£3000 Bill

[Just Plain Old]

Apparently I'm looking at a £3,000 bill for a new timing chain and/or tensioner for my V8 S4!

Its only done 73,000 miles, over 4 Years old, seems there's no support from Audi UK............ Anyone else had the same problem? I thought these things are supposed to last a lot longer than 73,000 miles??

 

[golf]

To the best of my knowledge the chain does not require changing, but possibly a slight readjustment at around 80k miles. Even then this is not required as a slightly out of sync chain would make the car run like ****, and you'd know about it, but generally the chain should last the life of the car. The chain is at the back of the engine and requires the motor to be pulled out, which is why it is quite a big job if it should ever need to be inspected.

Unless the car has been absolutely ragged there's no reason why it would fail at 73,000 miles as they are designed to go on for at least 130,000 miles.

I would stay firm with Audi and make them pay for it, a timing chain should not go tits up at 73,000 miles. On another note though, maybe they are referring to the timing chain guides and tensioners, which may be serviceable.

Either way, hope you get it sorted.

 

[Just Plain Old]

Cheers for that,

Yes, I think the actual diagnosis is that it's the tensioners rather than the chain. It did run **** when the faults were cleared, but then seems to sort itself out and run at about 85% power??

The reccomendation is that whilst they've got it in pieces, it's worth changing all the chains and tensioners etc......

 

[Macduff]

If Audi aren't going to pay then I wouldn't get it done by a main dealer. You will need to find a specialist that knows the V8 though.

 

[doogleman]

Man, I never heard of chain needing replacement, just the tensioner. That's the whole point of havin a chain! Definitely tensioner will make difference though IMO.
:icon_thumright:

 

[Just Plain Old]

Yep, it's the tensioner.......... But it's still £2,500 worth of Labour just to get to it!!

I'm waiting for a quote from APS at the moment. Hopefully it will be about half the price......

Still think Audi should pay, what's the point of having a longlife chain if the bits that hold it in place don't last for the same amount of time??

 

[AndyMac]

That's only 25 hours at Audi's ridiculous rates, you should be able to get that down to about £1k (if it is indeed 25 hours work).

 

[auroan]

25hrs to lift an engine out !!!! they "aving a larf"

 

[doogleman]

jaysus!!! id chance doin it meself!!! You'd buy a decent wee runaround vehicle for that price!!

 

[mr.brown]

Try these chaps? http://www.stealthracing.co.uk/index.php - well regarded in the VW fraternity.

 

[Just Plain Old]

That's only 25 hours at Audi's ridiculous rates, you should be able to get that down to about £1k (if it is indeed 25 hours work).

That's about it,,,, 25 Hours!

Suggestions on getting it down to a grand welcome.

 

[AndyMac]

Audi £100 per hour
VAG specialist £40-£45 per hour

 

[Just Plain Old]

Try these chaps? http://www.stealthracing.co.uk/index.php - well regarded in the VW fraternity.

Hummm, they're just down the road from me, I may well give them a call.