but said it was a very involved job requiring specialist tools mg2:

eg. we've never done one before, we are not quite sure what we're doing.

 

Thats why I never take my car to a garage lol.

 

Specialist tools = spanners and a ratchet.

 

yea there not hard if you have the right tools easy done in a day yourself if you good at that sort of stuff

 

Very easy to mess it up and leave it with a car that doesn't run though.

Belt kit is about £120 for the full set i seem to recall.

 

Snap, the L series belt change is a pig of a job and dont forget to do the IDLER or PULLEY as some people call it as you will only have to do it later if you dont. If it does fail you will seill have a scrap engine.

So thats the belts, idler and tentioner. Its a pain and does take even me a good few hours to do.

 

I did both belts on the Freelander and it was quite straightforward, no specialist tools needed.

Access was a pain though.

 

I did both belts on the Freelander and it was quite straightforward, no specialist tools needed.

Access was a pain though.

Yes I'm not saying it isn't DIY-able. Just if you follow most DIY mechanics bible (the haynes manual), they usually come a cropper as some of the manuals are wrong and you end up with a dead car.

The timing is critical on the L series. Half a tooth out and it'll not start/run properly if at all.

And the parts for a full kit are more expensive than most due to the 2 belts, and several pulleys/tensioners that get replaced at the same time.

If you've never done a cam-belt before it probably isn't the first one you'd tell a learner to do. It isn't hard, but there are a few quirks that make it less than straightforward.

 

any good step by step photo guides ??? its only the access to the cambelt that is putting me off

 

oh and where's the best place to get a cambelt kit from with auto tensioner

 

Its not an auto one like the K series.

Have you ever done a belt change before. If not I wouldnt start with an L series. I would get a pro to do it or somebody who atleast knows what to do with one.

 

all the cambelts are auto its the pump thats can be either

 

Yes but its not like the K series, turn an allen key affair and it can be a pain to do.

I just dont fancy the OP starting the job and then a new thread started. Ive screwed my engine what to do post's if you get me.

 

If you're not keen to do it yourself then shop around for better quotes as that's a very high quote.

I was initially quoted £400 for all the belts including parts, labour and VAT.
I rang another garage who quoted £360 for all belts including parts, labour and VAT.

I've now found a really good garage who just replaced my clutch and did a lovely job and they've quoted £300 for all belts including parts, labour including VAT.

They're doing the cambelt, injection belt and aux belt for me, idler and tensioner etc included. I'm pretty happy with that quote for a full belt replacement and also includes a 2 year guarantee.

Also worth noting, when you buy the cambelt kit the injection (pump) belt comes in the kit which is perhaps why the garage are pushing to change it.

 

Blimey, you've spent some money on your car lately !

 

Belts are a piece of cake on the 45/ZS, takes me about 2 hours to do at a push, using only basic tools.

Northerners FTW

 

L series was first cambelt I did, it was pretty simple.

 

it's all servicable parts and they're all things that *should* last for another 80k+

Just remember if your driving the car mainly in urban conditions even Rover said to change the belt every 48K or 4 years. So dont think it will last 80K if its only used for 4 or 5 miles trips daily as it prob wont.

Fairly sure my belt interval is 84k or 7 years as it's on auto tensioner... plus I do lots of dual driving and not much urban driving.

 

Fairly sure my belt interval is 84k or 7 years as it's on auto tensioner... plus I do lots of dual driving and not much urban driving.

Rover changed it on all L series cars. There was even a service bulitin to all dealers to remind customers to lower it to 48K if it was used mainly in town.

All current service sheets also list it as 48K for urban use.

I will try and upload a copy.

 

Weird. I was just going on what my manual says! Although as above, I don't do much town driving so probably not such an issue for me.
As long as the car lasts me another 3 years without any more major costs I'm happy as I'm hoping to replace it after that

Hoping.. she says. Depends on finances!

 

It could be me then, I have seen that many MG Rover tech bulitins over the years that it could be me thats got them all muddled up.

Alas I cant find my current drive bulitins disc. Must tidy the workshop up as I have stuff all over it.

 

:lol: They could well have changed the interval after my manual was issued so it's still potentially true that it's been changed! Manual could be out of date

It's unlikely I'll do more than 48k in a few years though so that's good news

 

I always though it was related to the tensioner used.
45 are mostly the 48k mile interval. 200/400/600 the 84k one.