Learning your Alfabeltic

I have a 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 diesel that has done 39,000 miles. Last week the cambelt failed and the local dealer says it needs an engine rebuild at a minimum of £3,000. The dealer said the cambelt should last 70,000 miles. They also said they would ask Alfa customer service to see if they could help. Alfa has since contacted me to say that as I had the car serviced by a local garage rather than by the Alfa dealer (who has a horrendous reputation for overcharging) there is nothing they will do. A quick online check suggests the value of the car is £4,000 or at most £5,000. I had a second long conversation with Alfa customer services and they are totally uninterested. Is there any way I can pursue this further? It is clearly not economic to pay such a repair bill in relation to the current value.

Asked on 18 July 2009 by

Answered by Honest John

No. Part of the "overcharging" is £300 for a timing belt change every 4 years or 40k miles that the Alfa dealer would have told you is necessary. Your local garage was not up to speed on this. Best thing to do now is to try to find another engine from a scrapper. But avoid 2nd hand replacement engine dealers. Most of them are crooks.

Tags: belts and chains cam belts dealers owning

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