This has been a very informative post and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the discussion.

I just bought (yesterday) a 2002 A4 quattro 3.0 with 117K on it. The service records end at about 80K, so I don't know it the timing belt has been changed, so I want to do it soon. With all of the links and info on here, I'm going to attempt it myself next weekend.


It looks like Blauparts have a basic and enhanced timing belt kit. I would think the enhanced is the way to go, seeing as how you have to take half the fricking car apart, you might as well replace everything you can. Thoughts?

http://www.blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GH21119-1A

- mike

 

Got mine done back in april right after I bought my car. $1,200. Included timing belt, new rollers, tensioner, Water pump, and valve cover gaskets. Got serpintine belt replaced while they were at it for less than $20 just to be safe, its off anyway, so just pay for the part. There are shops out there that have done them, and will still give a decent deal. Its mostly labor, parts are a small part of the service. Got mine done at Carroll VW and Audi Repair in Carrollton, GA. Awesome shop, Joe worked for Audi for years. Alot of german mechanics want to charge $120 an hour, They charge around $65 I think.
Mine is a 2005 (b6) A4 3.0
Dont take chances with it, its just not worth it. Got mine done a week after I bought the car, made appointment the day I bought, because I could not determine for sure if it had been done. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY! A FAILED TIMING BELT CAUSES 7K PLUS DAMAGE!!!!!

 

I hope you really know your stuff, and have some serious time on your hands. It took my mechanic, that only works on VW and Audi and has years of experience, about a day and a half to do it and a full service. Also you have to have the proper cam lock tool, as there are no marks for top dead center on a 3.0, and if you spin the cam, or dont have it set right, you can cause the same kinda damage as a broken belt. Big $$$ And yes, you do have to take half the car apart, I walked in the shop at the beginning of day 2 on my timing belt job, and my bumper was on a stand, and a pile of parts on the bench, and got to see the inside of my engine.

Just be sure you know what you are getting in to before you start this project, its not to be taken lightly. I have always worked on my own cars. Granted, this is my first german car, but after doing research, I was not gonna attempt this job.

By the way, mine had 107,000 miles when I bought it, so yeah, I wouldnt wait long. Mine was the same way, service records dropped off around 80k miles. Chances are, someone isnt gonna spend that $$ for a timing belt job and turn around and trade it in. Hope you dont have a CVT! Learned how bad they are AFTER i bought the car, and already having problems 2 months after purchase.

 

I looked really hard at doing it myself also and then found a shop near Dallas that was reasonable. It ended up running me $934.01 out the door and that was timing belt, valve cover gaskets, idlers, water pump, t-stat, serpentine belt and even a new front buffer mount for the motor. The gang over at V-DUB Folks turned it around in a day.

Good luck if you pursue it on your own, but when I found a dedicated Audi/VW shop with a good reputation willing to do it for under a grand, I was sold.

 

I should be ok, I have always worked on my own cars as well, but I've done a full rebuild on a Jeep and apprenticed at an Audi/VW dealership as well. I have the time, so I figure if I get it done in a week or less, that is worth the savings.

Blauparts has a rental policy for the special Audi tools needed to do the job right, so that makes it even easier.

No Multitronic for me, Tiptronic. I'll have to put pics up eventually.

- mike

 

My wife's 2003 A4 3.0L Avant is in the shop right now having the timing belt job done at 79,500 miles.

I bought the standard Blauparts timing belt kit without the t-stat and that's what my mechanic is replacing. $900 labor + $388 for the Kit = $1288.

Well, that was before it started leaking power steering fluid on Sunday. Now I get to add a new power steering rack to that total.

 

Bumping this thread, it goes back a few years but some good info.

Just about to do my belt.