M20 Cambelt change cost-sound about right?
Moderator: martauto
Hi,
I recently bought a very nice F plate 320i from another member of the zone.The car really is pretty much spot on.Going through the history,the cambelt was last changed 10 years ago but the car has only done another 4k miles since.
I'm getting it changed and being based in St.Helens I contacted Linwar garage of Southport who have a great reputation servicing older BMWs.I spoke to the owner and basically the parts are circa £130 give or take and labour £250 give or take. He said it's advisable to to check and adjust the valve guides (I think that's what he said,i'm a chef and haven't got a Scooby do about mechanics!) while doing the belt along with the water pump and check condition of rotor arm,distributor cap etc.
So it's more than I expected if i'm honest as with the VAT it's going to be £450ish.
Sound about right?
I recently bought a very nice F plate 320i from another member of the zone.The car really is pretty much spot on.Going through the history,the cambelt was last changed 10 years ago but the car has only done another 4k miles since.
I'm getting it changed and being based in St.Helens I contacted Linwar garage of Southport who have a great reputation servicing older BMWs.I spoke to the owner and basically the parts are circa £130 give or take and labour £250 give or take. He said it's advisable to to check and adjust the valve guides (I think that's what he said,i'm a chef and haven't got a Scooby do about mechanics!) while doing the belt along with the water pump and check condition of rotor arm,distributor cap etc.
So it's more than I expected if i'm honest as with the VAT it's going to be £450ish.
Sound about right?
Really?It's hard finding a good reputable garage to do the work locally.There's a big independent BMW specialist close to me but to be honest the car is older than the guys working in there so i'm not convinced they are entirely happy working on it.
I have booked with the guy in Southport and to be fair he really sounds like he knows the older cars inside out and runs a 325i Sport himself which is always a good sign.
I have booked with the guy in Southport and to be fair he really sounds like he knows the older cars inside out and runs a 325i Sport himself which is always a good sign.
Correct...DanThe wrote:Maybe ten years agoandyp wrote:No half that sounds about right
Id rather pay the extra and be happy the job is done right by somebody competent than take it to fitterzz for £50 cheaper
£125 to supply and fit a decent brand M20 cambelt kit and antifreeze change will only be found from types working from government sponsored accommodation

Look at the wiki and consider doing it all yourself it's not rocket science, don't be afraid, it's probably much harder than producing a fancy meal!
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... elt_Change
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... elt_Change

No not £125.00 about £250.00, £450.00 is taking the p--stomson wrote:Correct...DanThe wrote:Maybe ten years agoandyp wrote:No half that sounds about right
Id rather pay the extra and be happy the job is done right by somebody competent than take it to fitterzz for £50 cheaper
£125 to supply and fit a decent brand M20 cambelt kit and antifreeze change will only be found from types working from government sponsored accommodation
Cam belt kit, fan and PAS belts, water pump and 5ltr of coolant from ECP is about £80.
3 hours labour is plenty.
3 hours labour is plenty.
Agreed Andy, I misread the op, £250 is a more than fair price.andyp wrote:No not £125.00 about £250.00, £450.00 is taking the p--stomson wrote:Correct...DanThe wrote: Maybe ten years ago
Id rather pay the extra and be happy the job is done right by somebody competent than take it to fitterzz for £50 cheaper
£125 to supply and fit a decent brand M20 cambelt kit and antifreeze change will only be found from types working from government sponsored accommodation
I have bought all of the above more times than i care to remember at that price.tomson wrote:£80 will not buy you f**k all towards this Barry at list prices!bss325i wrote:Cam belt kit, fan and PAS belts, water pump and 5ltr of coolant from ECP is about £80.
3 hours labour is plenty.
Genuine BMW On the other hand.....
Ok fair enough, I've just looked at ECP website and apart from the contitech belt the rest is scrap bands that I personally wouldn't touch...bss325i wrote:I have bought all of the above more times than i care to remember at that price.tomson wrote:£80 will not buy you f**k all towards this Barry at list prices!bss325i wrote:Cam belt kit, fan and PAS belts, water pump and 5ltr of coolant from ECP is about £80.
3 hours labour is plenty.
Genuine BMW On the other hand.....
i'd go with this using brand makers , f00k paying some coonts mortgagebss325i wrote:Cam belt kit, fan and PAS belts, water pump and 5ltr of coolant from ECP is about £80.
3 hours labour is plenty.

m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds

i'd rather do it myself after a quick read up on here .tomson wrote:An M20 belt job isn't paying anybody's mortgage down here magpie.
I've forgotten how many of these I've done so end of comments from me on this, good night
more money saved for part worns and maccy d's innit .


m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds

Obvs, but not everybody is in the same positionmagpie wrote:i'd rather do it myself after a quick read up on here .tomson wrote:An M20 belt job isn't paying anybody's mortgage down here magpie.
I've forgotten how many of these I've done so end of comments from me on this, good night
more money saved for part worns and maccy d's innit .

Contitech and Dayco belts are fine. Circlo water pumps...tomson wrote:Ok fair enough, I've just looked at ECP website and apart from the contitech belt the rest is scrap bands that I personally wouldn't touch...bss325i wrote:I have bought all of the above more times than i care to remember at that price.tomson wrote: £80 will not buy you f**k all towards this Barry at list prices!
Genuine BMW On the other hand.....
fitted more than i care to remember, the quality is fine and they last.
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Thanks Barry, I'm about to start pricing up to get my project finished, you just saved me lots of time pricing up that that particular jobbss325i wrote:Cam belt kit, fan and PAS belts, water pump and 5ltr of coolant from ECP is about £80.
3 hours labour is plenty.


X5 V8 for thrills, CRV for chills, Range Rover P38 V8 for sooooo much aggravation...
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I suspect he probably meant or said valve clearances (i.e., adjust the rockers). Factor in a new rocker cover gasket for that job.noj66 wrote:He said it's advisable to to check and adjust the valve guides (I think that's what he said,i'm a chef and haven't got a Scooby do about mechanics!)

///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
And the four rubber blind plugs that sit in the head at the ends of the rocker shafts.Speedtouch wrote:I suspect he probably meant or said valve clearances (i.e., adjust the rockers). Factor in a new rocker cover gasket for that job.noj66 wrote:He said it's advisable to to check and adjust the valve guides (I think that's what he said,i'm a chef and haven't got a Scooby do about mechanics!)