boring cambelt question

[therams]

the missus has her beetle in for a MOT today

vw main dealer calls and says cambelt service has not been done, would we like to do it? note they say the service has not been done, rather than cambelt needs changing

whats the consensus on on this? beetle has 33k on it and is 5yrs old. i guess cambelt is expensive if it goes, but how likely is it on a little used car to go pop?

[jcelee]

Should have been done at 4 years old and I understand is potentially more likely to break on a little used car. Also best to change the water pump at the same time (and tensioners too although this should be standard practice).

[AdrianR]

They do break, no-one really can say when or exactly why so change intervals are all down to your attitude to risk. Obviously it is in manufacturer/dealers interest to recommend as many changes as possible as they get more $$$ and less complaints (not none) when they break and bend half your valves.

I've owned 2 Golfs for total of about 13 years and have done belt changes at 60K, all the belts that have come off have looked fine and good for 000's more.

If you plan to sell it ever you will have to get it changed, or take an equivalent drop in value to transfer the risk to the buyer.

Phone around and see if what they are quoting is reasonable as special offers do crop up from time to time.

AdrianR

[Tame Technician]

Its due at 5 years regardless of mileage. or 75k miles if that comes first.

Its about £350 to have the belt change, and about £3500 to have the engine rebuilt it if brakes.

[Martin_Bpool]

Tame Technician said:

Its due at 5 years regardless of mileage. or 75k miles if that comes first.

Its about £350 to have the belt change, and about £3500 to have the engine rebuilt it if brakes.

Can I just ask, is that the schedule for any newish Vag ?
(sorry to hi jack the thread, just curious for my 2006 jetta 2.0 tdi.
Thanks.

[Tame Technician]

Yep, same for almost everything, definatly the same for 2.0TDI's

[therams]

thanks for info tame tech. looks like i'll have to get it done soon then

main dealer says £423 inc VAT, its a 1.9tdi version of beetle. i guess that price is towards the higher end of what i could get it done for, but would prefer main dealer to indy

[GR33NIE]

I've got a Polo GT TDI and my local main dealer told me 4yrs or 60K but it's actually 5yrs / 60K

Car had only done 33K at the time so I was hardly going to get it done then!