Viewed a car last night and all was good apart from the cambelt I'm a little confused about. The cambelt itself has only done £14k miles! But has been on the car for 5 years. Does this really need changing? Thanks
Ollie
Ollie
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Cambelt changes
- Thread starter iOllieSM
- Start date
It's a 172. Is it just reccomended though? Or is it essential?
Turbo 182 Alfa 159
I would say essential. Its mileage or age which ever comes first.
Cost you more than a cambelt change if it snaps.
Chrisgti6
ClioSport Club Member
MR2,TT V6,Swift,Mini
Depends if you have the money to replace the engine when it snaps?
I'd change it personally, who changed the Cambelt last (if they ain't a specialist they might not have had the correct tools for the job)? For the sake of £400-£500 getting it done by a specialist on here with the correct tools I'd get it done. My car had only done 8.5k miles on my Cambelt in 5 years but still got it done.
Is also get the dephaser pulley unless its had regular oil changes it will begin rattling like a b**ch sooner or later.
Is also get the dephaser pulley unless its had regular oil changes it will begin rattling like a b**ch sooner or later.
MicKPM
ClioSport Trader
Clio16v/Zoe Z.E.50
Its essential yes not optional. Its your car so do what you want really but when it breaks dont you dare claim Renaults are crap! Lets do the basic maths:
Change belt properly £340 (£560 with a dephaser pulley). Car runs happily for the next 5yrs/72k miles.
Don't change it and then when it snaps destrying the valve train you can either pay around £900 minimum to rebuild the top end and replace the belts (that would've cost you £340) or you can replace the engine (which will also cost around £700 minimum once you've bought an engine, fitted it and replaced all the fluids)... then you may also consider doing the belts on that transplanted unit to so add another £340.
These cars are just too cheap now... shame
Change belt properly £340 (£560 with a dephaser pulley). Car runs happily for the next 5yrs/72k miles.
Don't change it and then when it snaps destrying the valve train you can either pay around £900 minimum to rebuild the top end and replace the belts (that would've cost you £340) or you can replace the engine (which will also cost around £700 minimum once you've bought an engine, fitted it and replaced all the fluids)... then you may also consider doing the belts on that transplanted unit to so add another £340.
These cars are just too cheap now... shame
I didnt want to upset the apple cart lol
I did say "it could be worth the risk IF its a cheap car / how many belts snap on the due date etc" but then I remembered people get bummed for saying that :rasp:
The car itself has done 57k miles, as I say belts done at 44k, 5 years ago. He wants £2100 for it (lowest he'll go) , its flame red and immaculate inside and out - minus the front bumper. Has a crack in it -.- f/s/h. Completely standard and has all the optional extras. Good deal or not?
davo172
ClioSport Club Member
TCR'd 172
Belts done 14k miles ago, at 44k miles lol. It's now on 57k.
Chrisgti6
ClioSport Club Member
MR2,TT V6,Swift,Mini
Isn't 57 - 44 = 13?
It's just under, I was rounding up.
If you desperately want a flame it doesnt sound too terrible price wise, especially if you care about low mileage like some people do, Im sure he will get that if he holds out.
O
Oakley12
I would get them done tbh! If you buy it for £2100 and you say it's immaculate except belts and paint work, then you spend £650 - £700 doing the belts and bumper, you've got your immaculate car for £2800 
How much does somebody charge for a cambelt change? Somebody who is trusted on here. And how much would spraying a front bumper cost roughly? I do really like the car and colour!
172 cup
I think it sounds like a fair deal and like chip said you know the belts have been done right. For example end of last year a members flame red 172 which was really mint but needed belts sold for £2800.
Go for it mate, like you say it'll only be about £2700 for a mint flamer!
Could always leave the bumper crack till later as well if it's not that noticable so you don't have to cash out all at once.
Could always leave the bumper crack till later as well if it's not that noticable so you don't have to cash out all at once.
Cookson
ClioSport Club Member
Mk1 Audi TT 3.2 V6
Car might be mint bodywise, but make sure you have checked everything else.
Service history, tyres need replacing? Brake discs look ok? (dont forget, the rears have the bearings in and are about £90 a pair). Is it on standard exhaust which will likely fall off in a month?
Service history, tyres need replacing? Brake discs look ok? (dont forget, the rears have the bearings in and are about £90 a pair). Is it on standard exhaust which will likely fall off in a month?
As above buy cheap with these cars and you can guarantee they have been neglected. Belts is one job but what about all the other little things that have been forgot about? All the little bits soon add up to a small fortune so you need to be prepared to spend the money.
This may not always be the case but I imagine most the time it is.
This may not always be the case but I imagine most the time it is.
Disks have a slight lip, but are fine for a little while yet! Clutch is all good, full service history which I did have a scan through, standard exhaust..... Didn't actually check that. Sounded all okay though when was running. Tyres are really good actually apart from 1 which may need changing in a couple months but I can live with that. All seemed fine tbh
as all the other guys said make sure belts have been replaced with proof of the work
i bought mine with them done or so i was told but no proof of the work so after five months of owing it they are getting done this month on pay day but i wanted that car so i bought it knowing that
it cost me £2700 for the car which i thought was ok for 2005 ff inferno on 70k
i bought mine with them done or so i was told but no proof of the work so after five months of owing it they are getting done this month on pay day but i wanted that car so i bought it knowing that
it cost me £2700 for the car which i thought was ok for 2005 ff inferno on 70k
MicKPM
ClioSport Trader
Clio16v/Zoe Z.E.50
We charge £340 for the basic timing belt kit, aux belt, fixings, seals and crank pulley bolt to be replaced. If you want/need the dephaser pulley changing the price jumps to £560 but includes for the new pulley and an oil/filter service.
www.diamondmotors.co.uk (Based in Nottingham)
Mick
Just looked into the old cambelt reciept and it was actually done at the very end of 2008, so it's not actually due until end of this year which I'm pretty chuffed about! Only thing I do want to check is all of the mounts on this car so where do I find them? Engine and gearbox mounts and any others that are worth checking.
Thanks for info! And yeah, I did buy the car.
Ollie
Thanks for info! And yeah, I did buy the car.
Ollie
*** want to make it clear that it will still be replaced before its due, just gives me a couple months breathing space. That's why I'm chuffed!
Erm. It has climate control, air con, the 'renaultsport' kick plate things on the bottom of the door frame. Uprated suspension and gearbox from factory too I saw somewhere. It was a demonstration car, says it on the renault receipt so it does back up what the seller said. No idea what else extra it has as I don't know what other 172's have lol
Oh really? Meh if that's the case then I'm fine with that. Don't need the satnav anyway.
Well ultimately I am happy with the price I've paid. There were cheaper around but they were all silver and I fancied something a little out of the ordinary with the Low miles and stuff to back it up. Love the colour of it!
