Noob: Timing Belt 5 years, low miles

[BenDem]

Hi all,

First post, simple question.

I'm likely to be picking up my first e30 (pending a PPI) next week while visiting family in Florida.

The car has documentation of a bunch of work done in '09 -- timing belt, front seals, tensioner, and water pump included. The car has since done about 2,000 miles (I believe the odometer to be correct).

I know the timing belt needs replacing, but should the water pump, seals, etc be fine until the next belt change? I'm planning on driving the car from Florida back to Wisconsin after I buy it, but don't have space to work on it myself before I make the trip. So, I'm going to have to pay local shop to do the belt. I'd rather not pay for the labor and parts for all the other stuff if it's not needed.

Any other input greatly appreciated!

[mpowerful]

The odometers fail in these cars like clockwork and the previous owner could have potentially driven 15000000 miles before replacing the gears tofix it.

[spdracrm3]

you should be able to tell shop your looking to do the minimum possible to get the car from FL to WI ,and that you know the belt needs doing from age , but tell them to inspect everything else while in there doing the belt and if there are issues you can discuss how serious they are and if need to be done before drive or can be put off til next belt l change.i would think there should not be anything else wrong since it has only done 2k from previous work

[BenDem]

The odometers fail in these cars like clockwork and the previous owner could have potentially driven 15000000 miles before replacing the gears tofix it.

Yup.

But, my gut tells me this fella's on the level.

[dnguyen1963]

Timing belt and water pump should go together as one service interval. The shop should not be charging you any labor hour for putting in the water pump.

[jlevie]

Timing belt and water pump should go together as one service interval. The shop should not be charging you any labor hour for putting in the water pump.

That isn't quite correct. The water pump is changed every other timing belt if the mileage justifies it (every 100k). In this case there's no need to change the pump if it isn't leaking and the bearings are good.

[BenDem]

I think I've got the gist of it. Rubber bits are time and mileage sensitive, mechanical bits mostly just mileage.

One last question, if it were you would you risk a 2 hour drive on the old belt to get it to a more local garage for replacement ? The car is on the east coast of Florida, but I'm staying on the west coast. It would be sooo much more convenient to have the belt done at a shop closer to me. (This trip is primarily a family vacation)

4 1/2 years old, 2k miles -- mostly living in a garage in SE Florida? Anyone want to give percentages?

[jlevie]

I would not risk it a two hour drive on a five year old belt. Especially not on a car that lives in the south.

[FLG]

What part of Florida? Wot-tech is in Fort Lauderdale, John would take care of ya.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

[BenDem]

The car's in West Palm Beach, I'll be in Punta Gorda (west coast). I'll try to give John a call, thanks!

[BenDem]

Update: I've bought car, replaced the timing belt, a few leaky transmission seals, steering rack, and a few other bits.

In 3 weeks, I'll be driving it from Florida to it's new home in Milwaukee. I'll post new thread about prepping for the trip, but wanted to thank you all for you input.

Here we go...

[dnguyen1963]

That isn't quite correct. The water pump is changed every other timing belt if the mileage justifies it (every 100k). In this case there's no need to change the pump if it isn't leaking and the bearings are good.

I'm ultra conservative when comes to this stuffs. It's only about $60 for the water pump.

[rcsoundn1]

I am the same way, I see it as super cheap insurance

[BenDem]

I tend to err on the side of caution as well, but in this case felt pretty comfortable with leaving the water pump for the next change. All indications were that's pretty fresh.

Maybe I'll regret it.