Should I get the belts done before trying to sell?

[HR-81]

I have a 2005 182 FF that i bought earlier this year as a fun car to drive at weekends and track days. My wife had to sell her car a few months ago and now has to share mine and it doesn't really work for what she needs a car for so regrettably having to consider selling it.

Just before i bought it the engine was changed with belts recently being done. However, never received any proof of this although wasn't too worried as planned to keep the car for a while.

What do people think? Should i get the belts done now or just factor this into the asking price?

Thanks,

 

[R3k1355]

Factor it into the asking price.

You won't get back the price of having the belts done.

 

[hipwell]

Yeh your average punter isn't going to pay an additional 500 quid because you says it's had the belts done.

I'd just advertise it at around the ballpark figure, knowing that you will probably get knocked down 500 or so due to the belts.

You never know, some idiot who doesn't know any better might just pay you and believe your story about it having the belts done before you bought it with no proof.

 

[Mertin]

As said, just advertise as is. New owner can run the risk or get the belts done themselves with whoever they want to do them. As long as its reflected in the price

 

[HR-81]

Thanks gentleman for your opinions.

 

[Oggy997]

Also, consider moving house so you get your full asking by being closer to a prospective buyer.

 

[Clio182mike]

When I sell mine after Christmas I will be advertising without belts done as I don't have proof because the previous owner (a good friend and ex Renault mechanical) did the belts and dephaser December 17. I had been after the car for a long time. I don't think it's that important as the new buyer will have to eventually do them anyway unless they plan to buy and sell on. If they bought with belts done and do 40k they will have to do them anyway.

 

[hipwell]

To be fair these must be the only car I've come across where people on forums treat belt changes like some kind of holy ritual, and if the belt wasn't done by the chosen specialist it's worthless lol.

It's a Renault clio lol, not a lambo

 

[jameswrx]

To be fair these must be the only car I've come across where people on forums treat belt changes like some kind of holy ritual, and if the belt wasn't done by the chosen specialist it's worthless lol.

It's a Renault clio lol, not a lambo

no, no, no it’s the fabled f4r and everyone knows you need to be a clio specialist (that means you were once an enthusiast that started their own business and have no formal qualifications btw).

If a mechanic can’t do a 172/182 timing belt then they shouldn’t be working on anything! The only PITA is how tight it is but the job is the same as thousands of other renaults that are done every day.

I did the belt on one of my 172’s earlier this year but it doesn’t count as I’m not a specialist. The irony of it is I do timing belts on cars where the engine is worth more than a row of houses up North.

 

[dann2707]

Got a price in mind for the car? Any pics?

 

[HR-81]

Got a price in mind for the car? Any pics?

Still have a few bits to fit to it that I’ve bought over the last month but will put it up for sale at the weekend hopefully.

 

[RustyMojo]

no, no, no it’s the fabled f4r and everyone knows you need to be a clio specialist (that means you were once an enthusiast that started their own business and have no formal qualifications btw).

If a mechanic can’t do a 172/182 timing belt then they shouldn’t be working on anything! The only PITA is how tight it is but the job is the same as thousands of other renaults that are done every day.

I did the belt on one of my 172’s earlier this year but it doesn’t count as I’m not a specialist. The irony of it is I do timing belts on cars where the engine is worth more than a row of houses up North.

I don’t disagree, but if you are right why are 90% of the clios that have had their timing belts changed by non specialists running with the timing out?

 

[hipwell]

I don’t disagree, but if you are right why are 90% of the clios that have had their timing belts changed by non specialists running with the timing out?

They probably aren't tbh.

You only hear of the bad ones, every Clio owner in the country doesn't post on here to tell us their timing is spot on after a belt change

 

[jameswrx]

I don’t disagree, but if you are right why are 90% of the clios that have had their timing belts changed by non specialists running with the timing out?

I’d suggest 90% is high but I can tell you a lot of cars you do never line up to timing tools perfectly when you’re dismantling (even at their first ever belt). When you’re doing an engine that just has marks you have small leeway that makes them always look perfect.

My clio didn’t line up and it was done at Renault last. I’d wager it did line up and they would have checked and double checked it like we all do.

I’d also say a fair few that are ‘bad’ have had ‘grp n timing’ in a previous life of their 10+ owners.

 

[RustyMojo]

They probably aren't tbh.

