Cam belt change, the truth

[gm73]

12 minutes ago, MichaelTL said:

I have been quoted £1016 by Skoda main agent to replace my cam belt (Octavia 1.5TSI).

I have a service agreement - £32 per month.

Wondering firstly if I can save much money getting someone else to do the belt and secondly who I can use so as to not affect the service plan.

I have read on here that water pumps tend to fail on diesels mainly and that pump location on petrol eng means less money saving having it changed same time.

I'd imagine you could probably half that bill by going independant IF they have the special tool. However I'd doubt they'll have the tool but they might have a way of doing the belt without it. I'd imagine VAG specialists MIGHT have that tool and you may get the bill down to the £750 mark with them. 

 

What mileage are you on or is it a decision based on the 5 year change interval. My TSI is on 70k but is only 2.5 years old so I'm going to hang off until 80/90k/

[MichaelTL]

It's the year - a 2018. Looking around on t'internet I wonder if they have mis-quoted. Also an old colleage says paid in Aug 2021 £630 for cambelt water pump and mot  Skoda Octavia estate 2 litre diesel.

 

I can't get hold of service dept at moment.

Edited 30 January, 2023 by MichaelTL

[MichaelTL]

I checked the local Volkswagen dealer - £669 inc. Went back to Skoda at Oswestry - confirmed £1016. They said that's the price they were told by Skoda for the job. What's going on?

[ords]

6 minutes ago, MichaelTL said:

I checked the local Volkswagen dealer - £669 inc. Went back to Skoda at Oswestry - confirmed £1016. They said that's the price they were told by Skoda for the job. What's going on?

i know it's not local to you, but the price is much better.

https://www.pscautocentre.co.uk/products/audi-timing-belt-water-pump-replacement-petrol-engines-mqb-platform?variant=40099133587502

[MichaelTL]

19 minutes ago, ords said:

i know it's not local to you, but the price is much better.

https://www.pscautocentre.co.uk/products/audi-timing-belt-water-pump-replacement-petrol-engines-mqb-platform?variant=40099133587502

Cheltenham is a bit of a run but do-able Thanks. I've tweeted to and emailed Skoda UK to ask why their servicing costs are 50% higher than Volkswagen. I always thought Skoda offered better value!

 

[MichaelTL]

I contacted the Skoda dealer Faintree at Telford. Now have it booked in at their Shrewsbury centre and cost is £570

Guy said he thought he would never get anyone to pay £1000+

[Warrior193]

12 minutes ago, MichaelTL said:

I contacted the Skoda dealer Faintree at Telford. Now have it booked in at their Shrewsbury centre and cost is £570

Guy said he thought he would never get anyone to pay £1000+

Hi Michael, the sad emoticon was for the misinformation  lies out there in stealer land. Glad that you got it sorted at a more reasonable price. 

[MichaelTL]

9 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

Hi Michael, the sad emoticon was for the misinformation  lies out there in stealer land. Glad that you got it sorted at a more reasonable price. 

I would have recommended Furrows Oswestry to anyone before today. I still think there's an error. They tell me a manager will contact me.

[Ootohere]

So a 2.0 TDI and cam belt & water pump change is a totally different job from a 1.5 TSI ACT, which is a different job from a 1.4 TSI, a 1.5 TSI or even a 1.0TSI. 

 

@ords

The price in the link is good, but anyone checking must remember to go to the 1.5 TSI ACT for the price if that is what they have.

So £694 they show.

 

The Service Desk staff & their Managers and the Dealer Principals needs to be getting their heads together with their Master Techs.

It can not be for the next months and years just 'Pick a number any number' and tell them that is what Skoda / VW / SEAT / Audi says. 

There are parts and labour & VAT to be charged and it is not supposed to be a goose and a golden egg situation.

 

As to the Service / replacement interval. that discussion will go on forever.

The price and the range of prices being quoted on a 1.5 TSI ACT is ridiculous.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/510301-15-tsi-timing-belt-interval

 

VW Dealership Desk Staff are not any better trained or qualified than at a Skoda, SEAT or Audi dealership on things mechanical.

They need to phone a friend or ask someone that knows just as much, and not just ask someone else that is clueless.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/510188-question-re-cambelt-vw-t-roc

 

Edited 31 January, 2023 by toot

[Ootohere]

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/507544-cam-belt-for-15-tsi-in-east-kent

 

Others that have already had a timing belt replaced on a 1.5 TSI ACT could say how much they paid, and also those that went with the belt and water pump.

Saying what it cost with some other engine matters not one little bit.

 

[MichaelTL]

I have had prices checked from the car reg. I assume the job is more complex/expensive/takes a lot longer with ACT. I see it's £200 more for the ACT engine at the Cheltenham garage. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

Not much good saving a few quid on extra mpg when they take it back in servicing costs.

