I have Fiat 500, registered on 2009, 48000 on the clock.

An independent garage who is gonna do the servicing recommended that I should have the cam belt changed. Price is £289+Vat which includes new water pump and anti freeze.

Fiat garage (Desira) priced me for £239 (Inc Vat) but no water pump and anti freeze.

I am in a dilemma....which one should I go for?......OR.....should I have the cam belt changed at all anyway?

Advice is more then appreciated...Thank you.

Assuming 1.2, it's probably a good idea to get it done, but not doing the water pump while belt is off just seems like false economy. You may be able to save yourself some ££ by buying the belt, coolant and pump from Shop4Parts first, and then just paying the garage for labour.

Thank you Eklipze3k.

Excellent advice.

Before you buy the parts yourself, check if the garage will cover the job
fully in the event of a problem/failure. They may feel they are not responsible for customer supplied parts....

Al.

And they'd be right to. it can be a PITA when customers supply their own bits, if they are wrong then the car's stuck on the ramp.

^^^ x2
And if something goes wrong, customer may be told to take it up
with their parts supplier.....

Al.

Also need to compare like with like.

Ask the Fiat garage what they would charge for the same work quoted by the independent, i.e. incl. new water pump and anti-freeze.
(I'm surprised the Fiat garage didn't recommend this!).

Fiat garage should use genuine Fiat parts, independent might not.

No offence intended to indy garages or mechanics!!!

Personally I'd renew the water pump at the same time as the timing belt and tensioner unless it had only very recently been changed. The water pump is afaik driven by the timing belt so you don't want it to fail and 'take out' the belt.

Probably not relevant to the UK but here in Ireland a lower rate of VAT applies to service work.
Buy parts, pay 23% vat; Buy parts and labour, pay 13.5% vat. (this is to encourage people to use service providers e.g. garages and discourage DIY and the 'black market' trade). This difference in vat often means it's cheaper to have the garage supply the parts rather than source them yourself.

Al.