Cost to change head gasket on 206

[nxh66]

My girlfriends 206 (2003 1.4) is back in the garage again and this time apparently the HG has gone. Its had a small fortune spent on it recently already and is getting rediculous.

How much should it be to replace with a skim etc? Just want to compare to the local garage's quote (she wont take it anywhere else).

Mark.

[Old Merc]

If its a 03 1.4 it must be the TU engine which is a very easy job to remove and refit the cylinder head.Say four hours labour @ £50-£65? + VAT(labour rates vary a lot).Headgasket £25,(Cambelt?? £25)Ant-freeze & a few "bits" another £15?? machine shop £30.So if they have it skimmed and fit a new cambelt expect a bill £370-£400 all in.Normally the only reason to change a head gasket on that Peugeot engine is to correct an oil leak by the timing cover,so why do they suggest a skim??

[nxh66]

Yeah, its just the old school 1.4 8v so a tu. I had the same engine in a zx many years ago and that had to have the hg changed and it was skimmed at the time. I just assumed it was good practice to do it.
I would hope that a local garage in Cornwall would be below average labour rates which makes the quote of £600 seem even more rediculous. My jaw hit the floor with the last service bill too (about double what I expected) but it is the garage her family has always used and I know she wouldn't take it any where else!

[Old Merc]

It sounds like an old country business with plenty of reliable repeat business and no competition,I envy them.........BUT! With a quote of £600 they are taking advantage of the situation,and their customers.

[megamaniac]

I would agree a bit steep ,even if you topped up Old Mercs estimate with vat its still £120 rich. I suppose they might be using new bolts, belt kit ,water pump That would inflate the price. Ask for a breakdown of the quote .

[nxh66]

Cheers for the input guys, I felt it was pretty steep too, not alot I can do about it though.

The car has already had a new cambelt, then waterpump and new cambelt and I'm guessing this will now be cambelt number 3 with the new head gasket, in a year. In retrospect I have a feeling the waterpump was a wrongly diagnosed early sign of the gasket going too. Car has only done 60 thousand miles.

[megamaniac]

No need for another cam belt then.Contrary to myth they are not a fit once part as long as they are refitted the same way around.

[topov2009]

i must be lucky hg + belt +skim =£230