Time to face the music...

[.J.a.m.e.s.]

Please Read

Ok as a few of you are aware my cambelt and aux belt hasn't been done.

My car is an 04 reg and its just hit 12.000 miles, after speaking to a few friends on here, reading a few stories and speaking to 1 or 2 mechanics its time this needs to be done.

Iv put this off for a few months due to the extreem low millage and the face it has been sitting in doors for 3 years (in a police holding area)

I just have a few questions as im abit of a noob at this,

1. Do i definatly need to get this done now?
2. Apparently renault charge around £400 pound. Good price?
3. I have a mate whos been a mechanic for over 15 years and has said if i buy the tools (£60 approx) he will do it for £100 - Good idea?

Im very low on money atm but i do plan to have this car for a good few years and want to keep it in top condition.

If anyone has any serious comments please post.
Many thanks

 

[Aluco]

I think what this boils down to is you can't afford to run the car. It should've been done months ago.

 

[The Boosh!]

1. Do i definatly need to get this done now?
2. Apparently renault charge around £400 pound. Good price?
3. I have a mate whos been a mechanic for over 15 years and has said if i buy the tools (£60 approx) he will do it for £100 - Good idea?

1) You needed to get it done when you bought the car. Rubber perishes so it doesn't matter how long its not moved for.
2) Renault charge double that 90% of the time. Cheapest place near you is birchdown or NWP and even then its a little more than £400 IIRC
3) Not a good idea.

Seems to me you can't afford to maintain the car. Maybe instead of modding it you should have got it AOK mechanically.

 

[Needster]

The rubber has a tendency to perish, that's why the recommend it's done at that point. Just because it has been sitting around doing nothing won't mean that it won't perish.

Lucky you if your Renault quote you £400 for both belts. I got down to £650 from initially being told £900+vat!

One of the traders at the moment - very close to you - is doing a deal including a service for £470 using genuine Renault parts. A deal not to be sniffed at.

If your mate does it on the side you'd have no guarantee that it'll have been done properly and that if it hasn't been done properly that you can go back and get it corrected. Add on to the £160 for your mate the cost of the parts that you'll need for the cam/aux change and a service.

All worth thinking about.

 

[Hazza]

If you don't get it done now, you're never going to get it done at this rate.

You seem to be procrastinating it further and further.

Just bite the bullet and get it done. However when i got my 1.2's cambelt done, i bought a cambelt kit from GSF car parts, and got my local garage to change it. Kit cost about £22, and garage charged me £100 = £122 all in.

Duno if it was a good thing to do, but it worked for me and part ex'd it about a year later. Still going strong.

 

[ForceIndia]

In a thread a few weeks back you claimed to have already had it done.

personal opinion, yea cambelts done

It should of been done months ago, instead you spent the money on springs and stickers.

You're a muppet that won't take any advice, but in the vain hope you'll listen (doubtful), here goes.
1-It 100% needs to be done
2-Renault charge a lot more than £400 normally. The only places I would go to get it done would be BTM and Birchdown. Other 'specialists' have cocked them up.
3-No, that's a stupid idea. As above, only 2 places I trust.

 

[Aluco]

Take it to a specialist off here and you'll pay just over £400 otherwise your mate or a local garage will balls it up.

 

[.J.a.m.e.s.]

The rubber has a tendency to perish, that's why the recommend it's done at that point. Just because it has been sitting around doing nothing won't mean that it won't perish.

Lucky you if your Renault quote you £400 for both belts. I got down to £650 from initially being told £900+vat!

One of the traders at the moment - very close to you - is doing a deal including a service for £470 using genuine Renault parts. A deal not to be sniffed at.

If your mate does it on the side you'd have no guarantee that it'll have been done properly and that if it hasn't been done properly that you can go back and get it corrected. Add on to the £160 for your mate the cost of the parts that you'll need for the cam/aux change and a service.

All worth thinking about.

when is this happeniing? (i just herd roumours renault do it for 400)

 

[Needster]

It's announced in the NW Performance section. God, it's like school sometimes... It's not hard to find - I'll find it for you.... http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=475520

 

[scott1205]

i cant believe you have been modding your car knowing that the belts needed changing.

silly silly boy!

 

[sideways danny]

that's incredibly overdue!!!!! no question at all, get it done or stop driving. I'd recommend Birchdown going by your location

 

[Daniel]

FLOL @ driving around in a car with 6 year old belts and tensioners.

