To change ot not to change?

Hi All you tech heads!
I just had my 05 Eurostyle serviced as I do each year. No Issues however the secretary when I collected Elaine very helpful lady said the mechanic suggested that I might consider changing the timing belt.
Now the MH only has 35,500 km's on the clock but it is a 05! We are heading to France (first trip abroad!) on the 12th of August.

Would you wait or would you change?

Thanks in advance.

Ouch Pat I get the MH serviced by the guys in Dungarvan that actually do the CVRT and to be honest find them very good.
I am waiting for them to call me back with the quote.

Get it done siobhan peace of mind if nothing else

Are you sure it wasn't changed by the Dealer when you got it, Siobhan?
Might be worth contacting him first.

Pat,

I think it was to be honest and Paul thinks so too.
But we got a good quote of €450 inc of Vat from the Fiat dealer in Waterford so I am going to have it done for peace of mind!
Thanks to all who went to the effort of replying. Always good to hear your thoughts.

Talking about Timing belts, do you change your belt or the kit?
The dealer insisted in fitting the kit in our Chausson with only 30km, I would have thought a belt only would have done it at that milage.

On mine it seemed to be a small kit of pulleys and belt, a full kit included a water pump

For the 05 Ducato, Fiat recommends 5 years or 72,000 miles (whichever comes first). Even if ours had been replaced by the dealer, its close to due again. Not sure why you were changing at 30,000 km unless it was over 5 years old.

Either which way, if you are going to the trouble of doing it, you are as well off doing the whole kit. The tensioners can also go and cause a good belt belt to snap. While you're in there, change the water pump also. Its pretty much standard practice to do it all while you're at it. All that stuff is in the kit.

Also the standard time for the Fiat dealers to do the job comes off their works "menu" (2.5 hours for the timing belt). A non-dealer might easily double that, not because they are trying to rob you, but because they might not be sure at the outset how long it will take.

I had a quick look around for Gates kit prices for our model before I called FIat. First off the FIat delaer said that the kit from FIat would be €402 plus VAT. I said that was madness and I could get the gates kit for 200 odd, the service guy agreed and said he would get back to me. Half an hour later he called quoting 450 inc VAT and labour. I know thats a good price.

My old reliable 01 Audi A4 is also due its belt. Last time I got it done, Audi quoted me €1,100, non-negotiable. Local Skoda guys did it for 400. After I picked it up they said it took way longer than they expected but nonetheless stuck to their quoted price. I wonder will they remember when I call them next week

Yes Paul our Van was over 5 years, I agree with Baguette, you are better off taking it to some place where you have a come back should something go wrong. €450 sounds good but people need to know what is been fitted when comparing prices.
Funny you mentioned the Audi, I bought an A6 TDI back from the UK some years ago and it needed the Timing belt changed shortly afterwards, so I took it into our Local Audi dealership and they charged me over €900 for a belt and rear brake pads. some years later the belt needed to be replaced again and this time I tried a small Garage who quoted me €399 which I was happy with, then I said I would try the same audi dealer again for a price and they quoted €399 also this time so I gave it to them so I would have a come back should anything go wrong. My son now have the car and he changed the belt last year for the third time.