S3 Cambelt change

[waxer]

Im sure this has been covered before...  Giltrap are recommending 5yrs or 120k to change the cambelt.  Ive a 2002 S3 and am at about 66k on the clock so im up 'time wise' as they said.  seeing as they are quoting about $2500 i wanted to ask you's guys opinion. 1. do you go by time or kms? 2. would you recommend Giltrap or others (cheaper) that will satisfy the mechanical warranty requirements?
Cheers

[djrisk]

Giltraps or Contys, or maybe even taylor automotive depending on your warranty. Cambelt should not be $2500, more around $1500 me thinks... If your S3 is chipped, you may want to do it sooner rather than later, but if not you should be good till about 100kms (i think - no doubt someone will correct me if im wrong)

[waxer]

Thanks.  Yes, its un-chipped, at present!.  BTY, what would be the best simple, not to much admin chip to get done (and who by) that will just give a bit more poke from the lights and not require any other mod's and not add ant additional wear and tear to the engine. Also, what were Giltraps saying $2500 for??

[HandsomeDan]

Also, what were Giltraps saying $2500 for??

Because they could?

Some will tell you 100k and some will say 5 years, but if in doubt have it changed - there have been cases where this has been ignored to the HUGE cost of bent valves, knackered everything and a LOT more money.

$2.5k sounds like a fair bit, but get a full written quote if you're dubious and then go get one from Continental or Tristram European or elsewhere and compare.

Shop around, and take what you think is best and meets your warranty requirements.

[RS ZWEI]

Im sure this has been covered before...  Giltrap are recommending 5yrs or 120k to change the cambelt.  Ive a 2002 S3 and am at about 66k on the clock so im up 'time wise' as they said.  seeing as they are quoting about $2500 i wanted to ask you's guys opinion. 1. do you go by time or kms? 2. would you recommend Giltrap or others (cheaper) that will satisfy the mechanical warranty requirements?
Cheers

It might be me, but this time or mileage change for a cambelt seems to be a new thing? Up until the last few years Ive never heard of cambelts needing to be done by time, only mileage? I guess the time issue is with the belt ageing, getting hard and cracking?

[Bullseye]

It might be me, but this time or mileage change for a cambelt seems to be a new thing? Up until the last few years Ive never heard of cambelts needing to be done by time, only mileage? I guess the time issue is with the belt ageing, getting hard and cracking?

I am guessing it has become more of a measure with all those certified mileage  imports. Hence time is the safest?

[HandsomeDan]

It might be me, but this time or mileage change for a cambelt seems to be a new thing? Up until the last few years Ive never heard of cambelts needing to be done by time, only mileage? I guess the time issue is with the belt ageing, getting hard and cracking?

There's a note in my handbook to the effect of time and/or mileage...I'll see if I can find it and post it up.

[Turbo]

i got a quote from motorscience (ex giltrap guys) that was $200 cheaper than giltrap.

a few members have had some success with "chiptuning" remaps. search it here and you should get a few threads.

[waxer]

Accroding to CCS, a 2002 S3 only needs to be done at 120k, not 5 yrs, aparently some others A4's, v8's etc need to be done at either 5 yrs or 120k, but the tensions etc on the S3 cambelt dont require it to be changed prior to 120k.  Giltrap confirmed the oposite, 5 yrs or 120k.  CCS also quoted around $1400 compared to Giltraps $1800-2500.  who would ever know.

[djrisk]

CCS are usually pretty good.
Email [email protected], kurt will sort you out with a custom tune, with no other mods needed, for about $1100. He got my old S3 humming

[80 Vert]

Taking a chance leaving the belt till 120K, If you are planning on keeping the car for a while I would say change it at 80K or an absolute max of 100k.
Total parts cost would be about 450-600 from us inc waterpump, there is a fair but of labour so total cost I would think around 1200 ish

[waxer]

Great, CCS seem the way to go

[Quattro.guy]

Hey. The cambelt replacement year/milage was a general medium. Some people were doing 60k year. some 10k year. It was away of making peple aware, that 100k or 6years was about the service schedule for a cambelt.
I can offer a non franchised price, no where near what some of them charge, with all German manufactured components. Installed in my shop by Qualified technicians. I'll save you dollars.
Give me a yell if i can help.

[S3NZ]

I had mine changed at just under 90,000km. Went to Qualitat and was charged $1031.66. That includes the waterpump being replaced. Had a loan car for the day etc. Would recommend them.

[sisu]

The cambelt change is recommended every 120,000kms or 5 years for that model. VW have gone for 4 years on some models. You can't measure a rubber cambelt unlike your discs (which has the min depth stamped on them). Its a recommendation. You might have Mrs Johnson wave at you never having changed the belt on her 220,000km 2000 1.8T A6 and then have someone in a TT that snapped after a couple of years and 35,000kms? Main problem is that the 5V head on a 1.8T has got less metal between the valves than a 4V head. When the belt goes, instead of just bending a valve more than likely it will bend the head which is a couple of grand. The other items worth doing are the tensioner/pulley/roller/v-belt and waterpump (as its plastic). As they are all in the same area and an old worn metal roller will wear the softer (new) rubber belt quicker, shortening your belt intervals.
The set up of the cambelt and a tensioner is important.

[Trofeo]

Taking a chance leaving the belt till 120K, If you are planning on keeping the car for a while I would say change it at 80K or an absolute max of 100k.
Total parts cost would be about 450-600 from us inc waterpump, there is a fair but of labour so total cost I would think around 1200 ish

How difficult is it to replace the belt, waterpump, and tensioner? I'm about to be hit with a rather large bill for a new HD clutch and flywheel, so i'm not keen on forking out another $1800 for the cambelt (only done 60kms, but its now 7 years old, and it's 295HP). getting the parts kit from the states is pretty cheap from what i can see. I've done a fiat twincam, and alfa boxers before, so do you think i could manage the S3?

any real tricky bits? or should i just get the parts and take it to a mechanic?

[veedubman]

Cambelts can Snap at any given time

like a heart attack risk is increased if you smoke

Cambelt Snappage risk increases markably after 3 years or 80,000 Which ever you hit first (if you love your car you will do it)

Buy the kit

do it yourself on a sunday afternoon

its piss easy.. just time consuming..

youll be able to pick up a kit for like 4 - 6 hundred dollars

[slowmo]

ask vert1, i think he can supply cambelt and waterpump kits for most audi/vw models.

but as part of your mech warranty (if you have one), the cambelt should be done/checked by authorised mechanics?

my cambelt is covered for breakage ONLY if it has been replaced according to manufacturer's recommendations AND by qualified mechanics.