What timing belt kit is good

[kid325e]

Hard to beat the Continental Kits.

From a service standpoint - I tend to run the Conti Belt, and run INA everything else (depending on application the Conti Kits will come with GWB components) unless I have no other options. Forced Firebird hit it on the head though - all the kits do a great job, just keep track on when you installed and replace preventatively.

[lukeADE335i]

I prefer Gates over the other brands having compared their belts with Continental ContiTech and other well known brands. Gates belts have a substantially better feel to them.

Whichever belt you buy, be sure to treat it with a good rubber protectant such as Aerospace 303 to prolong its service life.

Please tell how Aerospace 303 will prolong the life of a timing belt? It's a UV protectant, but last I checked there's no way that belt is going to see any sun.

I think some on here are overthinking things. Most timing belt kits - even the cheap ones - won't give any trouble if they're replaced regularly.

The important bit is to make sure you replace the belt as has been pointed out.

That said, my Dad managed accidentally to get around 130,000 miles out of an OEM belt as he switched engines in his car and thought he'd done the belt when he fitted the engine, but he'd done the belt on another M20?! The bearing got noisy, and when he pulled it apart to replace it, he realised that it was an old belt. We went back through the service records for that engine and it was 13 years since the last change.

[packratbimmer]

No failed Continental belts since I started using them on my 1st 325i back in 1999. They always look great when changed - I actually save them for doomsday - LOL

[jeffnhiscars]

No failed Continental belts since I started using them on my 1st 325i back in 1999. They always look great when changed - I actually save them for doomsday - LOL

That makes sense since MacGyver hoards them too

[ForcedFirebird]

No failed Continental belts since I started using them on my 1st 325i back in 1999. They always look great when changed - I actually save them for doomsday - LOL

For several years I would hang the timing belts on a shelf hook at the shop. I was never again asked "have you done a timing belt before". heh. Finally threw them away about 1.5yr ago, filled a medium sized garbage can. Need to see if I can find pics, my mechanic at the time put them around his neck and was acting like "Mr. T".

[packratbimmer]

I watched Mad Max too much when I was a kid

[estoguy]

My usual parts supplier gets Conti belts in and I'm replacing them every couple of years at around 90K km - have had no problems at all. Not sure who makes the tensioner, but it comes with the kit. No problems there either using those parts in the last 5 years.