Service and Cam belt

[Daisymaisy]

I am due a major service and cam belt change and called VW and was quoted over £800 for the cam belt and £500 for the service! My last cam belt at the same place was £440 so doubled in 4 years.

My van is 2013 reg so getting older but has always been serviced at VW main dealer. Do you think it’s worth finding an independent VW specialist and does anyone know anywhere decent in the West Sussex area?

Not sure if I am getting tight but those prices

 

[Perfectos]

I am due a major service and cam belt change and called VW and was quoted over £800 for the cam belt and £500 for the service! My last cam belt at the same place was £440 so doubled in 4 years.

My van is 2013 reg so getting older but has always been serviced at VW main dealer. Do you think it’s worth finding an independent VW specialist and does anyone know anywhere decent in the West Sussex area?

Not sure if I am getting tight but those prices

Various threads here and on T6 forum, dealers have increased prices this year.

2013 no warranty to worry about so go for an Indi who will be far far less even if using OEM parts.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

These guys used to service my old T4 and have a good reputation. They do the MOT’s on our T5.1:

P&S Autos

Bognor Motors are a bit further out but have an excellent reputation. They fitted uprated ARBs, upgraded headlight & a remap for us. Car park of full of builders T5, T6’s which is always a good sign!

https://bmvs.co.uk/

Below has been going for years in Hove and has good reputation:

Pfeiffers Garage – Brighton's Main Agent Alternative

pfeiffersgarage.co.uk

This one gets good feedback just outside of Ditchling, but seemed expensive / close to main delear prices when I took our Audi in for a quote.

SW AUTO REPAIRS

Experienced technicians, quality parts, free collection and delivery.

swautorepairs.co.uk

 

[EdVW2018]

2018 ocean, I paid those figures for mine last year as the 5year timeframe came in. Get the water pump changes as well - it’s £45 we’ll spend plus less labour charge. Mine was leaking after 20k miles.

I would go for an Independent ad generally they are 50% to 60% of the proceeds of main dealers

 

[pjm-84]

In the same boat. Something I can do myself if only I can get under the Cali to drop the undertray off. The Cali may also need a crankseal replacement at that age. Simple to do once you have access

 

[Perfectos]

if only I can get under the Cali to drop the undertray off.

If taking the undertray off is a problem you’d better stop at that

therecare some good Vids on Utube showing timing belt, water pump and Crank seal replacement (timing belt end)

you’ll need a set of locking pins Also.

 

[pjm-84]

Access is the issue! My van is lowered and has a sportline front valance. Plus I don't like jacking it up by anything else but the jacking points.

Aware of the locking pins. My old man was HGV fitter so I started younger than most!

Downloaded Erwin information at the weekend but the tray needs to come out the front..... If I had a four poster.... easy.

 

[Perfectos]

Access is the issue! My van is lowered and has a sportline front valance. Plus I don't like jacking it up by anything else but the jacking points.

Aware of the locking pins. My old man was HGV fitter so I started younger than most!

Downloaded Erwin information at the weekend but the tray needs to come out the front..... If I had a four poster.... easy.

Can you not use Low profile 3 ton Jack to access the jacking points and Axle stand Once the van is jacked up ?

alternatively old skool van ramps ? (With extensions)

 

[pjm-84]

I have two trolley jacks so I could jack both sides, place ramps (the adjustable ones), jack the ramps and then drop onto the axle stands. Just need to watch the rear as the departure angle is poor

 

[Perfectos]

I have two trolley jacks so I could jack both sides, place ramps (the adjustable ones), jack the ramps and then drop onto the axle stands. Just need to watch the rear as the departure angle is poor

Rear chocks or camping levellers to lift the rear before jacking ( being careful not to exceed weight limit of the levelers / chocks

 

[ArunAlec]

I am due a major service and cam belt change and called VW and was quoted over £800 for the cam belt and £500 for the service! My last cam belt at the same place was £440 so doubled in 4 years.

My van is 2013 reg so getting older but has always been serviced at VW main dealer. Do you think it’s worth finding an independent VW specialist and does anyone know anywhere decent in the West Sussex area?

Not sure if I am getting tight but those prices

Try CLC, Tom the owner is ex VW and a lot cheaper than VW. https://www.clcsussex.com/

 

[Perfectos]

anyone know anywhere decent in the West Sussex area

Bognor Motors is highly lauded on the T6 forum

 

[pjm-84]

Just read the ErWin. However I threw my hands up in the air on the pulley end crankshaft seal .... (which I assume needs doing) .... more special tools. I was hoping it was a bolt on and off job.

 

[BenPcaliman]

I am due a major service and cam belt change and called VW and was quoted over £800 for the cam belt and £500 for the service! My last cam belt at the same place was £440 so doubled in 4 years.

My van is 2013 reg so getting older but has always been serviced at VW main dealer. Do you think it’s worth finding an independent VW specialist and does anyone know anywhere decent in the West Sussex area?

Not sure if I am getting tight but those prices

I just got a quote for my cam belt waterpump, dsg oil and engine oil for just over 1k sucked it up. Quotes ranged from 1280. I won't use the main stealers as I don't trust them. Vw specialist the way forward.