You only hear of the bad ones, every Clio owner in the country doesn't post on here to tell us their timing is spot on after a belt change

Not sure I buy into that really, we will never really know either to be fair obviously me chucking 90% out there was a wild accusation. But when I was in the market to buy I would say that’s probably reflective of the cars I viewed. Or at least my diagnostics of some of the cars viewed, which several had invoices for ‘belts done’

so are we saying specialists are the new Snake oil? Personally I’m not so sure, they don’t seem to charge much more than most normall garages to do the job anyway. So why would people not use them ?

 

[jameswrx]

Not sure I buy into that really, we will never really know either to be fair obviously me chucking 90% out there was a wild accusation. But when I was in the market to buy I would say that’s probably reflective of the cars I viewed. Or at least my diagnostics of some of the cars viewed, which several had invoices for ‘belts done’

so are we saying specialists are the new Snake oil? Personally I’m not so sure, they don’t seem to charge much more than most normall garages to do the job anyway. So why would people not use them ?

I’m not saying they’re snake oil at all and honestly, if you have a trusted specialist near you I’d use them as they know the cars inside out. All I’m saying is the belt thing has to be a bit of Chinese whispers going off my experience of doing many on many cars.

It’s extremely rare to find a belt I’d say was timed wrong even on the cheapest old banger or other model Renault that uses a similar setup. I could even tell you the last belt I did that was definitely wrong and that was a year ago and on a Ferrari done by one of the best know specialists in the business. Owner called me hours after (that panic feeling anyone that’s just done a timing belt on an expensive car will know) to wax lyrical about his car running better than ever (phew)

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Not sure I buy into that really, we will never really know either to be fair obviously me chucking 90% out there was a wild accusation. But when I was in the market to buy I would say that’s probably reflective of the cars I viewed. Or at least my diagnostics of some of the cars viewed, which several had invoices for ‘belts done’

so are we saying specialists are the new Snake oil? Personally I’m not so sure, they don’t seem to charge much more than most normall garages to do the job anyway. So why would people not use them ?

Birchdown and Diamond motors hourly rate is very reasonable and pretty much inline with local garages I've taken my 182 to for small bits n bat's of jobs that have needed doing over the years.

My first experience of a major service at a Renault dealership was an absolute joke.
First they rang to say they couldn't get the wheels off as they didn't have locking wheel nut key, then rang back 30 mins later to say it didn't have locking wheel nuts on.

Then they phoned towards the end of the day saying they'd ordered the wrong parts so they needed the car for another day ( at least i had a courtesy car so wasn't a problem).
I'd had a written quote of £499 to do both belts, dephaser etc........
Anyway. To cut a long story short. They had my 182 for 1 week for what should have been circa a 6 - 7 hour job.
When I went to pick the car up the service manager met me, all apologetic saying they'd made a mistake and that the bill should have been £1500 but because they'd quoted £499 then they'd honour it.
They hasnt even got the right car on the invoice. It said Clio sport tourer lol.
The next time I had the belts done was with Mick at Diamond motors. The water pump had been rattling its tits off. When Mick showed it to me the Renault dealership that had done the previous major service they'd used a none genuine water pump.

Another experience of a different Renault dealership when my 182 was only 3 years old they'd spotted a small leak from the sump gasket, pretty much like they all leak slightly. They quoted me £300 I didn't have it done and its been spot on ever since.

So that's my experience of Renault dealerships and there so called trained mechanics.
When the cars been to Diamond motors and Birchdown at least I know the job will have been properly and in a timely manner, plus they've always told me of any issues that might been addressing in the future without any Bullshit.

That's why I always take it to a Renault specialist.

 

[RustyMojo]

Exactly the point, I haven’t needed to use a specialist as yet. But did some research and their rates are reasonable. I have friends who are great mechanics, but next year I will be sending my car away for its big un.

 

[davo172]

no, no, no it’s the fabled f4r and everyone knows you need to be a clio specialist (that means you were once an enthusiast that started their own business and have no formal qualifications btw).

If a mechanic can’t do a 172/182 timing belt then they shouldn’t be working on anything! The only PITA is how tight it is but the job is the same as thousands of other renaults that are done every day.

I did the belt on one of my 172’s earlier this year but it doesn’t count as I’m not a specialist. The irony of it is I do timing belts on cars where the engine is worth more than a row of houses up North.

This is so true it had to be done at BTM too and have dephaser changed at same time or it would explode!!