What is the labour involvement with changing the radiator in a vRS ?

Had my Radiator replaced by a garage recently, and although not a vRS I would guess the work involved would be pretty much the same. The pic below shows what had to be removed to get at my radiator    

 

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. but no doubt someone here will post a detailed answer soon enough

 

 

same I was lucky to get an ali one brandnew off ebay for £32

2 to 2 1/2 hours at a garage I would expect.

My 2004 vRS developed a leaking radiator last March.  Apparently the bottom right-hand corner had corroded along the joint seam and was therefore dripping.  The Skoda dealer charged me £36 to investigate and pressure test the system to locate the leak, and then -

 

Radiator £108.70 +VAT

Fitting £121.60 +VAT

Coolant £8.72 +VAT

 

So, £330 in all, including VAT.

I did it myself for around £100 radiator form euro carparts collant from oppies and a bag of cable ties (to support the aircon rad). It did take me 4-5 hours as i didnt take the slam panel out If you jack it up enough at the front and take the fan assemby off the back you can wiggle it out from underneath the car. Be careful that you dont damage the aircon rad and pipes. Once its off its quite easy to reasemble oh and wear gloves or you will cut your hands to bits on the radiator fins. I would also recomend disposing of the nasty VAG finger eating clips on the top and bottom hoses for standard jubilee clips 35-45mm should do the trick. If the hoses are stuck on dont try and force the hoses off the rad as there is two plastic connectors that connect the hoses to the rad that you will need. They can be brittle so use a streght edge screwdriver to gently leaver the hoses offwhilst applying a slight twisting motion.

£108 for a radiator there seems to be loads of new ones on eBay for about £20-50

£108 for a radiator there seems to be loads of new ones on eBay for about £20-50

Sure, but my dealer fit radiator has a 2 year guarantee, and also a guarantee on the fitting for which I'm satisfied with.  Unfortunately,  I would be unable to do this work myself, so paid the costs, and have had no problems since.  Out of interest, are the eBay items pattern parts or OEM, £20 seems to be very, very cheap for a radiator, and I'd doubt you'd really want to do that kinda work twice?  (see the above pic posted by heath, looks like a railway accident to me!).

Edited 26 January, 201412 yr by aixlad