Audi Garage or Independent Dealer - Cambelt change

[A3Owner2022]

Hi all, relatively new to the so forum please let me know if this isn't in the correct place.

I bought an 1.5TFSI Audi A3 last year, and since then the car has reached the 50k / 5 years cambelt change interval. I have gotten a quote from a local dealer for £962, and a quote from an independent garage (somebody my whole family has used for several years on loads of cars) for £627, and I'm really torn who to have it done by.

My main concern is that i have a 2 year warranty on the car, and that warranty states the following:

"What's not covered - ...... 7. Damage resulting from the failure of a timing belt whichhas not been replaced as per the manufacturer’srecommendations (proof required)"

If I have the independent dealer do the job, does this void the warranty? As far as I can find, the only recommendation that Audi UK state is that it is replaced every 5 years or 50,000 miles. I intend to ring them tomorrow and ask, but just wanted some thoughts of other owners on here. Thanks

[swalker]

As far as i am aware, but probably best to check your particular policy, as long as the garage is VAT registered it should be fine, I would get written conformation ( for the warranty, i am sure the garge wont mind) that genuine parts were used.

And is it 50K miles or 5 years in the service book?

[VAG-Abound]

I'd read that as if the existing belt fails after the stated intervals you would struggle to make a claim. Failure of a replacement belt is more likely to be pushed back to whoever fits it - not covered under that warranty.

Looking at it another way there are four outcomes I think:

1. Belt not replaced and no failure: No need to claim
2. Belt replaced and no failure: No need to claim
3. Belt not replaced and fails: Excluded by warranty
4. Belt replaced and fails: Issue lies with whoever fitted it - quality of parts or work

So having it done at an independent doesn't void the warranty, but that warranty would decline to cover the damage anyway.

As per previous post, have you checked that 50k miles is correct in the service book? Seems a bit low.

[Whippy53]

They have that covered under the "Do it when we say so, not when it actually needs doing," clause. In this case they say "Every five years."

[VAG-Abound]

They have that covered under the "Do it when we say so, not when it actually needs doing," clause. In this case they say "Every five years."

Are you saying the car is 5 years old?

[Whippy53]

No, I'm actually saying it's not mileage reliant and VAG will screw you no matter what.

[Crasher]

Last week I had to do quite a lot of Digital Service System inputs on erWin and I noticed a sudden change in the intervals provided by VAG Germany. I serviced a 2016 Q3 2L TDI (EA288) with 120k on it and the jobs to do list showed the cam belt due six years from BUILD date (not registration) or 140k miles which for this particular car is going to work out roughly the same.