Hi All,

I own an Octavia 2002 1.6 litre and its about time I replaced my timing belt. I have been quoted an average of £200 from my local garages. Is this price reasonable? I had a look at the timing belt kit on Euro car parts and it costs about £50. I personally thought the labour cost is a bit too high.

Would anyone know any garages in Hertfordshire or outer London that would charge a cheaper price? Or if there is anyone in this forum who can do the job for a better price please let me know.

Thanks for all your help.

Price sounds very reasonable to me.

Yep, thats a good price. I've paid £250 the last 2 times that I've had a cambelt change.

Jees thats well cheap, I just got quoted £399 for cambelt and water pump change, warranty labour vat etc included - That's with a Skoda/VW/Seat specialist in Bristol - So £200 sounds like a bargain!!

Unit18 in Northampton will do mine for £300, and that is by some distance the cheapest price I've seen. (Except going to Mr Clutch )

Thank you very much for all the replies

As you have the 1.6 you don't have all the turbo pipework in the way which you have with a VRS or diesel. That I should think will make the job a lot quicker to do and so cheaper. Although I think you still need to undo one of the engine mounts to get the belt off.

As you have the 1.6 you don't have all the turbo pipework in the way which you have with a VRS or diesel. That I should think will make the job a lot quicker to do and so cheaper. Although I think you still need to undo one of the engine mounts to get the belt off.

Yeah I thought it would be much cheaper as well. Especially when I can buy the kit for just £50. So they are charging £150-£200 (as some place quoted £250) just for the labour. Wish I learnt how to change these things...lol.

If you are looking at 3-4 hours to do the job then that labour price is probably about right. I have a tdi and the instructions for changing the cambelt in the haynes manual start with "first remove the off side headlight"! and then you proceed to remove half the engine. Then you need to undo one engine mount so you have to support the engine. Also I think the alternator belt needs to come off too on all the engines.

All in all in seems to be a bit of a pig to do.