Timing · Car

Timing chain kit cost

£680 – £1,770Independent garage · Family car, SUV · United Kingdom
Book time 6 – 12 hMain dealer £970 – £2,935Difficulty Professionals only

By vehicle type

PartsLabourIndependent garageMain dealer
City car£230 – £460£360 – £1,080£590 – £1,540£865 – £2,640
Family car, SUV£320 – £690£360 – £1,080£680 – £1,770£970 – £2,935
Premium£550 – £1,380£360 – £1,080£910 – £2,460£1,235 – £3,835

Total incl. VAT · United Kingdom

By country

CountryHourly rateIndependent garageMain dealer
France€65 – €140€740 – €1,830€975 – €2,655
Belgium€60 – €125€715 – €1,785€920 – €2,495
SwitzerlandCHF 110 – CHF 210CHF 1,135 – CHF 2,815CHF 1,445 – CHF 3,835
Germany€80 – €190€830 – €2,190€1,125 – €3,255
Austria€85 – €185€870 – €2,275€1,165 – €3,225
Spain€45 – €90€610 – €1,510€750 – €2,025
Italy€40 – €80€585 – €1,455€725 – €1,915
Portugal€35 – €75€550 – €1,330€690 – €1,845
Netherlands€75 – €150€805 – €2,025€1,040 – €2,795
United Kingdom£60 – £170£680 – £1,770£970 – £2,935

Family car, SUV. Method

What changes the price

A chain has no replacement interval, but some engines are known for early stretch (VW 1.4 TSI EA111, BMW N47). A rattle on cold start is the typical sign.

  • The hourly rate: it can double between a small-town independent and a city-centre dealer.

  • Parts quality: genuine, original-equipment brand or aftermarket.

  • Access: on some engines other parts must come off before the mechanic can reach the job.

Related problems

Engine rattle on cold startP0010 Intake camshaft actuator circuit (bank 1)P0011 Intake camshaft timing over-advanced (bank 1)P0016 Crankshaft and camshaft position correlation (bank 1)P0341 Camshaft position sensor A range or performance

Cost by model

Renault Clio£570 – £1,485Renault Mégane£680 – £1,770Renault Captur£680 – £1,770Renault Scénic£700 – £1,825Renault Twingo£570 – £1,485Peugeot 208£570 – £1,485Peugeot 308£680 – £1,770Peugeot 2008£680 – £1,770Peugeot 3008£700 – £1,825Peugeot 5008£700 – £1,825Citroën C3£570 – £1,485Citroën C4£680 – £1,770Citroën C5 Aircross£700 – £1,825Opel Corsa£570 – £1,485Dacia Sandero£555 – £1,430Dacia Duster£665 – £1,715Volkswagen Polo£570 – £1,485Volkswagen Golf£680 – £1,770Volkswagen Tiguan£720 – £1,880Volkswagen Passat£720 – £1,880Seat Ibiza£570 – £1,485Seat Leon£680 – £1,770Skoda Octavia£680 – £1,770Toyota Yaris£570 – £1,485Toyota Corolla£680 – £1,770Ford Fiesta£570 – £1,485Ford Focus£680 – £1,770Nissan Qashqai£700 – £1,825Fiat 500£555 – £1,430Fiat Panda£555 – £1,430Hyundai Tucson£700 – £1,825Kia Sportage£700 – £1,825Audi A3£950 – £2,570Audi A4£985 – £2,675BMW 1 Series£965 – £2,620BMW 3 Series£1,000 – £2,730Mercedes A-Class£965 – £2,620Mercedes C-Class£1,000 – £2,730

Frequently asked questions

How much does a timing chain kit cost?

At an independent garage, expect £680 to £1,770, parts and labour included. Main dealer: £970 – £2,935.

Why is the dealer more expensive?

Dealer hourly rates run 40 to 60% higher on average, and genuine parts cost more than their original-equipment equivalents. Under EU rules, servicing outside the dealer network does not void the manufacturer warranty.

What is book time?

It is the reference time set for a given job. Garages bill that time even if they work faster. If a quote shows far more hours than book time, ask why. Book time: 6 – 12 h.

Data updated October 2026. Indicative estimate. MecaScan cannot see your vehicle: always have a diagnosis confirmed by a professional, and never work on brakes, steering or airbags without the skills.