Audi 1.8 SE (96 N reg), Cambelt or Cam Chain?

[roosevelt]

Urgent advise pls, looking at above car tomorrow, owner not keyed up bout cars, says cambelt change not in service history - it has done 128K. Does this engine have a belt or chain?? What's the lifespan of each?
Ta

[targarama]

I think its a cambelt - to the best of my knowledge the newer 1.8T etc. are an enhancement of this original 1.8 engine. So get it changed asap. Factory say 80k or 110k (depending on what car the engine is in). Some go at 60-65k (hence why many 1.8T owners change them around 60k).

[dain bramaged]

it has both a cam belt to turn the one cam shaft and then on the back of the cylinder head it has a chain to turn the opposite camshaft this chain is not normally changed as a service point of veiw but can become noisey this chain is hydralicly tensioned and the belt should be changed at 60 and then at 120 k (every 60k)

[monkeyhanger]

I'd say 60K (miles) or 4 years max if the 1.8T is anything to go by.