had price quoted by main dealer for 40.000 mile service, cambelt, mot,& brake fluid change £597after a bit of bartering down.. quoted by local independant £699.asked about water pump said they will check it when doing belt but doesnt need changing unless they see a problem with it when stripped down. does this seem reasonable.

I was paying about 285 for 40k, MOT, brake fluid. I had a quote for cambelt (not waterpump of about 285 also) so it looks about dealer price to me.

had price quoted by main dealer for 40.000 mile service, cambelt, mot,& brake fluid change £597after a bit of bartering down.. quoted by local independant £699.asked about water pump said they will check it when doing belt but doesnt need changing unless they see a problem with it when stripped down. does this seem reasonable.

I have just been looking for the same thing but 60k - exactly the same prices at the main dealer (VW is near for me), looks like a fixed price across VAG. Independent is how much!?

Curious what pricers the main dealer started at as these appear to be list prices for those jobs?

Water pump isn't really applicable to PD engines at 60k - it was something that affected the 1.8T, but kind of trickled into the other VAG engines' lists of problems. I'll be getting mine done next year, but by then the car will be on its THIRD cambelt. Looking round for prices, I was getting quotes around the GBP500 mark, FWIW

I thought it sounded a bit unusual to have such a widescale issue with water pumps. That puts my mind at rest and I'll not take that option myself unless they spot something.

What was happening with them then, just breaking?

I paid £300 for a cambelt and waterpump change, the mechanic said he changes the waterpump everytime he changes the belt.

In the OP's case, I'd say checking it while the cambelt's off is a good compromise, as you won't pay any extra labour. But a new pump for a PD engine at 40k or even 60k is over-cautious IMHO. Being an exchange part (AFAIK), the cost of a new one isn't massive - but who can afford to spend money when they don't have to these days?

I have just been looking for the same thing but 60k - exactly the same prices at the main dealer (VW is near for me), looks like a fixed price across VAG. Independent is how much!?

Curious what pricers the main dealer started at as these appear to be list prices for those jobs?

The 60k service covers less than the 40k service so yours was proportionately more expensive...

Hmm done some research on this water pump thing and now I know a little more about it, I might just bite the bullet and have the water pump done too.

From what I've read, (I have now gone a bit cross eyed!) the factory one and quite often the replacement use plastic impellers. The plastic would be fine probably but long life coolant is used which over time grows in acidic concentration and that acid level causes the plastic to deteriorate (breaks down it's oil content causing de-plasticization) making the plastic impeller more brittle. A different method, but the same thing that UV damage does to plastic.

The 1.8T engine is particularly prone due to it being turbo and petrol and the faster rev changes place more torque on the impeller.

A replacement using a metal impeller is probably a one off thing, or keep an eye on the coolant PH level is another option. Metal impeller pumps appear to be readily available around £40 and I suspect it's an no extra labour swap if the existing pump is freely accessible and supposed to be removed for checking anyway?

Just my thoughts after reading up what was probably a bit to much information and piecing it together!

Of course this is just what I've pieced together and come to my own conclusions about, I have no experience with any of the recent 1.8T or 1.9TDI engines but it sounds familiar to the VR6 chains issue - revised twice over the lifetime of the car, they were originally designed (and redesigned) to last the lifetime of the car. However, you're lucky to get 100k out of them before they go, even the later versions. Been there, paid for that bill!

The 60k service covers less than the 40k service so yours was proportionately more expensive...

Got it - wouldn't have expected that! Can you point me to the right place for the info, I feel that might be somewhere that warrants a bookmark.

Got it - wouldn't have expected that! Can you point me to the right place for the info, I feel that might be somewhere that warrants a bookmark.

It's in the handbook...

I also have an .xls file which to post here I've converted to PDF, screen-grabbed and so:

... so a bit more labour, and fuel filter and air filter

Edited 12 September, 201015 yr by DRJ

Ah, I don't have a handbook yet!

The service I priced up included all those 40k bits though on as part of a "major service". That 40k doesn't appear to be for the vRS as it lists the cambelt for replacement - that would be the 90 and 105 ps engines wouldn't it?

Air filter at 40k? Is that right!? Must be as big as a mattress.

Here's the listing;

Major Service (3yrs +)

Major Service includes:

- Oil & filter change

- Replace pollen filter

- Vehicle inspection and report to include:

All lights, Instruments, Bodywork, Glass, Locks, Battery, Coolant level, Drive belts, Braking system, Steering, Hoses, Drive shafts, Suspension, Exhaust system.

- Wash and vacuum

- Replace air filter

- Spark plugs (petrol engine) or fuel filter (diesel engine)

- Remove wheels and check brakes

- Check/adjust tension on all drive belts

- Check gearbox oil level

- Check final drive oil level

- Full vehicle road test

- Diagnostic check including report

- Re-set service interval display

- Volkswagen stamp in service book

- Price includes parts, oil, labour and VAT (17.5%)

Our Service Promise to you:

Your car will be serviced by Volkswagen experts with the latest training and equipment. We only fit Volkswagen Genuine Parts, covered by a 2 year parts and labour warranty (excludes wear and tear). Any worries? Ask for our free 34-point visual health check.

Edited 12 September, 201015 yr by Buzzark

That 40k doesn't appear to be for the vRS as it lists the cambelt for replacement - that would be the 90 and 105 ps engines wouldn't it?

It's a general Skoda regular service sheet - note there's a cambelt showing at 60,000 miles too

It's a general Skoda regular service sheet - note there's a cambelt showing at 60,000 miles too

Oh yeah, that's a lot cambelts.