Hi, I'm new to the forum and this first thread I've read certainly seems to show its a worthwhile forum.
It's quite a long first post but...
I'm in the process of buying a 2010MY, 3 Door manual GTi from a UK VW main dealer (deposit paid). The car has covered 48k miles and has a full service history.
The car will come as approved used with a 12 month Das Welt VW warranty and is yet to undergo the pre sale inspection so I've been trying to know what I should be alert to with the timing chain and/or any other important things to be alert to with these cars, so maybe I can get queries documented with the garage before completing the sale by way of protection if something big does go wrong?
Did some research of my own yesterday and here's what I found out:
According to the servicing main agent, the car I'm buying hasn't had a new tensioner fitted nor any timing chain/ drivetrain (or any other) problems (as an aside the water pump hasn't gone either). They did say that in 6 years they've seen about 3 of these type cars with a timing chain related failure (that seems not many at all).
The up to date timing chain tensioner for 'my car' is part number 06K109467K (confirmed by VW Parts and by TPS) and can be bought cheaper/ directly from TPS UK for £38.40 incl VAT as a stock item (obviously other associated parts are required too).
The servicing main agent for 'my' particular car guesstimated that to replace the tensioner/ other essential parts is about a 6 hour job.
I then rang a local indy specialist who estimated more like a couple of hours of a job at labour rates of £50/hour (even if it took double that, at £50/hour it's not bad and sounds about £300 of a job incl parts?).
I also rang the "Das Welt" VW Approved Used warranty claims helpline and they said the tensioner is covered as is the timing chain as is any consequential damage "subject to terms".
I was then a lot more comfortable at the prospect of proceeding with this purchase... until reading this thread.
Whilst the VW A.U warranty does seem pretty comprehensive "subject to terms", am I reading on here that some main dealers are charging the warrantied customer for labour costs anyway ( or is that partial contribution only for warranty expired cars)?
The dealer I'm buying from is currently - reluctantly - doing a fair bit of interior and exterior cosmetic work on the car I'm buying at my request and within the agreed purchase price.
I'm now wondering whether or not I should be asking them to change the tensioner etc as part of the deal as this uncertainty does make me nervous on a fairly expensive car. If I knew that between the VW warranty and/ or the Sale of Goods Act 1979 I'd be covered without cost if there was a problem I'd be more comfortable but it's just all potentially foreseeable hassle when a couple of hours labour could banish the woes at source.
So, some questions please if you will humour me:
1. Does this affect more DSG than manual cars ('mine' is manual)?
2. Do I relax, be reassured by the fact it's not all cars that will fail and anyway I'm covered by the warranty and the S.O.G.A?
3. Do I email the garage and ask them to replace these timing chain components as a condition of sale, otherwise seek a written assurance that within the first 12 months they will between themselves and the warranty cover any such failures and consequential damage at no cost to me?
4. Do I buy the genuine VW parts and pay the recommended Indy specialist to do it as soon as I get the car?
Long post but a potentially expensive problem so hopefully you don't mind.
All replies much appreciated.
Thanks.