Timing Belt Advice

[grussell]

Hi, I went to view a Megane CC 2005 automatic that I liked yesterday. It was all alright, gearbox seemed alright, engine was good and it had a part service history. Owner was a lady in her 50s who took good care of the car cosmetically, anyway.

It said nothing in the service history about a timing belt change, so I am assuming they have never had a timing belt change, and so at 75000 miles it needs to be done (way passed the manufacturer's recommendation of 72000 miles or 5 years).

My question is should I go ahead with the sale or leave it as I have no evidence of the timing belt being changed? I am going to get a full service and a timing belt replacement straight after purchasing the car but should I risk driving it home (a 27 mile journey) and getting it done in a local garage?

Kindest,
Russell.

[freelanderuk]

You should be OK driving it home and use the no timing belt change as a bargaining chip in sorting out a good price for it

[grussell]

You should be OK driving it home and use the no timing belt change as a bargaining chip in sorting out a good price for it

Thanks Freelanderuk, do you know I might be able to check the condition of the Cambelt easily before driving off?

[rfman]

You have no chance of looking at the timing belt, it needs a complete strip down just to see the belt - even then it's difficult to see the condition.
Remember to have the waterpump and dephaser changed too.

[grussell]

Whoop-de-doo!

Looking through the part service history I see there has been a timing belt change at 51000 miles! Now it's at 75000 miles and 5 years later - so still an interval I would need to get it changed but with less urgency.

This is what I saw in the service history: Can anyone make out the date or even if it was actually done:

[freelanderuk]

Nothing showing

[grussell]

[BobbyBlueBoots]

It is by a Renault main dealer and clearly says timing belt and water pump. But the year is impossible to read, maybe she has a seperate cash or credit card receipt, that had the year on. But being automatic I wouldn't worry to much about either the age interval or the milage. But of course don't tell the seller that!