2013 Honda CRV - Cold start grinding > VCT actuator + timing chain repair costs

Maybe this can be informational for anyone dealing with this issue (or will be dealing with this issue). Grinding sound started at around 90k miles and after some reading I decided to just leave it alone. Maybe I could have reduced the current damage as it used to happen only in the cold cold, but over time it happened all the time (first start in the morning). At about 123k miles... car threw up a P0341 code which is a camshaft positioning sensor error. I took it to an independent shop and they diagnosed that I need to replace VCT actuator, timing chain assembly, and valve cover gasket (while the cover was off). Total cost was about $3300. Ouch.

I checked with some local Honda dealerships and cost for labor to just replace VCT was $1300 (labor only) with a VCT actuator part going to cost an extra $500. After a painful experience on the phone with 2 Honda dealerships trying to get these prices I did not bother reaching out to ask about adding timing chain and valve cover gasket.

To conclude - Kind of aggravating that this is my responsibility given that this is a known and expensive issue caused by Honda, but here are some recent repair cost pricing.