Timing Belt & Dephaser Change - A couple of Questions

[SharpyClio]

I was just mulling that over and a£300 engine with you if still need fitting which could well cost £500… and then you’re back here anyway. Plus as you say you might as well get belts, clutch etc done in it so would probably cost more.

I’ve bought the parts now anyway.. just need to find someone willing to fit them!


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[Mr Underhill]

What about using an actual dealership? Would anyone recommend that?


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I buy 90% of my bits from my local Renault dealer but partly because I’m in the trade and can get good discounts.

In terms of getting them to do the work I’d avoid it until you know the car inside out. I say that because Mick will no doubt find other things and update you if it’s major, but I got the feeling he’d probably sort through some of them without major drama. Your dealer will also find the same issues and you’ll get a bill as long as a toilet role.

My own daily goes into our dealerships for MOT and the odd bit of service work. Trust me when I say I get no favours. But the car is solid now so nothing major. I dare say they even like working on it.

 

[Mr Underhill]

I was just mulling that over and a£300 engine with you if still need fitting which could well cost £500… and then you’re back here anyway. Plus as you say you might as well get belts, clutch etc done in it so would probably cost more.

I’ve bought the parts now anyway.. just need to find someone willing to fit them!


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Mick will fit your parts I’m sure. When my track car went in for an engine rebuild to a specialist they took so long I almost collected the car with a boot full of engine parts.

I sounded a few specialists out and he was the only one who was prepared to take on the work and put it all back together. As it turned it the other garage got their s**t together and did a Stirling job. But i can totally understand how Mick got his reputation.

Contact him via his website using the forms. He’ll respond much quicker and get a dialogue going with you.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

I'd avoid a dealership like the plague.
Ive had my 182 since new. I took it to the local dealership when the 1st cambelt service was due. It was a clusterfuck from the moment I dropped it off.
I had a written agreed price of £499 which was on Renault website at the time. They later removed that price for Clio sport 1*2s on the website. But like I said they'd agreed the price and I had it in writing so there was no way I was going to pay a penny more.
They'd never seen a 182 before, they'd ordered the wrong parts. They phoned me about the locking wheel nut key to remove the wheels. It didn't even have the locking wheel nuts fitted at the time. That didn't exactly instill confidence in them.
They had the car for 5 days in total . On the invoice it says Renault Clio Tourer lol.
The service manager came to meet me when I went to collect the car and pay the bill. He said they'd made a huge mistake and the bill should have been "£1500" but they'd honour the price quoted
Anyway. The next cambelt service I had done at Diamond motors back in 2015. The car was making a horrible noise. It turns out the Renault dealership had used a " none genuine" water pump and it was rattling its tits off and that was after only 28k miles
The last cambelt service in 2020 was at Birchdown. When I spoke to them they were happy for me to supply Genuine Renault parts. I got a good deal on all the parts so it was happy days. I'd never use any parts other than Genuine Renault, even if it saves you a few £££s.
I'm pretty sure Mick will let you supply your own parts as long as they're genuine. If not. You could always try Birchdown. They have a courtesy car you can use for the day while they do the work.

 

[SharpyClio]

Basically gone full circle on this and now im back to going to see Mick

Never did I think something like this would be so complicated. That said it would be nice to get his view on what else might need doing as well and as he comes so highly regarded i'd trust his word over a dealership that i've never used.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Basically gone full circle on this and now im back to going to see Mick

Never did I think something like this would be so complicated. That said it would be nice to get his view on what else might need doing as well and as he comes so highly regarded i'd trust his word over a dealership that i've never used.

You did ask

My local Renault ‘specialist’ is 10 minutes down the road, which is why I do most of the engine work myself now. Read between the lines ha.

Never used Mick. I’m up in North Yorkshire, he’s down in Nottinghamshire but I’ve spoken to him and heard so many good stories about him I’d definitively take my car in for work I couldn’t do myself.

 

[SharpyClio]

You did ask

My local Renault ‘specialist’ is 10 minutes down the road, which is why I do most of the engine work myself now. Read between the lines ha.

Never used Mick. I’m up in North Yorkshire, he’s down in Nottinghamshire but I’ve spoken to him and heard so many good stories about him I’d definitively take my car in for work I couldn’t do myself.

You're not a million miles from me! I'm in East Riding.

I used to do all my own work, engines the lot back in the day as I couldn't afford garages but I had the luxury of my parents large garage (it was almost a triple) and it had heating, so it was a pleasure to work in! To be honest the belts are one of the few things I won't do on my drive. On my Leon (thats for sale if anyone wants a really reliable car that will help me pay for the belts on my Clio - nudge, nudge) I have done pretty much all of the work over the last 3 years, I just keep a photographic record and the receipts and I write in the service book what I have done and when and i've never had any issues - I quite enjoy it to be honest.

 

[SharpyClio]

Everything for this turned up today and Mick got back to me this morning so I have a dialogue open with him. Hopefully I'll be able to get this booked in fairly soon.