Replacing Cam Chains?

[marv]

Hi all,

I'm looking at buying a B6/B7 S4 Avant in the next couple of months, so I've been lurking on these forums for quite a while, and I'm really impressed at the amount of useful info on here!

I was wondering if the cam chains on these engines ever need replacing? I've read a couple of threads indicating that they don't, but when I was at my local Audi stealer the other day, they quoted 75,000 miles or 5 years as the replacement interval. This sounded more like the figures for a belt to me...

Anyone know for sure?

Thanks!

PS. no doubt I'll be posting plenty more daft questions in the next few weeks!

[quattrokid1]

shouldnt need to replace the chains.

good question though as we have recently collected a V8 cabrio with 46500 miles on it ( May 04) and the dealer just gave it its 50,000 miles service with no mention of the timing chains needing looked at.

send a pm to Grizz or MRC for a specialist answer.

[no_RS]

Sounds like the dealer gave duff information, hardly a surprise.

[BlingBling]

The chains should not need replacing. Your dealer is mis-informing you as is the norm. The only items that MAY need replacing are the tensioners and runners. MAY.

[marv]

Thanks for the info guys. I've PMd Grizz to see what he says about it also.

So is it likely that the dealer was giving the figures for a cam belt? And are the tensioners & runners replaced on a schedule, or only when found to be faulty?

[no_RS]

They would be replaced only when faulty as it is an engine out job. If you search in the B6/7 S4 section using 'timing chains' there is a thread with at least one picture of the back of the V8 engine showing the chains.

[marv]

Yeah, I've seen that picture. It's a very impressive looking piece of kit when you see the engine out like that. And you can see how massive a job it would be to change those chains!

For now then I'll not necessarily rule out high mileage cars then, providing they look like they've been serviced as required.

Thanks again.

[BlingBling]

There are several memebers of this forum who have S4's with over 100K on the clock and still going without having any major problems. Mine is currently on 60K and has not missed a beat. It rattles on start up, not all the time mind, and that is about it.

[marv]

Thanks Bling, that's good to know. I'm looking to own one for around 5 years, and wont be doing many miles, so high-miler might be a good option for me