Sanity check please! (Cambelt change)

[Chris Archer]

Hi all,

I'm having the cambelt replaced on my Seat Leon FR 1.4, i called the dealership who quoted me £910 (including an MOT at £49). I am right in saying that's extortionate, even for a dealership?

My local are charging me £389 for the same work so agreed to go with them but £500+ difference doesn't make sense!

Am i being ripped off at the dealers or underpaying at the local?

Thanks in advance!

 

[RUM4MO]

That sounds a bit desperate, more like Audi pricing, I wonder why SEAT dealers are charging that for that engine?

Out of interest, what is that car's age and mileage?

 

[Rockbox]

https://www.seat.co.uk/owners/your-seat/servicing-maintenance/fixed-price-maintenance.html

Check out the engine section.

 

[Chris Archer]

That sounds a bit desperate, more like Audi pricing, I wonder why SEAT dealers are charging that for that engine?

Out of interest, what is that car's age and mileage?

Its 2015, done 49,000 miles. I'm glad i'm not the only one that was shocked!

 

[Chris Archer]

https://www.seat.co.uk/owners/your-seat/servicing-maintenance/fixed-price-maintenance.html

Check out the engine section.

I saw this, and actually got an email from Seat telling me the work needed to be done and quoted £399. When i told the dealer this he said it was for the kit only, so labour costs are close to £500 apparently...

 

[Wastedagen]

Mines the 1.2 and I took it to a VAG specialists for cambelt and ancillary belt change... £358 all in.... 4 hours labour....
Seat quoted me £600....

 

[RUM4MO]

I saw this, and actually got an email from Seat telling me the work needed to be done and quoted £399. When i told the dealer this he said it was for the kit only, so labour costs are close to £500 apparently...

Fair enough, that SEAT dealership must be buying the genuine VW Group parts from one of these silly ebay traders that try to charge about 3 times the correct price for parts - good try there on their side, creaming it in - maybe.

If you ever bored, maybe ask them for a break down of pricing for the kit of parts, that should give you a laugh.

 

[RUM4MO]

Mines the 1.2 and I took it to a VAG specialists for cambelt and ancillary belt change... £358 all in.... 4 hours labour....
Seat quoted me £600....

I'm glad to hear this, I can see that I'll "bottle it" later this year or next with my wife's 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI.

My initial plan was to get the cambelt changed at 6-8 years, depending on what it looks like when I check it annually.

 

[BigJase88]

Wow cambelt change at a dealership was always £3-400

 

[The Daily Meme]

I looked in to having my Cambelt changed about this time last year after the SEAT dealership wrote to me reminding me it needed changing at 5 years. I was quoted £360 all in by an independant as i did not fancy driving over 200 miles to the origonal dealer i bought the car from. Took the car in for a service to find i actually had a cam chain.

Shows the dealerships don't even know what they are on about.

 

[Wastedagen]

I'm glad to hear this, I can see that I'll "bottle it" later this year or next with my wife's 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI.

My initial plan was to get the cambelt changed at 6-8 years, depending on what it looks like when I check it annually.

I got my belt changed at 103,000 miles. I was told by VAG specialists its meant to get done at 120k......

 

[ZK_FR150]

Wow those dealer fixed prices have shot up loads.
£299 for a major service now, I'm sure it was a lot less than that last year.

Also when I had my cambelt and water pump changed, the price I paid at the dealer was the same as what was quoted on the seat website.

Whichever dealer said it was for the kit only and not fitting is taking the mick, I'd suggest trying another dealer.

 

[RUM4MO]

Wow those dealer fixed prices have shot up loads.
£299 for a major service now, I'm sure it was a lot less than that last year.

Also when I had my cambelt and water pump changed, the price I paid at the dealer was the same as what was quoted on the seat website.

Whichever dealer said it was for the kit only and not fitting is taking the mick, I'd suggest trying another dealer.

Naming and shaming would be my next move, either here or via SEAT UK, or both.

 

[robby71]

I saw this, and actually got an email from Seat telling me the work needed to be done and quoted £399. When i told the dealer this he said it was for the kit only, so labour costs are close to £500 apparently...

It does state in the small print at the bottom of the page - All prices (where applicable) inclusive of parts, oil, labour and VAT and come with two year parts warranty

Sounds like someone at the dealers didn't read that part and added labour onto the price again

 

[Rooster]

If i remember right, Seat had a promotion last year with £100 off the normal price (petrol engines) which brought it down to £300, probably because the dealers are losing work to the indies?

 

[noonoo63]

If i remember right, Seat had a promotion last year with £100 off the normal price (petrol engines) which brought it down to £300, probably because the dealers are losing work to the indies?

Dealer definitely taking the Michael. Got mine done last year , cambelt change, 2 year service plan,mot,brake fluid change £748. As my water pump is driven from exhaust belt on my particular engine did not need that done as then it would have been over the £900 and it was the dealer that pointed it out that water pump change was not needed. They also gave me a loan car foc while car was in for a day and a half so result.

 

[Rooster]

Just had an e-mail about this!

 

[RUM4MO]

Just had an e-mail about this!

How exactly do you interpret that price though, this sounds a lot like the OP's answer from his dealer, ie "that is just the price of the parts" - labour needs adding.

I like the "online booking" carrot being offered, SEAT used to do that with services, well at least roadside breakdown assistance, which I always took up when looking after my daughter's Ibiza while she was working abroad.

Edit:- though if that was parts only, they must be special parts at that price - though it will include a quick valet I suppose!

 

[The Daily Meme]

though it will include a quick valet I suppose!

A quick paint swirling service

 

[SRGTD]

Ha ha! . I always decline the ‘scratch and swirl service’ offered by the dealer; in fact I expressly ask they do not go anywhere near my car with their bucket full of dirty, gritty water, sandpaper sponge and dirty wash leather.