Timing chain stretch and injector wear
Attaches to R2AA at engine level · Engine · carried by 2 variants across 2 chassis
Overview
Timing chain stretch and injector wear is a occasional fault recorded against R2AA at engine level, typically from 130–220k km. It shows up as a rattle at cold start from the front of the engine, and separately a rough idle or uneven running as injectors wear. Where it's documented, the repair runs €900–€1,700 (chain kit at an independent; injectors extra, costs dated 2026-07), and it can be checked before you buy. 2 variants across 2 chassis in this database inherit it.
What happens
Symptom. A rattle at cold start from the front of the engine, and separately a rough idle or uneven running as injectors wear.
Cause. The timing chain stretches with age and mileage, and the injectors wear in the way most common-rail diesels of this era do. Neither is universal, and both are well enough recorded that a car with no history should be assumed to need attention.
How to check it
Cold start
Listen at a genuinely cold start for chain rattle, then scan for injector correction values and per-cylinder contribution.
You get one. If the engine is warm when you arrive, come back another day.
Every variant that carries this
| Variant | Chassis | Body | Years | Risk | Good buy | Cost as % of good buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2 MZR-CD R2AA | GH | hatchback | 2009–2012 | R4 | €1,800 | 72% |
| 2.2 MZR-CD R2AA | GH Estate | wagon | 2009–2012 | R4 | €1,900 | 68% |
The last column is the point. The same repair is an inconvenience on one variant and a reason to scrap the car on another. A failure costing a quarter of the vehicle's value changes the purchase decision regardless of how rare it is.