I just Paid £1200,did they changed the cambelt really? video attached

m0bov

£1200 is a phenomenal amount to pay for a cam belt. Phone around other garages but I’d say that was extremely excessive.

fred246

HansOndabush said:

fred246 said:

She has her own key. She drove off with my Ctek charger connected. That didn't end well. "I wondered what that wire was there for".

Why would your wife try to start a car you are changing the timing belt on? Doesn't make any sense. Wouldn't she see the bonnet up and you working? Don't you talk to each other?

I am retired and work on the drive. I would only change the timing belt when I didn't need to use the car in the next week or so. If it started raining I would just drop the bonnet until it stopped.

Grumpy_chap

HansOndabush said:

Why would your wife try to start a car you are changing the timing belt on? Doesn't make any sense. Wouldn't she see the bonnet up and you working? Don't you talk to each other?

She probably watched an online video "101 ways to get rid of your have-a-go mechanic and get the car serviced properly"

fred246

My wife is very lucky. She basically has a 'just add fuel' deal. Only problem is she has to be reminded to check the fuel gauge. Sometimes the low fuel warning is the first she knows of the problem.

Biggus_Dickus

m0bov said:

£1200 is a phenomenal amount to pay for a cam belt. Phone around other garages but I’d say that was extremely excessive.

Seems about right to me;....look at this Engine belt ...1400Euros...bargain!

 

forgotmyname

HansOndabush said:

That's clever; how did you remove the wheel without the locking wheel key?

I collect tools that maybe useful one day.  Wheel nut removers have been used more than once. Not
come across a nut that cannot be removed by them. (yet)

Most decent garages and tyre places will have a couple of sets to suit most nuts.

hareng

m0bov said:

£1200 is a phenomenal amount to pay for a cam belt. Phone around other garages but I’d say that was extremely excessive.

Unless you have a BMW with an N47 engine, that £1200 would be a back hander cash price. Engine and box has to come out chains at back of engine sandwiched between gearbox.
20V Golf cost me £275 labour and about £110 genuine parts. Vauxhall dealership wanted £650 16 years ago on the ZE22 engine (chain), got it done by same chief mechanic for £220 cash.

cherry2017

hareng said:

m0bov said:

£1200 is a phenomenal amount to pay for a cam belt. Phone around other garages but I’d say that was extremely excessive.

Unless you have a BMW with an N47 engine, that £1200 would be a back hander cash price. Engine and box has to come out chains at back of engine sandwiched between gearbox.
20V Golf cost me £275 labour and about £110 genuine parts. Vauxhall dealership wanted £650 16 years ago on the ZE22 engine (chain), got it done by same chief mechanic for £220 cash.

sure, I was cheated with 520, then they called me for 1200, then I was not well and busy, and I asked them do extra job: replace the driving belt(outside of the engine between alternator..), the driving belt was my own part, they said the they will give the tensioner for it as well. so usually they ask about nearly 300 for this belt, this means I paid 1200-300=900 for the cambelt changing which they said there are two cambelt inside of the engine, if they did really changed the cambelt for 900 pounds, I can accept it, as i knew they the shark. just bit doubt if they really did the job, as the sample request for swapping tyres, they only did one for me, which left two different makes tyres and different worn tyres on same axis, in theory it is risky.
God bless.

hareng

cherry2017

cherry2017 said:

sure, I was cheated  - How, youve shown no evidence.

: replace the driving belt (outside of the engine between alternator..), the driving belt was my own part, they said the they will give the tensioner for it as well. -4 seconds picturing top area of belt that looks new ish cant tell.   so usually they ask about nearly 300 for this belt, - No thats a £13 belt and about 1/2hr labour.    this means I paid 1200-300=900 for the cambelt changing which they said there are two cambelt inside of the engine, if they did really changed the cambelt for 900 pounds, I can accept it, as i knew they the shark. -In all of 7 mins not once have you remotely shown the cam belt/chain area, just flew past it at 3min 59sec picturing just about everything else of no concern.

That was very very painful to watch for the second time, all 7 minutes of it and only 4 seconds any good. If you really need any help, take a picture or video of the items you wanted replacing, not every where else as in the video. Pipes etc do not need to be removed to do such a simple auxilliary belt replacement but may help. Cam chain if its dry or wet, they would have got at it through the wheel arch and may not have had to disturb hoses and such like. Picture the screw heads holding cover on, we can help you and only then. If theres rub marks, fresh damage, dirt or rust ingress in socket heads etc its a tell tale sign.

Sad to say i dont trust any garages or dealerships under warranty, even ones familly and friends have used for decades, one day they will pull a fast one and its where you have to be ready. ie take in for half shaft bearing (thats rear wheel needs pressing on and off) then find out 5 engine bolts missing and 3 barely in.

born_again

The answer is to get a 3rd party to look at it and give you a report. You can then use that if the 1st garage has not done the work.