Timing Belt

[Forge04]

So, here's some backstory real quick: I'm going to become a college student here in the fall. My B7 was just purchased and I'm nervous about the Timing Belt, the oil, the cam follower and the CVT. I've had the CVT drained and refilled, the shop said the fluid looked great, so I'm confident in my transmission. I have a new follower to put in, just need the time.

But the timing belt...

I'm currently at 90,7~~ miles. But I have a friend that worked at a VW dealer say it's not nessessary until at least 100K, and others here are saying the same. The kit, the way I have it at a budget set up, from Europa is $270, plus I'd need fluids and the like.

So I'm worried that if I don't do the timing belt now, later when I need to do it I won't have the funds.

That said, I believe I could use a new snub mount, just cause, and I'd really like a new radio unit...

So, any advise? Timing belt now or later?

TIA

[trj]

Timing belt now.
You will be sitting pretty with your new radio and snub mount if the belt decides to snap. Snub mount is cheap, do it when you do timing belt. If you shop around you will be able to fit it under your budget. Buy different parts from different vendors if you don't mind spending an hour cross shopping with part numbers. Most vendors have free shipping upwards of some fixed amount. So plan accordingly and make use of it to spend the least and still get good parts. That's what college students do. Lol.

[Forge04]

Of course the radio is of a crazy amount of nonimportance when stacked up to the other stuff. I was just going to go with the urethane snub from Europa.

Trj you seem pretty solid on the timing belt now. I understand the importance of doing it before it fails, but why the urgency? How often do they actually fail before 100K?

[Denio24]

How often do they actually fail before 100K?

How? THIS is how.

[adam044]

.....If you've got the money to do it now... Uh do it?

Audi service manual says 110k, I'm at 95k right now. I'm going to get it done next summer, I'll be riding the bike a lot in the summer so I'll probably be right around 100k next summer, maybe a little more.

Want a JHM tune this summer.

[trj]

Of course the radio is of a crazy amount of nonimportance when stacked up to the other stuff. I was just going to go with the urethane snub from Europa.

Trj you seem pretty solid on the timing belt now. I understand the importance of doing it before it fails, but why the urgency? How often do they actually fail before 100K?

It's all good till it breaks. It's not just the belt. It's the thermostat, waterpump and pulleys too. I did it at 85k just to be safe. Any one of it can fail at that many miles. You never know, you might get 150k out of it. But it's not like a bulb where you change it only when it fails.

It's my daily driver so I don't want it to be in the shop because of negligence. That's about it. Nothing against waiting or changing at 60k miles. To put it into perspective, I have stock symphony ii radio and non sports suspension. But I am sure those two will not keep me off the road, but a broken timing belt will.
I don't want to invest in this car, but want it to run without any problems till I sell it.

[Forge04]

As do I. Same exact situation. I Uber with this car, and honestly, it pays for itself, at least payment wise. I'm hoping to use Uber as well to get that recommended $1500 in the bank just in case as well.

Thanks for the advise, everyone. Really.

[adam044]

It's all good till it breaks. It's not just the belt. It's the thermostat, waterpump and pulleys too. I did it at 85k just to be safe. Any one of it can fail at that many miles. You never know, you might get 150k out of it. But it's not like a bulb where you change it only when it fails.

It's my daily driver so I don't want it to be in the shop because of negligence. That's about it. Nothing against waiting or changing at 60k miles. To put it into perspective, I have stock symphony ii radio and non sports suspension. But I am sure those two will not keep me off the road, but a broken timing belt will.
I don't want to invest in this car, but want it to run without any problems till I sell it.

Sell it now and run far far away then

[Theiceman]

Anyone sitting in the 90k range with the original belt is gambling, no question. It's not just milage..these belts are 10 years old now.

Every family has a different situation. I just bought the same car for my son to go to college. He and I will be changing the belt together as he wants to learn and I offered to fund it. To be fair I have done 4 timing belts on Audis.

Bottom line is get it changed asap. Better 12 months early than 5 seconds too late.

[KingWulfgar]

Anyone sitting in the 90k range with the original belt is gambling, no question. It's not just milage..these belts are 10 years old now.

