Updated April 2026 · Diesel Automotive workshop notes
The honest answer is: it depends on the engine, the parts you fit, and whether you do "belt only" or the proper job. Here's the realistic price range we quote in 2026 across the engines we see most often.
| Engine | From |
|---|---|
| Ford 1.6 / 2.0 TDCi (Mondeo, Focus, Galaxy, S-Max) | £299 |
| Vauxhall 1.7 / 1.9 CDTi | £349 |
| VAG 1.9 / 2.0 TDI 4-cyl (Golf, Passat, A3, A4, Octavia) | £399 |
| Renault 1.5 dCi (Clio, Megane, Captur) | £299 |
| Peugeot / Citroën 1.6 HDi | £349 |
| Ford Transit 2.0 / 2.2 TDCi | £349 |
| VAG 2.5 / 3.0 TDI V6 | quote on request |
| BMW N47 / N57 / B47 (chain) | timing chain — see here |
| Mercedes OM651 (chain) | timing chain — see here |
Engine layout. Transverse engines with the cambelt at one end are faster than longitudinal engines or V6s where access is much tighter.
What's bundled in. A proper cambelt job replaces the belt, water pump, tensioner, idler pulleys, auxiliary belt and coolant. Belt-only jobs look cheaper on the quote sheet but cost more long-term.
Parts brand. We use OE-spec or OE-equivalent (INA, Gates, Continental, Dayco). Cheap pattern kits often fail early — false economy.
Other work uncovered. If the front crank seal is leaking or the camshaft seals are weeping, replacing them while everything is apart is much cheaper than doing it later.
The labour to access the cambelt is the same whether you change the water pump or not. If the water pump fails 18 months later, you pay all that labour again. Most workshops won't quote belt-only on diesels for that reason — and if they do, ask why.
Most older diesels have belts. Most modern diesels (BMW N47 onwards, Mercedes OM651, Ford EcoBoost in places, VAG 1.4 TSI etc.) have chains. Chains aren't replaced on a fixed interval — they're replaced on symptoms or fault data. Read our chain-or-belt guide if you're not sure.
Need a quote? Send us your reg and current mileage and we'll come back the same day. Cambelt replacement page · Contact.
Send your reg — we'll come back with a written quote within the working day.