A very very good price for the supply and fitting of a clutch, DMF and gearbox oil change, others have paid well over £1000, ive seen £1700 mentioned several times.

It was an excellent price, nearly took his hand off.  For the same kit I was quoted £990 and £1100 elsewhere, very close to the figures you mention.  The same garage did me a timing belt for £345 which was also the best around (INA kit).

 

I suppose if I'd found this garage 3 years ago, and not gone for the SMF conversion, and not had a rip-off garage fit a sub standard clutch (£576), then I'd be quids in.  As it is, I've spent £260 on four tyres and tracking, £576 for the dodgy clutch, £345 for the timing belt and £550 to put the clutch back to standard.  This comes to £1731!

 

I suppose if I were buying an Octavia diesel with all of this stuff done, I'd be happy paying that sort of amount anyway.  As is, I'm hoping for at least 60,000m of trouble free motoring without having to raid the bank again!

 

I even checked the clutch kit part numbers on the side of the box that was returned to me - it matches exactly with the kit I was after.  Unless  the garage found exactly the right box lying around, stuck a mega cheap part in, returned the box I have to me, and were the worst rip-off merchants I've ever come across, then I have the real deal at a great price.  It'd be a lot of effort and an end to their business if they did - I'd let everyone know.

 

As for the Teckmarx clutch, it doesn't appear overly worn or damaged.  I reckon that it was made cheaply and not up to the required standard, hence the slipping.  Could also be some issues with fitting, but I don't see a lot of issues on first inspection.  I don't know if I'll get anywhere with a warranty claim, but I'll try (still within its warranty period).  Other than that, it'll be for the scrappies to have.

 

By the way, the garage I used is in West Yorkshire - I initially used the FixMyCar website for quotes - that's how I found them.