E30 Zone

ive just been quoted Ԛ£280 + vat for a replacment timing belt fitted with new tenshioner from my local main dealer. this sound a bit steep. or is this about right. my car dos have FBWSH i did want to keep it that way.. should i entrust this job to a back street garage.

any help in deciding what to do, i would be gratefull and any local garages in the blackpool / preston area that anyone could recommend would help.

thanks
mick

1991 318i touring.

Do it your self mate. I did 3 325is over the easter bank holiday. Got it down to 4 hrs. It's quite an easy job. When I had done mine my bro got me to do his cab, then my flat mates dad wanted his touring doing so I worked on the whole E30 family!

seems steep even for dealer mines quoted me roughly 150 quid. (89 316i)

I'd go to a independant bmw specialist garage and get it for less but the same job. The main thing is that you keep FSH.

But if you have the cash then FBMSH always looks better, and you can sell it for more.

Just my tuppence.

The BMW specialists on the zone links and elsewhere seem to charge about Ԛ£150 + VAT. FSH is very good, FBMWSH is better. Your choice, but when you look at the price of the parts, Ԛ£280 is a bit heavy. Try other stealers within driving distance to see if quotes vary.

paid Ԛ£230 5 months ago, had the belt and a tensioner done

i was a bit pissed off with that price but 280 would flip me out!
ask around dude , and uԚ´re smart that u asked first, not like me .. but i wont be doin that again

my local bmw dealer quoted 160 for the timing belt

My M40 belt cost around Ԛ£100 this was done at David Paul Independant BMW garage in Warrington (ex BMW boys,very professional and no what they are doin.)

Or there is a place called BMtec in Central Manchester or Linwar in Southport (I have never used them,but have heard good reports.)

E30 is hitting modern day classic status. I bet the main stealer don't see as many E30s as a good independant garage you can really trust.

I know what I would do personally.

cheers......Mak

I recently paid 300 quid for cambelt, tensioner and oil service. The guy also replaced the distrubutor cap and rotor arm (which were Ԛ£70 on their own!) This was a back steet garage. He originally quoted Ԛ£150+VAT but that didn't include the tensioner.

Might be best to ask around

Very expensive, do you live within the M25?
My dealer charged me Ԛ£360 for an Inspection II and timing belt change, which was a very good price!