Edited 31 January, 2023 by MichaelTL

[johnmb]

On 30/01/2023 at 15:38, MichaelTL said:

I have been quoted £1016 by Skoda main agent to replace my cam belt (Octavia 1.5TSI).

I have a service agreement - £32 per month.

Wondering firstly if I can save much money getting someone else to do the belt and secondly who I can use so as to not affect the service plan.

I have read on here that water pumps tend to fail on diesels mainly and that pump location on petrol eng means less money saving having it changed same time.

My Octavia is a 2017 1.5 petrol came up for the cambelt change in december 2022 70k miles and 5 years , was charged £730 in total ,at a Main Skoda Dealer in Kent  and job took about 5 hours , your being quoted over the top 

[MarkyG82]

5 minutes ago, johnmb said:

My Octavia is a 2017 1.5 petrol came up for the cambelt change in december 2022 70k miles and 5 years , was charged £730 in total ,at a Main Skoda Dealer in Kent  and job took about 5 hours , your being quoted over the top 

 

Can we know where? I have family in Kent so worth my time getting a good deal and staying over.

[johnmb]

The Dealer was Caffyns in Ashford ,just off the M20 ,had them do the last 5 years servicing since purchasing it there 

[MichaelTL]

1 hour ago, johnmb said:

My Octavia is a 2017 1.5 petrol came up for the cambelt change in december 2022 70k miles and 5 years , was charged £730 in total ,at a Main Skoda Dealer in Kent  and job took about 5 hours , your being quoted over the top 

Is yours the saame - ACT engine?

[johnmb]

Yes it's the ACT ,eco engine ,you could phone Caffyns and ask for a quote , fortunately unlike my previous which was a diesel ,the water pump is on the opposite side ,separate belt so does not have to be done at the same time ,ask for a free courtesy car if you book it in advance otherwise it's a long wait ,they did not charge me ,just be sure to have your driving licence 

[MichaelTL]

I asked the Cheltenham garage if they used original manufacturer parts as I am eager to keep my monthly care plan going.

 

So, the £694.00 inc vat price is with us using O/E equivalent parts (these are the same quality parts as genuine but without the main dealer logo.) So, if the genuine parts were needed with the main dealer logo branded onto them, I can confirm that the cost would change to £844.02 inc vat/fitting.

 

.....I assume the parts would not qualify without the main dealer logo - or am I mistaken?

[classic]

If 

37 minutes ago, MichaelTL said:

I asked the Cheltenham garage if they used original manufacturer parts as I am eager to keep my monthly care plan going.

 

So, the £694.00 inc vat price is with us using O/E equivalent parts (these are the same quality parts as genuine but without the main dealer logo.) So, if the genuine parts were needed with the main dealer logo branded onto them, I can confirm that the cost would change to £844.02 inc vat/fitting.

 

.....I assume the parts would not qualify without the main dealer logo - or am I mistaken?

They probably use TPS who supply VW group spares to the trade.

The higher price would no doubt be to get the parts supplied from a Skoda dealer.

You’ve basically found the hole in the dealer service plan that they didn’t want you to find. £32 a month service plan but extras like cam belt, aircon, brake pads etc are going to cost top dollar.

[J.R.]

So, the statements of anyone that cannot start a sentence without "So," should be treated with suspicion.

 

So, thats my opinion anyway! 😆

[MichaelTL]

18 minutes ago, J.R. said:

So, the statements of anyone that cannot start a sentence without "So," should be treated with suspicion.

 

So, thats my opinion anyway! 😆

Alors, JR are there many Skoda dealers in France? We may end up there in the not too distant future and I would like to continue driving Skodas.

[Ootohere]

@MichaelTL so seeing as you will  want to keep the warranty you paid good money for valid you will be needing to pay the higher price of the parts.   Just how it rolls.  So sad 😭.  So sorry, so long.

[MichaelTL]

The scheme still offers insurance against a lot of very expensive possibilities though it does end up having a higher premium!

 

[Ootohere]

With a main dealers work there is a 2 years parts and labour warranty on their work.

 

If the Independent guarantees their work then good.    But if it is the Skoda Extended Warranty that is important to you then read and understand the T&C's.

[MichaelTL]

Well the car's been in the Skoda dealer a week having it's cambelt changed. I say Skoda dealer -  they seem to specialise in Seat. Someone from another branch of the franchise - where they specialise in Skoda is visiting tomorrow to see what's going on with my Octavia. I was told they had problems setting up the cam timing - not too familiar with the TSI on the 1500. They tell me it falters - I don't know more detail. Hope it's sorted out soon.

[Ootohere]

Lets hope they not only have all the gear but the training and skills.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/510175-karoq-cam-belt-change-start-saving-now/page/7