Timing belt 127000 but changing car in 6m

polydactyl

Car in for service, it’s now 5 years old, 127000 km. timing belt recommended among other things like brake pads, tires etc which I am getting done.

Thing is I plan on replacing my car in early 2020. How high risk is it to wait and see? It’s a lot of money when I plan to change my car.

The_Honeybadger

If the timing belt is due then it’s a gamble to leave it, it’s that simple. It will probably be fine but it may not be and you are risking ruining the engine.

If it was me I’d bring the purchase forward and trade it in now or fix it up and it will be much easier to move on in 2020 with documentary evidence of the belt and other jobs being done. This is particularly relevant in a private sale, much easier to shift a car with a good service history, although it may not necessarily be worth much more.

Edit; may be worth stating the car model so someone with more knowledge of the trade can advise on the likelihood of the belt being an issue

emeldc

If you were going to sell it next week I'd say don't bother changing the belt. But surely it's money well spent and peace of mind for you if you plan on keeping it for another 6 months. What's the quote for the belt change.

colm_mcm

What’s the car and what’s the time/mileage interval?

H3llR4iser

If it's a rubber belt, those have a life of about 5 years, after which the material tends to decay. Not knowing the car model, and assuming it's never been done in 127k km, the only reasonable thing to do is change it.

In all fairness, I can't fathom why anybody would even be asking such a question as "worth doing the timing belt": what's the cost for the replacement, 500, 700, 1000 Euro? It's a 5 years old car, you'd get much more than that selling it in 6 months. If the belt goes and the engine is done for, however, you lose the entire value of the car...

mgbgt1978

Are all timing belts not rubber ?
Doesn't every Manufacturer give a mileage (and Age) Belt change recommendation ?
Some can be 10 years, some as low as 3 years.

polydactyl

emeldc wrote: »

If you were going to sell it next week I'd say don't bother changing the belt. But surely it's money well spent and peace of mind for you if you plan on keeping it for another 6 months. What's the quote for the belt change.

It’s A Tiguan so 590 was the quote but needed other bits done which already cost 1000

polydactyl

H3llR4iser wrote: »

If it's a rubber belt, those have a life of about 5 years, after which the material tends to decay. Not knowing the car model, and assuming it's never been done in 127k km, the only reasonable thing to do is change it.

In all fairness, I can't fathom why anybody would even be asking such a question as "worth doing the timing belt": what's the cost for the replacement, 500, 700, 1000 Euro? It's a 5 years old car, you'd get much more than that selling it in 6 months. If the belt goes and the engine is done for, however, you lose the entire value of the car...

Asking as I simply don’t have the cash right now but with all these replies I’ll get it in the next month or so I reckon. Thank you

polydactyl

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Are all timing belts not rubber ?
Doesn't every Manufacturer give a mileage (and Age) Belt change recommendation ?
Some can be 10 years, some as low as 3 years.

VW recommend 5 years. It’s literally 5 years old now. But I have had Tiguans 5 years old before And they never mentioned it before on those ones

Drifter50

I`d never risk this again having lost an engine some years ago putting it off and then having to sell the car for more or less scrap. Since then I have erred on the side of caution.

Don`t take the chance, get it done and specially with a motor like that

grogi

The_Honeybadger wrote: »

If the timing belt is due then it’s a gamble to leave it, it’s that simple. It will probably be fine but it may not be and you are risking ruining the engine.

If it was me I’d bring the purchase forward and trade it in now or fix it up and it will be much easier to move on in 2020 with documentary evidence of the belt and other jobs being done. This is particularly relevant in a private sale, much easier to shift a car with a good service history, although it may not necessarily be worth much more.

But that's exactly the same, isn't it? One either sell the car much faster, or sell it in same time for more money. Car that is easier to sell for equal money is simply worth more.

Isambard

Having the timing belt done, with receipts, is a big selling point for a private sale.

Toyotafanboi

The belt interval on a 2014 Tiguan is 210k kms, no age limit.

The 5 year age limit was dropped in 2012. I'd have no hesitation driving that car on.

mgbgt1978

The 5 year age limit was only used by VAG in Ireland and the UK (4 years on some models). Most other EU countries didn't mention it.
OP's mileage is way off the recommended replacement mileage. Changing it now when there is another 83k to go will surely not make him any extra money when selling

emeldc

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

The belt interval on a 2014 Tiguan is 210k kms, no age limit.

The 5 year age limit was dropped in 2012. I'd have no hesitation driving that car on.

If you were selling it would you give a 12 month warranty on the belt :rolleyes:

The_Honeybadger

grogi wrote: »

But that's exactly the same, isn't it? One either sell the car much faster, or sell it in same time for more money. Car that is easier to sell for equal money is simply worth more.

I suppose at the risk of going OT my point is that 600 euro invested in a new belt will not add 600 euro to the value of the car but it makes it more appealing to a prospective buyer. Same goes for good tyres, clutch recently done etc.

Toyotafanboi

emeldc wrote: »

If you were selling it would you give a 12 month warranty on the belt :rolleyes:

Definitely, they arent prone to failure and it's well within manufacturers spec.