Going rate for timing belt job??

[bondtimbond]

I did some searches and didn't turn up a good clear result. What is today's typical going rate for a full timing belt replacement job performed by a independent NON dealer repair shop? I see timing belt kits at the various TDI part suppliers running around $200 up to maybe $275 that supposedly include all required parts. What are folks paying these days for the full job? My car is an 06 TDI with about 87K miles on it.

 

[ITDID]

I am in the buffalo ny area. The labor rate at a euro repair shop was $95 per hour. The dealer was 90 per hour. The whole job was around 800 at the vw dealer. I have toyed with the ideas of changing the belt, but lack the time. Too bad because I have the tools from performing the cam change a while back.

 

[undata]

$600 is the cheapest you will get. I just did mine and it almost killed me. This is a very aggravating job because the tight spaces you have to work in and frozen bolts. Find a VW only shop. With your mileage (i.e. because it's low you have a long way to go) you should do the water pump too that would bump it up, close to the 800 figure mentioned above.

 

[A5INKY]

$600 is the cheapest you will get. I just did mine and it almost killed me. This is a very aggravating job because the tight spaces you have to work in and frozen bolts. Find a VW only shop. With your mileage (i.e. because it's low you have a long way to go) you should do the water pump too that would bump it up.

This is what I charge, parts included.

 

[Marinel]

Just find a tdi mechanic near you and go with them. There's a list somewhere on here. The vendors on this site sell timing belt kits for a reasonable price. I would stay away from the dealer.

 

[Antsrcool]

Yea were about 6 hours labor. At 65 an hour. Plus parts.

 

[arneeche]

I spent about 300usd for the belt, water pump, roller, and tools and it only took me about 5 hours from popping the hood to starting it back up. Seriously, this is the easiest timing job I have ever done! Do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined.

 

[Lightflyer1]

They run from $600 on up to outrageous. It is more important to have the job done correctly with the proper parts and procedures than the cost. Find a trusted mechanic with a reasonable price to do the job.

 

[chudzikb]

I have done them for $200 plus parts, but, that is just because my friend and I love working on cars and it keeps us out of trouble.

 

[robdog]

I buy the parts and have a guy that does it on the side 300 labor.

 

[Lightflyer1]

Christian at VDub Autohaus in the Houston area seems to have a following. Runonbeer in S. Austin is highly recommended. Several in the DFW area.

 

[MacBuckeye]

$950 for everything….. belts, water pump, coolant, etc. This was at the VW dealer here in Raleigh. Another VW dealer quoted same at $1,350. Local VW/Audi independent shop quoted $900.

I went with the dealer since I would get VW's standard repair/service warranty.

 

[bondtimbond]

I ask because I was quoted about $970 at a VW repair shop and it seemed a bit steep. Kits run about $250 or so. That seems like a lot for labor. The guy said it would take about 4.5 hours to do.

 

[James & Son]

The nice thing about the vendors who have posted their prices here is that they are passing the savings of their experience onto the customer. A5INKY has a business number and I know he would be standing behind his work and he is building a customer base.

In the flat rate shop of the dealer you may or may not get a good job as the incentive for the mechanic is to get each quoted job done as quickly as possible( kinda like piece work).

For example, If a flat rate mechanic was doing a cam job he may decide not to adjust the injector lash as a way to speed the job up. Who would know.

 

[bondtimbond]

I'd like to use a vendor who posts prices on here and is known to be good, but I haven't been able to find any in my far south Houston area.

 

[dano0726]

Runonbeer

I would highly recommend Runonbeer in Austin -- he changed wifey's DMF on her 2006 Jetta last March -- it's worth the drive from Houston....

 

[esteeze]

I'll be having timing belt and water pump replaced on my Jetta this month. Have 98K miles. I'm budgeting $1,000 for the work, which will be performed by my local, trusted independent shop.