Question been on my mind

[Johnny_tro]

BMW's etc. are chain driven and as far as I'm aware require VERY little maintenance and bullet proof.

VW still using belt driven along with many.....maintenance/reliability etc. could be bettter

Why are we NOT moving more towards chain driven?

[Phil1980]

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:AsYnii5Yjs8J:www.safehydraulics.com/file_save_common.cfm%3Fthispath%3DGates%252Fdocuments_module%26file%3DMTZ.pdf%26location_id%3D564+advantages+of+chain+driven+engines+over+belt&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShyyTlTHn3toVOl30tFEoeKLIn-Wmc87_cI1ZAlz1XBCFLNsUNkq__T71c2_Tq623H8y0KJq03F-GWPRpnJYgRKnE1uR8zAUIFV0FoecRKC6PCR465Wii7v6YgzVfHhl8SRP1Qc&sig=AHIEtbRd_sFQoq6DMNBSgEzTJblKgPvY-w

Found this article seems belts can be more reliable for emissions etc in the long term and aren't as prone to shock loading.  Plus I would imagine cost is a big factor.

[sub39h]

yeah i'd imagine it's partly due to cost - something they can justify on an "premium" BMW but not on "mid-range" VW. but the R32 did have chains, and remember the fiasco with the early cars? so they aren't without problems

[Johnny_tro]

Cool will have a read.

Cost < Of course, but kinda guessed it would be a cost that would save money long term
+ for customer guess a - for VW (no more belt changes etc)

? R32 were chain driven? early MK5 or we talking MK4s?

[john87]

I'm sure the mk6 TSI engines are chain-driven?

[E30Dom]

Both R32 are chain driven...

And I wouldn't say BMW are bulletproof... my 330Ci Clubsport needed new big end bearings at 33k miles...

[Geoffcarragh]

yeah i'd imagine it's partly due to cost - something they can justify on an "premium" BMW but not on "mid-range" VW. but the R32 did have chains, and remember the fiasco with the early cars? so they aren't without problems

Out of curiosity, what was the fiasco with early R32's?

[sub39h]

sorry i actually slightly mistyped that. it's Mk5 chassis i was specifically referring to, but there were problems on the early A3 3.2 quattros (which were released 18 - 24 months before the R32 i think). basically the manufacturer of the chain stamped it's name into the chain in too hard and thus the chain was unbalanced (or something to that effect - basically it threw the timing out). this caused some mechanical glitches, and the problem wasn't properly identified for a couple of years (and usually when the car was out of warranty).

i know of one 3.2q driver who spent £5k getting it sorted in the end, and that was with a 50% good will gesture from Audi.

i don't think many R32s were afflicted with the same problem as by the time it'd been released a different chain was used, but early 8J 3.2s and 8P 3.2s had problems. it put me off buying a 3.2 in the end, tho part of me wishes i had done now