Timing chains

[spike60]

£4500 for chains and tensioners?!

+ gaskets, seals and other sundries. It was on the Alfa Owner forum owners site a bit back, I think prices have come down as the job becomes more common but still eyewatering. If you search "chain" on AO 159/Brera/Spider 946 forum it's a depressing catalogue of woe, mostly 2,2 4cyl which have a lot in common with Saab and Vauxhall IIRC. Everyone used to bitch about Alfa cambelts, be careful what you wish for....

[Ghosty]

Time will tell for Mother Ghosty how good the chain on the Bini engine is.

 

Aren't VW TSis shit for chains? An old acquaintance had one that shat its chain at a couple years old.

[spike60]

My Polio 3 pot diesel has the best of both worlds, a belt that needs changing at 40k and a chain that snaps for the balance shaft and oil pump. Yipee......

[cort16]

It's possible to see 200 k from a chain it's impossible to see 200k from a belt plus the chain start giving hints it's knackered the belt will just go.

 

Cars are complex, stuff goes wrong on some of them it's wouldn't put me off buying one.

[rainagain]

A friend of mine is fixing a BMW for a customer that is only about three years old and has only done 40,000 miles, the chain stretched and jumped. As it should never need changing BMW put it between the engine and the gearbox. He had to buy the special timing lock up kit from Germany along with a new chain and new guides, but even with the proper locking tool he's struggling to get the twin VANOS timed up. 

 

Give me cheap belt that you change at 40,000 miles any day. No oil baths and no expensive guides/chain to change

[cort16]

This is another classic version of the council grit the roads too much they don't grit the roads enough argument. No one is ever happy.

[rainagain]

I think if they made the chain last the life of the engine, which from older engine does seem possible, people would be happy.

 

If they can't just fit a belt. 

[rainagain]

I also think as others have said before car manufacturers have changed priorities on how they make cars, with things made even more down to a price just so the first owner can get the car super cheap on a lease deal. When you lease a new car you don't care about it five, ten years down the line, all you care about is can I connect my iPod and does it have LED daylight running lights.

[Joey spud]

Time will tell for Mother Ghosty how good the chain on the Bini engine is.

 

Aren't VW TSis shit for chains? An old acquaintance had one that shat its chain at a couple years old.

 

A lot of TSi's i visit do sound dog rough.

We were told by VW not to comment on it to any concerned owners we might meet.