Cam Belt on 52 reg Leon Cupra - when to change ?

[andy15star]

Hi, i was in the SEAT garage today to book car in for it's 80,000 mile service. Last time it got its service i was told that the Cam Belt gets changed at 120,000 miles on my car (52 reg Leon Cupra). Apparently it gets checked every 10,000 miles from 60k upwards and if it looks like it needs changing then they recommend it.

Luckily up to now, it got through the 60k and 70k service without the Cam Belt needing changing.

However, today when i asked the mechanic he said it should be changed at 90,000 miles. Now, this threw me a bit because i've never heard 90k being mentioned !

He said the computer system said 120,000 KM / 90,000 miles. On thinking about this 120,000km does not even equal 90,000 miles !!! - so i think they were trying to rip me off by getting it done when it might not need replacing !

Anyway, i told him NOT to do it unless when they do the service it looked as if it needs replacing.

So....what are your views on changing the cam belt, when is it recommended to change it (assuming it looks okay), is it 120,000 miles as they told me in the first place ?. I'm sure the handbook mentioned 60,000 miles ????. No one seems to know exactly !!

Best Regards,
Andy

 

[andycupra]

it was originally 120,000 miles with inspections from 60,000.

However, this advice has been changed, and it would appear that most adopt the following:
change at 60,000 miles recommended
or
at 5 years or whatever comes first. - many are now saying 4 years...

 

[kevlpool24]

ill second that

 

[andy15star]

So do you think i should ask them to getthe cam belt done on my 80k service which is due in 2 weeks time ?

If so, then what do you reckon the cost (all incl) for:
80k service + Cam Belt change + water pump (metal lugs type), would be roughly ?

Just paid £430 today for alternator, and 2 pipes (breather hose ?) replacing.

Thinking this is getting a bit too much for a £5k car !, but wanting to keep it at least another year or so. I know i will need 2 front tyres and brake pads/discs in the next half year or so.

Regards,
Andy

 

[NickT]

If you search you'll find a shedload on this.
General consensus on here is to do it anywhere from 60-80k (don't forget the water pump, cam belt tensioners and rollers etc, again a search will reveal much on this).
As Andy says your service schedule probably says inspect at 60k then every 10k up to 120k when, if it hasn't been it should be replaced regardless.

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showpost.php?p=1550442&postcount=28

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=141177&highlight=cam+belt

Damn my slow typing!

 

[andy15star]

Cheers NickT, i had a quick search through and did find bits & bobs on the subject, cheers for the links. So, amending it slightly to add the tensioners/rollers, what kind of price am i looking at all in, for:

Cam Belt replacing + Tensioners/Rollers + Water Pump (Metal) + 80k Service ?

I know the service is approx £210 all in, but clueless on the Water pump/Cam belt/tensioners/rollers side of things.

Probably using the SEAT dealer as i don't really know anyone else who could do the Cam belt.

Regards,
Andy

 

[kevlpool24]

I'd defo do it around 80k i only had mine 6 months but i got all mine changed under warrenty when i bought it at 70k my bottom pulley was making making funny noise. but id have no idea of cost. sure someone will help out there would guess around £350-£400 mark .
but you say 5 grand car it wont be worth a carrot if that belt snaps

 

[andy15star]

Too true Kev, sound advice there! - and it would be my luck it would snap! - pardon my cluelessness on this (i know nowt about cam belt replacement), but could a reputable back street garage do this work (is it a difficult job) ?, would i save quite a lot in doing so ? and are the tensioners/roller replacements extra to the cam belt being changed, or does it come hand in hand in the one job ?

Best Regards
Andy

 

[kevlpool24]

i dont think it is too big of a job cambelt normaly comes as a kit with tensioners ect but your water pump and antifreeze will be extra some people will only use main dealer (stealer) but i think most reputable garages could do the job just need to be a little carefull when selecting garage to use

 

[NickT]

Cheers NickT, i had a quick search through and did find bits & bobs on the subject, cheers for the links. So, amending it slightly to add the tensioners/rollers, what kind of price am i looking at all in, for:

Cam Belt replacing + Tensioners/Rollers + Water Pump (Metal) + 80k Service ?

I know the service is approx £210 all in, but clueless on the Water pump/Cam belt/tensioners/rollers side of things.

Probably using the SEAT dealer as i don't really know anyone else who could do the Cam belt.

Regards,
Andy

Well I had to have my cam belt and water pump done last year due to pump failure and it was about £380 at VAGtech who are an independent VAG specialist (in case you didn't guess from the name), so you're looking at the best part of £600 for the lot, unless you go to a main dealer.

 

[andy15star]

Do you know of a good garage/VAG specialist to try around the Durham / Newcastle area ??. I keep seeing dpmperformance on this forum ( http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?p=2012679 ) - halfway down the page.

