Cambelt interval

[Chris H72]

I went to look at a car yesterday, 10 plate with 50k miles. It was advertised as one owner with full Renault history which turned out to be partly true, there had in fact been two owners. Condition was okay but nothing special. There were a few cosmetic details inside and out which put me off and the engine bay was covered in a thin layer of white powdery dust that the seller (a dealer) said he had meant to clean off in advance. I had already decided it wasn't the one for me but thought I would ask the dreaded cambelt question anyway!

Now I've read the buyers guides and know that the cambelt interval on the 200 is 6 years or 72k miles, increased slightly from the 5 year change for the 197. Therefore if I'm looking at a 2010 car it should've been done right? There was no eveidence of the belt being changed and the dealer fed me some bull about how people tend to go on mileage rather than age and that at 50k miles it didn't need doing. He said timewise it would be every 10 years on a low mileage car. Rather than argue the point I made my excuses and left.

I have some questions though. This car did have full main dealer history including a Renault dealer stamp in the book for December 2016. Shouldn't the previous owner have been told the cambelt was due for replacement? Perhaps they were and on recieving a quote for the job they promptly got rid!?

Also, in case I encounter the same thing again (guessing it's quite common), is there anything in the service book which states when the cambelt should be changed so I can at least challenge them on it?

And also.., some ads state that 'we have changed the cambelt'. Is there any issues with this as I was under the impression it's a bit of a specialist job hence quite expensive?

Cheers

 

[Chris]

It's 6 years or 72k whichever comes first. Simple as that.

That's probably a one off sort of situation, or at least uncommon and think you would be unlucky to come across that again... but if it happens again I'd ask them to confirm that with Renault.

 

[Gordini]

I went to look at a Ferrari 328 years ago (when they were still relatively affordable) and was stunned to see that it had had a full cambelt service after doing about 100 miles in 3 years. Cost of this service was somewhere between 2-3k (as it used to be an engine out job.) When I asked why bother they told me the belts age through lack of use. So it's not just about wear with mileage, it's presumably about the material perishing/becoming brittle to some extent too. As such I think the dealer's comments about 10 years is bollocks. I would always follow the manufacturer's recommendation as the consequences of a failure are not worth thinking about. You did well to walk away given this and the other issues.

 

[Antti O]

Dealer say what they want, they just try to sell that car for you.
If there is not document / receipts to prove that cambelt has been done, you have to have 500£ for cambelt service in your pocket. Here in my country Finland cambelt interval is only 4 years due really difficult weather conditions.

 

[Gordini]

Dealer say what they want, they just try to sell that car for you.
If there is not document / receipts to prove that cambelt has been done, you have to have 500£ for cambelt service in your pocket. Here in my country Finland cambelt interval is only 4 years due really difficult weather conditions.

Interesting that yours is only 4, just shows it is more than just about the miles but other factors affecting the material of the belt.

 

[sevenfourate]

2010 year (Same as mine) car should show a history of having been done: or be at a price to allow it being done EXTREMELY soon !

Mine was done middle of last year at nearly 6 years and 37k.

And doubts over the cambelt - wangle a substantial discount. Or walk !

Good luck

 

[Antti O]

Interesting that yours is only 4, just shows it is more than just about the miles but other factors affecting the material of the belt.

We have some weeks +30celsius in summer, and some weeks -30celsius in winter. ..

 

[Gordini]

We have some weeks +30celsius in summer, and some weeks -30celsius in winter. ..

Wow that's some difference!

 

[Chris H72]

So if a car is slightly overdue the cambelt change is it worth trying to negotiate a price to reflect that or better to just move on to another car that's been done on time?

I suspect that this is not so rare given that many 200's are just over 6 years old now.

Budget around £500 for the cambelt to be done at a reputable independent garage?

 

[Gordini]

So if a car is slightly overdue the cambelt change is it worth trying to negotiate a price to reflect that or better to just move on to another car that's been done on time?

I suspect that this is not so rare given that many 200's are just over 6 years old now.

Budget around £500 for the cambelt to be done at a reputable independent garage?

Personally I'd consider a car with an overdue belt change if it was otherwise spot on and the price reflected the fact. A late change could however be indicative of corners being cut elsewhere. I think your budgeted figure sounds a bit low but I'll defer to the others who've had it done. I think parts alone may be approaching high 300s if you are changing all the associated bits like dephaser, aux belt, water pump.

 

[Antti O]

Cambelt service was 700euros here in Finland. Official "glass palace" renault dealer.
My estimate was 500£ because parts are cheaper in UK.

 

[turkie172]

A few things the timing belt another guy on the forum was told his belt had been done before buying and it wasn't, the belt broke a few months later huge bill. The dust in the engine bay sounds to me like paintwork has been done and it's sanding/filler dust. You need proof of timing belt and what was done and I mean physical proof receipt for work or the parts not the last owner says it was done and the dealer putting it in writing else get the timing belt inspected which is a job that's why it's easy to fake and people do it as it's £500 specialist job £900 dealer job and has to be done right because it is very easy to do wrong. The only other thing to keep in mind is the gearbox as most people sell their cars when it becomes too expensive to fix or and expensive problem is starting and they want it to be someone else's problem worst case about £650 - £1000 but if you check it and I mean check it and even drive others 197/200's to compare as they will say things like they all do that.

 

[Chris H72]

That's good advice turkie.

I don't think I'd buy one that hasn't already been done. And I'd certainly be checking the receipts carefully.

Gordini, it was in fact a Gordini that I looked at. Nice car but probably not for me. I'm torn at the moment between something racy like white/blue with black wheels and spoiler or I've seen some completely standard examples with the silver wheels and non cup chassis which look very much like any bog standard 3dr Clio. Always loved a sleeper!

 

[turkie172]

I bought my car which was overdue a timing belt was 6 years old & 60,000 miles and drove it for 8 months until I got the senior Renault Tech from my local dealership to do it privately I was holding the genuine parts for 4 months and was very aware it needed done so smooth low rev driving during that time and I guess drove the same afterwards. But the service history receipts not the stamps are very important as the cars are so easily clocked the miles may not mean so much but you cant make them younger I had a Clio 172 for 13 years drove it everyday done 202,000 miles and the seats were much better than younger Renault sport Clio's with 40,000 miles, the steering wheels don't count as they are a complete load of crap and Renault should be ashamed with the quality over 3 generations of the Renault sport Clio and should do service exchanges for them at a discounted rate along with the seat trims instead of doubling the spare part prices and then offering 50% contribution for the lucky few.

 

[RossWoods93]

the steering wheels don't count as they are a complete load of crap and Renault should be ashamed with the quality over 3 generations of the Renault sport Clio and should do service exchanges for them at a discounted rate

I couldn't agree more with that, you show me a car that's 4 years old that has steering wheels that's perished as bad as mine! And Renault want £200+ to replace it in which 4 years time will need another steering wheel!! One would hope the Mk4 has accommodated this problem