2003 audi a3 2.0 FSi cambelt snapped

[Vag_Man]

Hey guys I am looking into another audi as I regretfully got rid of my 2005 s line audi on 3SDM alloys, the chap wants to swap his a3 for my car which the cambelt has snapped on, how much would it cost to fix the top end of the audi and what parts would need replacing as I have been reading up and so far I've found out valves and guides?? Any help appreciated as I looked on eBay and it's £500 for a complete engine or £700 for a new serviced head buy want to keep costs down as low as possible 

[James]

Just to clarify is the car with the snapped cambelt the one you're getting rid of or is it the one you're buying?

[Vag_Man]

3 hours ago, James said:

Just to clarify is the car with the snapped cambelt the one you're getting rid of or is it the one you're buying?

Hi James I have just swapped my astra coupe for it mate so in some sense could class as buying :) 

[James]

So the A3 is the one with the snapped cambelt or the Astra?

[Vag_Man]

3 minutes ago, James said:

So the A3 is the one with the snapped cambelt or the Astra?

The audi mate I did own the astra coupe but I swapped it for a chaps audi a3 8p

[James]

Oh right I see, any idea how much damage has been caused?

[Magnet]

I'm struggling a bit here as well. 

Could you confirm you have bought ( well swopped to!)  a 2003 Audi A3 which you knew had snapped its timing belt and obviously damaged its engine? 

If so apart, from what you have already suggested - consider the possibility of slightly? if you are lucky - bent conrods where the pistons have contacted the valves as well as of course the piston damage itself.

Car beyond economical repair ? Least damage limitation if I was stuck with it would be to try to find another engine, but of course you would need to renew the cambelt, tensioners and possibly water pump on that one to ensure that one doesn't get blown.

Can only wish you good luck with your decision.

[Vag_Man]

On 18/05/2016 at 11:06 AM, James said:

Oh right I see, any idea how much damage has been caused?

So I've been reading up its valves which for need replacing and to Magnets reply the Conrod in this circumstance isn't or wouldn't be damaged, all depending on what speed was done prior to the snapped cambelt which was no more then 20mph it would be the case of bent valves, head to be skimmed, new waterpump, new timing kit and head gasket kit and obviously will need a professional in to time up the engine and it will be good to go, I've not yet had chance to remove head due to lack of tools but vw and audi specialist have done there checks and say pistons are fine as there's no nasty sounds or noises coming from engine when they manually spin the crankshaft so that's a good sign lol

[Magnet]

I really do admire the "it's nothing much" attitude to this, and I think it's great that the VW and Audi specialists are able to say there isn't anything amiss with the pistons and bottom end by manually spinning the crankshaft ( and one guesses, banging the pistons into the bent valves). Nice. 

You mention 20 mph so it's unlikely that there would be much internal damage. I just wonder if you have thought about - say 2000rpm. ,which equals about 33 revolutions per second. The bottom end of this engine would have continued to have been "driven" by the gearbox even after the belt had snapped. How many seconds would you think the previous owner would have taken to realise something had gone wrong and brake to a halt. However many you would guess it is, just multiply that be 33 and you will have an idea of how many times the pistons came in contact with the valves. Let's say his reactions were fairly good - 10 secs. = over 300 times! - and that is without your specialists cranking it over again! 

I really hope all works out fine for you, and you will be pleased with the end result and the long term service the car will give you.

Good luck.