308 GT Line 2.0 hdi timing belt

[JamieLeeWV]

Hi guys. Just picked up a 65 plate gt line, very nice car. It's done 70,000 miles.

The dealer told me the belt is the original one and it's not due to be changed until 100,000 miles or December 2025 (10 years) is this correct.

Would I be ok driving it over this summer and then replacing it in time for autumn? When it's closer to the 10 year recommendation? Thanks

[PaulC5]

The dealer is about right but why wait until at the max recommended interval, better to be safe than risking ruining the engine, especially since you are probably going to keep the car for some time and the belt will need replacing whilst you have it. I have replaced ours well before so no need to be worried the belt failing. I am surprised the dealer has not done it as part of the sale other than not wanting to pay. It should also include replacing the water pump and tensioner.

You can check the build date of the car from the RPO number on the tyre sticker on a door pillar. The build date will be earlier than the registration date.

[wheeler]

The other issue is unless you have had the car from brand new you cant be sure its never been clocked, It may actually have done 120,00 miles.

They are very easy to clock & its very difficult to detect.

[Henrique14]

The dealer is about right but why wait until at the max recommended interval, better to be safe than risking ruining the engine, especially since you are probably going to keep the car for some time and the belt will need replacing whilst you have it. I have replaced ours well before so no need to be worried the belt failing. I am surprised the dealer has not done it as part of the sale other than not wanting to pay. It should also include replacing the water pump and tensioner.

You can check the build date of the car from the RPO number on the tyre sticker on a door pillar. The build date will be earlier than the registration date.

Do you know if this car uses a wet belt or a standard dry belt?

[PaulC5]

Should be a dry belt, I believe only some of the Puretech petrol engines have a wet belt.
You can check the car's MOT history on a gov site to see what miles it had at each MOT, whilst this does not confirm if it has been clocked it is about all you can check and any service receipts.

[Steve Walsh]

I would be inclined to put a belt on, not worth the risk

[JamieLeeWV]

I would be inclined to put a belt on, not worth the risk

Is it just the belt and water pump that would need doing, or does the tensioner need doing at the same time?

[Steve Walsh]

Just have a good look at them and check condition, if you are doing it yourself you have only parts to pay for. Most recommendations are to put the full kit in because of the cost of doing it again later. Years ago I had a 2.0 hdi in a 406 with a few hundred thousand miles on. I used to change rollers/tensioner every other belt change and never did the pump. It never failed, But it is your choice. Go for a good make of parts, Gates, SKF, Dayco etc