Fontain Audi timing belt quote...

[Simon Wallwork]

I've just had the belt, wp, therm, tensioners etc changed by A for Audi in Glasgow.

c.£770 all in, and the job done properly!

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Sounds like Amersham Audi should be my first call then

So I called in there today to see what an 80K miles service costs and whether they would automatically change the water pump while doing the cam belt.
"The S8 doesn't have a cam belt, it's a chain system"

So I clearly got their most experienced staff member.

Anyway, after we overcame that he had to get on the phone to get details and costs.
I also asked what they recommended to do regarding the gearbox fluid - "sealed for life, no need to touch it".
At which point I left my contact details and am awaiting a call as to what the costs will be and what's actually included.

Might toddle off to Fontain later; I like to see the whites of their eyes when discussing prices.

[Dezzy]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

So I called in there today to see what an 80K miles service costs and whether they would automatically change the water pump while doing the cam belt.
"The S8 doesn't have a cam belt, it's a chain system"

So I clearly got their most experienced staff member.

Anyway, after we overcame that he had to get on the phone to get details and costs.
I also asked what they recommended to do regarding the gearbox fluid - "sealed for life, no need to touch it".
At which point I left my contact details and am awaiting a call as to what the costs will be and what's actually included.

Might toddle off to Fontain later; I like to see the whites of their eyes when discussing prices.

So is that most experienced member of staff willing to put that down in writing so when it snaps you can go back there and have all the damage repaired foc?
Or is it better just to chance the belt?

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

all the damage repaired foc?

Still waiting to hear back from them what the price for the "proper job" is.

Fontain have quoted me separate prices for a main/annual service and the cambelt/waterpump/etc/etc. which together are about £1200 (plus VAT) though they'll reduce that a bit (negotiable?) if it is all done at the same time.

However, the car to date has a full Audi service history on the "longlife" basis so I'm not sure whether to continue with that. Fontain say to do it annually whatever unless I do very low mileage.

[Adrian E]

I'd go annual - at this age much better for the oil to be changed more frequently

[Goran]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

So I called in there today to see what an 80K miles service costs and whether they would automatically change the water pump while doing the cam belt.
"The S8 doesn't have a cam belt, it's a chain system"

So I clearly got their most experienced staff member.

Anyway, after we overcame that he had to get on the phone to get details and costs.
I also asked what they recommended to do regarding the gearbox fluid - "sealed for life, no need to touch it".
At which point I left my contact details and am awaiting a call as to what the costs will be and what's actually included.

Might toddle off to Fontain later; I like to see the whites of their eyes when discussing prices.

Banbury is less than 60 miles from Amersham, why not just go to MRC and have peace of mind. Probably be cheaper too, they only charge £68/hour compared to Audi's £100+

http://www.mrctuning.com/

[Architex_mA8tey]

or try Dialynx in Swindon they are Audi Specialists, especially tuned Audis and had quoted me £640 for the full Cam Belt and all parts before Swindon Audi gave me a "supported price" which couldn't be beaten.

They are at http://www.dialynx.co.uk/

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Still waiting to hear back from them what the price for the "proper job" is.

Well after chasing them up 3 days later they finally came back to me; Amersham Audi must really want the business.......
Major longlife service £800, plus £1300 to do the cambelt and water pump. (OK they actually quoted £799 and £1299, don't you just hate that!)

Assuming that includes VAT it's about 50% more than Fontain.

[Goran]

When I went to Unit20, for not much more than the sum you are quoting, I got
2 new cam chain tensioners (around £425 each!)
2 new cam chanins
new timing belt and all rollers and tensioners (he put on RS4 rollers to boot!)
two crank case breather valves
engine oil & filter change
and a ton of other small bits.

Go to MRC or Unit20, then you know the job is a good one and you will pay less.

I specifically asked for the tensioners and crank breathers purely as preventative maintenance because I was going to keep the car forever.

[tintin]

Originally Posted by Goran

Go to MRC or Unit20, then you know the job is a good one and you will pay less.

I think what you pay depends on the individual dealer. Although Unit 20 are good, they're not always cheaper than the Audi main dealer. Stockport Audi did my cambelt, water pump and all the ancillaries for about £620 all in, and the service for around £440, which was significantly cheaper than what Unit 20 quoted me.

Shopping around is the thing to do, which I guess is the point of this thread....