What to look out for 2013 1.2 TSi please?

[Richiepoos]

Hi, my son is looking at a 63 plate Leon SE with 1.2 TSi engine and I wondered if anyone on here could tell me what I should be looking at? I kind of know the usual but haven't bought a used car for 6 years so things may have changed. The car will come with a 3 month warranty and a brand new MOT so I'm not too scared but just wondered if there was anything common to look for? I think it has a timing chain so that should be ok (car has 89k miles).

 

[James_R]

The MK3 1.2TSI has a timing belt.

I had one for years, great car, really nice to drive with no issues over my period of ownership.

 

[Richiepoos]

Everywhere I've looked it says the 1.2 has a chain?
SEAT Leon (2013-2020)

1.0 TSI, 1.2 TSI, 1.4 TSI, 1.4 TGI, 1.5 TSI, 1.5 TGI petrol - belt. 1.8 TSI, 2.0 TSI - chain

All diesels - belt

SEAT Leon (2005-2013)

1.4-litre, 1.6-litre, 2.0 FSI, 2.0 TFSI (BWA/CAWB/BWJ/CDLD/CDLA/BWJ) petrol - belt. 1.2 TSI, 1.4 TSI, 1.8 TSI, 2.0 TFSI (CCZB) - chain

All diesels - belt

 

[James_R]

Everywhere I've looked it says the 1.2 has a chain?
SEAT Leon (2013-2020)

1.0 TSI, 1.2 TSI, 1.4 TSI, 1.4 TGI, 1.5 TSI, 1.5 TGI petrol - belt. 1.8 TSI, 2.0 TSI - chain

All diesels - belt

SEAT Leon (2005-2013)

1.4-litre, 1.6-litre, 2.0 FSI, 2.0 TFSI (BWA/CAWB/BWJ/CDLD/CDLA/BWJ) petrol - belt. 1.2 TSI, 1.4 TSI, 1.8 TSI, 2.0 TFSI (CCZB) - chain

All diesels - belt

Re-read that info you've just copied

The mk2 1.2 had a chain, the mk3 was a belt.

 

[Seriously?]

We had an Ibiza ST with that engine.
It was a peach. I was always impressed every time I drove it.

 

[Richiepoos]

I can't even read!

Re-read that info you've just copied

The mk2 1.2 had a chain, the mk3 was a belt.

 

[RUM4MO]

When I was thinking about buying a 1.2TSI Ibiza or 1.2TSI Polo back in early 2015, quite a lot of new SEATs still had the older 8V chain driven 1.2TSI, in my experience of around that period in time, VW had moved onto the 16V belt driven 1.2TSI sooner than SEAT, quite often "really good deals" from SEAT turned out to be cars with the older engine.

So, I'd think that most if not all 2013 VW Group cars with a 1.2TSI engine would have the earlier engine.

Easy to check, 8V 1.2TSI has turbo closest to the passenger compartment, 16V 1.2TSI has turbo closest to the front/radiator.

 

[James_R]

The 5F mk3 Leon never had the 1.2tsi chain engine fitted.