Cambelt - good deal?

[matthx]

Hello all,

I was wondering if some Audi gurus here could tell me if this is a good deal.

I've just bought an Audi A3 1.8 SE with 53,000 miles on the clock.
It's an 02 plate and from what I can tell the cambelt has never been changed.

A local garage has said they will fit a new cambelt, tensioner and V belt (?!) for £280. They will also do the waterpump at the same time and use genuine VW parts.

So, my question, is £280 reasonable? I'm not sure if it's worth getting Audi to do the work, especially since it no longer has full dealer service history.

And also, is the cambelt change overdue? I'll be getting the work done regardless, but I feel like I'm driving a time bomb at the moment!

[m33sta]

Hello all,

I was wondering if some Audi gurus here could tell me if this is a good deal.

I've just bought an Audi A3 1.8 SE with 53,000 miles on the clock.
It's an 02 plate and from what I can tell the cambelt has never been changed.

A local garage has said they will fit a new cambelt, tensioner and V belt (?!) for £280. They will also do the waterpump at the same time and use genuine VW parts.

So, my question, is £280 reasonable? I'm not sure if it's worth getting Audi to do the work, especially since it no longer has full dealer service history.

And also, is the cambelt change overdue? I'll be getting the work done regardless, but I feel like I'm driving a time bomb at the moment!

If I remember yes that is a good deal, think I was getting around £350 last time I looked.

[SEMKY]

Think I paid just slightly more than that at a specialist, so sounds good to me!

[GeorgeBoy]

Yeah thats a good deal i apid £320 at a specialist plus you will have a warranty with using gen parts thats what i did when i got mine changed at 93000miles.....now thats a time bomb!!!

[SEMKY]

You have to consider the age of the actual belt too....if thats never been changed on an 02 plate, then I'd say it was a few years overdue....I think Audi are recommending 4 years max now? Could be wrong, but the consequenses (££££) of it breaking in service just don't bear thinking about!!

[t85c]

Just did same thing for same money with a local garage. I did a lot of calling around and best price for any specialist was £310. Most expensive was £600 from an independent LOL

[naquiss]

Yes, that is reasonable. After asking a few mechanics and dealerships, the cheapest was £280 for the same work.

[whiteman81]

i paid £175 for the above, but i never got the water pump done and that was at a specialist in motherwell scotland.

[naquiss]

The water pump may have added about £30 to the total.

Anyway, £280 was the cheapest I could find in the East London area. London labour rates are normally more expensive than any where else in the country.