Hi all, It's time to change the cam belt on my Mk2 1.8. I bought some bits from MX-5 parts a couple of weeks ago and didn't realise that they are based just around the corner from me. I also didn't realise that they have a two-bay garage connected to the shop. They do a cam belt service for £379.95 inc VAT, labour and parts. The only thing I'm not sure is if it includes a new water pump. I don't think that sounds too bad, especially for an MX-5 'specialist' that's 10 minutes away. However, I'm quite prepared for the mighty OcUK Motors section to tell me I'm wrong. So what say you?
+1 It should only be extra for the actual waterpump, no extra labour costs, 2 sec job to change that while the belt is off anyway.
Is the MK2 engine non interference? That was the beauty of the mk1 1.8, NI engine, which meant no damage if the belt did go.
Cheers Tom. I read that it's pretty much standard to do at the same time as the cam belt and being an MX-5 specialist they might include it on those grounds. So probably £450 all in?
£450 is a bit steep. Have you priced the parts online? I would be happy with £300 for the belt and pump at a local garage imo.
What year is your car? Should be around £110 for the timming belt kit, water pump and drive belt, the rest is labour, see if you can get prices for labour only, should be cheaper.
Shouldn't be more than £100 or so labour. I think that's very expensive, you could just run it until the timing belt breaks, and hope your RAC membership is upto scratch, then change it then
That is pretty steep for a belt and water pump. £30 - Gates/Goodyear timing belt £60 - OEM water pump £30 - OEM w/p gasket, cam cover seal (OEM) £50 - Various seals - Rear engine, cam seals etc The labour should not go over £150. I would aim around £250 with all the bits. Don't bother with the pullys etc, they don't go.
Only the non VVT engine is non-interference. If this is the later mk2 this will grenade the engine. As said above that quote seems very expensive, I got a local indy to do the lot (incl waterpump) for £150 labour IIRC.
I've literally just had this done on my 1.8 Mk2.5. I actually got it as part of the deal when I bought the car from a Honda franchise to be done at a discounted rate a year later as I knew it would be due. It was supposed to go back to Honda but amusingly they didnt have the timing tools for the Mazda engine so they booked it in on my behalf at a local independant they reguarely use for non Honda work. The parts came to £140 for the cambelt kit, a new water pump, and some anti freeze to refill the system. The labour was billed at 2.45 hours for the cambelt change, and 1.2 for the water pump fitting, rebuild, coolant filling and running up to temperature etc to check the system. All in this should have come to £208 on the labour, but with the discount I got it for £155. All in I paid a fiver short of £300 even without the labour discount though it would only have been £350. So yea, if that origional £380 includes the water pump it sounds about right for a specialist compared to what I paid. If they charge for the water pump on top it sounds extorniate and I would go elsewhere.
My mk2.5 MX-5 had it's full service and cam belt changed last week, cost £250 + VAT at an MX-5 specialist.
Thanks for all the continued advice. I'll check to see if that original price includes the water pump and also see if I can find another garage to give me a price.
