Cambelt - when?

[Matt_H]

Hey Guys!

Can someone give me a definitive answer on this - I've done a few searches and get conficting results. I called Fontain this morning to get their take on this, reasoning that they were specialists and may know.

Audi are telling me that the cambelt needs to be done after 80000miles. Fontain say 80000miles OR 5 years.

Bottom line is that I have seen a 1999 car that I like with 65000miles but no cambelt change and I really really really can't push the budget another £650 at this time to accomodate a cambelt change, the vendor is saying the Audi line, as that is what he was told by the dealership he uses to service the car, and whom he bought it from.

Which is right????
Thanks for your help
Matt

[ZeroK66]

I had this when I bought my car... it is 80k or 5 years whichever is sooner. I managed to get the Audi dealer to replace mine FOC before buying the car as it was an "Approved Used" - they argued the point till they were blue in the face mind!!

[rikrose]

If it's green and in Bristol, walk away now. That car has crease marks on it that they can't explain, and a service record that's just plain wrong.

EDIT: The one I was warning you about has gone from Autotrader. Probably not the same one.

[Matt_H]

If it's green and in Bristol, walk away now. That car has crease marks on it that they can't explain, and a service record that's just plain wrong.

EDIT: The one I was warning you about has gone from Autotrader. Probably not the same one.

Hi Rik
No, not the same one, the one I'm looking at is in Oxford. Just spoken to local Audi dealer, they say pre 2000 is 80k miles or 5 years, post 2001 is every 80k miles. Unfortunately it puts this one out of my price range which is a real shame as it looks sweet.
Matt

[bobbler]

If it's green and in Bristol, walk away now. That car has crease marks on it that they can't explain, and a service record that's just plain wrong.

EDIT: The one I was warning you about has gone from Autotrader. Probably not the same one.

Was that the one at a dealership near Bristol?
I went and took a peek at one just outside Bristol the other week and it appeared to have been rearended at some point. Boot lid didn't line up properly (it was out by quite a margain) and suspect odd gaps around the rear bumper too.

[DavidT]

I think 5 years is a long time for a belt to last, regardless of the mileage and if it goes, the cost to fix will be much higher than the cambelt change, so you're right to pass on this one if you can't stretch to the cambelt change.

I reckon a specialist could change it cheaper than that though, say £ 450 all in ? Someone please chime in with prices.

[rikrose]

Was that the one at a dealership near Bristol?
I went and took a peek at one just outside Bristol the other week and it appeared to have been rearended at some point. Boot lid didn't line up properly (it was out by quite a margain) and suspect odd gaps around the rear bumper too.

That's the one. On the road out towards Bath, having left the suburbs of Bristol about 10 minutes behind you. I should have taken a note of the registration and put up a warning in the forum for anyone thinking about buying. I think they're just waiting for a mug to come in and pay over the odds.

Matt_H: how far short are you? Can you live without food for a few weeks? Have you considered selling something else you own on Ebay?

[Matt_H]

Rik
I'm basically the cost of the cambelt change + a couple of hundred quid short, the missus is an accountant so every single penny has to be accounted for on our lovely super-dooper budget spreadsheet, which means the budget IS the budget!
Matt

[bobbler]

Dialynx list a cambelt change on their website as £295 if thats any help?

[Matt_H]

Dialynx list a cambelt change on their website as £295 if thats any help?

Hi bobbler
Just had a look at their pricelist, it looks like £280 + VAT + these were 2005 prices, so reckon around £350 which is certainly less than I've been quoted elsewhere. Anyone done this recently at Dialynx? What are the prices like now? These guys any good?
Ta
Matt

[DavidT]

Dialynx list a cambelt change on their website as £295 if thats any help?

Hi bobbler
Just had a look at their pricelist, it looks like £280 + VAT + these were 2005 prices, so reckon around £350 which is certainly less than I've been quoted elsewhere. Anyone done this recently at Dialynx? What are the prices like now? These guys any good?
Ta
Matt

PM me your email address my friend.

David

[Matt_H]

PM me your email address my friend.

David

PM sent

[derdle]

On the S4, change the cambelt at 80,000 miles...or every five years...or earlier if it breaks.

Now there is a thought provoking comment!

paul

[bobbler]

Dialynx list a cambelt change on their website as £295 if thats any help?

Hi bobbler
Just had a look at their pricelist, it looks like £280 + VAT + these were 2005 prices, so reckon around £350 which is certainly less than I've been quoted elsewhere. Anyone done this recently at Dialynx? What are the prices like now? These guys any good?
Ta
Matt

Have a word with mikeyquattro on here. He uses them on his S4 for all manner of things and said they where good as gold when I went to look at his car last week.

[MarkB]

I've just had a price from a Indy in Guildford for the S4. £420 inc waterpump and all pulleys etc.