any of the car parts places etc. They'll sell you any old junk oil. You need to use a long life oil, such as Castrol Edge, these have guaranteed long life intervals. They're usually marked as meeting the VAG 504 / 507 specs.

[adamss24]

I have a 180 bhp engine which i'll pull off my a4 quattro sport as i am about to transplant a fettled 1.9 Tdi engine in it. Drop me a pm if interested, i am based in N. London. I can fit it as well ! Regards, Chris- 077 899 12128.

[Yorky Col]

Hi Chris

Tried sending you a PM but your inbox is full.

Regards.
Col

[G3off]

Hi Col,

sorry to hear your story of woe!

It got me thinking though....

was there any indication that things were about to let go?

I have read you can take heads off etc but wondered if there were any mechanical noises to keep an ear out for?

Geoff

[Crasher]

I bully my customers with non roller follower V6 TDI's to have 5K oil changes using Quantum Platinum oil. With me doing this for a good five years now I have not seen a repeat failure. Whilst the cams are being done I strongly recommend you have new oil retention valves fitted, it means a bit more work but it is worth it. £3K is a reasonable price, I charge a little bit more but not much.

[Yorky Col]

There was no warning at all.Oil pressure and engine temp stayed up,I drove (slowly) about 200 yards before stopping on the hard shoulder.
The only indication I got was an unusual noise so I decided to stop.

Regards.
Col

[Yorky Col]

I have read on this forum about oil retention valves but I can't find the post.
How many ORV's will I need and how much are they?
£3k might seem a reasonable price but it is not the sort of money I can lay my hands on at the moment so I'm racking my brains trying to find a way to raise it.

I appreciate all the advice and suggestions so far.Thank you.

Regards.
Col

[Crasher]

The oil retention valves (items 3 and 8) for a 2001 AKE are part number 059 103 175 F and are not expensive but as I am not at work I cannot give you the exact price, they are about £15 each. Replacing them means removing the oil filter bracket which unfortunately entails removing the EGR valve and the turbo BUT this is not a hard thing to do.