Hi All,

It's time for the 200k timing belt change on my 2000 TJ. Mechanic is quoting $700 all up, comprised of $400 labour and $300 for a Bosch Timing Tensioner Kit. There is also a quote for a hydraulic tensioner ($323), if required.

A brief look around the web indicates that the kit can be bought for $74 from here (http://www.getprice.com.au/Bosch-Timing-Tensioner-Kit-Gpnc_644--37203817.htm), and suitable kits from madmagna for $143. Calls to Autobarn and Repco also yielded wildly varying results.

Leaving aside the gouging by the mechanic, why is there such a price discrepancy? Am I comparing apples with apples? Are all "kits" (including the tensioner) not created equal?

Thanks

Happy Dude

not all kits are equal, the mech has quoted you for a good brand, that he probably has to buy from a local reseller, that buys from a factory that buys from the manufacturer. buy the time he puts his mark up on it (albeit, his might be a little excessive), thats his price. you could talk to him about self supplying the parts, but lots of times mechanics wont offer warranty if they dont supply the part.

the internet site i probably a bit more direct from the factory, and my guess is that it would have huge postage costs.

madmagna would have his own supplier that let him put a reasonable mark up on it while still keeping the price down.

Seems reasonable price, no alarms ringing here.

$400 for labour is not that bad, I charge $300 but my overheads are not as much as other places although that will change very soon lol

The kits I supply have the genuine Koyo Bearings, Genuine NOK seals and a Sun belt. I refuse to either use or fit after market pre tensioners, genuine are about $215 from memory. I only suggest changing the pre tensioner if you are having issues with the existing one

$300 for a Bosch Timing Tensioner Kit. There is also a quote for a hydraulic tensioner ($323), if required.


Try a bit harder! I can get the Dayco full kit, or Goodyear full kit, complete with hydraulic tensioner and water pump, landed at my doorstep within a week, for AU$222.96 - and your mechanic wants to charge $623? Tell him he's dreaming!

(Goodyear kit includes an OE hydraulic tensioner, in case you are wondering. I got Goodyear Gatorback belts in both my Magnas, working well. I would not hesitate to install this kit in a third gen Magna, and save $400. lol )

EDIT: Just ordered a Goodyear kit, in case my next Magna needs it. lol $237.98 USD or AU $222.96 - nice exchange rate at the moment!
If I never use it, I can always pass it on to a local 3rd gen owner. . . . . . . . I'm sure they will be happy to save some money. lol

I can now start looking for a TJ or younger wagon with 200,000 or so km on it, with belt not done. Of course I will argue the belt change is VERY expensive and the car needs to show a price that reflects this! lol Then I will install my cheap kit and save the $$$ on labour.

Anyway, to answer the OPs question.
Most people get their car serviced and don't take much notice of what they have done at each service. They grumble at the bill, but pay it because they have no other option. Markups on parts are common and go unnoticed, most people just look at the labour costs and figure out if that is reasonable or not. Mind you, most workshops have big overheads, and need to add big margins on parts and oils to pay their bills. Plus the supply chain in Australia is very inefficient due to low volumes and large distances, and of course each person involved in the process wants their cut.

Max, you can not state that mark ups on parts are not noticed or are bad, have you ever purchaed a pair of Jeans, a cup of coffee or anything retail for that matter, without markups business do not exist because overheads such as rental, insurance (in particular insurance) etc etc are horrendusly expensive. No business can give away a part or any item for cost as then they will not be in business.

The only way to get an OEM tensioner is through Mitsubishi, the Goodyear kit does not have the OEM pre tensioner, I have seen one and while it looks almost identical, it is not the OEM as Mits hold the licence for that part and will nto allow others to make it. Add to this Mitsubishi also have revised the pre tensioner thus the ones that are nearly the same are still far from it.

