S842

I have a 2001 S8 with 42,600 miles. I just had a timing belt kit installed today (includes serpentine belt, water pump, thermostat, antifreeze, and various seals and tensioners) because I was worrying about the belt being 8 years old. I was beginning to have visions of an engine re-build.

On examination of the old belts, they were in very good condition. So apparently these belts age well, and if any of you are in a similar quandry, maybe my experience may offer some guidance.

If any of you are curious as to what this costs, my Connecticut dealer quoted $2,400-2,500. Once I picked myself off the floor, I got quotes from three independent garages that specialize in foreign autos. Quotes were: $1,400-1,500 and $1,600-1,700 and finally had it done where they charged $700 labor and I supplied the kit which I bought from www.Blaupaarts.com for $565 (includes shipping) for total of $1,265. Happily the garage owner ownes an Audi RS6 and the install went smoothly. Moral, shop around.

Kneale Brownson

I've read elsewhere that a timing belt can "look" good--as in no cracks or pieces missing--and still fail. I'd think an eight-year-old belt should be replaced even if below the mileage specification. At least now you don't need to worry about it for another five or six years.

Bruce M

Yes. Rubber belts wear due to heat cycles, stops/starts, and other factors that time and temperature affects just as much as mileage. Sometimes that wear is not apparent when looking at the external surface of the belt.

On top of that, metal fatigue in bolts, tensioners, levers, rollers, etc can also play a part in t-belt failure, and more often than not it is one of those parts that fail and in turn cause the t-belt to fail.

7-8 years on all those parts is plenty. We have interfence engines, so a t-belt failure is a catastrophic event, and for $1265 (nice job shopping around!) it's better insurance than anything else you can get for the car.

Bruce

CliveH

Yes, definitely, the belt is a perishable item. Regardless of mileage, I change the belts on my cars every 4 years.

BigJNJ

Great timing on this post. I have also just been advised I should replace the timing belt on my '02 A8L, even thought I only have 64k miles. I already knew it is a big job, was just curious (not any more, thanks all) if the $1,350 quote was reasonable. Sounds like it is.

Kneale Brownson

You can get all the replacement parts (belts, tensioners, waterpump, thermostat, seals and even coolant) as well as rent the tools for less than half that amount if you have the space/time/interest.

jfrahm

If you are just replacing the belt and no front engine seals you can do this job on a 40v with no special tools and without removing the front end. The only tool you'd wish you had is the pin spanner for the pre-tensioner eccentric. An indie shop can probably do it with just a belt, some coolant, and 5 hours. If you leave the motor about 1/2 a crank tooth BTDC the Bank 2 cam won't even pop around on you.

Just make a bunch of timing marks to get the new belt on without goofing up the cam timing.

-Joel.

jbarnhart

I got a quote from 034Motorsports in the Bay Area to do this on my 2000 A8 w/73K miles. They quoted $930 for the job including new belt and water pump as well as 5 hours labor.

EuroS8

Just had this done on my 2001 S8 as well. Same story. Dealer (Fletcher Jones in Chicago) quoted $2900 for the job. I know an independent mechanic specializing in VW and Audi who did the entire job with the addition of a motor mount replacement for $1700.