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frags said:
Ive just been quoted ÂŁ399 all inc with my local indy using VAG oem parts.......so which kit is better....Gates or VAG??
Does this include the hydraulic damper?
They aren't normally included in the Genuine kits, and really need to be replaced each time the belt is done .
Gates are OEM suppliers , at least in the UK.
This is the damper .....the leaking factory one that came out of my car when I did this job last month :eek: .
 

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The Genuine price for the damper is around ÂŁ100 (a crazy price :eek: ) , the Gates kits (amongst others ) include this.
Really recommend changing it , if that damper fails then bye bye engine, it's this damper that applies tension to the tensioner pulley.....
My car has done 64K miles from new and previously had a belt change in 2012 at 57K miles , when I did the job last month I found a good quality cam belt on there (Contitech) that looked as new but the 2003 damper was still there , and leaking :eek: .
Many garages don't replace the damper as a matter of course .
IMHO it's false economy not to replace it.
 
hubcap61 said:

Kit on Ebay includes damper going from the picture and item description.
It does include the damper , that's why it's such good value .
Like I said , that's the kit I used (although I did use a Genuine water pump instead of the supplied Gates one) and it fitted perfectly .
 
hubcap61 said:
Full Gates timing belt kit including water pump on Ebay (item number 233446994516 )
Discounted until 1/5/20.
Buy it Now price with discount ÂŁ77.28 !
Just bought one myself. Not leaving it there at that price.
2 more available.

Make sure you add the discount voucher ( PERCENT20) before you pay.
Some of the buyers of this kit wrote in the review that it was delivered with a plastic water pump propeller, not with a metal propeller as shown on the photo
 
Smokehead said:
Some of the buyers of this kit wrote in the review that it was delivered with a plastic water pump propeller, not with a metal propeller as shown on the photo
My kit came with a plastic impeller on the Gates pump too.
The quality of the Gates pump looked identical to the Genuine pump that I actually used which turned out to be Made in Italy .
I'd have no hesitation in using a Gates pump now.
 
hubcap61 said:

Ordered at 15.30hrs yesterday.
Just arrived.
Yes plastic impeller but quality kit.
You can see where they machined out, their OEM's name, from the casting.
 
Okay, so my local indy came back to me and said that "ÂŁ399 is correct for the cambelt change. We use genuine cambelt kits and this does not include a hydraulic damper as its not part of the routine change, only if its leaking does it get changed

I admire my indy hugely but this reading the reviews on this kit, it's just too good to miss. and the 20pc you can save almost covers the 2 years extra warranty on the kit that is offered.............so complete kit with extra warranty ÂŁ96 :mrgreen:
 
frags said:
Okay, so my local indy came back to me and said that "ÂŁ399 is correct for the cambelt change. We use genuine cambelt kits and this does not include a hydraulic damper as its not part of the routine change, only if its leaking does it get changed

I admire my indy hugely but this reading the reviews on this kit, it's just too good to miss. and the 20pc you can save almost covers the 2 years extra warranty on the kit that is offered.............so complete kit with extra warranty ÂŁ96 :mrgreen:
My Indie gave me the exact same info/advise. Looking at the invoice for the work done, the labour charge was ÂŁ150 (plus vat). At that figure, I think I made the right move letting them take it on

I requested they fit a new tensioner anyway which came in at ÂŁ112, so adding a fair bit more to the final bill. Again Audi part and price.
 
IMHO not replacing the hydraulic damper each time the cam belt is done is madness, given how critical a part it is and the ease of fitment when everything is apart anyway.......
 
silverbug said:
IMHO not replacing the hydraulic damper each time the cam belt is done is madness, given how critical a part it is and the ease of fitment when everything is apart anyway.......
Yes, I'm glad I took your advice regarding the fitment as at the time the guys booked to do the belt in a way were pointing me away from having it done unless required.

Their advice was if it was leaking they would replace it, but of course who can possibly know if a part has'nt currently failed, at what time/mileage it should begin to do so. Peace of mind as well !
 
cb550 said:
Yes, I'm glad I took your advice regarding the fitment as at the time the guys booked to do the belt in a way were pointing me away from having it done unless required.

Their advice was if it was leaking they would replace it, but of course who can possibly know if a part has'nt currently failed, at what time/mileage it should begin to do so. Peace of mind as well !
Precisely 8) .
An independent garage blindly following Audi advice/procedure isn't always the best course of action.
Those dampers do wear / leak and you might not know until it is too late if you don't change it :x .
I'm lucky I caught mine in time :p .
 
frags said:
agreed silverbug.......so i went ahead and brought the gates kit.
I don't think you will regret it :p .
 
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