VW cambelt - still regarded as vital to change at 5yrs?
Discussion
Turns out VW UK are still insisting on 5yr belt changes regardless of low mileage.
I emailed VW Germany and surprisingly someone answered and said they're good for 210,000kms and they only suggest earlier change in dusty environments.
Wondered if there's a general opinion amongst owners faced with this - do people just get them done?
I emailed VW Germany and surprisingly someone answered and said they're good for 210,000kms and they only suggest earlier change in dusty environments.
Wondered if there's a general opinion amongst owners faced with this - do people just get them done?
Sheepshanks said:
I emailed VW Germany and surprisingly someone answered and said they're good for 210,000kms and they only suggest earlier change in dusty environments.
No? Then I'd change it.
Perhaps I'd gamble on a cheap old car but anything else, no way.
Sheepshanks said:
Turns out VW UK are still insisting on 5yr belt changes regardless of low mileage.
I emailed VW Germany and surprisingly someone answered and said they're good for 210,000kms and they only suggest earlier change in dusty environments.
Wondered if there's a general opinion amongst owners faced with this - do people just get them done?
I'm pretty sure in other countries it's up to 120,000 miles for Cambelt. For most TDI's in the UK they say 4 to 5 years and 60k to 80k.I emailed VW Germany and surprisingly someone answered and said they're good for 210,000kms and they only suggest earlier change in dusty environments.
Wondered if there's a general opinion amongst owners faced with this - do people just get them done?
Certainly I would be more concerned for Water pump failure than cambelt failure, depends on the value of the car. If it's a reasonably high mileage car but in good condition and worth more than £5k I'd probably do it, if there's no record of it being done.
If it was £2000 then I'd just crack on.
For the record the Cambelt and water pump in my daily was done around 5 years ago and around 60k. I'm not ever going to be replacing it, unless it fails.
This would be the car's first belt change - it's a 5yr old Tiguan, with 25K miles.
The annoying thing is these latest engines - it's the EA288 diesel, but I think the same applies to the petrol version - were stated in various articles as having 'lifetime' belts when they were introduced.
If it needs doing then it needs doing, but it feels like a scam / complete over-reaction by VW UK. It's also a job not without risks - it's not unusual to read of failures not long after they've been changed.
I've kept the VW extended warranty going on the car as the cost was reasonable and its emissions stuff, DSG and Haldex terrify me, so no doubt they'd not be impressed by a belt failure, even though such jobs are not part of the car's service schedule.
The annoying thing is these latest engines - it's the EA288 diesel, but I think the same applies to the petrol version - were stated in various articles as having 'lifetime' belts when they were introduced.
If it needs doing then it needs doing, but it feels like a scam / complete over-reaction by VW UK. It's also a job not without risks - it's not unusual to read of failures not long after they've been changed.
I've kept the VW extended warranty going on the car as the cost was reasonable and its emissions stuff, DSG and Haldex terrify me, so no doubt they'd not be impressed by a belt failure, even though such jobs are not part of the car's service schedule.
stevemcs said:
We changed one last week on a 1.6tdi like yours, it had covered 16k but had hit the time limit. It was cracking between the teeth. Water pumps leak and fail too. I wouldn't risk it. Its around a £400 job for pump and belt kit fitted.
Thanks. To be honest I was expecting it to be dearer as the I understood the electronically controlled pump on these was quite expensive. VW have a fixed price of £549. Indie we've used before is saying £440 "all in" but they've quoted the 5yr service price ex-VAT, so that £440 could really be over £500. Your comment is interesting as the Indie said VW's interval is super cautious and he wouldn't do it yet. So now have a dilemma of asking him to do something he doesn't really want to.
Sheepshanks said:
This would be the car's first belt change - it's a 5yr old Tiguan, with 25K miles.
The annoying thing is these latest engines - it's the EA288 diesel, but I think the same applies to the petrol version - were stated in various articles as having 'lifetime' belts when they were introduced.
If it needs doing then it needs doing, but it feels like a scam / complete over-reaction by VW UK. It's also a job not without risks - it's not unusual to read of failures not long after they've been changed.
