Pricing investigation - service & cambelt

[mattandy]

As I've noticed quite a few posts going up lately asking about changing the cambelt* I thought I'd post up the quotes I've been getting for mine plus the quotes for the 40k service I'm having done at the same time. *(Plus also the ongoing debate on servicing your car at an indie vs a dealer.)

I've tried to be as fair and even as possible by getting a range of dealer and independant quotes. All independants are fully licenced, use VAG trained technicians, VAG equipment and fit OEM parts. I tried to get as many dealer quotes as possible but it seems some of them can't be bothered as they haven't got back to me.

One point to note, dealer's quotes use plastic impellor where all indie's are for a metal impeller water pump. All quotes include VAT.

Dealers:

Palmers Skoda (Watford)
40k Serv: £310
Cam : £503
Total : £813

Progress Skoda (Letchworth)
40k Serv: £322
Cam : £427
Total : £749*
* As these are a new dealer they're offering a 15% off labour rate deal so quote is actually £649.

Merritts Skoda (Aylesbury)
40k Serv: £330
Cam : £438
Total : £768

Indies:

Indie-Tech (MK)
40k Serv: £188
Cam : £294
Total : £482

Total VAG (Leighton Buzzard)
40k Serv: £188
Cam : £323
Total : £511*
* If both service and belt are done at the same time they'll drop an hour's labour from the bill making the total £460

VAG Tech (just outside of Leighton Buzzard)
40k Serv: £242
Cam : £363
Total : £605

Frank Follet (St Albans)
40k Serv: ~£190 (this is for a 'Large' service as they call it)
Cam : Currently waiting to hear back from them.

All indies quoted 4-5hrs for both jobs to be carried out. With the dealers it'll be an all dayer but you'll get a courtesy car and your car will be returned washed and all spangly.

I think I'll be going with Total-VAG as they've been highly recommended by a bloke at work who takes his SEAT Ibiza PD130 there. They also happen to be cheapest

Hope this is of any help to people.

Matt.

[Conshine]

The cambelts on the vRS' don't need changing until at least 60,000 miles, I think it used to be 80,000 before they standardised them across the vag group.

Just had mine done with the 60k service, belt was in v good condition for the miles.

Unless your car is 4 years old that is where you need the belt changed

Ben

[Chrispy]

Awesome charge £349 inc vat for just the cam belt and water pump. A service on top of that (if it's a 20k-er at 60,000 miles) will be a couple of hundred quid I'd assume.

Mine was done at 4 years old and not alongside a service as it didn't need one at the time (still got a few k to go).
For that (10k service) I'll be buying all the bits and taking them to an indy to do like last time. Saves a fair few pennies.

[mattandy]

Originally Posted by Conshine

The cambelts on the vRS' don't need changing until at least 60,000 miles, I think it used to be 80,000 before they standardised them across the vag group.

Just had mine done with the 60k service, belt was in v good condition for the miles.

Unless your car is 4 years old that is where you need the belt changed

Ben

I should've said, mine is 4 yrs old so does need the cambelt doing

[ap0gee]

I paid a few quid short of £600 for a 60k inspection service + cambelt at Horners in Manchester, if that's any help...?

[mannyo]

What about MKG Skoda in Stevenage, they are usually very competive. The 40K service on my Octy was less than £200

[mattandy]

Originally Posted by mannyo

What about MKG Skoda in Stevenage, they are usually very competive. The 40K service on my Octy was less than £200

Cheers, I'll give them a go

Edit:
MK Skoda
40k Serv: £258
Cam : £286
Total : £607 (?)

[mattandy]

Originally Posted by ap0gee

I paid a few quid short of £600 for a 60k inspection service + cambelt at Horners in Manchester, if that's any help...?

Cheers mate. Bit of a drive for me though

[high on dirt]

i got my service and cambelt done by TOTALVAG not that long ago, did abit of phoning around local companies to find a few just rude showed no interest in doing the work at all. Where as TOTALVAG were just happy to chat, said there a new company so there website isnt anywhere near finished so pop down and have alook around!
Which i did the next day to find some interesting cars, including a mark 4 golf TDI race car, which is being entered into the 24hr race at silverstone TOTALVAG are the mechanics for the race team and where just getting it ready for a shake down! (ill dig out the pictures i took, it looked the tits)

Overall the owners where just chatty and showed a great interest in cars of all sorts, gave me some good advise so i booked the car in. Their just full of knowledge and are really interesting to chat too i felt really welcome and happy to leave my car there. Got a phone call as soon as it was done so i could collect (i hate having to phone any garage to ask if its done).
Turned up to find the car all clean, and Leigh came down to have alittle chat made me a fancy coffee as i was explaining about my plans for the future lowering etc. He said about their reinforced sumps ordered one right away paid upfront and got another call when it was there! all within 2 days! fantastic! Im just awaiting my coilovers to turn up now and they said they will hold onto the sump for me. As ill be booking the Fabia back in for the coilovers to be fitted along with the sump.

I have always been looking for a garage that takes an interest in anyone no matter what car you have or who you are, with the confidence that the work will be done to the highest standard. I can pop in if i ever need any information or give them a call without being snubbed and to me that means ill be a returning customer. My fabia VRS is currently wearing there sticker with pride knowing that i feel like im part of a family.

They have an open day next saturday, ill be there hopefully with my car lowered and looking great, be great to see/meet some other skoda members there too. Im sure you will be made as welcome as i was.

[Adam K]

i just got my 60k service, cambelt, rear brake pads, and first MOT done, and a few other bits and bobs.

cost me £595 all in. was done at an independent place in corby, northamptonshire.