When to do the cambelt

Post by **DJG** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 11:48 pm

Interesting prices for Cambelt changes.

After my waterpump started to make nasty noises Reading Audi changed the water pump, cambelt, tensioner and aux belt for £552 including VAT.

This was a special price as they were trying to encourage owners of older cars to continue to use them.

I was impressed with the tech who gave the initial diagnosis and whilst they were investigating further I called AMD who quoted a considerably higher price which surprised me.

As I didn't want to risk driving my car and the water pump seizing and snapping the cambelt it was a no-brainer to let Reading Audi do the work.

David

Post by **jonno1** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:15 am

This is what Fontain quoted:

"The cost of the cam belt is labour £247.50
Parts 078109119J £35.00
078109244H £29.43
078109243R £29.45
078109479E £80.26
Total £495.43inc VAT
Audi genuine parts, the car may require a v belt tensioner and v belt which are 078903137BL £27.85 and 078903133AB £46.75. £74.60inc VAT
The cost for the water pump if required will be £118.53inc VAT"

Post by **maxxximus** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:24 am

Just had a quote from local dealer
£466.00 cambelt and tensioners
£40.00 water pump and £25 for coolant all inc VAT

Fontains quote for water pump seems bit steep

Post by **jonno1** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:42 am

Where are you based? I bet its nowhere near London!

Post by **DJG** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 11:29 am

jonno1,

Things don't seem as simple as I imagined.

Re your Fontain quote:

What is the description for the 078109479E £80.26?, this wasn't changed when mine was done.

Reading Audi also changed the 078109243R £29.45, but not the 078109244H £29.43.

The water pump (which was changed) was 078121006A which was £67.31 + VAT.

Of course yours is a later car than my 99.1 so there may be some differences.

Cheers,

David

Post by **Dippy** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 1:03 pm

My AmD invoice is close to Jonno's (ex-VAT prices):

Cambelt £35.00
Roller £29.43
Roller £29.45
Damper £80.26
Auxilliary belt £27.85
Waterpump £38.41
Thermostat £8.84
Seal £2.68

Total parts £251.92, which is £296 inc VAT

As I noted before, labour is not detailed, but if it were 5 hours @ £65, then the total cost, including VAT, would have been £677.88.

Therefore I must have made a mistake before: The £680 they originally quoted must have included VAT.

I also had my G62 sensor changed at the same time.

David,
The reason that Reading Audi did not change some of the parts is because they are not required to by the Audi AG service instructions, which IIRC only require the cambelt and the tensioner/roller to be replaced. I'm sorry to say that if AmD had left out the parts that Reading Audi did not replace on your car, the cost would have been £549 inc VAT, so the dealer price doesn't seem so special

Post by **jonno1** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 1:47 pm

I am waiting for Keith at Dialynx to get back with a costing too - the trip to Swindon may still be cheaper as his hourly rate is much less than fontain or AMD. Anyone had there's done there?

Post by **mikeyquattro** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:27 pm

If my memory serves me correctly, Keith gave me a rough price of £450 inclusive. This was just a ballpark figure when i was asking about service costs etc. That didn't include the water pump though

Post by **DJG** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 10:54 pm

Interesting thread.

Just when you though you understood things....

Thought what was needed was cambelt, tensioner (Roller? And I have only been charged for one...not two) and to be safe water pump (except mine was knackered anyway) + the v belt

However it seems to be really safe you should consider having the damper changed too and maybe the v belt tensioner....

Must say I would have had the thermostat changed to if I had thought about it...

Nothing is simple.....

To be honest the noise my waterpump was making I wouldn't have felt safe driving it anywhere, so it made sense to get it done where the car was.

David

Post by **springfield** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 12:19 am

Had 2 prices for a waterpump and local dealer was best at £82 plus £30 back exchange= £50 when the belt was changed only got charged for 1 roller and tensioner.
They had made an arse out of changing the cambelt when my local independant went to change the waterpump he informed me that the belt was as slack as F**k.
Jim.

Post by **UKS4APR1** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:42 pm

Regarding slack cambelt, this is tensioned by a spring-loaded (oil damped) tensioner, so the correct tension is not down to the installation.
Unlike other Audis where you have to pre-tension the belt, our S4's are automatically tensioned. The spring-loaded tensioner is held back by a pin whilst the new belt is fitted. This pin is then pulled out allowing the tensioner to spring open against the belt tensioning it automatically.
There is an element of pre-tensioning, but this is to overcome the effect of the oil damping.

Post by **springfield** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 12:44 pm

Cheers,you learn everyday.
Jim.

Post by **jonno1** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:19 pm

Just had email from Dialynx - cambelt change will be £260 +VAT. Not sure if that includes water pump but either way thats damn cheap.

Post by **mikeyquattro** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 8:14 pm

I love living near Swindon, Keiths only 20mins away

Post by **KayGee** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 11:42 pm

Water pump is extra £45+vat from Dialynx.

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