 

[Kenisted]

I am due a major service and cam belt change and called VW and was quoted over £800 for the cam belt and £500 for the service! My last cam belt at the same place was £440 so doubled in 4 years.

My van is 2013 reg so getting older but has always been serviced at VW main dealer. Do you think it’s worth finding an independent VW specialist and does anyone know anywhere decent in the West Sussex area?

Not sure if I am getting tight but those prices

I’ve been quoted between 4and500 this week in Brighton

 

[Kenisted]

I’ve been quoted between 4and500 this week in Brighton

Forgot to say, that includes a new water pump

 

[LorryE Sussex]

These guys used to service my old T4 and have a good reputation. They do the MOT’s on our T5.1:

P&S Autos

Bognor Motors are a bit further out but have an excellent reputation. They fitted uprated ARBs, upgraded headlight & a remap for us. Car park of full of builders T5, T6’s which is always a good sign!

https://bmvs.co.uk/

Below has been going for years in Hove and has good reputation:

Pfeiffers Garage – Brighton's Main Agent Alternative

pfeiffersgarage.co.uk

This one gets good feedback just outside of Ditchling, but seemed expensive / close to main delear prices when I took our Audi in for a quote.

SW AUTO REPAIRS

Experienced technicians, quality parts, free collection and delivery.

swautorepairs.co.uk

I use Pfeiffers in Hove. They did my old T6 conversion & will be doing the cambelt & service this summer in my T6 Ocean Have always done a good job.

 

[Jay586]

I was quoted £813 for my Up! No waterpump either, so just plain extortionate.

Went to VagTech NW for a much more reasonable price, pretty much half. Bit far but point is that it is a very variable cost!

 

[uniqueadventures]

I see Arunalec has mentioned CLC Sussex already. I second that recommendation. I've used them for the last few years. Even now I've moved to Kent, it's worth driving back. Just had my cam belt and water pump done on my 2017 beach last week. All done with vw parts. Courtesy car for convenience. Excellent advice and super guys. Was around £600 but apparently my vehicle has the slightly more expensive variant of the water pump. I'd imagine, but I'm by no means an expert, that a 2013 will be cheaper?
Definitely give them a call.

 

[Dottybus]

This may trigger some people but my 2019 Ocean was due to go in and have the Cam belt changed on Monday. VW have just phoned up and said that VW have advised that it doesn’t need changing until it’s 15 years old.

 

[Jay586]

Ha, I started a right stooshie on the VW Up Owner's group when I posted about cambelts. It's a very touchy subject.

 

[Borris]

I took our four year old, 12,920 mile Beach in for a major service and MOT today. The only advisory was that they (the dealer service department) recommended a cam belt and water pump change "due to time". The quoted cost? £859 incl VAT.

I queried why they had made this recommendation when VW have recently removed the four yearly CB and WP replacement requirement? (I believe the only VW requirement now is that they are changed every 140,000 miles). I was told that this was because they had recently had a VW Caddy in with a snapped cam belt and VW wouldn't pay out because it was just outside of warranty.

I then pointed out that I had the Factory Extended Warranty until this time next year, after which I intend to take out the VW "All in" 24 month service/recovery/warranty package. This will effectively extend the vw warranty to seven years. So even if the cam belt gives out it should be covered as long as I don't exceed 140,000 miles. That's not likely since my annual mileage in this vehicle has been only 3250 miles pa over the last four years.

However, I think I will be inclined to have this work done just before the seven year warranty period comes to an end. My thoughts are that it would be a complete waste of money before then. Even then I won't be paying that price.

 

[ArunAlec]

I took our four year old, 12,920 mile Beach in for a major service and MOT today. The only advisory was that they (the dealer service department) recommended a cam belt and water pump change "due to time". The quoted cost? £859 incl VAT.

I queried why they had made this recommendation when VW have recently removed the four yearly CB and WP replacement requirement? (I believe the only VW requirement now is that they are changed every 140,000 miles). I was told that this was because they had recently had a VW Caddy in with a snapped cam belt and VW wouldn't pay out because it was just outside of warranty.

I then pointed out that I had the Factory Extended Warranty until this time next year, after which I intend to take out the VW "All in" 24 month service/recovery/warranty package. This will effectively extend the vw warranty to seven years. So even if the cam belt gives out it should be covered as long as I don't exceed 140,000 miles. That's not likely since my annual mileage in this vehicle has been only 3250 miles pa over the last four years.

However, I think I will be inclined to have this work done just before the seven year warranty period comes to an end. My thoughts are that it would be a complete waste of money before then. Even then I won't be paying that price.

Similar experience when I had major service a couple of weeks ago. I asked about the new cam belt guidance, which the dealer confirmed but like you I was told that they still recommended every 4 years!

 

[Borris]

Similar experience when I had major service a couple of weeks ago. I asked about the new cam belt guidance, which the dealer confirmed but like you I was told that they still recommended every 4 years!

Did you declined their recommendation as well?

 

[ArunAlec]

Did you declined their recommendation as well?

Fortunately I’m not at 4 years yet (due 2025) so not an issue yet but I did come away a little less trusting of the dealer!
I will see what my mileage is and probably do it at 6 years.