This. ^^^

Just do it now. Especially if you're doing the work yourself. It's a whole lot cheaper than new valves and a head rebuild (if you're that lucky). Also, the Audi dealership AND my indie shop both said the interval was adjusted down to 75k miles in the last couple years. I know not everyone is being told that, but hearing it from two different sources, I went ahead and did it at about 8 yrs/80k miles.

[Brillo]

Allow me to add to the excellent advice to change it now. How long do you plan on owning the car? If it is at least 20k more miles and less than another 120K miles you will undoubtedly will be changing the belt only once on this car. So it makes perfect sense to do it now (unless you really want to experience the consequences of a failed belt). The car will run just fine without a radio upgrade, and as stated above the snub is a relatively inexpensive proposition.
Brillo

[AudiKilla]

Just open the timing belt cover and inspect it, takes less than 5 minutes. Then depending on the cracks, decide if you need to change it or not.

[Theiceman]

I have seen perfectly good looking belts snapped .. just my 2c.

[zagimon]

Mine went to 107k. Went with the Europa kit. Good kit for the price.

[zagimon]

What about the rollers and tensioner? Can't really inspect that.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

When you do a timing belt service you want to replace all the components as well. We have complete kits available for your B7 2.0T to get the job done. As well as a step by step installation PDF.

Click HERE to order or for more information


Check out our -----> Installation PDF <-----

Let me know if you have any questions.

Jason

[trj]

Sell it now and run far far away then

Lol. You get me wrong my friend. I dont dislike the car. I just dont want to spend my time and effort modding this car. I am not new to german cars, I know exactly how much its worth to spend in this car. By the time I mod it to get it to the stage I want, I will have spent more money than on a S4. So, I am not modding it, maintenance is another question. I am not skipping any maintenance. All fluids changed, all maintenance work done by myself. Everything that needs to be replaced has been replaced from brakes, fluids, DV, n80, cam follower, belts to bulbs. There is nothing about selling it now or in 10 years. As a DD, I want it to perform flawlessly, but as a modded car, it will never become what I want it to be. I have already retrofitted the creature comforts I wanted in this car. Bixenons, auto dim mirrors, power folding mirrors, memory mirrors, memory seats, auto dip on reverse passenger side mirror, RS4 rear sway bar, snub mount all have been done. I spent a good one year on research and gathering required parts for the retrofits and maintenance. If I sell the car, the next owner will be a happy one, I can guarantee it. But yah, I am not going to build the engine, put big turbo, put a tune in it. Thats what I meant by investing till I sell it.

[UberTeile]

I just had mine replaced last weekend @ 94k miles. I purchased the parts from FCPEuro.com. Upon visual inspection, my original TB really wasn't in horrible shape...but, obviously, it had to be replaced due to age.

[Denio24]

I got mine off ebay. Reputable seller, quality parts. Coolant can be purchased from the dealer for $20/gal undiluted. LINK

[adam044]

I got mine off ebay. Reputable seller, quality parts. Coolant can be purchased from the dealer for $20/gal undiluted. LINK

I wouldn't even take that for free.

Coolant from the dealer is already mixed, just pour.

[Denio24]

I wouldn't even take that for free.

Coolant from the dealer is already mixed, just pour.

Can't tell if you're trolling or just not informed. G013A8J1G comes undiluted, and the ebay link comes with all quality parts (ina, continental, etc.)

[adam044]

Can't tell if you're trolling or just not informed. G013A8J1G comes undiluted, and the ebay link comes with all quality parts (ina, continental, etc.)

Didn't click link sorry.

Idk what that is but G12 coolant is already mixed. Aka coolant from the dealer.

[Schweini]

Can't tell if you're trolling or just not informed. G013A8J1G comes undiluted, and the ebay link comes with all quality parts (ina, continental, etc.)

Im going to go with ill informed, considering he thinks G12 is pre mixed

[Denio24]

Isnt it like g13+ now?

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[Schweini]

Isnt it like g13+ now?

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Yup

[Forge04]

Better 12 months early than 5 seconds too late.

Pulled it in on the 22nd, and took the better part of a day. Sounds stupid but the two rotations to even out the tension killed us for like an hour lol.

But alas, it is done. And now I can rest easy, on that front anyway.