I just got an
Ibiza today. Already the Diagnostic warning light has come on so i have to phone the garage tomorrow but i hope the chain on mine does not need changing soon, i will get it changed at around 50k or something like that?
A near-neighbour of mine, 500 yards along the road, had his new 2003, 03 reg 12V
IBIZA burst its chain at 15,000 miles, total destruction of the engine, but after pressure & pleading, renewed under warranty. Car is now just on 35,000 miles and he has lost confidence in it, with added problems from suspension bushes ( all bushes give trouble eventually, and shocks, and springs, and wash-wipe pipes and motors, door-locks, remotes : --- same with the other VAG group cars ).
Treat the car to 6-monthly oil + filter changes using engine flushing oil, and MOBIL 1 ESP 5W30 fully synthetic engine oil ( £45 at Kwik-Fit ).
With nursing, you MAY get 60,000 miles out of the old type chain & tensioner.
I feel lucky to have got away with fitting the improved outfit ( CIRCA 2004 ), having genned-up on VAG forums.
The crank-shaft end-seal was renewed at a service/recall at 6,500 miles, and the sump seal has to be renewed at every oil-change ( beware of alloy sump ).
The individual HT coils on the sparkplugs often had to be renewed as a set, just one u/s item is dog-rough.