Cambelt or chain? Leon FR+ 2.0 Tsi 11 reg

[paddyboy]

Hi folks,

I'm going to look at an 11 reg Leon FR+ hopefully with a view to buying it.

Its 2.0 petrol on around 50k miles - this is the 208 bhp verstion according to Parkers. MOT history says it was registered 15 June 2011. I'm wondering if there are potential costs I need to factor in + haggle on.

Its had regular engine oil changes BUT it hasn't had a DSG service yet and I wonder do I also need to factor in a cambelt/water pump change? Not sure it has a cambelt though or does it have a chain on an 11 plate? If its a chain is there any thing I need to do there?

Also if there's anything else that I should be doing to the car if I buy it - I'm a belt + braces sort of person so prefer to do the extras just for peace of mind. Any thoughts then please let me know.

Happy New Year + many thanks in advance.

 

[Brimfull]

Chain

 

[Legojon]

Its due a cambelt / waterpump. So if they can't produce a receipt for it, I'd want £300-400 knocked off for it.

 

[Rusty2k]

No cambelt on that engine from memory. The CCZB engine in the facelift petrol FR is chain driven I believe. I don't have any experience with the chain driven engines so I don't know off the top of my head what the recommended change interval is for that setup.

I'll see what I can dig up though...

DSG oil change should be every 40k so that is overdue if it hasn't been done before so I'd definitely try to get that done as part of the deal.

Edit to add:

Okay so a quick bit of reading up seems to indicate there isn't a set change interval for the chain setup although it should be inspected regularly and changed as necessary. This setup does seem to have earned some notoriety for chain stretch with high mileage and there were some issues with early ('09 and '10) tensioners not being able to cope well with that and failing early. Advice seems to be to make sure you have the updated tensioner setup.

No need to do the water pump as a matter of course as it's driven by the forward balance shaft so won't affect anything else if it goes.

 

[paddyboy]

No cambelt on that engine from memory. The CCZB engine in the facelift petrol FR is chain driven I believe. I don't have any experience with the chain driven engines so I don't know off the top of my head what the recommended change interval is for that setup.

I'll see what I can dig up though...

DSG oil change should be every 40k so that is overdue if it hasn't been done before so I'd definitely try to get that done as part of the deal.

Edit to add:

Okay so a quick bit of reading up seems to indicate there isn't a set change interval for the chain setup although it should be inspected regularly and changed as necessary. This setup does seem to have earned some notoriety for chain stretch with high mileage and there were some issues with early ('09 and '10) tensioners not being able to cope well with that and failing early. Advice seems to be to make sure you have the updated tensioner setup.

No need to do the water pump as a matter of course as it's driven by the forward balance shaft so won't affect anything else if it goes.

Many thanks folks for your replies + Rusty that clears things up nicely .... excellent So its a chain + seems the main thing is inspection as a precaution to check for stretch So no cam belt or water pump to worry about changing Regarding the tensioner how would I know on an 11 reg car if it has the updated tensioner set up? Or would you assume by then that it has? Thanks in advance.

 

[Legojon]

Regarding the tensioner how would I know on an 11 reg car if it has the updated tensioner set up? Or would you assume by then that it has?

Unfortunately I think not. I've read from a couple of sources now that it was around mid 2012 they changed to the revised tensioner.
https://www.eeuroparts.com/blog/9623/vwaudi-20t-timing-chain-problems-a-must-know-guide/
https://www.shopdap.com/blog/post/2-0t-vw-and-audi-tsi-timing-chain-tensioner-problems.html

 

[paddyboy]

Unfortunately I think not. I've read from a couple of sources now that it was around mid 2012 they changed to the revised tensioner.
https://www.eeuroparts.com/blog/9623/vwaudi-20t-timing-chain-problems-a-must-know-guide/
https://www.shopdap.com/blog/post/2-0t-vw-and-audi-tsi-timing-chain-tensioner-problems.html

Many thanks for the links Legojon - very useful - I hadn't seen the must know guide on the timing chain tensioner and the video is good to know for how to check which tensioner is fitted to the car

I suppose most people will have the revised tensioner fitted to their car if they want peace of mind - if its not been done on this car I'm looking at then I need to factor that in

 

[Legojon]

I suppose most people will have the revised tensioner fitted to their car if they want peace of mind - if its not been done on this car I'm looking at then I need to factor that in

It's highly advised. To some extent it's like the cambelt. People grumble at the price to replace the belt (I do LOL). But if it breaks / snaps. You can add another 0 onto the bill.

 

[paddyboy]

It's highly advised. To some extent it's like the cambelt. People grumble at the price to replace the belt (I do LOL). But if it breaks / snaps. You can add another 0 onto the bill.

Thanks for the reply Legojon I tend to agree with you - its a bit painful on the wallet spending on these things but the main thing is that peace of mind it buys. So after my very strong interest in this Leon FR+ (to the point of just about to book rail ticket) it turns out its not an FR+ after all .... its an FR. The guy has somehow managed to list it as an FR+ and its still the case even tho its been pointed out to him. Its not a deal breaker as I don't need the '+' its more about the car itself but this seller has an FR+ price tag on it and its not worth it with zero kit on the car. So back to the drawing board. Looking at the mk5 + early mk6 Golf gti as well simply because there are so few Leon FR petrol (has to be dsg). Many thanks again.

 

[Hawkers]

It's obvious if it is a FR+, will have xenons, front parking sensors, better stereo, different alloys.

The FR+ TSI is pretty much a MK6 Golf GTI but less.

 

[paddyboy]

It's obvious if it is a FR+, will have xenons, front parking sensors, better stereo, different alloys.

The FR+ TSI is pretty much a MK6 Golf GTI but less.

Cheers Hawkers - yes the car is definitely not an FR+ I took it for granted it was tho as it is listed as such on Autotrader - should have looked far more closely at the pics which I didn't initially

The make, model, spec is automatically provided by Autotrader when you enter the reg number its not something the seller inputs when creating the ad - I could report it to Autotrader but I can't be bothered to be fair that should be the sellers job but he doesn't seem bothered at the prospect at potential buyers travelling possibly long distances to him to find out when they get there the car has been advertised as an FR+ and it isn't

I haven't ruled it out but I'm going to Lanzorote on Wednesday so if he sells it then fine there's plenty of gti's for sale just means spending a few more grand to get the same age + mileage