Cambelt and a/c condenser - £825 inc vat?

[melat0nin]

Hi all

I had my Ibiza (1.4 formula sport 100) serviced today and the garage (a local independent VAG specialist) quoted £825 inc vat for some additional work:

- cambelt with tensioners and water pump (172 + 39 + 12 + 21 = 244 parts, 125 labour)
- replace both front anti roll bar link rods (50 + 7 parts, 75 labour)
- replace a/c condenser and regas system (185 parts)

Total price includes labour and vat.

Does that sound reasonable? It seems pretty high to me, but I'm no expert. The VAT alone is £137 - ouch.

Any thoughts? I'm based in Edinburgh, in case anyone has any recommendations.

 

[Chino_UK]

Is it a TDI? The prices don't seem massively out tbh, cambelt is a bit higher than I've paid, but mines a 20vt which is a bit easier to do that TDI I'm told. The drop links sound expensive, I just fitted a new set of Delphi ones for £24 for the pair. Cost for parts for condenser and regas seems pretty reasonable.

 

[melat0nin]

Is it a TDI? The prices don't seem massively out tbh, cambelt is a bit higher than I've paid, but mines a 20vt which is a bit easier to do that TDI I'm told. The drop links sound expensive, I just fitted a new set of Delphi ones for £24 for the pair. Cost for parts for condenser and regas seems pretty reasonable.

Sorry I should have said it's a 1.4 Formula Sport 100 (petrol)

 

[R3k1355]

Drop links seem kinda expensive, they are usually not that much to buy and not that hard to fit.

 

[melat0nin]

Sounds like you guys think the cambelt (£442 inc VAT) and a/c fixes (£222 inc VAT) are priced reasonably. Is that right?

 

[melat0nin]

I just found a cambelt kit on Euro Car Parts for only 88 inc VAT. They also list compatible water pumps for between £25-£36 inc VAT. That would mean a maximum parts expense of £124 instead of £244 -- a saving of £120.

What do you reckon?

 

[melat0nin]

Car Parts 4 Less has the exact same parts for £102 inc VAT! That's a huge saving...

 

[melat0nin]

Just bought a new Gates cambelt kit and water pump on ebay for £92. Local garage is going to fit for £185, so a total of £277 -- £165 less than the original quote

 

[RUM4MO]

Which VAG indie in Edinburgh gave you these prices - the one in Bilston industrial estate?

I've either used main dealer or StarPerformance in Dysart Fife, well worth the trip there and back!

I can't work out the £172 line item in the cambelt changing parts price breakdown.

For what it might have been worth, check local VAG dealer menu pricing for the cambelt change and get a proper AC place to replace your condenser and recharge.

 

[melat0nin]

It was Bellingham Motors, just off Broughton Street.

I've arranged the labour to be carried out by Causewayside Garage - John there is vouched for by a friend of mine, and on the phone he was helpful and honest.



Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk

 

[RUM4MO]

Ah, I've heard about the ones down Leith, but nothing good or bad, was just aware that they existed after you mentioned the name. There is another VAG indie in Bilston Glen Enterprise place, called Autohaus. They also seem to be a bit steep for standard jobs. I think that the properly certified guy that used to operate out of South Gyle industrial estate, still operates from a smaller workshop, Witherspoon Motor Services - I've used them for a cambelt change on my old B5 Passat 2.6 V6 - they were a lot cheaper and better than Western VW who just initially argued that my car's engine had a cam chain - idiots, "listen to the customer".