Hi, I'm still very new to this site but was wondering if anyone could let me know what you think of the pricing I've been given for my repairs.

We have a '93 L reg 200 Tdi (with 215000 on the clock!!) It runs very sweetly and it came with bills for every drop of oil and everything else it's had since new, and usually does every thing we need it to. Sadly on Monday there was a loud (more than usual) clunk and all drive disappeared. I thought transfer box and had it recovered to the only local garage that could even look at it before the weekend and that has a good reputation for unusual vehicles, older commercials, vintage busses and so forth.

Anyways, true to their word, they phoned yesterday and asked if I was sitting down. I wasn't actually, I was in Superdrug, but there's another story. They've removed my gearbox and are sending it away to be reconditioned. This will cost £700, plus 8 hours labour (4 to take it out, 4 to put it back) plus consumables. Oh plus VAt of course. Basically we're looking at about £1100 job done.

How does that sound, I've been lucky over the past years and always had mates who could help out with this sort of thing, but have recently moved to a new town so didn't really have much choice other than use a "Proper" garage. There is no option, I have to have it done but just interested in how the pricing looks to anyone who is used to garage bills.

Unfortunately we can't have it back for at least another 10 days or so. The upside is it meant that rather than spending money hiring a car whilst the Disco is out of action, I got to buy a Series III Station Wagon. (Managed to convince ourselves it was the sensible option) Now have the dilema of which one to keep, or should we sell both and get a newer soft top 90 in readiness for next year's heatwave? Then again I've always fancied a lightweight...............

Better stop rambling

Cheers

Andi

Considering I was quoted £300 for a heater matrix to be replaced I'd say £1100 is pretty reasonable for a gearbox. Anyone else?

700 is about right for a recon box. but 400 for fitting seems a bit steep.
try and find a mechanic who will do it on his day off etc....

fair price i guess. try getting a quote from a land rover dealership, you dont just need to be sat down, you'll need to be under sedation and have your therapist close by!

you could pick up a second box fer a fraction of that price which a skeptic i wouldn't be surprised if thats what they do.

agreed. but unless you know the owner, a used box is always gonna be a gamble.
and with the weight of a landy box, you definately dont wanna do it twice!

I'd say the labour is about right (my 200tdi just had a similar job) but the £700 seems steep to me. Mine hadn't broke yet but was clunking like hell, they took out the box and replaced the transfer gear and mainshaft. I think these two parts cost about £400 for both, I'll check tonight. I suppose the difference is the garage I used could rebuild the box themselves whereas your box is either too far gone or the garage haven't got the experience to rebuild it in a reasonable amount of time.

Get them to check your clutch too - if it's on it's way out, you might as well have that done as well (about £120 for the whole clutch assembly plus a bit more labour) while the boxes are out otherwise you'll have to fork out for the 8 hours labour again sooner than you'd hope...

Good luck

Well I've got the Disco back and it drives better than it ever has. They even gave it a wash!! (for £1128 I should bl**dy well think so too) I've just got back home after several weeks of chasing around in the Safari; more on that soon.

New gearbox is a bit "notchy" on second when changing down so must have a trip back to the garage once next weeks hospital runs are out of the way. Otherwise all ok now and my servicing schedule is even a bit more strict than it was.

Any advice or thoughts on the best engine oil to put in a 200 tdi with 215000 on the clock? I won't even ask how to stop it blowing a blast of black smoke on start up every morning!!

Cheers and will post photos over the weekend now I'm back.

Cheers

Andi

i use the cheap stuff from BQ of all places. proper tdi oil too.
its the cheapest around here.
my 200tdi has done less miles than yours.