Mate lost his key..

[Carver]

How old is the car, it should be changed 70-72K or 5 years, whichever comes first. You should also have the water pump and auxilliary belt changed at the same time. Job should cost about £300 for parts & labour, it should be a 3 hour job. Don't go over the 5 years time, the belt degrades with age. The guy who sold you the car has not been entirely honest with you. If it was a 2nd hand car dealer he really should have had it changed as a courtesy and part of the warranty, but for a private sale you can't expect it.

BTW, I said change the water pump because the timing belt also goes round the water pump (it's part of the drive train), you don't want this failing down the line and ceasing up and buggering your new timing belt up.

A timing belt kit, which includes tensioners that you will need to fit it, with water pump costs about £110.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.kimbercarparts.co.uk/?gclid=COvs0fig77QCFe3KtAodfi4AyA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.kimbercarparts.co.uk/?gclid= ... tAodfi4AyA</a>

One survey says £40/hr average labour charge but this article says it's more like £73, so the £63/hr I factored in is about right.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.motors.co.uk/cars/news/garages-charge-up-to-%C2%A3190-per-hour-to-fix-your-car" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.motors.co.uk/cars/news/garag ... x-your-car</a>.

Oh, if your engine's fucked 'cos it snaps you're talking £400 to £1000 depending on how lucky you are. Your choice

 

[Pigeonho]

How old is the car, it should be changed 70-72K or 5 years, whichever comes first. You should also have the water pump and auxilliary belt changed at the same time. Job should cost about £300 for parts & labour, it should be a 3 hour job. Don't go over the 5 years time, the belt degrades with age. The guy who sold you the car has not been entirely honest with you. If it was a 2nd hand car dealer he really should have had it changed as a courtesy and part of the warranty, but for a private sale you can't expect it.

BTW, I said change the water pump because the timing belt also goes round the water pump (it's part of the drive train), you don't want this failing down the line and ceasing up and buggering your new timing belt up.

A timing belt kit, which includes tensioners that you will need to fit it, with water pump costs about £110.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.kimbercarparts.co.uk/?gclid=COvs0fig77QCFe3KtAodfi4AyA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.kimbercarparts.co.uk/?gclid= ... tAodfi4AyA</a>

One survey says £40/hr average labour charge but this article says it's more like £73, so the £63/hr I factored in is about right.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.motors.co.uk/cars/news/garages-charge-up-to-%C2%A3190-per-hour-to-fix-your-car" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.motors.co.uk/cars/news/garag ... x-your-car</a>.

Oh, if your engine's fucked 'cos it snaps you're talking £400 to £1000 depending on how lucky you are. Your choice

Would it be clear if a belt has been changed prior to you owning a car? I recently bought an Insignia, 08 plate and it has 57k on the clock, approaching 58k. It is 5 years old this year in July.

 

[sir baconface]

Get that cam belt changed! Risk of serious damage otherwise.

You could always get a couple of quotes first.<br /><br />-- Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:38 am --<br /><br />

Would it be clear if a belt has been changed prior to you owning a car? I recently bought an Insignia, 08 plate and it has 57k on the clock, approaching 58k. It is 5 years old this year in July.

No it wouldn't be clear. At that age/mileage it's unlikely to have been changed. Would assume not if I were you.

 

[Carver]

Pige, if it's been changed they would normally tell you that and try to push the price up a bit, i.e. they would use it as a selling point. If they haven't done it and it's nearing the time they won't mention it.

If it's recently been done the belt will look new, it will have a bit of a sheen on it and any markings will be bright. If it's old there will be grime on it and it will be a bit dull looking. You'll have to take the cover off to have a look, sometimes that's easy, sometimes a pain in the arse. Also look at the teeth on the belt, sorry I can't describe the difference but the edges of the teeth shouldn't be worn if it's properly adjusted.

6 years/ 100,000 miles on an insignia, unless it's diesel, but check in the service interval booklet that came with the car rather than trusting the link:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.mytimingbelt.com/Results.aspx?ModelId=274" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.mytimingbelt.com/Results.aspx?ModelId=274</a>

 

[Didsbury Dave]

to his BMW 1 series, $800 and 10 days later he's sorted

(key had to come from Bavaria)

-- Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:35 am --

oh yeah, not keyless entry anymore

I once had a 3 series and it happened to me. Total and utter fucking rip off. Think it was £200-300 for a replacement key. Of course I later found the missing key, too.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Thanks for all the advice and sorry to nimrod for hijacking the thread a bit! Update-oil and all filters changed but he didnt have time to do the timing belt after all as in his words 'youve got to go through the letterbox and decorate the kitchen to get to the living room' and he had to pick his kids up from school. Its going back in a fortnight for him to do it and so now ive got a nice new boxed up cambelt in my boot. Nothings simple!

 

[shadygiz]

BMW 1 series and it's a 'he'?!
Does your other mate have a pink Audi A1?

I drive a big 4 x 4 but his Beamer is the best car Ive ever driven, not a ladies car by any means (are you a true blue Aussie by any chance? )


[bigimg]http://www.zcars.com.au/images/hartge-bmw-1series-coupe1.jpg[/bigimg]

Not bad to the eye that.

same as mine...but mines white ;)

got the harmon karden sound system installed too....its fuckin fast, frugal and fun to drive

 

[Bigg Bigg Blue]

It's OK to drive most cars if you are a man but not a KA, now that is a womans car.

 

[were_not_really_here]

It's OK to drive most cars if you are a man but not a KA, now that is a womans car.

Nothing wrong with the new ones ;)

 

[goat boy]

Had a cam belt go on a car of mine. £75 job would've saved a £500 job, and that was on mates rates. The cam was in 3 pieces.