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[Lizzie_Zoom]

Approx £100 for belt & tensioners,then pay a good mechanic £150 (maybe less) to fit them ,or DIY for £0.

You are about right albitz, although my quote including the water pump, new bolts, and a flush out with a refil of coolant.  However, once I pay £100+ for a cam locking kit, which I will use once in 4 years........that is my dilemma and does make me think twice.

[albitz]

New Bolts ?
Coolant,about £15.
Water pump - if you shop around,SKF from fleabay around £20.
Locking kits can be hired,borrowed or stolen.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

New Bolts ?
Coolant,about £15.
Water pump - if you shop around,SKF from fleabay around £20.
Locking kits can be hired,borrowed or stolen.

Yes, bolts for the water pump and I believe replacing with genuine Vx parts Albitz, but I know I am paying over the top in doing so. 

As far as hiring the cam locking kit, I am still looking around here for someone who does offer a genuine Vx pattern kit.

[TheBoy]

Its about an hour to do V6 cambelt, add 20m of so for coolant pump and associated coolant drain/refill.

So around £60-£90 at most non franchised garages

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Its about an hour to do V6 cambelt, add 20m of so for coolant pump and associated coolant drain/refill.

So around £60-£90 at most non franchised garages

That is the crucial factor in the garages quotes I have asked for.  They work on about 4-5 hours, so at Vx @ £70 minimum per hour..............!!

[albitz]

It takes me about 4 hours,but im a rank amateur and take my time and recheck my work several times as its such a critical job.
A "pro" mechanic shouldnt take more than a couple of hours,but of course what they quote is probably very different to the time they spend doing it.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

It takes me about 4 hours,but im a rank amateur and take my time and recheck my work several times as its such a critical job.
A "pro" mechanic shouldnt take more than a couple of hours,but of course what they quote is probably very different to the time they spend doing it.

  yes it probably covers tea breaks and a lunch!!

[doz]

I've done a couple now. Picked up a second hand locking kit. Takes me around 4 hours but I'm no full time mechanic. It's not to bad a job to do just time consuming as a lot has to come out the way first.

[omega3000]

Its about an hour to do V6 cambelt, add 20m of so for coolant pump and associated coolant drain/refill.

So around £60-£90 at most non franchised garages

That is the crucial factor in the garages quotes I have asked for.  They work on about 4-5 hours, so at Vx @ £70 minimum per hour..............!!

 

Would like to be a fly on the wall to see them doing the job ..I know i have loads of paperwork from the previous owner who spent loads on labour and service items from garages from new , quite interesting reading through them but then he probably never knew about oof then 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I've done a couple now. Picked up a second hand locking kit. Takes me around 4 hours but I'm no full time mechanic. It's not to bad a job to do just time consuming as a lot has to come out the way first.

doz can I ask how much you paid for that locking kit, and from where?

[Nick W]

You're welcome to borrow my locking kit if it would help.
Got a copy of the OOF DVD too. I'm in Chatham, so not far from you.

Changing the belt isn't too bad a job, although I wouldn't like to do it in a front wheel drive car.
Once you've done a couple it shouldn't be too hard to do it a couple of hours. Half the job is the dismantling required to get to the front of the engine, plus reassembling all the junk when you're done, and dealing with the broken rubber mounts.

It could be worse; Renault quote £1200 to do a V6 cambelt in an Avantime, even though the belt kit costs about the same, because the factory method is to remove the engine!

[jonny2112]

That is the crucial factor in the garages quotes I have asked for.  They work on about 4-5 hours, so at Vx @ £70 minimum per hour..............!!

For what it's worth, my local Vx advertise labour at £40 per hour for older cars. They are apparently trying to compete with the unfranchised garages 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

You're welcome to borrow my locking kit if it would help.
Got a copy of the OOF DVD too. I'm in Chatham, so not far from you.

Changing the belt isn't too bad a job, although I wouldn't like to do it in a front wheel drive car.
Once you've done a couple it shouldn't be too hard to do it a couple of hours. Half the job is the dismantling required to get to the front of the engine, plus reassembling all the junk when you're done, and dealing with the broken rubber mounts.

It could be worse; Renault quote £1200 to do a V6 cambelt in an Avantime, even though the belt kit costs about the same, because the factory method is to remove the engine!

Thanks for that NicK

I'll give it some thought as the change will be due soon.

[dbug]

Bought my cam locking kit off ebay for £40 a few years back.  I've used it 4 times on our Omegas (so £10 per belt change!)

Cam belt kits from buypartsby @ less than £70

A couple of hours work - diy no cost

QH water pump < £30

[Marks DTM Calib]

I usualy charge about forty pounds for cambelt and water pump labour only.