Timing belt replacement cost?

My 04 Golf just hit 95,000 miles so I would like to get the timing belt changed. I went to my local dealer in Bellevue, washington and they quoted me $1100 to $1200. I told him that sounded kinda high and he said they also replaced the idler, water pump, and some pulley. Is this neccessary?

I just moved to Kirkland, Washington and need a good mechanic.

You've got some very qualified TDI go-to people out your way. Maybe the cost is around $800 today. Yes, there are many components that MUST be replaced.


Welcome aboard, Mr Dung!

Find a mechanic here and go to dieselgeek.com and get the whole package(water pump, etc) and have it all installed for $800 or less

As others have said...DO NOT GO TO THE VW DEALER.

Buy a deluxe TB kit from any of these excellent vendors:

www.dieselgeek.com
www.tdiparts.com
www.metalmanparts.com
www.boraparts.com

And contact a local TDI specialist to do the job right.
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=130044

Save some money and sleep well at night by staying away from the dealer.

Black Dung Beetle said:

I just moved to Kirkland, Washington and need a good mechanic.

Click to expand...

Try this Thread:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=130044&highlight=trusted+mechanics

I am going to see the shop on Aurora today to diagnos a EGR pipe issue.

Yes, you do need to replace the idler, tensioner, water pump, and a couple of bolts in addition to the belt(s)... (the dealers don't usually replace the bolts !!!!!!)

UserID "Matthew_S" http://forums.tdiclub.com/member.php?u=42185 runs ZahnTech Import Automotive in Redmond, and we're all familiar with the high quality of work he provides...

This isn't one of those jobs where price or convenience should be the overriding concern... get it done RIGHT...

All the best,

Yuri.

PS: most shops prefer to supply their own parts, so take the recommendation to buy your own with a grain of salt - or after checking with the mechanic...

EDIT: Yuri beat me to it.

Keep in mind that the list of Trusted Mechanics could be out of date or no longer valid. Mechanics move on, shops change hands...things change. There have been instances of "Trusted" mechanics not living up to that designation.

I did some searching around in the regional forums and it looks like Matthew at ZahnTech in Redmond is kind of the trusted "go-to" guy around that area. I've never been to the area, but it looks like he might be closer than someone in Seattle as well.

Just a reminder


DO NOT GO TO THE DEALER FOR ANYTHING AT ALL!!!!

ymz said:

PS: most shops prefer to supply their own parts, so take the recommendation to buy your own with a grain of salt - or after checking with the mechanic...

Click to expand...

Please ask the mechanic. Some, like me, have their customers order the kit and bring it with them at time of service. My only limitation on parts is must be purchased from a reputable seller of parts.

No flame, please. I literally have thousands of $$$ of parts on the shelves. I can't afford any more.

as stated before source out Zantech I never met the gents there but from previous posts on different forums he knows his tdi's

Thanks everyone. I spoke to Matthew at Zahntech the other day. He will be doing the work on my car.