Timing chain tensioner

[Fazeryam]

Hi guys
Looking at buying a 2011 mk6 gtI and heard about tensioner problems. Anyone know the cost of replacing the tensioner with the updated one before it goes? Have tried searching but no joy. Cheers

[joe6]

Tensioner and chain with labour you are probably looking at £700 to £800 - could be less at an idie. There is lots of info on the tensioner sticky topic on this site.

[Gtiless]

When I owned my Mk6 I had a ring round the S Yorkshire area of VW indies and got a load of "yeah Ill have a look at it and ring you back with a price" (to change the chain and tensioner,mine was a Sept 10' 60 plate)

No one ever rang me back. I couldnt live with the thought that one day I start it up and the engine destroys itself hence trading it for a Mk7.

I didnt really want to swap it so soon, I wanted another couple of years (ish) out of it but I felt my hand was forced in the end.

[The ANT]

When I owned my Mk6 I had a ring round the S Yorkshire area of VW indies and got a load of "yeah Ill have a look at it and ring you back with a price" (to change the chain and tensioner,mine was a Sept 10' 60 plate)

No one ever rang me back. I couldnt live with the thought that one day I start it up and the engine destroys itself hence trading it for a Mk7.

I didnt really want to swap it so soon, I wanted another couple of years (ish) out of it but I felt my hand was forced in the end.

Things don't happen unless you make them happen, you have to pester people, if you liked the car enough you'd have fixed the problem, it sounds to me like an excuse to get the mk7.
There's loads of threads regarding this subject. I'd just make sure that i either bought a car that had already been sorted (which i did, new engine at 45000 miles) or sort it immediately using the fact that the issue is still there to beat the price of the car down.

[Snoopy]

I was quoted £290 to change just the tensioner from a VW/audi specialist. (That includes labour, new cover plate, tensioner and new bolts)
Iirc VW main dealers won't do just the tensioner and quoted something like £1200 as changing the chain is alot more involving.
If the car has ~70k on worth doing both the chain and tensioner as the chain does stretch.

[bagpuss]

I am looking to buy also, had 2 quotes £600 and £750 for new tensioner and chain.

[Fazeryam]

Thanks guys, sounds like I need to factor this in during negotiations.  It's about time this was made a recall by vw.

[Pld118]

When I was buying our GTi off a main dealer 2.5 years ago, I asked them to replace the tensioner etc as part of the deal.  They point blank refused but told me they would replace it under the VW warranty if anything went awry.  I didn't believe them.

Anyhow, after a couple of months with me being convinced the car sounded like a low volume diesel, my perception being the chain was making a rattling sound; and after persistence and a complaint, they changed the tensioner, chain and all associated components, gratis, as a good will gesture to give me confidence in the car they'd sold me.

[bagpuss]

The master technician at my local VW dealer has advised they will not replace it unless it breaks 

[Suavecolliedog]

Hi. I've just bought a 2011 (61 plate) gti.  I'm trying to find out if this has the modified chain tensioner on or the old one? If anyone could help me out I would be very grateful. Thanks.