Just asking for trouble!!

 

[ForceIndia]

I'd recommend Birchdown going by your location

This. +10.

 

[Martin_172]

lol @ people saying your mechanic pal will balls it up, people dont get them timed properly as they dont use the proper tools for the engine, if your buying him the tools it will be fine, its only a cambelt ffs your not asking him to give you a heart transplant!

 

[sideways danny]

if the tools he's getting are £60, it wont be right. the cheap ones are cheese

 

[Martin_172]

reading fail on my part, needs to be the proper ones!

 

[MCC-182]

Sorry to invade but does anybody know anywhere in or around the Stoke-on-Trent area where I can get the belts done?

 

[Naith]

you really are a clown. you lied about having it done time and time again, you dont deserve the poor thing.


get the bus and save till you can afford it doing, if ur hardup, i know i've had to in the past and its all because i'll put myself out before the car due to wanting to keep her tip top and well maintained.

i dunno why i'm offering advice, you wont even listen as per, you're more irritating than lusty.

 

[pip.]

Sorry to invade but does anybody know anywhere in or around the Stoke-on-Trent area where I can get the belts done?

Birchdown. About 45 minutes from you and they are (imo) the best.

 

[Fred@BTM]

face palm!

yer mate "dave" or whoever with his £60 tools and his "i'll do it for £100"

it'll f**k up

stop penny pinching, Renault generally charge nearer £800, get your arse to Birchdown ASAP

YOU NEED FULL CAMBELT KIT AND FULL AUX BELT KIT

 

[Mike_182]

FPMSL @ the clownshoe. Most people worry about belts that much that they get them done a couple of months early. Not 3/4 years late for the Aux belt and 1/2 years late for the Cam belt!

 

[Martin_172]

i didnt do mine on my old car and it was coming up for 7yrs and 50k but its just a gamble you take, some phase 1s out there are on original belts at 10yrs old and others snap their belts before they are due its just a gamble really, we had a mk3 1.2 16v that snapped a belt at 2yrs and 60k

 

[Fred@BTM]

i had an 02 plate 172 booked in for a cambelt (never been done) he was on his way to me and it let go 20miles from my workshop, his bill trippled!

a new car on zero miles sat in a showroom for 5years and not moved still needs a belt doing

 

[penaul]

I just had a quote from renault and theres was £618.33 and thats will 25% off what a joke

 

[.J.a.m.e.s.]

Well, some serious words of wisdon from you guys.

I definatly need to get this done, and tbh its something i should have done earlier.
I thort it was just a few of you renault boffins who took it abit far but it appears i was a little foolish in not listning.

The guy who said he would do it for £100 isnt just some teenager who wants to make a quick ton. Hes done hundreds of cambelts before and it was just my estimate at the tools being £60 after speaking to him he again said It would be more like £90

What do you reckon?

 

[Jimbo_924]

Birchdown sounds to be thoroughly recommended and with a guarantee and a much better price than Renault it seems like a very good deal and would agree with everyones advice to go to those guys

Altho I would like to make 2 quick points:

1. I believe that a capable mechanic with a bit of research and the right tools is not out of his depth here. I changed my belts myself 10 months ago, on 22,000, I did only change the belts, after a thorough inspection of the pulleys and tensioners as these components are more mileage related rather than time on the rubber as mentioned above. (plus I'll probably own the car for the next 5years and won't cover the mileage for tensioners before then)
My belt change as a result cost me £35 in timing tools and £30 in belts. Before people shout at me I have the money to run the car and would happily of paid £600 for a belt change if I hadn't of done many belts and rebuilds in the past and never had a problem with any of the cars I've rebuilt.
So if you trust your friend and he is willing to put in the time and effort for £100 (and it is a big job as belts go!!) then don't rule it out.

2. Some of the comments made in this thread are going back to how the forum used to be before we all clicked "agree" on a new policy to rule out the less helpful and more insulting posts. Sorry for the moan!

