Ask Honest John

Most recently answered timing chain questions
I read with interest your response to a recent question regarding a noisy timing chain in an Audi A1. My 2011 Seat Ibiza 1.2 TSI has suffered from a similar problem and a while ago, the timing chain was...
I am interested in a one year old Seat Leon 1.8 FR petrol. Have the widely reported oil consumption and timing chain problems with VWG TSI engines, been banished from this version of the engine? Would...
My stepson's Octavia vRS has recently suffered a catastrophic timing chain failure. We are awaiting a full garage report but they have confirmed the problem and that a new engine will be required. Their...
Recently the engine on my 3 Series Touring stopped dead. A trip to the BMW dealer revealed timing chain failure, and I have a bill for around £4000. I can't pay this at the moment, so I am without the...
My 2010 BMW 520d broke down on the motorway with a snapped timing chain and BMW asked for around £6000 to repair it. Since then the BMW agents have found the crankshaft wasn't damaged and the total repair...
I have a BMW 320d with 132k miles and have just been told that the timing chain will need replacement. It will cost €1500. If I get it done and change the oil every 10k am I likely to get another 130k...
My BMW 5 Series broke down last and was eventually recovered. I operate as a Private Hire Chauffeur so my vehicle is my livelihood. The problem is a snapped top timing chain, which I have found out by...
I am looking at buying an E90 320i saloon, likely around MY 2006 with 75-110k miles, with the port injection 150PS 2.0i engine, manual. Can you confirm this is a cam chain engine and should that chain...
I drive a 54-plate Honda Accord 2.2 diesel, which has covered 168,000 miles but now has a very rattly timing chain - apparently this is a known problem on diesel Accord, and Honda offered a free or subsidised...
My 09 plate 74,000 mile BMW 118i has just been diagnosed as needing a new engine by BMW Maidenhead as a result of the timing chain tensioner failing and getting sucked into the rest of the engine, causing...