Cambelt, water pump, tensioner, idler — replaced together, the proper way. From £299 fitted, depending on engine.
A cambelt change is a labour-heavy job. The water pump is usually behind the belt, the tensioner is touching it, the idler is touching it. Most workshop hours go on access — not the belt itself.
Replacing the belt without doing the water pump and tensioners means doing all that labour again in 18 months when one of them fails. We won't quote belt-only on most engines for this reason. The proper job is the only sensible job.
| Engine | Typical price (fitted, all-in) |
|---|---|
| Ford 1.6 / 2.0 TDCi | from £299 |
| Vauxhall 1.7 / 1.9 CDTi | from £349 |
| VAG 1.9 / 2.0 TDI (4-cyl) | from £399 |
| BMW N47 / N57 (chain — see Timing Chain page) | quote on request |
| Mercedes OM651 (chain) | quote on request |
| Renault 1.5 dCi | from £299 |
| Ford Transit 2.0 / 2.2 TDCi | from £349 |
| VAG 2.5 / 3.0 TDI V6 | quote — chain conversion considerations |
Send us the reg and we'll come back with a firm written quote within the working day.
Most older diesels have belts (rubber, replaced on interval). Most modern diesels have chains (metal, "lifetime" — except they're not). If you have a chain, the change isn't on a fixed interval — it's done by symptoms (rattle on cold start, fault codes, stretched chain on diagnostic). Chain jobs are bigger and pricier — see our timing chain replacement page.
Check the manufacturer interval — typically 60,000 to 100,000 miles, or 5–7 years. If you don't know when it was last done, it's worth checking. A snapped belt on most diesels means engine destruction.
Send us your reg and the service history. If we can't determine the date, we'll usually recommend changing it for peace of mind — a £400 cambelt change is much cheaper than a £2,000+ engine rebuild.
A day for most engines. Some V6 and chain conversions take 2–3 days.
Send your reg and we'll come back with a firm written quote within the working day.