I've had one quote for a full replacement with genuine parts at £850, but haven't bothered with Skoda as I suspect it will be at least £1000. Its for a 2011 with 95k miles.

 

Can anyone recommend anyone within an hour of Milton Keynes from experience, with a better price that is worth me travelling ?

 

I just think its time it was done due to all the history with these engines, rather than a particular problem. Would rather spend closer to £500 than £1000 though !

 

 

Most people are quoted around £650-£750 at Skoda dealers to change the chain complete for the latest revision. Skoda also give 2yr parts and labour unlimited mileage warranty on the repair. Sometimes even cheaper.

 

One job I would only have done at Skoda. Vital the correct latest parts/tools are used and adaptions carried out.

 

 

That's getting a bit more sensible - I was sure that I read comments on here of people being charged £1000/1200?

 

Do you know of a dealer that charges at the lower end of what you said - anywhere near me? 

Happy to drive an hour, get a loan citigo and collect the next day if I'm saving £200/250 on what I've been quoted !

Phone around your nearest dealers and play one off against the other. Make sure you speak to the workshop manager and not a receptionist.

Edited 24 July, 20196 yr by xman

Weren’t they subject of a maintenance programme covering up to 100k cars or doesn’t that apply here?.

... I don't know, but one Skoda dealer has just quoted me for a cam BELT. Should be interesting to watch them fitting that one 

... they came back to tell me that they don't change chains because they are for the life of the car.

 

Yes, that was a Skoda dealer.

Name and shame please.

Not my style. Will try a couple more up to an hour away.

 

Anyone recommend a dealer who is goodwill-savvy ?!

They are all savvy about goodwill, and the difficulties and consequences for a dealer in getting it. Auditing, penalties etc.

 

But in your case, 2011 is way outside any goodwill "matrix”. The door is firmly closed at 5 years. For many, its even earlier.

So I'm now struggling to rationalise paying the extra (if a goodwill contribution is closed to a FSSH car) over a 'good specialist' using the same parts. Which is where I was originally really !

Get a quote from Unit 18 Automotive in Blakelands, Old Wolverton.  

Why would you think Skoda goodwill was available on an 8 year old car? Even EU law only stretches to 6 years on certain consumer protections.

 

For me Skoda dealers have been significantly cheaper than trusted independents on the last 2 of 4 occasions, 1.2tsi turbo replacement and water pump change. No goodwill involved, just competitive. Obviously Milton Keynes and surrounding area blighted by poor dealers, or you didn't get past the front desk and talk to the right persons.

You will like this - the service manager has just called me from the Skoda dealer where it was serviced for its whole life before I bought it privately. My logic was that they know the car and its not a South East or city based dealer, so it should probably be in the £650-750 range suggested above.

 

He was a nice man, who confirmed that there were no service campaigns outstanding or goodwill available against my particular car. His exact words were "the cost for replacing the chain, all guides and tensioners will be £1700-1800. The exact cost will depend on what we find".

 

(Thanks for the Unit 18 suggestion Dennis, it is looking that way to me now - they are always fair but a bit overworked because of it! They moved last year to Tanners Drive in MK after the Wolverton site was earmarked for re-development).

Edited 25 July, 20196 yr by Prezafab

4 hours ago, DGW said:

Get a quote from Unit 18 Automotive in Blakelands, Old Wolverton.  

My first choice even though I live 40 miles away (soon to be 250 miles dont know what I will do then)

3 hours ago, Prezafab said:

 

He was a nice man, who confirmed that there were no service campaigns outstanding or goodwill available against my particular car. His exact words were "the cost for replacing the chain, all guides and tensioners will be £1700-1800. The exact cost will depend on what we find".

 

Depend on what we find? In your wallet? What jokers. What is happening to Skoda, and their dealers? Are they participating in project fear? Or do their believe their own hype and they've joined the BMW/Mercedes elite as direct competitors? Too much faith in Paloma me thinks.

 

Looks as if @DGW's suggestion is the way to go.

15 minutes ago, xman said:

 

Looks as if @DGW's suggestion is the way to go.

Yep. Another dealer has just emailed back at £750+vat = £900 which is the best I've had so far from Skoda.

I have never replaced chains on my chained cars. The 20 year old Vauxhall Corsa I just sold had the factory fitted chain, my Triumph Dolomite had a duplex chain and that was sold with the factory fitted chains and I don't plan changing mine in the Roomster either!!

Edited 30 July, 20196 yr by edbostan

@edbostan The fact that there had to be an upgrade to the kit from 2011 with 1.2 TSI's due to failures makes a bit of a difference to your Corsa or Dolomite.

Indeed. The other car I've owned recently with a chain that had a potential issue was a Merc 350 SLK. That was/is cost-wise a worse problem than the TSi. Engine-out and typically £3500-4000 to replace the cam chain sprocket (which wears) at a specialist or £6-7k at a Merc dealer.

 

Hence my preventative maintenance wish for the Yeti !  I just wish it could be done for nearer to £500.

I've gone with the best quote I've had from Skoda within 45 minutes drive of Milton Keynes - £751

 

I still can't get over the £1700 quoted by the South Coast 'ish dealer that supplied the car from new. (Obviously no favours there !)