Timing Belt Replacement – How to Save Some Cash

[alexaescht]

Well, the little TDI needed it's timing belt replaced and I was a little shocked when the dealer said the job would be in excess of $1,200. Immediately I decided against going to the dealer for it – after all, we all know they charge ridiculous prices – so I called some independent places, one of which came back with pretty much the same price as VW, and another who said they could do the job for $887. Not too bad I thought.

In the interim, I stumbled across the joys of buying aftermarket parts online and I ended up finding a Gates timing belt kit (with all the idler pulleys and the tensioner) for $276 with free delivery from Ireland, of all places, and a made in Germany Hepu water pump from the same place for $81.

The place who gave the $887 quote agreed to fit the parts supplied by me, and that job was done today at 121,650km (yes I know that's well over the 105,000km interval, not my decision).

The price for the entire job, parts and labour?
$654 incl. GST. Not even at some shady backyard mechanic, either. Bosch certified service centre which was clean and fairly new.

I'd call that a win over the rip offs at VW.