 

[Tom]

Birchdown sounds to be thoroughly recommended and with a guarantee and a much better price than Renault it seems like a very good deal and would agree with everyones advice to go to those guys

Altho I would like to make 2 quick points:

1. I believe that a capable mechanic with a bit of research and the right tools is not out of his depth here. I changed my belts myself 10 months ago, on 22,000, I did only change the belts, after a thorough inspection of the pulleys and tensioners as these components are more mileage related rather than time on the rubber as has mentioned above. (plus I'll probably own the car for the next 5years and won't cover the mileage for tensioners before then)
My belt change as a result cost me £35 in timing tools and £30 in belts. Before people shout at me I have the money to run the car and would happily of paid £600 for a belt change if I hadn't of done many belts and rebuilds in the past and never had a problem with any of the cars I've rebuilt.
So if you trust your friend and he is willing to put in the time and effort for £100 (and it is a big job as belts go!!) then don't rule it out.

2. Some of the comments made in this thread are going back to how the forum used to be before we all clicked "agree" on a new policy to rule out the less helpful and more insulting posts. Sorry for the moan!

Wasn't a RS model then?

Its not tricky if you know whats involved. But thats the problem.

 

[Jimbo_924]

Wasn't a RS model then.

Its not tricky if you know whats involved. But thats the problem.

Its my 172 Cup, the belts on their own were about £14 for the cambelt and about £11 for the Aux I believe, certainly not much more. They were bought from Unipart a supplier I have used for many bits and altho I can't remember the belt manufacturer I did check that they are a company who supply many OEM's.

 

[Tom]

I think i paid £128 all in for my cambelt kit.

AUX kit wasnt far off.

 

[pip.]

Its my 172 Cup, the belts on their own were about £14 for the cambelt and about £11 for the Aux I believe, certainly not much more. They were bought from Unipart a supplier I have used for many bits and altho I can't remember the belt manufacturer I did check that they are a company who supply many OEM's.

Perhaps you should do a How To guide.

 

[Jimbo_924]

Yeah I believe the kit is very expensive Tom, I didn't do the full kit though, just the belts, hence the much cheaper price.

(which I'm sure will get me in trouble with some on here but I tried to explain above my justification for that, and the full kit will be done when the mileage comes around)

I thought that there already was a "How to" in the members section pip? Sadly I'm not a member, but if a guide was worth free membership, lol? But even that could be dangerous, wouldn't want people piling on the blame if they got it wrong!

 

[Rob]

I think a guide would certainly be worth membership, write one, ten of us will chip in a £. Done!

 

[.J.a.m.e.s.]

I think for what its worth.... Its probably best getting it done professionally (not that my friend isnt a professional, just with the gaurantee and what not.

As for me "spending all my money on mods"

Lowering Springs - £10
Cliosport stickers - £8 total
Tow eye - Christmas present
Megane splitter - £3
Sound system - From previous car

so i dont think thats the issue

 

[nicknick]

Yes the belts on an RS are tricky and you need specific tools, BUT it's hardly bugatti veyron is it? it's just a clio. A capable mechanic will be up to the job.

People who take it to Renault main dealers are insane.

People who take it to a specialist have the extra money to buy piece of mind.

In your situation I would be finding a mechanic I trust (sounds like you have)

 

[Ronnie R]

Get it done!!

 

[pip.]

Yeah I believe the kit is very expensive Tom, I didn't do the full kit though, just the belts, hence the much cheaper price.

(which I'm sure will get me in trouble with some on here but I tried to explain above my justification for that, and the full kit will be done when the mileage comes around)

I thought that there already was a "How to" in the members section pip? Sadly I'm not a member, but if a guide was worth free membership, lol? But even that could be dangerous, wouldn't want people piling on the blame if they got it wrong!

Just had a look. Yes there is a guide already.
You could do a video then.

 

[Sarah]

if you trust your mate let him do it....just makes sure he does it right and get an invoice for the pasrts to prove there done

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Belts kits - 250 quid
Timing tools - 60 quid (your estimate)
100 quid to ur mate

That's 410 quid, for the sake of an extra 50 quid take it to a specialist, its a no brainer

 

[Aluco]

It's not even that. I paid £406 at birchdown last month..

 

[Beef-Mc]

I think for what its worth.... Its probably best getting it done professionally (not that my friend isnt a professional, just with the gaurantee and what not.

As for me "spending all my money on mods"

Lowering Springs - £10
Cliosport stickers - £8 total
Tow eye - Christmas present
Megane splitter - £3
Sound system - From previous car

so i dont think thats the issue

What about the cup spoiler and having that sprayed to match the car?