A local indy gave me a price of $39.00 for an 850 timing belt. Is Conti a supplier of OEM belts to Volvo?
Any comments on Conti belts is appreciated.

Howdy pardner,
Well you asked for it.
Memorize this: "Stick with Conti (Continental)"
The following is the website to derive what you need to know. Locate Conti over the Volvo Parts counter or through any other supplier of Conti.
Merry Christmas
Ride em Cowboy



http://www.contitech.de/ct/contitech/themen/produkte/antriebsriemen/kfz_erstausruestung/kfz_erstausruestung_e.html

How does anyone here know that? Where's proof of that statement?
I just looked at an OEM Volvo belt for an 850 and all it says (besides Volvo) is "made in Germany", no manufacturers name whatsoever.

Just curious.

conti is the OEM supplier of serpentine belts for volvos, so I would assume they're are also the supplier of the timing belt.

If you feel unconfortable with the conti, then get the volvo one, BUT

I've read here that even volvo timing belts have failed with less than 50K miles, so nothing in life is 100%..


--
'92 740, '98 v70 John, Tampa Bay

For something so important as a timing belt, I wouldn't even consider anything else but OEM.

Volvo OEM is the only choice IMHO !!

Why on earth would you even consider a substitute- heck, I paid less for the oem part when I did mine a year ago.

Thanks. I'm not really thinking of trying to get by on the cheap, but some company supplies the belts to Volvo. I just wondered if it was Conti.
I got Volvo prices of $47.28, and $56.12. My local one being the more expensive.

Well I think it's a legitimate question even if you can't get a straight answer. Some people seem to think that even if it's the same belt it will wear better if you pay more for it, or perhaps that you'll somehow get more peace of mind knowing that you paid more for it. If you find the answer please let us know - at least I'll be interested.

IF it ever breaks, valves hit pistons and a typical repair bill at a dealer can run about $3000+
Not really worth price shopping over. Even if you buy cheaper online, don't forget that S&H charges will apply.

No, NOT same as OEM Volvo belt and the Volvo belt costs about the same. It's your car but I'd only use OEM timing belts for any engine. If the other one doesn't last, things get very costly fast.