The BS 5 year timing belt interval is officially dead

[Dr G]

This is an excerpt from a document recently issued by the VW UK and shared on the dealer portal:



Whilst the factory guidance has never stated 5 years (or certainly not for a very long time) it was pushed in the UK (cynically as a profit maker) quite heavily and posted on repeat in every owners forum.

It goes on to say:



So there you go. No more getting fleeced for early changes.

[Dr G]

AI1601 said:

If only we had waited a month or so when getting the cambelt changed on the wife's Leon 1.4 TSI. Feel like we've been scammed of £540!

Was it done post 4th July?



If so commence moaning at dealer!

[Dr G]

Terzo123 said:

Prior to this, the european intervals for these engines was double the UK recommendation. I never understood why the difference.

I've gone on about this for years, they're not even double. The most common belt schedule is 140,000 miles. Not 5 years. Not any number of years. The workshop manual has always been very clear about this, but for some reason the UK arm decided to endorse their franchise operators stroking the cash cow instead.

[Dr G]

They have and they haven't. The factory guidance hasn't changed in as long as I can remember. As above, workshop manual has never stated a 5 year interval.

Edited by Dr G on Thursday 21st September 16:58

[Dr G]

GVK said:

Whats changed though? It's not like they are going to fit some wonderful belt that will last over 5 years.

That's exactly the case, yes. The 5 year interval was not the manufacturer recommendation, it was a money grab from VW in the UK.

[Dr G]

POIDH said:

How will this be communicated to those outside of VAG dealer network?

I use a good independent who it still adamant that it is 5 years and needs 'proof' from VAG before he 'risks' customer cars and repuatation.

Exactly the same way it always has been. The 5 year "guidance" was never communicated to anyone outside of the dealer network. The data on Erwin/Elsa remains correct.

[Dr G]

POIDH said:

Will VAG produce a list of which cars this covers, rather than 'speak to your local main stealer'?

All service schedules (maintenance tables) are on Erwin, and vehicle specific. In practice most are quite similar.

[Dr G]

Erwin is the Volkswagen group workshop database. Service, repairs, maintenance, recalls...

It's where the manufacturer publishes data for all workshops, franchise or independent.

The controversy on timing belt intervals came about from VW UK deciding to offer different guidance to the manufacturer.

[Dr G]

sagarich said:

Just booked my MY17 Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI for annual service and mot at trusted indy.

They didn't mention cam belt change, currently on 94k. I was googling intervals and this thread popped up. Does this new guidance apply to my 2.0 tdi?

It's not really new guidance, in that the factory interval was always 140k miles.

...but yes, the manufacturer stipulates a 140k interval for your car.