S40 Sport 2001 - Service, Cambelt Question

[VolvoBee]

I have some questions regarding my Volvo S40.

My baby is now nearly 10 years old and needs some major parts replacements, but am quoted big prices from my local garage (not Volvo). It comes to nearly £1,000 (including MOT) which is a lot and I don't want to be conned, because they think they could do that with a female.

I was quoted £340 for the cambelt and £242 for belt tensioners. I understand the service book says it needs to be done, fair enough, but googling parts I see them offered from £20 to £80??? Does it take so long to get the parts fitted? Labour costs, or just plain SE London labour costs. Maybe I need to telephone some more local garages, but there are not that many about, and I need the car fit in 2 weeks time for daily trips to Swindon and back for a 2 week training course.

The car has done nearly 82K miles, is a S40 sport, Reg starts with Y148.

Would it be better financially to buy the parts online and then take them to the garage to get them fitted? Or is this just a futile exercise? I would have thought that both parts could be done together and could cost around £350 to £400 the lot?

Advice and help please, very much appreciated.

VolvoBee

[daveforber]

Unless you're having other work done, I make it £650ish...

The parts (V/S40 timing belt kit) from Rufe on this forum was £75 for a 2.0T engine; about £100 for a 1.8GDi. That was a couple of months ago and prices may have changed, but Rufe will be able to supply you with genuine Volvo parts at a discounted price (look at the FRF Swansea forum).

In terms of labour, I paid (on the cheap) £75 to have it done. By 'on the cheap' I mean I had issues (not with the cam belt), but basically the guy was a charlatan.

For the 2.0T, the cam belt, according to the Volvo service book, is a 'lift the engine half out' job, which may explain the price, but I assume it's not entirely necessary to do that.

Your best bet is to phone around -- try a Bosch Service garage, or possibly phone one in Swindon for while you're there. Alternatively, it might be worth getting in touch with a Volvo dealer (MRG is in Chippenham, which ought to be quite driveable to/from Swindon). Sometimes they are actually cheaper.

But yes, £1,000 for a cam belt is not right. Neither is £650. At all.

[VolvoBee]

Thanks for that. I just picked up the car from the garage a full service was done.

I asked not to change the spark plugs, fuel filter and the pollen filter. I will get that done in the summer. Its time to dig out the folder with all car related business to check when what was done to the car.

But now I also need to have the Auxillary Belt Tensioner fixed and the alternator pulley, both for £210. Is that reasonable?

The cambelt and the other parts relating to that are £340 including labour. A 3 hour job I was told. That would explain it as you said its nearly the whole engine out kind of job.

And the rear antiroll bar drop link bushes are worn and need replacing. I don't even know what those are and no price is quoted.

Its a 2 litre engine.

I also need 2 new tires at the front, low profile. I don't get it as I just changed those last year at Kwick fit including new brake disks. They are Dunlop tires and I thought good quality? I think I buy Michelin again as before, seem to last longer.

Front fog light cracked, but still working, that's from an idiot reversing his car into mine at Supermarket. Will fix that later in the year.

Thinking about all this don't even know why I am whining, the car had running costs of less than £800 per year in the last 2 years including MOT, Service, Road Tax, Insurance, new tires and brake disks. Very good deal really. But currently not working full time so need to make sure the money lasts and get value for money.

I wont be able to get this done in Swindon, the training centre and hotel are out in the sticks.

[daveforber]

I suspect they've quoted for the two different belts and pulleys separately, where realistically they can be done at the same time. If the engine is half out (or the front wing is off, or whatever) for the cam belt, then it's already off for the other stuff.

I reckon they've said "get at the cam belt, replace, put back together" + "get at the aux belt, replace, put back together" = £lots. Where really it's probably "get at the cam belt, replace, also replace aux belt, put back together".

If that makes sense. Your best bet still is to phone around. £340 for a cam belt is not unheard of (a mate with an Audi has just paid around that at an Audi dealer), but you should be able to get it for much less.

Have a look at http://www.parkers.co.uk/shop/servicing/ -- you should be able to get hourly rates for localish garages. If it's a 3/4 hour job, you should be able to guestimate how much it'll cost plus the parts, i.e. £70 parts + 4 hours at £60 an hour = £310.

[VolvoBee]

Thanks for that great link! Bookmarked it.

Only 3 garages come up in my postcode and the garage I am dealing with right now is the cheapest regarding labour costs of around £53 p/h.

Will do some more phoning and googling I guess ;-)

[VolvoBee]

I totally forgot to mention I also paid £140 to get the CV Gaitor fixed. Supposedly very important and cannot leave it, so had it done alongside the service. So paid exactly £400 and still need the MOT done as well. See another £700 leaving my bank account latest by end of the month. :smirk:

Now I understand why so many cars are struggling along, because the owners are struggling too or are just too mean. :ices_rofl

But I take note of what you are saying, for the major parts its better to get it done at the same time. Its cheaper that way. Thanks again, this makes me feel more empowered when speaking to mechanics.

[scoobysn7x]

Just to give you an idea I got the cambelt & tensioner done at the local independent garage I use for £195 all in. I got a quote for the same job from nationwide auto centers (get an AA discount with them) & they quoted £210 for just the belt, no idea why anyone would jsut replace the belt, then an extra £50 if I wanted the tensioners done... that was in the northeast but the quote you've been given seems very expensive

[VolvoBee]

Have phoned around the whole area on Friday and Saturday. It seems that they have either all fixed their prices to be very similar or I am just being too suspicious???

I have noticed that the car drives a lot smoother already with the work done. Will book it in for early in the week to get the other things done too.

[lordvague]

to clarify, this has the sport package but is not a sport.
whats the lowest youd take for it?

[The-Les]

I got a cambelt and tensioner for around 75 earth dollars, will be fitting it this week myself. thats the cheapest I've found £75ish + £19.99 haynes manual (the word of god)

[CONDYBOY]

I got a cambelt and tensioner for around 75 earth dollars, will be fitting it this week myself. thats the cheapest I've found £75ish + £19.99 haynes manual (the word of god)

HAH! PATOOEY!!!
HA-HAYNES never trust em! they're shull of fit! never known such a low grade set of instructions. "You'll need volvo part number ct35682 or something to set the tension of the timing belt to 98MhZ or some such twoddle! I say use a chromatic guitar tuner. and don't get me started on the fact that they cop-out of anything slightly tricky like a gearbox rebuild because it's a specialist yada-yada.

DIY guides are meant to be just that not a half fearted take it to a dealer diatribe.

Rant over!

[The-Les]

point taken. 93Mhz is that a Bflat?