Need your advice...

[BenadetH]

I have a 2005 05 plate full fat 182.

Its only on 25800 miles.

I know youre supposed to change the cam belt every 36,000 miles but k-tec says it should also be done every five years if that comes before the miles? What do you guys think. Also, is it essential to do the aux belt as well...i guess for the cost of the aux belt its worth it. At the same time what else should i get done over and above the normal service? The water pump?

Help!!?!?

 

[Fred@BTM]

exactly what you've been told, every 5years (or 72K miles) MAXIMUM REGARDLESS! you could have a car thats done ZERO miles that is 5years old, it sill needs its belts doing

plus people forget a car can be 6months old by the time they get it "new" so always build in a saftey factor of 6months (ie an 05 plate car could've been made in 04, hence the belt is already overdue, technically you should go off manufacture date, not date of first registration!)

waterpumps rarely go wrong

get the full aux kit changed NOT just the belt

you'll be spending "around" £450 at a specialist

 

[BenadetH]

So get the cambelt done and the aux belt and tensioners yeah? I don't think there is a specialist up here in aberdeen so I guess ill need to price it at the garage I use huh? Should I buy the parts and take them to the garage or should I let them order them?

 

[Bramley]

I would use a specialists or it will get done wrong. Alot of garages dont wanna do them as they are a pain

 

[Scott™]

As above you will need a special timing tool, which if not locked off can cause timing to be out and loss of power and future problems.

 

[BenadetH]

I just called that french vehicle specialist in fife which is only an hour and a half away from me up here in aberdeen and they said they will only do the belts job for existing customers...WTF?

I have given in and booked it into renault for mid november as thats when the service is due anyway. Its £739 all in for the belts and kit and the service.

Time to start saving!

 

[Budgie]

I just called that french vehicle specialist in fife which is only an hour and a half away from me up here in aberdeen and they said they will only do the belts job for existing customers...WTF?

I have given in and booked it into renault for mid november as thats when the service is due anyway. Its £739 all in for the belts and kit and the service.

Time to start saving!

IMO, start looking around for other specialists. There's a few Oop North on here who are able to do the job well.

Birchdown, Fred, Hutchy to name a few.

Worth the drive to get it done properly, and you'll probably save £200 off that price!

I personally wouldn't let Renault touch the belts. lol.

 

[BenadetH]

So where else in Scotland is there?

 

[Fred@BTM]

about 10 of your lot ship their cars down to me in Birmingham! I can speak Scottish, i don't bite

 

[Mark One]

If it's done incorrectly without the timing tools, you can loose serious serious power. It's happened on here before.

 

[BenadetH]

about 10 of your lot ship their cars down to me in Birmingham! I can speak Scottish, i don't bite

Fred..can I get a quote from you for the cam and aux belts/kits and the service? I would have no problem coming down to have someone do it I can trust. In your honest opinion, is there anything wrong with getting a renault dealer to do it?

 

[Fred@BTM]

ask the scotish boys about the dealers up there!

 

[R20 CWH]

100% use fred, he will be cheaper and if your wanting to compare it to the shite we have up here then your are going to be better off with fred.

If you dont have time to drive down use these guys for the transportation as well

http://www.car-delivery-service.co.uk/

all in all, cant go wrong.

So far the list of scottish happy members with freds work grows daily.

 

[DMS]

DEFINITELY get a specialist to do it. Any old garage, or even a Renault main stealer, will probably do it wrong and mess up the timing / something else.
Plus, a main dealer will charge the GDP of a small African nation to do the job, whereas a specialist will almost certainly be cheaper.

 

[BenadetH]

Ok I see your point..they're rubbish! Can we talk cost? Would you rather I call you tomorrow?

 

[Fred@BTM]

£550 inc vat with the minor service, 12months warranty

Birchdown are the same price and are closer to you than me, they do a fair few of the northern cars too

 

[BenadetH]

So can we tal cost Fred? Would you rather I ring you tomorrow?

 

[BenadetH]

Where are they? Sorry to be a pain. I'm on a blackberry so getting as much info on here from you kind people.

 

[Fred@BTM]

Birchdown Auto Services
Peacock Farmyard
Oldcastle
Nr Malpas
Cheshire
SY14 7AE

 

[jackfm]

I know you've already decided to do it but I bought my car at 28,000 miles (2001 reg) and it's had it's belts done. A lot better to be safe than sorry...

 

[BenadetH]

Im away to OZ at the end of this month so im gonna get it booked into Birchdown when i come back. The website is really impressive and instills me with alot of confidence. Thanks for all your advice on here guys.