I have a 7 yr old Pug 406 110HDi. Good condition, FSH and only 37500miles.
I think its nearing cambelt time (cue the sound of ringing tills).
I'm trying to decide whether I get it done at a Peugeot dealer and keep the service history stamped up or get it done at an indy garage and save money?
thoughts/opinions please?
I'm not looking to sell the car anytime soon and will probably keep it until it falls apart, so not particularly fussed about history as I know it will have been serviced and looked after but would an indy garage pick up any issues that only a Pug dealer would know about and is this going to be such an issue on a 7 yr old car?
Edited by Pugugly on 04/08/2008 at 22:38
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Your indie will stamp it with his address/name.
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A good indy will do the work properly for less than the dealer, put his name and stamp to it for the record and will know what weak spots in your car to inspect and report on, or examine anything you want examined.
But do you know a good one? That's the real problem as quite a lot are fairly hit-or-miss, even downright rough, and some are also morally challenged. If you know a decent one you're all right.
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Use a Peugeot dealer.
A colleague of mine used a main dealer for a cambelt and the work was warrantied for 12 months. The cambelt snapped (dont know why) within 12 months (not straight away - he got a fair amount of use before it broke) and the engine was completely repaired head/valves etc free of charge - like a brand new top end - no quibbles at all. Its run fab for the last two years and it was quicker/more economical after the repair work.
I think a small garage would turn around and say tough! its your problem mate if it broke some time fair time after. You would be begging good will out of them rather than, oi, I've got a 12 month warranty here in black and white.
Just my opinion. Shop around though, main dealers might all charge differing amounts as they dont all use the same hours (my experience) and after having said all that, do check that there is a 12 month warranty on the work.
Main dealers have all the locking tools for the camshaft etc and do it day in day out.
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I am with Dave on this one, I think this is a main dealer job as you have full backup if it all goes wrong. With an indie they may not know how to do the job and have to rely on Hayne's manuals adding to the labour cost, where as the dealer would have all the systems ready setup so even if the cost per hour is a lot higher it should be a quicker job.
I think the cambelt is one of the few jobs that is a dealer must unless you it yourself.
Also a 7 year old 406 is not worth a great deal, so if you're planning on keeping for a while service history is not too important as longs as you know its been serviced properly. I get my car properly serviced etc but I don't give a toss about the stamp, as longs as I have the receipts.
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.Also a 7 year old 406 is not worth a great deal so if you're planning on keeping for a while service history is not too important
This is the point really. It isn't entirely realistic to think warranty with a middle-aged motor. It all comes down to the trustworthiness of the garage, whoever they are.
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I have to disagree with using the main dealers on this one.
I'm not convinced that you will get any better service from the main dealers, and it could be that an independent specialist (in either Peugeot or French cars in general) could be a better bet and probably at half the cost.
Personally my Golf has not seen the inside of a main dealers workshop since I bought it 32K ago, and the service bill is probably half what it would have been (£250 for cambelt and water pump change, £125 main service inc PD oil etc...)
Find a good independent (by recommendation is best) and use them.
Just my opinion - its your decision ultimately!!
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thanks for all your opinions.
I'll flip a coin
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I think you'll find that Peugeot recommends the cambelt be changed every 96,000 miles. I don't know about the age recommendation.
Edited by L'escargot on 05/08/2008 at 17:28
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