Cambelt change - SW London / Surrey

[vickster]

Other than the VW stealers, can anyone recommend a good indy garage for a cambelt change in SW London/Surrey.  I think mine is probably (over)due, 60k miles on an 05 plate, I have no proof it has been done.  Would like to get it done this year.  A quick Google brought up Mastertechs in Morden which would suit perfectly (but there is some mixed feedback, I think was on an Audi forum).  Done a search on here but no mentions.  Any experience out there?

http://www.mastertechs.co.uk/

Or  http://www.gsfmotorworks.com/  (but less convenient)

Or http://www.tuttsofdorking.co.uk/  (like this lot, will collect car from office)

Also, approximately what should the change cost (presumably with the waterpump, aux belts?) ...looks like £350-400ish?

Cheers  

[SeanyK]

Honest, go with a VW Dealer, you get the 2 year warranty and they are doing an offer of Cambelt, tensioner & waterpump for £299 + water pump part cost (approx £40-50). So about £350 all in.

[MAYO]

My GTI is going in for a Major serice (£299) and a cambelt and water pump change (£360) this Thursday with my local VW dealer. Originally VW wanted to charge me £399 for the cambelt and water pump, but if you push them they will do the water pump for no labour charges as they have the front of the car off anyway while doing the cambelt...might as well get it done for an extra £50-£60. Without the waterpump it's £299 for a cambelt change......
Painful...................but required.....
Mayo

[vickster]

My DSG gearbox decided to destroy itself this morning   , so the belt change may well be on hold depending on what is wrong with the car and how much to fit (I do have an AA warranty which should cover at least some of the cost)!  Not happy!  

The car is with VW, so depending on the situation, I may just get them to do the belts!  Thanks for the feedback, usually main dealers are far more expensive than independents!

[Top Cat]

My DSG gearbox decided to destroy itself this morning   , so the belt change may well be on hold depending on what is wrong with the car and how much to fit (I do have an AA warranty which should cover at least some of the cost)!  Not happy!  

The car is with VW, so depending on the situation, I may just get them to do the belts!  Thanks for the feedback, usually main dealers are far more expensive than independents!

That does not sound good, what do you mean destroyed it's self. 

[vickster]

I don't know what's wrong (will be diagnosed by VW) but it won't drive.  It will very very reluctantly engage in drive enough to go onto a flatbed, but won't reverse!  Heard a clunk as stopped at lights and then nada, managed to get it to limp off main road

Not helpful as I spent 4 hours blocking a busy road in a town centre and then another 2 hours waiting for a flatbed as the front bumper of a GTI is too low for a normal tow (front wheels wouldn't go onto recovery man's trolley thing without damage)!  RAC utterly useless and no idea (couldn't even get me out of the way).  The first recovery driver did get me to the side of the road, thinks perhaps box somehow overheated, possibly diff gone...all manner of warning lights now on dash.  I'd driven all of a mile or so when this happened!

Some very helpful people and some utter morons who thought I was sat in the middle of a road for my own amusement it seems and 4x4 drivers unable to mount a pavement to drive around me...    I can't believe this weirdly has something to do with the exhaust warning light 10 days ago which went away.  I was trying to get it diagnosed, just not managed yet!

Unimpressed by my first VW experience!!    

[SeanyK]

Could be mechtronics unit for the DSG box, what year is the car?

[mo]

Sorry to hear about the gearbox mate.Appologies again for not getting time to do a scan for you over the weekend, the joys of work and the demands of 2 children.
Keep us posted.

Mo

[vickster]

Could be mechtronics unit for the DSG box, what year is the car?

2005

[Robert74]

I don't know what's wrong (will be diagnosed by VW) but it won't drive.  It will very very reluctantly engage in drive enough to go onto a flatbed, but won't reverse!  Heard a clunk as stopped at lights and then nada, managed to get it to limp off main road

Not helpful as I spent 4 hours blocking a busy road in a town centre and then another 2 hours waiting for a flatbed as the front bumper of a GTI is too low for a normal tow (front wheels wouldn't go onto recovery man's trolley thing without damage)!  RAC utterly useless and no idea (couldn't even get me out of the way).  The first recovery driver did get me to the side of the road, thinks perhaps box somehow overheated, possibly diff gone...all manner of warning lights now on dash.  I'd driven all of a mile or so when this happened!

Some very helpful people and some utter morons who thought I was sat in the middle of a road for my own amusement it seems and 4x4 drivers unable to mount a pavement to drive around me...    I can't believe this weirdly has something to do with the exhaust warning light 10 days ago which went away.  I was trying to get it diagnosed, just not managed yet!

Unimpressed by my first VW experience!!    

When the  DSG failed on my 2006 car there was no clunk or funny noises it would just not drive. When in D it just rev'd like it was in N and the MF display was flashing. After a while it started working normally again. I had to have a new gearbox computer(mechatronics) in the end.

[vickster]

Oh dear, sounds worryingly similar 

MF - is that the display on the dash?

[ianjmclean]

I've been looking around same area for specialists - didn't even spot Tutts who are 5 minutes down the road!!

These guys have pretty transparent pricing, but not sure if they are too far, or what they are like. I had been looking at them for a Revo, but seems I may be better off popping down to Tutts!

http://www.tcgarage.com/

[tom619]

Are all dealers doing that £299 deal?

[neg]

Derby are, the wife's 2.0PD 140 Touran is in tomorrow for it - might try and get the water pump done cheaper though now reading this 

They said £299, they inspect the water pump and if it needs doing ita further £99.  I was going to get the oil changed too but they want £116 for this, but I can buy the parts (oil and filter) and get a local garage to do this for £25 -  I wonder where I'll be going!