dealer MOT's and repair for old car

pudding06

I have a P reg VW and have been taking it to the dealers to get repaired and serviced etc.

I am about to have its mot done and cam belt replaced.

I have a loyalty card given to me when I took the car to them when I bought it 2nd hand!!! ( not form them either)and they are give me half price mot's - it'll sail through cos it always does!!!! never had an mot bill since I first bought it 5 years ago.

Cam belt is £329.99 but will get 15% labour discount.

The thing is I've approached local garages but they actually charge more becasue they dont want to work on a vw or an old car.

I also had 2 bumpers replaced because of accidents ( none my fault:mad: )

The first one the insurance company insisted on using their own (cheap) options and the second I insited on taking to my normal garage.

the first one did a cr*p job and charged a fortune for it. They second was a brilliant job and actually worked out cheaper!!! luckily I wasnt paying but I am very nosey.:p

Tyres I get done elsewhere ( at their suggestion!!) and from time to time I get little things checked and done for free from the dealers.

I think perhaps overall i get a fair deal - what do you think? do you use the dealer or somone else?

pudds

saintjanet

I think it is important to build up a relationship with whoever you trust to work on your car (professional not sexual!!)

In the past i have used dealers,independent garages and a one man mobile mechanic,they all have there own advantages.I dont think main dealers are always the most expensive and you can sometimes receive more from them if you have a problem.

I think sometimes people try to find the cheapest place to have a job done and it can result in the work not being up to standard.

I am having a recall done on my car by the main dealer and because i am known to them,they are doing it at 8am on saturday, as this is most convenient for me.I only received the notification on wednesday,so i am well pleased.

On the other hand we had an old type mini for several years,took it to a small garage for mot for years and it never failed!! and sometimes you hear horror stories of failed mots.i am not saying that there was any kind of fiddle with this,only that they never tried to rip us off by finding jobs that were not needed.

delboyuk_3

I would be surprised if a cambelt change cost that much from a reputable specialist or trusted local garage.

eg prices for work on a couple of my cars. (Past/present)

Astra 1.4 LS - Cambelt change with all aux belt, tensioner and water pump £150 from local garage.

Alfa Romeo 2.4 JTD - Cambelt, auxillary belt and tensioner all for about £200 from a local Alfa specialist.

chrisw

Some VW/Audis are expensive to replace the cambelt because the whole front of the car, including most of the bodywork, radiators, etc, has to be dismantled to get at the belt.

steady__eddie

I am only a d.i.yer but I have a V.W. camper upon which I have changed and rebuilt engines. Fortunately I have the time and basic knowledge (not to mention the invaluable assistance of a few jolly good forums) to perform the majority of major tasks. I have this inbuilt fear about garages ripping me off and I prefer to do my own servicing because I know that the work (that would have been charged for) has been done.
The last time that I changed my fanbelt was in March 2003 and the cost of the belt then was £2-94 inc. v.a.t (G.S.F.) They may have gone up a bit in price since then but it just shows how much labour costs are.
Fanbelts are crucial if you don't want to wreck your engine. If I had to pay to have one replaced, I would be tempted to mark it in some way, tippex springs to mind and when I had the car back I would check to see that a new one had indeed been fitted.
Good luck.

saintjanet

steady__eddie wrote:

I am only a d.i.yer but I have a V.W. camper upon which I have changed and rebuilt engines. Fortunately I have the time and basic knowledge (not to mention the invaluable assistance of a few jolly good forums) to perform the majority of major tasks. I have this inbuilt fear about garages ripping me off and I prefer to do my own servicing because I know that the work (that would have been charged for) has been done.
The last time that I changed my fanbelt was in March 2003 and the cost of the belt then was £2-94 inc. v.a.t (G.S.F.) They may have gone up a bit in price since then but it just shows how much labour costs are.
Fanbelts are crucial if you don't want to wreck your engine. If I had to pay to have one replaced, I would be tempted to mark it in some way, tippex springs to mind and when I had the car back I would check to see that a new one had indeed been fitted.
Good luck.

Sorry i am a little confused are you talking about fanbelts or cambelts?If you mean cambelts,it is often as easy to change as to inspect and mark,so he could change it himself if he could get at it.Not trying to be funny by the way.

steady__eddie

My profound apologies, I am talking cambelts not fanbelts, it was the way it came out via my finger (it's usually my mouth). That's todays senior moment out of the way, slight amendment to my previous post, the date was January 03 and the price was £9-99 when I replaced my last cambelt.
Don't know what it's like to get at the cambelt on a V.W. car but on the van it's about 3 spring loaded clips to prise off and the cambelt cover comes off quite easily giving access to the belt. As far as changing it is concerned, the various cogs have to be locked in place using the "special V.W. tools" (LOL) in order that the correct timing sequence is maintained. Given the choice of changing it or marking it, I know which one I'd prefer. Mind you, I know which one my Visa would prefer.
Thank you for highlighting my advanced state of senility up, I really must get myself a P.R. Manager as the Omega 3 oil doesn't seem to be having much effect.

steady__eddie

quote

it is often as easy to change as to inspect and mark,so he could change it himself if he could get at it.Not trying to be funny by the way.

Yes you are quite right, after my last post I was just settling down to Newsnight with my Ovaltine when I realised that there's no need to pratt about locking the cogs up. Just loosen the tension on the belt a touch, cut the belt in half along its length, NOT ACROSS IT, slide the outer half off, slip the new belt on, cut the remaining old half off, slide the new belt on and tighten the tension, job done.
Total cost, new belt, decent Stanley knife, bit of Swarfega or washing up liquid and a spanner for the tensioner. Why not look the part and wear a pair of surgical gloves that they all appear to wear nowadays ?
I'm gonna knock the Omega 3 on the head and get a supply of Ovaltine in.