Hi guys,

Our 2007 Octavia vRS TDI PD is in for its 40k service at the moment and the garage informs me that a few parts need replacing:

• Rear discs and pads - 80% worn = £219.95
  
• Cambelt change - 4 years as per schedule = £424.20
  
• Air-con service - 2 years as per schedule = £69.99
  
• New coolant sensor (faulty) = £45.42
  
• New outer engine plastic cover (broken) = £91.38
  
• New water pump (precautionary replace with cambelt) = £F.O.C.
  

What I'm most dubious about is the rear brake discs and pads. As far as I'm aware, the front ones have never been replaced and even they have, surely the rears wouldn't be 80% worn after only 40k?

I've managed to knock about £100 off the job lot as they've said they'll replace the water pump for free and also knock some labour charges off to soften the blow.

Having spoken to my local independent garage also, they've said not to bother with the air-con service as it doesn't need doing 'only fix it if it breaks'. They said the rear brakes shouldn't be 80% worn either at 40k. Their advice is to get the cambelt done and the faulty parts replaced but leave the brakes for an independent inspection by them. I trust my local as I've used them for years and have a good relationship with them so I'm confident they're not blagging me.

What's your advice and opinions?

Edited 15 March, 201115 yr by scottpcs

Had a Focus that needed new rear discs and pads at 40k, which I was surprised about as the front were less worn, so it's not unheard of. However, my Octy has done 45k without needing new brakes, though I don't drive as hard these days.

Could your independent do all the work req for you as it would be cheaper than those prices(im guessing they are dealer prices?) the rear brakes could be corroded which does happen with rear disc's that dont get used much.Id personally not bother with the air con service this time due to the other work involved,maybe do it next year? Cambelt & water pump is important.

Could your independent do all the work req for you as it would be cheaper than those prices(im guessing they are dealer prices?) the rear brakes could be corroded which does happen with rear disc's that dont get used much.Id personally not bother with the air con service this time due to the other work involved,maybe do it next year? Cambelt & water pump is important.

My local said the dealer prices are actually pretty good, especially when you factor in the free water pump and reduced labour costs.

The discs and pads are reasonable too apparently, there's only about £30 difference between what they'd charge and what the garage wants so all in all the actual costings aren't bad, especially from a main dealer.

The cambelt and water pump I'm swallowing a bitter pill for as these must be done. Having seen first hand what a failed cambelt can do to an engine it's not something I'd skimp on.

Air-con servicing I can't say I've ever noticed the difference so I'm not bothered about that, it's just the rear discs and pads that need replacing. Surely if they aren't used much, corrosion or not, they shouldn't be 80% worn? Perhaps it's common on the vRS but I don't know?

My garage suggested that I don't get the brakes done and have them inspect them instead before committing to any work on them or at least ask for the old ones so they can give me an opinion.

Id do the cambelt & sensor & get your independent to inspect the brakes for you. I do all my own work (been a mechanic) so not sure on the prices as labour varies from garage to garage.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Told the dealer to get on with changing the cambelt and water pump, along with the broken things that need fixing.

The rears are about 80% worn and the fronts will need doing at the next service the dealer tells me. I'm going back to my independent as regards the brakes just to get their opinion on them but it's not unheard of for them to show this much wear at 40k according to my dealer. They tell me that the discs themselves are an hourglass shape and that there's enough of a lip on the outside to warrant replacing them. He also went into all the whys and wherefores about servicing the air-con, telling me that it's possible to catch legionaires from a filthy air-con system among other nasties - not sure I buy that but that's what he tells me.

The joys of modern motoring eh?

Oh the joys. Mine is 4yr old in the summer. Probably will be on about 46k then needing much of the same work.

I'm planning on doing brakes myself. Wouldn't bother with the air con service if it's working. The Legionella risk from your car is apparently real. A quick Google brought up some proper research on it. BUT the biggest risk comes from screen wash bottles without any screenwash in them. Less so AC systems.

A tin of that AC cleaner would probably kill the buggers off.

Cam belt and pump are unavoidable.

Does the broken engine cover actually cause any problems? If it's just cosmetic why not leave it? How did you break it?

Oh the joys. Mine is 4yr old in the summer. Probably will be on about 46k then needing much of the same work.

I'm planning on doing brakes myself. Wouldn't bother with the air con service if it's working. The Legionella risk from your car is apparently real. A quick Google brought up some proper research on it. BUT the biggest risk comes from screen wash bottles without any screenwash in them. Less so AC systems.

A tin of that AC cleaner would probably kill the buggers off.

Cam belt and pump are unavoidable.

Does the broken engine cover actually cause any problems? If it's just cosmetic why not leave it? How did you break it?

No idea how the cover broke but it could have been my ham-fistedness through the winter having to top the oil and screenwash up. There's 2 parts to the cover, the outside part and inside and one of the securing lugs has snapped off. I think it's purely cosmetic but you can't have one part of the cover without the other. I could probably make do without it but it'd be playing on my mind if I didn't have it done.

I only noticed it was broken when I had to give it an oil top up the other week!

Get the dealer to do the cambelt water pump, sensor and cover

find an aircon specialist as

1. You want it to be in tip top condition and cold when you need it

2. All sorts of bugs can grow in there legionnaires disease is one of them.

Brakes you could do yourself its p-iss easy.

Hi

As I understand it, the timing belt and water pump are supposed to be changed every 4 years - that is probably a good move.

The aircon system can be cleaned with this for a few quid:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Car-Pride-Conditioning-Cleaner-Purifier/dp/B0033M64U2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1300215676&sr=8-3

If the aircon is not cooling the air down then you can get a can of refrigerant to recharge it yourself. If it is cooling ok, then just use the cleaner stuff above - that will kill any bacteria in the system. You could also replace the pollen filter.

The brakes can be checked yourself - check to see if there is a lip round the disk. If there is and it is only a mm or 2 at each side and it looks like it is rusty, try tapping (not too gently) the lip all the way round with a hammer and the lip should fall off leaving a reasonably smooth edge on the disk.

If the lip is more than a couple of mm maximum and a lip is still left after a tap with the hammer, then you may want to consider a new set of disks or possibly get them skimmed if they are still thick enough. Skimmimg can be done on the car if the garage has the equipment.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Dave