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[jereboam]

Had mine done yesterday by my local garage.  To my astonishment, he got it all done in one day - a first for any job I've given him lately, especially since he firmly believes that the Vauxhall V6 engine was created by Satan himself just to make his life a misery.

Won't get the bill till Saturday, though.  The estimate was about £300 + VAT to include the water pump, tensioners and aux belt.

How can I tell if he actually did it?  Everything seems the same, but it might just be a tad quieter, although it wasn't particularly noisy in the first place.

And don't tell me I'll find out he didn't do it when the engine blows up - I've already worked that out!

[Lazydocker]

I had mine done last Thursday... The retired police mechanic I mentioned did the Cam Belt (and water pump), full service and cam covers, including cleaning the breathers for... £100!!  

Admittedly I supplied all the parts, thanks to andyc, which set me back another £270 but I've got 15L of oil left over for next time/wife's car/ MIL's car when I have to service them!

I doubt I'll get him to do routine servicing for me though as I'll just do that myself at around 5-6k.

[Jay w]

if i remember rightly autodata (which the trade use to base repair time on) lists it as 4 hours.

I get charged about £250 for a cambelt and water pump change on my V6's, and that would be a service at the same time as well

[Lazydocker]

if i remember rightly autodata (which the trade use to base repair time on) lists it as 4 hours.

I get charged about £250 for a cambelt and water pump change on my V6's, and that would be a service at the same time as well

I think you're right... Although Autodata lies... Says it takes 1.5 hours to change rear spring on a BMW 3 series (can't remember which year) when in reality I did it in the workshop in a little over half an hour!! Mind you, it was a horrendously busy day as the other mechanic went sick so I had 2 persons work plus MOT's to contend with... Everything was done at light speed that day!  

I think it gives stupid times for brake pads too... But then I suppose it could be aimed at the less agile numptys!  :-? :-?

[Iainv6]

My independent Vaux specialist in Edinburgh is run by two ex vaux mech's, they have tech1 and tech2 and a 30 quid hourly rate.

I ain't had my belt done yet, but will need it in 10k or so and anticipate a bill of around 180 plus VAT.

[tmx]

Ex VX mechanic in the shire changed my v6 vectras belt for £230

[shanjon]

Make sure your man has the locking kit.  If he does not have it he cannot do the job properly.  He'll get the car running BUT the cam timing will not be perfect.

Also, do watch out as there are a couple of different belt kits out there - you need the right one for the engine number
[/quote]
im sorry m8 i have to disagree with you there, the job can be done properly without a locking kit, i would however agree that it makes it easier to have the locking kit, i did both head gaskets  and cambelt on my old 3.0v6 sintra without and never had any problems

[humbucker]

3 hours is average on the V6. not confident enough to do a cambelt myself i got the parts (genuine vx kit £95 with trade card inc tensioners) and took them to a garage near me that also doubles up as a performance vauxhall racing specialist; cambelts on vx V6's are their bread and butter. run by former vx guys. £150. you need to be sure your garage know what they're doing.

ensure they will be using cam locking kit on v6 and you should probably get your water pump done at the same time.

[jereboam]

Cambelt Kit £97.71
Water pump £44.71
Aux Belt £19.57

Labour £144, but apparently that included 1 hour trying to get the boot lid to open without catching.  Which it now does.  The garage were of the opinion that someone must have rear-ended the car, and bent the whole of the boot area.  But I don't know when that could have happened - I'm very careful about where I park, and there was no sign of damage.  Odd.

Of course, I did back into a lamppost the other day, but the boot lid was catching before that.  Maybe the catch and the reshape of the rear end were unrelated.  

(All above prices ex VAT.)