Is great to go to RockAuto and get parts, and they do sell good parts however for your average person out there, the time they spend trying to get the part and the risk of getting the wrong part is not worth it to them, add to this if that part arrives wrong or is faulty then it gets very expensive again. Now add to this that many are not willing or have the time to try and fit that part themselves and you have a whole new ball game there

Also, given that Reptiles and Burson charge retail high 200's often for the belt kit, the price the workshop has quoted, while a litte high is not that bad, The belt kits I sell I sell well under trade price, I make bugger all but have to keep the prices down to compete with others on fleabay. I could do what a couple other places do and sell them under an alias ebay account so I can then charge my regular customers retail price but I do not do that, I charge a walk in customer the same price as an ebay customer to try and be fair.

Now you state the $400 is a high price, in fact it is about average given that many of these places have not done dozens of these belts, they quote off the times guide which is the nationaly accpeted guide for time taken to perform a task based on that person not having done many of that job, they then use their hourly rate and given that your average mechanic with not much experience on a Magna will take around 4 - 5 hours, it is really not a bad labour rate when you think of it.

Agreed with all your points. Mechanics, part suppliers etc need to make a living. I don't have any complaints about the labour charged for this job, in fact I would not do it for that sort of money if it was someone else's car.

I will have a look at the Goodyear kit when it gets here and note the pump, bearing manufacturers etc.
The kit should have a hydraulic tensioner made by the "OE supplier" which I assume is good. lol Also, it has a 12 month warranty, not that that is worth anything. lol

Meh. I takes me short cuts and I takes me chances. See what happens. lol

I bought a mits-fix timing belt kit and am happy with it and would recomend them especially for the price.

I bought a mits-fix timing belt kit and am happy with it and would recomend them especially for the price.

There you go Mal, a free testimonial!
To be honest, if you want the parts with the least trouble, or are in need of mechanical work and are local, Mal is the man to see.

(That is two free plugs in the one post! lol Must be some kind of record! lol)

Mmmm - the mitsfix website has improved out of sight too!

Thanks for all the replies ppl.

So Madmagna, is your 6G74 Timing Belt Kit equivalent to the Bosch one offered?

Do you sell the hydraulic tensioner too? $230-odd v $630? The difference is too great to ignore.

Cheers

Happy Dude

The belt kit is as follows

Sun Belt (Japanese made)
Koyo Bearings (same as used by OEM)
NOK Seals (again same as used by OEM)
$142.50 pp

Pre tensioner, I do genuine only as discussed above $226.11

My box of parts - Goodyear kit - left Cleveland, went to Chicago, and is now in the air to Sydney. Nice to have a tracking number! lol

Read the following from the bottom up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processed Through Sort ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS) 02/15/12 10:22am
Arrived at Sort ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS) 02/15/12 10:19am
Depart USPS Sort CLEVELAND OH 44101 02/14/12
Processed through USPS CLEVELAND OH 44101 02/14/12 4:01pm
Electronic Shipping 02/14/12 Info Received

Thanks US Postal Service! I get an automatic email at each step. This will probably stop once its in Australia. lol

My box of parts - Goodyear kit - left Cleveland, went to Chicago, and is now in the air to Sydney. Nice to have a tracking number! lol

Thanks US Postal Service! I get an automatic email at each step. This will probably stop once its in Australia. lol

Having lived in Chicago for 5 yrs, I wouldn't be too quick to praise the US postal service. Australia Post are paragons of virtue and diligence in comparison.

My box of parts - Goodyear kit - left Cleveland, went to Chicago, and is now in the air to Sydney. Nice to have a tracking number! lol

Read the following from the bottom up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processed Through Sort ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS) 02/15/12 10:22am
Arrived at Sort ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS) 02/15/12 10:19am
Depart USPS Sort CLEVELAND OH 44101 02/14/12
Processed through USPS CLEVELAND OH 44101 02/14/12 4:01pm
Electronic Shipping 02/14/12 Info Received

Thanks US Postal Service! I get an automatic email at each step. This will probably stop once its in Australia. lol

I buy as much as I can for the Magna from *here*. (http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1364059,parttype,5759)

I buy as much as I can for the Magna from *here*. (http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1364059,parttype,5759)

That is where my kit is coming from. Bought lots of stuff from them, never a problem.

The Goodyear kit is no longer listed, but they have the equivalent Dayco kit, for a similar price.