Cam belt wisdom sought

[hoylanj]

Hi all.

Just booked the CC 2.0 manual 140 diesel in for it's 54k service after nearly 4 years. Cost is £169 which I guess is ok, but still just a glorified oil change I suppose.

Anyway chap mentioned it's due a cambelt change at 4 years or 120k miles at a cost of £419. Seems a tad too precautionary to be replacing cambelts after 54k so has anyone got any views or experience on such things. I know life is a risk and the thing could snap tomorrow but I'm inclined to leave it until at least 80k. Or am I bing a div?

Thoughts welcome from the colelctive experience of VW diesel ownership

Yours humbly

Shadow CC

[Guest 2]

Personally any car that I have owned has got its belts done at 4 years or 60k religiously.

Remember the belt is rubber so it perishes and becomes weaker over time.

It's cheaper doing it now than forking out for a new engine if the worst happens and it snaps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Brycie]

I'd be very nervous if it got to 80k without a cambelt change. Some cars need changing after 40k so your case isn't that bad. I'd get it done for peace of mind & like Chris said, so I knew I had another guaranteed 60k miles without the belt going.

[martin1810]

What you do is up to you but the belt doesn't have an age/time limit according to VW Germany. They say distance only and 80k miles is fine. I never change mine by time, just miles but that's me.

BKC, BKP ,BMA, BMP, BLS, BVE BMR, BUZ, BWV, BXE	Up to 2006 - Every 120,000 km /75,000 miles
BKC, BKP ,BMA,BMP, BLS, BVE BMR, BUZ, BWV, BXE	After 2007 - Every 150,000 km/ 94,000 miles

[zollaf]

yes, you are being a div not getting it done, or you could be the vwaf guinea pig to see how long they will last before snapping.

[Stas]

I don't think it's worth running the risk... at the end of the day, should something go wrong, VW would just turn around and say that you should have serviced it as per their schedule.. mine is coming up to 4 years in october and I have 69k on the clock so far - my belt, water pump, etc will be getting changed!

[FastEddieVW]

Do you have the older PD engine in yours? Mine has no cam belt, it's a chain.... (11 plate CR TDi 170)

[Stas]

Do you have the older PD engine in yours? Mine has no cam belt, it's a chain.... (11 plate CR TDi 170)

Engine code CBAB 140bhp has common rail injection and is driven by a belt. Perhaps they changed this in the later models? Mine is an 08 reg. A chain would be nice!

[martin1810]

Do you have the older PD engine in yours? Mine has no cam belt, it's a chain.... (11 plate CR TDi 170)

What tdi engine has a chain? CBAA, CBAB, CBBB AND CBDC all use belts.

[Teflon]

What you do is up to you but the belt doesn't have an age/time limit according to VW Germany. They say distance only and 80k miles is fine. I never change mine by time, just miles but that's me.

BKC, BKP ,BMA, BMP, BLS, BVE BMR, BUZ, BWV, BXE	Up to 2006 - Every 120,000 km /75,000 miles
BKC, BKP ,BMA,BMP, BLS, BVE BMR, BUZ, BWV, BXE	After 2007 - Every 150,000 km/ 94,000 miles

Thanks for pointing out what (I humbly believe) is the motor industry's biggest con. Humble apologies to anyone who makes a living in that sphere.

My Passat has just hit 23k and 4 years old, but I've had the flyer from the dealer telling me I need the cam belt done and they will happily relieve me of £419 for the job. That, by the way is a big jump up on the price quoted for my Golf last year (at 12k) or the wife's car (at a mere 9.8k).

In Germany and the USA there is no time limit, just mileage. Maybe they fit UK cars with inferior belts.

I'm no motor professional, but I have experienced the dreaded snapped belt and a wrecked engine on my MG Montego, so I'm not unaware of the implications. But I'm happy to take the risk, if there really is one, for a few more miles before I chuck money at all three of them.

If I was up at 54k I might be thinking a bit more seriously ...................