General: 70: timing belt change

[malc-c]

The V70 I've just purchased has a FSH and looking at the dealership stamps found that the last 5 services have been done by Pilling Volvo in the next town from where I live. I called in there this morning to see if they could provide some further history on the car, and mainly to see if the cam belt had been changed and when. I was pleased to find that the only "major" work that had been done was a replacement drive shaft done at the last service in January of this year, however the bad news was they informed me that the next service at 110K includes the cam belt replacement and I was looking at a bill for £650.

According to the dealership, the cam belt should be replaced every 110K on the V70 (S plate 1999 model). Is this correct, and if so is the £650 a fair price to pay from a dealership ? Is it worth seeking to have the car serviced by an independant garage, or will this have a negative affect on the service record as the SFH has been with main dealerships from new ?

I've read the thread on "to service or not to service" and whilst I'm looking at long term investment in this car (ie hopefully it will be a long time until I replace it) is it worth maintaining the dealership history. Whilst I'm all for doing general servicing (change oil and filters etc) myself, I'm not up for taking on a cam belt change as a DIY project !!

Cheers

Malcolm

[Mike B]

Don`t know about workshop price`s, But I have always had good advice from
Pilling Volvo at Apsley if its the same one ?
Don`t forget the cambelt change is the most important with oil and filter change`s if it breaks so dose your wallet :-{
sorry I can`t be more help.
Regards
Mike B

[malc-c]

Thanks for the reply.

It was the branch in Welwyn Garden that the car had been services by in the past, didn't realise there was a branch in Apsley !

I'll do some phoning around when the time comes... and as you say, it a lot cheaper than to wait until it fails !

[Chris_Rogers]

Why not ask them for a price to do the cam belt only.

You don't have to get them to do the work you can do yourself.
As you found out the cost of Volvo servicing is high.
A cambelt change should only cost around 2 hrs labour + parts.
I should think that would come to around £250.

How much will a full Volvo service history be worth when you come to sell a 10 yr old car? I expect the service costs will be more than the car is worth.

[Steve the Light]

According to the dealership, the cam belt should be replaced every 110K on the V70 (S plate 1999 model).

Is this the same for a W plate 2000?

[malc-c]

Originally Posted by Chris_Rogers

Why not ask them for a price to do the cam belt only.

You don't have to get them to do the work you can do yourself.
As you found out the cost of Volvo servicing is high.
A cambelt change should only cost around 2 hrs labour + parts.
I should think that would come to around £250.

How much will a full Volvo service history be worth when you come to sell a 10 yr old car? I expect the service costs will be more than the car is worth.

Good point... having got just £300 px allowance on my Rover 214 SEi when it was 12 years old I can see that spending £300 - £500 plus each year on servicing won't mean much if and when I come to sell the V70.

The "basic" service is around £300 so I gather the cost for just the belt would be the balance of £350... I'll do some rining round and see what comes up. I would like to bring the servicing and MOT forward as everything is due 1st Jan and having to tax, MOT and service the car the week after christmas isn't my ideal cup of tea..

[malc-c]

Originally Posted by Steve the Light

Is this the same for a W plate 2000?

According to this site the service intervals on a 00 V70 is every 12K miles, its only the '97 - '99 V70's that have 10k intervals... Can't find anything specific about cam belts though

[malc-c]

Chris, did a google and it threw ip this thread on a different forum and looking at the cost one guy paid you were spot on for the price from an indipendant