Manufacturer comparison of timing belt kits for BRE engine in the 4F model

Hello,

Various timing belt kits are available for the BRE engine in the 4F model year 2008.

The most expensive option is the original kit from AUDI/VW, which costs around €290 including 19% VAT (without the water pump).

The following manufacturers offer aftermarket kits:
- BUTCHER
- FEBI
- BOSCH
- RUVILLE
- CONTINENTAL

Personally, I would prefer that none of the rollers or pulleys used are made of plastic.

How would you rate the different manufacturers in terms of quality? Are there any kits that you should avoid?
What can be said about water pumps offered by brands like AIRTEX, VAICO, and FEBI?

Best regards, Rainer.

The Conti tires are okay for ZR (Zero-Rated) vehicles.
Ruville pulleys are suitable for use with idler pulleys, and the wheel bearings in those pulleys are also fine.
Bosch sounds good, but the rest won't go into my cars.

Hi, the original belt kit from Audi includes metal pulleys and a Conti belt. You can identify it by the symbol with the small horse. I would recommend getting the Contitech kit from a regular retailer, as it contains the same components but is cheaper. For example, Stahlgruber offers it. Is it also available in China? Make sure to replace the water pump at the same time.

I cannot confirm that Conti products always contain the same ingredients as the originals, although the sentence itself is not bad.

If I have a choice, I prefer replacement parts from brands like Ruville (which often contain Litens or Ina components), and belts from Dayco (which are sometimes used as original equipment). Compared to those, the Conti belts look cheap. The Dayco belts also have an additional coating, which improves their running smoothness.

Water pump (replacement), as well as genuine mounting bolts.

Okay, thank you for the feedback!

Hello!

After a bad experience with Ruville (plastic tensioner pulley that broke after 14 days),
and impossible warranty processing.
I only use original parts for newer Volkswagen vehicles.
That was a really frustrating situation, and I ended up paying quite a bit for it in the end.
It's been a few years though...

And what I find noteworthy is that, as a customer registered for commercial purposes, you can get the original VW timing belt kits for roughly the same price as the aftermarket alternatives.
There are no questions for me about where to buy things like ZR sentences, etc.
Furthermore, it's also important to me that I can be certain that everything needed is included.
and also fits.

Quote:

After a bad experience with Ruville (plastic tensioner broke after 14 days),

Das ist natürlich sehr sehr ärgerlich. WIs that an Opel?

At VW, it's not a problem if Litens and Ina are included in the package. If they aren't, the goods are returned, or they don't even leave the counter in the first place.


"Um, where's the VW source that sells ZR kits for the same price as in the open market?"

I don't think these kits, for example BLB models without a water pump, can be obtained for less than 90 euros net.

Hello!

No, that wasn't an Opel; it was a VW Caddy, 1.9 TDI, 90 horsepower.
ALH or something similar. With the full package, cylinder head completely clear.

Otherwise, source for me as a freelance workshop operating on the side.
Register with Volkswagen as a Nora customer.
And for your own workshop needs, there's a 45% discount available.
You also have to provide some explanations stating that you will not resell the parts, etc.

Anyway, that's what happens when I compare prices with independent parts dealers who sell branded products.
"Typically, the results are quite similar to those of genuine VW parts. The same applies to brake components for high-end vehicles."
Okay, I'll say it clearly: When it comes to cars that are less than 6 years old, I install more original parts than aftermarket parts.
And I will continue to do that because it really works very well.

Perhaps it could also be tested on a case-by-case basis.
what such a ZR sentence would cost.
but not necessarily publicly.

Let's take a look inside. This is the timing belt kit for the BRE Gates K015607XS. This brand is top-notch when it comes to timing belts, along with brands like Conti and Dayco.
The pulleys are from Litens or INA, and their grooved surfaces are made of metal, not plastic. The belt itself is labeled "Gates" and features a fabric-reinforced backing. And the screws are also included.
Sure, please provide the text you would like me to translate from German to English.

Hello.

I would like to share my experiences with the "replacement" water pumps from Volkswagen on this topic.

Last March, the timing belt needed to be replaced on our Lupo 1.4 TDI (AMF).
After reading a lot here, I've decided to buy everything from Volkswagen.

- The timing belt was supplied by Gates.
- The redirect was from Ina.
- Tensioner from Litens.
- The water pump was a refurbished unit from Volkswagen (with a sticker indicating it was reassembled in Malaysia).

After approximately 500 km, I noticed some initial running noises, but nothing was visible during the inspection.
After approximately 1000 km, the vehicle became unusable. At 1180 km, the pump was leaking and there was noticeable bearing play.
Complaint to Volkswagen -> Free replacement part with return of the old part.
This one came from India, and it couldn't be sealed properly on the engine block because the groove for the O-ring was severely corroded/oxidized. It had been glass bead blasted during refurbishment, but it was simply unusable.
I then bought one from SKF (which was €12 more expensive than the one from VW), and it was brand new. It has now been running quietly for 20,000 km.

VW told me that there are no more "new" parts available for this pump series; only refurbished ones.

I opened the last one; the bearings were from India, and the sealing rings were from Mexico.
I purchased some used Volkswagen vehicles that had been refurbished, but they were too expensive for the quality I received.

Best regards,
Martin

Hi there.
I recently installed an SKF kit, including a water pump, on a BMW (BMP). It cost €106 plus VAT.
Best regards,
Dirk

Only install Conti, Gates, or Bosch ZR kits.
I prefer water pumps from SKF, or alternatively from Febi or Quinton Hazell.

I had problems with other brands, such as squeaking noises, plastic rollers breaking, and a leaking fork seal (fortunately, the engine survived).

Beware of ZR kits from online marketplaces like eBay. There are counterfeit products and extremely old parts that have been removed from the manufacturer's production line. Avoid them, even if they are offered at a very low price!

Hepu water pumps, unlike the original VW part, always have a metal impeller. We've seen cases with the original pumps where the plastic impeller detached from the shaft.

Hepu water pumps are usually found in the Conti ZR-Wapu sets.

vwSchrauber wrote:

Die Hepu- Wasserpumpen findet man meistens in den Conti ZR-Wapu Sätzen.

Unfortunately, the valve in the Conti-kit has a plastic wheel.

I also always use the Conti kit, but without the water pump, and I use a GK water pump that has a cast impeller. So far, I've never had any problems with it.

dieselschrauber wrote:

vwSchrauber wrote: Die Hepu- Wasserpumpen findet man meistens in den Conti ZR-Wapu Sätzen. Leider hat die Wapu im Conti-Kit ein Plastikrad.

Apparently, the problem with plastic bike pumps has been improved!

"I used to have problems with broken pumps more often because the plastic blades would come loose, but I haven't had that issue for a while now. *Thinking* They seem to be holding up better."

So far, none of the Schwalbe tires I've installed on my Simson have come off.