Thought I’d update my experience since having my tension replaced 2 years and around 25k miles ago, and unfortunately it’s not good reading….
To recap, my car is a 2009 59 reg, totally standard in everyway, serviced every 10K miles without fail and driven with mechanical symphony. Current mileage is 79K, mileage when tensioner was first replaced to latest design was around 52K miles.
All has been good until around 3 weeks ago when the car began to feel ‘flat’ under 4K rpm, almost like I had lost 70bhp and the engine was holding back, and it sounded like a sewing machine at idle. Booked in my local indie specialist who after inspecting confirmed a stretched timing chain – causing timing to be out, hence slowness and sewing machine noise. It is worth pointing out I only changed the tensioner at 52K not the chain as well. So being an early car the chain has a TPI against it as it has been revised since. During strip down not only was the chain stretched, but the car had suffered exactly the same issue with the cam pressure release valve casting (think that’s the correct term) as ‘RocketRossUK’ on page 39 of this thread, even down to the mesh coming away. Luckily like RocketRossUK no damaged was caused to the engine.
I have the car back, what difference, quiet and response again. In the end I had new chain (latest version), chain guides, chain tensioner (latest version again), cam pressure release valve (updated version), chain cover, oil and filter. Oh, and just to add to the final bill my sump was also heavily pitted and rusting, resulting in oil starting to seep through, so a new sump was also fitted. Top tip btw – check your sumps condition, as VW do not fitted protection plastic under trays under the sump like the diesels, which means stones and elements get to it.
I can only echo everyone thoughts on the thread – the Mk6 GTI is a great car, but VW really dropped the ball with the early TSI 2.0 engines. The timing chain is not on any servicing schedule to be changed, and therefore should last the life of the car, or certainly a lot longer than 79K. You only have to search on autotrader private sales nationwide to see people selling 2009 / 2010 GTI’s with new engines fitted to see the problem is fairly wide spread. My advice if looking at 2009 / 2010 GTI's would be to either buy a car with a new VW engine fitted, or with new chain / tensioner, or budget to get it done ASAP or spend £400 a year on VW warranty. I really fancy a MK7 GTI, but I’ll be hanging onto my MK6 for a while yet to ensure there is evidence that the MK7 TSI’s are better.
On the same week that my timing chain was diagnosed, someone also bumped into the rear of the car while sat in traffic, resulting in the car being repaired through their insurance next week – new rear nudge bar and bumper. Not the best of weeks! LOL
Rant over