I have recently purchased an is200 51 plate. I was told by the garage where i got the car that it has a timing chain. Would anyone be able to tell me if this is correct or not. thanks.

no mate its a belt

No mate its a belt not a chain...it has to be changed at 60,000 miles..

or 6 years, which means for you the belt should have been changed already or is due now.
Get a reputable garage to examine the belts condition, and if not already done, get it
done asap. £1,200+ rebuild costs aren't worth the risk IMO

The Timing Belt should be changed along with the Tensioner & Idler Pulley, plus have the water pump
& bypass hose inspected as to replace them later means taking the timing belt off.

Timing belt approx £30
Tensioner approx £47
Idler Pulley approx £47

Water Pump approx £100

Hope this information helps mate

Are you sure the cambelt runs off the waterpump? Cant see anything that says that on the autodata mate.

It doesn't run off the water pump, no. It's underneath. So to get to the cam belt you have to take off the drive belts for the water pump, alternator, air con. Then it's a trivial job to replace the water pump when you've got all that lot off.

I just had exactly the same thing done last week (changed water pump at same time as cam belt). It was as well I did though, the water pump was leaking from below (where I hadn't noticed).

Have a look at both pages of the diagram here

That shows you where the cam belt is. If you look at the thread here about how to change the cam belt, then in the second picture in the original posting there, you can see the drive belts. The cam belt is under the black plastic cover in the photos which is just above the drive belts.

I didn't say it did

Hello & Welcome to LOC fellow westcoaster

if your in any doubt about the condition or if you havent any proof that the belt.tensioner.guidewheel.has been replaced get it changed.if it fails like has already been mentioned it will cost lots.plus you maybe miles away from home and would give ya right headache.