Timing chain OEM Audi or OEM Volkswagen

I've just changed the timing chain on my Polo and one reason is the different torque.

Mate, this is probably the timing chain and tensioner.

You’ve already got **P0016**, stalling at idle, worse with start stop, and some cold start noise. That’s all early timing issues on these.

I have the seat equivalent - Ibiza ST (Fr spec) with the same engine, yes it's EA111, so keep an out for any signs of the timing chain stretching, however VW did do some what of a fix before introducing EA211. My 1.2 TSI EA111 has 95k miles on it and has never had the chain done and doesn't sound like there's any chain issues. But key is just service it every year properly and check the chain, you'll be fine then.

My Mk4 R32 Golf was the most reliable car I ever owned. (9 years)\u2026 until the timing chain snapped at 250,000 kms.

I also have 2017 Tiguan with 160,000 km. Just had mechanic check it as I heard rattling on startup and they recommended replacement.

After doing a complete OEM parts timing job my numbers were actually initially worse 7 and 8. After driving the car for 1 tank of gas the 209 number went slightly down to 4 and 208 stayed at 7, also 90 and 91 are still flip flopped.

I decided against the allroad due to the ea888 engine issues. I can deal with some problems but was not willing to deal with the flawed and fragile timing chain/guide failures along with the low tension piston ring problems. It’s a shame because I love these allroads. I ended up buying a 2020 Volvo xc60 which thus far has been problem free but it’s not a forever vehicle and I’ll probably dump it when it gets close to 100k on the clock. It’s a real shame that Audi doesn’t seem capable of building a solid engine anymore. The Audi timing chain service will set you back $3-$5k and even more if the piston rings get clogged and stuck. Audi has known about both problems for many years and does nothing to improve this engine. Volvo had piston ring issues for a few years but addressed the problem in 2017 and up engines. I prefer a timing belt vs a chain. The Volvo timing belt interval is 150k miles and not terribly expensive. My ea113 VW timing belt is super easy to replace and has a 110,000 mile interval. From an engineering perspective the belt is superior with less weight and more teeth per area. If Audi would put the good old ea113 in an allroad I’d buy it. Keen Audi fans will note that when the tts came out Audi dusted off the ea113 to use in that highly boosted model because they knew it was a much stronger engine.

What I did not know is that the Audi timing chains are *designed* to stretch. Yes you read that right. They stretch. They use both metallic *and* interlocking plastic components and will slowly over time reach a point where your timing is subtly off (and the sensors "designed" to warn you of this do NOT warn you soon enough). This, combined with my wife largely driving it like a grandma, slowly and silently destroyed my catalytic converter required a massive overhaul of both the exhaust system and timing chain, pulleys, etc.

Those Tiguans have a notorious timing chain issue, probably not worth it unless you have service record of that being addressed already.

The timing chain on my sister's Audi is about to write the vehicle off financially