I've kept the VW extended warranty going on the car as the cost was reasonable and its emissions stuff, DSG and Haldex terrify me, so no doubt they'd not be impressed by a belt failure, even though such jobs are not part of the car's service schedule.
If you have an extended warranty and the service guide says it needs to be done ……… sorry sir, you didn't service it correctly. I wouldn't take the chance. The annoying thing is these latest engines - it's the EA288 diesel, but I think the same applies to the petrol version - were stated in various articles as having 'lifetime' belts when they were introduced.
If it needs doing then it needs doing, but it feels like a scam / complete over-reaction by VW UK. It's also a job not without risks - it's not unusual to read of failures not long after they've been changed.
I've kept the VW extended warranty going on the car as the cost was reasonable and its emissions stuff, DSG and Haldex terrify me, so no doubt they'd not be impressed by a belt failure, even though such jobs are not part of the car's service schedule.
StevenB said:
If you have an extended warranty and the service guide says it needs to be done ……… sorry sir, you didn't service it correctly. I wouldn't take the chance.
I really woudn't fancy getting into that, but it's an annoying point with VW servicing that the schedule is pretty basic - oil, plugs and filters. Everything else is regarded as optional - get a 3yr service package and they won't change the brake fluid unless you pay. You get things like the dealer telling you in their best serious voice that the car is due a 'mandatory' air conditioning service at 2yrs.xjay1337 said:
Shop around. You can find it done for around 300 all in. 400 is too much imo.
Depends, some of the cambelt kits are £100 plus Vat, some are £150 plus VAT taking your time its 3-4 hours from start to finish so at an indi thats £180 - £240 in labour alone, £300 is too cheap. We have also seen a Mk7 where it looks like the tensioner had been replaced at some point in its life - it was on 80k and less than 4 years old, looked like when it was put back together they had some how managed to get the belt to sit on the edge of the tensioner until the cambelt cover rubbed its way through and it when bang.
Granted most belts look ok when they come off and VAG seem to over cautious when it comes to schedules. Personally I wouldn't risk it, belt wise Gates or INA are good quality.
stevemcs said:
Depends, some of the cambelt kits are £100 plus Vat, some are £150 plus VAT taking your time its 3-4 hours from start to finish so at an indi thats £180 - £240 in labour alone, £300 is too cheap.
Does the kit include the pump? I understand the pump on the EA288 diesel is a lot dearer than the basic ones.stevemcs said:
Depends, some of the cambelt kits are £100 plus Vat, some are £150 plus VAT taking your time its 3-4 hours from start to finish so at an indi thats £180 - £240 in labour alone, £300 is too cheap.
We have also seen a Mk7 where it looks like the tensioner had been replaced at some point in its life - it was on 80k and less than 4 years old, looked like when it was put back together they had some how managed to get the belt to sit on the edge of the tensioner until the cambelt cover rubbed its way through and it when bang.
Granted most belts look ok when they come off and VAG seem to over cautious when it comes to schedules. Personally I wouldn't risk it, belt wise Gates or INA are good quality.
Gates belt failed on my friends car. He was fully forged running 500hp in a Golf Mk5 gti with 4wd.We have also seen a Mk7 where it looks like the tensioner had been replaced at some point in its life - it was on 80k and less than 4 years old, looked like when it was put back together they had some how managed to get the belt to sit on the edge of the tensioner until the cambelt cover rubbed its way through and it when bang.
Granted most belts look ok when they come off and VAG seem to over cautious when it comes to schedules. Personally I wouldn't risk it, belt wise Gates or INA are good quality.
Sheepshanks said:
Jimboka said:
My 6 year old Skoda Superb diesel...
Do you know if that's the earlier EA189 or the later EA288 engine?I'm a little concerned my indie hasn't priced in the more expensive water pump on the later one.
Mine is the older body shape if that is an indication ?
Also it had the cheat emissions software
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 23 July 12:15
Sheepshanks said:
Jimboka said:
My 6 year old Skoda Superb diesel...
Do you know if that's the earlier EA189 or the later EA288 engine?I'm a little concerned my indie hasn't priced in the more expensive water pump on the later one.
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