Cambelt Cost Ls400?

[Gorodish]

Hi all

I'd welcome some idea on what is reasonable price for replacing the cambelt and water pump for my '99 LS400.

It hasn't reached the necessary miles yet but is way over on age - it was last done in 2002!

Any recommendations for good indy specialists in striking distance of North Wales?

Cheers

Tom

[steve2006]

There are a lot of variables involved, are you going OEM parts or aftermarket?

I got all my parts from the USA considerably cheaper than the UK prices but beware of HMRC charges, you can buy the parts from UK Motor Factors or online.

The time taken to do the job is quoted around 10 hours so ask your independent for a quote, my local garage looked on Autodata and quoted 4 hours/£100.00! I paid that amount as well but it was well underestimated.

Have a look at the link below which shows what is involved and tells you what you will need albeit costed in US$ some time ago.

http://www.lexls.com...timingbelt.html

[Keith Bowler]

Cambelt was replaced on my car by local Lexus dealer at PO's cost just before i bought it and looking at the receipt the total bill including water pump etc and full service came to just over £850, so I would estimate that the cambelt work would account for around £450 or so and that was at Lexus Sidcup.

Worth shopping around the dealers as they can be just as competitive as some independants.

[itarumaa]

For the the parts including waterpump were around 420 euro and work was about 550 euro but that included coolant leak repair as well.

It took one person whole day to change the timing belt, actually the whole service station service was reserved to my car only :)

[benfur]

Hi I replaced my Mk4 belt about a year ago, used Blue Print parts from my local motor factors [ most independant garages will do the same ]

I also changed the idlers and the weighted belt tensioner and water pump, cost with discount was about £220 and all parts were good quality. I did the

replacement myself and it was quite straight forward probably took about 5 - 6 hours in total. The one bit of advice I would recommend is to not to use a

paper gasket for the water pump [ this was supplied with the blue print kit ]. As after all this mine had a slight coolant leak - so bought a metal gasket from

Lexus about £5 and of course had to take everything off and do the job again. A good Independant should be able to do the cambelt but if you are

competent mechanically you can do it yourself especially if you check all the on line help forums, the Tutorial on Lexls is for the earlier engine but there is

another Tutorial out there with a step by step guide with pictures for the VVti engine as well.

Maurice

[steve2006]

Nice to see you posting Maurice and good advice too! :D

[cilgwynbaby]

Had my cambelt,waterpump & all belts changed at Cheshire oaks Lexus dealership in March last year cost £650, brilliant customer service.Wish I could afford to use them all the time.

It maybe a bit cheaper at a Toyota dealership.

Good luck

[benfur]

Nice to see you posting Maurice and good advice too!

Hi Steve

As you know Ls400's are in my veins now......

All The Best

Maurice

[cilgwynbaby]

Tom was that your Ls400 with gold badge I saw at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd last week,& again today going over the Borth crossroads towards kinmel bay?

[ipwn]

I no longer pay more than £60 for cambelt labour + parts.

Kind of a sad story that the guy who does them is about 45 always been a mechanic, lives with his mum, never married, no kids or other family. But he isn't very good with charging.

To drop the entire suspension and overhaul with poly bushes he charged £40. For tracking ( not great equipment but does do ) was £10...for cambelt on a Focus its around £40, on an LS430 it's £50 for the timing belt. .....so I imaging the LS400 timing belt labour is around £40.

The crazy thing is that it's a proper workshop, an actual business thats set up and he isn't a backstreet scutter. So strange and sad. Great for me though!

A big however is that it doesn't suddenly go cheaper the easier the job, for pads and discs its about £30....so it literally makes no sense,

[Gorodish]

Thanks for all the advice guys - it just helps to calibrate what to expect. I may well go for Cheshire Oaks Lexus.

Stephen - mine certainly has gold badges (and wheels! Blingtastic!) and I regularly trawl up the A55 to Bangor from Ruthin. Dark Blue one. Nice to see you around.

[abs66]

Ipwn.

Where is this magical mechanic based? I suspect he way well be getting busy :-)

[Lexmanic]

I no longer pay more than £60 for cambelt labour + parts.

Kind of a sad story that the guy who does them is about 45 always been a mechanic, lives with his mum, never married, no kids or other family. But he isn't very good with charging.

To drop the entire suspension and overhaul with poly bushes he charged £40. For tracking ( not great equipment but does do ) was £10...for cambelt on a Focus its around £40, on an LS430 it's £50 for the timing belt. .....so I imaging the LS400 timing belt labour is around £40.

The crazy thing is that it's a proper workshop, an actual business thats set up and he isn't a backstreet scutter. So strange and sad. Great for me though!

A big however is that it doesn't suddenly go cheaper the easier the job, for pads and discs its about £30....so it literally makes no sense,

GOOD GRIEF Gis his name & location please? & I imagine a few of us will scoot down to his workshop (subject to location)

PS Does he do LOC discount Also have you thought he might fancy you hence the low prices

[Bluesman]

I no longer pay more than £60 for cambelt labour + parts.

Kind of a sad story that the guy who does them is about 45 always been a mechanic, lives with his mum, never married, no kids or other family. But he isn't very good with charging.

To drop the entire suspension and overhaul with poly bushes he charged £40. For tracking ( not great equipment but does do ) was £10...for cambelt on a Focus its around £40, on an LS430 it's £50 for the timing belt. .....so I imaging the LS400 timing belt labour is around £40.

The crazy thing is that it's a proper workshop, an actual business thats set up and he isn't a backstreet scutter. So strange and sad. Great for me though!

A big however is that it doesn't suddenly go cheaper the easier the job, for pads and discs its about £30....so it literally makes no sense,

GOOD GRIEF Gis his name & location please? & I imagine a few of us will scoot down to his workshop (subject to location)

PS Does he do LOC discount Also have you thought he might fancy you hence the low prices

If you ask him nicely he will pay you. Poor sod. Mike

[Lexmanic]

I no longer pay more than £60 for cambelt labour + parts.

Kind of a sad story that the guy who does them is about 45 always been a mechanic, lives with his mum, never married, no kids or other family. But he isn't very good with charging.

To drop the entire suspension and overhaul with poly bushes he charged £40. For tracking ( not great equipment but does do ) was £10...for cambelt on a Focus its around £40, on an LS430 it's £50 for the timing belt. .....so I imaging the LS400 timing belt labour is around £40.

The crazy thing is that it's a proper workshop, an actual business thats set up and he isn't a backstreet scutter. So strange and sad. Great for me though!

A big however is that it doesn't suddenly go cheaper the easier the job, for pads and discs its about £30....so it literally makes no sense,

GOOD GRIEF Gis his name & location please? & I imagine a few of us will scoot down to his workshop (subject to location)

PS Does he do LOC discount Also have you thought he might fancy you hence the low prices

If you ask him nicely he will pay you. Poor sod. Mike

Come on then where's he to be found?