Best Regards,
Andy

 

[andy15star]

Well after a day of trying to make my mind up on whether to buy a newer car or not (seeing as though mine has just cost me £400 for pipes & alternator and is due to cost around £600 in a couple of weeks (for MOT/Servicing/CAM Belt replacement (tensioners etc)/Water Pump), i have come to the conclusion that i will bite the bullet and pay to get the work done then keep it another year or so (to justify the price recently paid!). I love my Leon Cupra so much and i really do want to keep it!.

I'm just worried that i pay best part of £1k this month only to find other things start to go wrong !.

In your expert opinion, what more could i be expecting to go wrong on it ?. It's an October 2002 (52) reg, got 77,000 miles on the clock, i don't abuse it, it's had new breather pipe fitted, new alternator, tyres are good, discs seem fine (about 18mth old) etc. Could the gearbox/clutch go soon, or do they last forever (so to speak) ?.

It's a big toss up between buying a 2 yr old Ibiza FR (or similar) before servicing/cam belt is due in a couple of weeks, or keeping the car i really love for another year or so and getting the work done !

Andy

 

[markgb]

Mine just done 81k, I've had exactly one month.
It's got full service, and didn't have the cambelt changed at 60k. I had the belt /waterpump and tensioners changed. It cost £350.00, thought it was a bit steep but cheaper than sorting out any failures. The kits can be sourced for around £150.00, plus labour.
My mechanic has said that it used to be 90K but now it's 60K or 4 years.

 

[andy15star]

Cheers Mark! - i'll definitely ask them to do it on the 80k service in a couple of weeks time (has 77k on at the moment), i know in all likeliness that the cam belt would probably last to 120k, but i'm not prepared to wait till then to see !!

So did you get yours done by SEAT ?. I'm currently looking into whether some other reputable (but cheaper) garage could do it. Have my mind on a VAG specialist garage close by. Or would you just recommend SEAT do it and pay a little extra to get piece of mind and warranty ?

I mean i know the service / MOT was gonna already cost best part of £250 + whatever needs doing for the MOT, so i guess £600 for everything is expected.

Do you think they'd charge slightly less due to the fact that the service/mot/cam belt/tensioners/water pump are all getting done together ?

Best Regards,
Andy

 

[markgb]

Cheers Mark! - i'll definitely ask them to do it on the 80k service in a couple of weeks time (has 77k on at the moment), i know in all likeliness that the cam belt would probably last to 120k, but i'm not prepared to wait till then to see !!

So did you get yours done by SEAT ?. I'm currently looking into whether some other reputable (but cheaper) garage could do it. Have my mind on a VAG specialist garage close by. Or would you just recommend SEAT do it and pay a little extra to get piece of mind and warranty ?

I mean i know the service / MOT was gonna already cost best part of £250 + whatever needs doing for the MOT, so i guess £600 for everything is expected.

Do you think they'd charge slightly less due to the fact that the service/mot/cam belt/tensioners/water pump are all getting done together ?

Best Regards,
Andy

Hi Andy,

My mate works at an idependant garage, if he'd not gone through the books it would have just cost parts.

you could alway ring round other manfacturers to get a quote, especially at £600.00. I was charged 4.5 hours labour (waterpump alone is 4 hours), so yes they should charge less.

But like I say mate, ring round other garages as long as the work is carried out be a decent garage and they stamp your service bool you'll be ok

 

[andy15star]

Cheers for the good advice there Mark, yep i'll have a ring around and if there's not too much of a difference in price then i'll get the SEAT dealer to do it. They've always been good to me and pretty reasonable.

Regards,
Andy

 

[NickT]

Do you know of a good garage/VAG specialist to try around the Durham / Newcastle area ??. I keep seeing dpmperformance on this forum ( http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?p=2012679 ) - halfway down the page.

Best Regards,
Andy

From looking at their website they only appear to be a performance parts retailer...my bad, just found this so reckon they'd be worth a call: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=165357&highlight=VAG+North+East
Damian posts on here quite a bit, might be worth asking for feedback from customers on here?

Here's an old link asking a similar question: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=113275&highlight=VAG+North+East

 

[andy15star]

Cheers Nick !!!!!!! - i'll have a go with those links !

Much appreciated,
Andy

 

[andy15star]

Funnily enough !!! - i've just had an email from Damian at dpmperformance.co.uk to say that they could do all the work (except the MOT) for around £495, thats:
1) Upgraded water pump (metal lug type)
2) 80k service
3) Cam Belt replacing (with tensioners rollers etc)

That sounds a decent price doesn't it ? - I take it dpmperformance are a good reputable firm (not having heard of them), i have read the forums and they seem pretty sound.

Regards, Andy

 

[MrJohnnyB]

Just go have a read around DPM's part of the forum, tbh I'd be suprised if youd have an issue with any of the sponsers of this forum, the simple fact that they're willing to cut a deal with the forums shows they have a bit of an idea about what they're tlaking about.