Hey guys, I have an estimate to get the timing belt in my car changed. And they are telling me 998.60 for the whole job. DOes that sound right? Or should I keep shopping around?

I drive a 2005 A4 1.8T

 

That's in the ball park. A little high if that's an independent shop. You can usually find one that will do it for about $750.

 

Its better than the stealership they told me it would cost $1200.

 

One question...Does that quote include replacing the waterpump as well? because that is something that needs to be done at the same time.

 

When I did mine at the dealership they said the waterpump didn't really have to be changed at the same time - I asked them to at least check it out and they said it was fine when I picked it up.

Maybe it's different in Australia, certainly hope so because your not the first person to say that Myst420.

 

One of the reasons to change the water pump is to get rid of the plastic impeller they used at the factory. I'm not sure if they ever used metal impellers on B6 cars.

 

I look at it this way: its only a little more labor and the cost of the part to replace it. Whereas if you don't do it at the same time, and your waterpump goes bad before its time to do the belt again, you end up paying twice as much in the long run because you can't replace the pump without redoing the timing belt.

 

Just fix it, the hours of repair will be almost double if you don't just do it all the first time.