MKV GTI Timing Belt / Chain

[damianzmd]

Hey guys,

I previously owned a Golf MK4 1.8, and I am now looking to purchase a MKV GTI. I have tried searching Google and beyond about which cars have the timing belt and chain, but I am still confused.

I was told that most of the MKV GTI's in Australia are chain driven. Is this true? I am on Carsales and looking at a few and I see that there are plenty around $20,000 with a decent amount of mileage one them.

Take this advertisement as an example, this is the MY07, is this a chain or belt driven engine?

I really would prefer the chain, as I just feel it would be that much reliable.

Also are there specific things that I should look out for when buying the MKV? Are there certain year models I should steer clear from? So far I'm willing to spend $20,000 as I need a daily driver and the MKV is surprisingly very cheap, and I will probably bring the mods in later down the track (ECU, suspension etc.).

Sorry for so many questions, I've tried searching but I'm hoping for more updated responses.

Cheers
-Damian.

[grtuned]

MKV GTI Timing Belt / Chain

All mk5 gti are timing belt except r32
There a solid car but I must stress that you have a pre inspection done. It's worth every cent it can give you a good idea on what is bad and what you may need in future. Good luck with search.

[damianzmd]

Thanks for clarifying, and so when is the timing belt due, 120,000kms?

Also how do normal buyers usually go about a pre-inspection, RACV? Or actually prompting the seller to take it to a Volkswagen mechanic and get it checked out, do Volkswagen have an actual service as such?

[Umai Naa!!]

If you want to get technical, they're both chain and belt driven. The chain aspect of it, seems to be the less reliable than the belt.

[Umai Naa!!]

Thanks for clarifying, and so when is the timing belt due, 120,000kms?

Also how do normal buyers usually go about a pre-inspection, RACV? Or actually prompting the seller to take it to a Volkswagen mechanic and get it checked out, do Volkswagen have an actual service as such?

Belt is due every 105,000kms. 120,000kms would be the absolute limit. I've seen a few snap at around the 135,000km mark.

[woofy]

Or at 7 yrs.

[phillip1978]

The FSI engine is a belt, to be replaced every 4 years or about the 100,000 km mark.
The TSI which came out in 2008.5 in the mkv body and all mkvi is chain driven, there have been records of failure of the automatic tensioner in some instances. Hope that helps.