MkV Golf GTI belt and water pump change - where?

[bigandclever]

Just after some thoughts on where to get the timing belt and water pump done for my Golf. I've simplified to 3 options:

At VW dealer
Walkable from home, fixed price £479. I know occasionally they do deals, but nothing I can find at the moment. Positive is it gets a VW stamp and 2 year warranty which I assume is worth something.

VW specialist
Say AmD (who have done work on the car in the past) or Awesome GTI. These would require driving to and waiting around, so would cost me a few hours hanging around plus petrol plus about £350.

Local independent
Servicing and MOT is done at a local indy, and if they hadn't quoted £586 (!) they'd be doing it.

What would PH do?

[clived]

Not sure where you are, but http://www.autops.co.uk/volkswagen.asp have always been fantastic with me.

[rassi]

Would get the stamp and warranty from VW plus the convenience of walking distance.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Of those 3 options, the dealer for me. The last belt / pump job I had done on mine by them was flawless. No missing clips, coolant level correct, no tools left on the scuttle panel, genuine parts, done on time, courtesy car, washed and hoovered and a stamp. Was the £379 deal at the time though

Independents and specialists can be a right pain with aftersales service in my experience. Kind of like Amazon no questions asked vs small back street shop.

[bigandclever]

I'm leaning towards dealer too, but I did forget one (possibly important) detail .. car has a Caractere bodykit and a quad exhaust on it. Will the dealer be able to cope with that? Suppose I could just ask

[SuperchargedVR6]

Your car could be covered in Mole skin and have 8 wheels for all they care, so long as the mods don't impede access to the areas they need to work on

[Maracus]

clived said:

Not sure where you are, but http://www.autops.co.uk/volkswagen.asp have always been fantastic with me.

Seconded. Best people I've used.

[smudgerebt]

See if dealer will do a price match.

When i had my belt and water pump done the dealer price matched awesome.

(Skods vRS)