among other components, my mechanic priced out a kit for the timing belt and 2 pulleys:

Continental

Continental® TB329K1 - Honda Accord 2012-2013 ContiTech? Conti Synchrobelt? Timing Belt Component Kit

What do you guys think of continental belt? The kit will run $140 including 13% tax (Ontario, Canada).

If they get the TB and 2 pulleys from the dealer, it'll be (114+58+126)+13% tax = 336.74....big difference

Continental says it meets OEM specs. Your thoughts? Confidence in other brands?

Thanks,

 

it's my personal opinion to stick with OEM because it's OEM. I pay for peace of mind and reliability.

 

2006 ACURA TL 3.2L V6 Engine : Timing Belt Component Kit Auto Parts (link)

take a look at rock auto as well. I just recently bought and installed the Gates kit.


Also, I never liked carid.
it just seems as if they push EVERYTHING on that site, from everything from foods to toilets.(joking, but trying to prove a point) I rather get products from a dedicated repair website like rockauto.com

 

that link is just an example, it's part number TB329K1. I'm not actually getting it from CarID.

My mechanic is getting it, I just asked which kit use. I'll let them buy the part, give them the business and a fair markup. I'm not going to bring parts in on my own.

And after exchange rate and shipping, it's really not worth buying most parts from the US....poor Canadians, eh

this is more about...what's your confidence in Continental kits? (btw, i'm not sure who manufactured the parts, i think continental makes its own belts, but even then, could be from the same factory as mitsuboshi or whoever supplies to Acura)

 

The OEM belt isn't that expensive given the lifetime it has, I'd normally stick with OEM personally. But Contitech belts are OEM on the BMW's I have so I wouldn't have a problem with that brand either. I just put new belts on my M5 in the spring and used Contitech, and used them because they were the OEM manufacturer. Just cheaper than getting the belt that has BMW AND Contitech stamped on it.

 

Good question OP. They are probably fine. I don't recall reading about any forum member using the Continental parts to date.

We do know that the Gates/Aisin kits have been proven time and again by members on this forum.

You could be a pioneer and "take one for the team" to see how the Continental parts hold up

 

Continental is a great brand for tires. Not sure if the same can be said for timing belts

 

i've been reading up and contitech seems to be used for OEM for a number of european cars, like BMW, as mordor110 suggested. rated to perform like OEM, so i think i'm all right. the difference is about $200 for me to get TB and 2 pulleys from dealer vs. contitech TB kit. yah, not too much considering the life span, but i probably won't keep the car for another 7 years...

After 13% tax, this service will run me about 925 for the TB, 2 pulleys, tensioner, and water pump. that would be 1125 if i went with honda TB and pulleys.

trying to raise a family here, so want to save where i can. i feel like that $200 is the cost of the honda sticker on the packaging, not for a better product. it's not like i'm buying some no-name TB kit off of ebay

if my engine explodes, i'll give continental a thumbs down.