Timing belt no longer a time Interval requirement?

[DarrenJC]

Hi all

My local Audi dealer phoned me last week (it's usually bad news when they phone you for no reason) and said that it was a courtesy call to inform my that recently, Audi have changed stance on the 5 years or 130k recommendation for a timing belt change and now it is only 130k regardless of years. This is providing it was done at Audi with the correct parts etc.

Has anyone else had this phone call or know anything about this?

Not sure I'd be leaving my car to 200k to get it's next timing belt change even if their recommendations is right lol.

D

[Steve Q]

Oh wow, not heard of that. Don't know if I'd trust it especially when the old schedule was at 5 years. However I must admit my daily ford Kuga is 10 years 🤔

[Itspointless]

I would imagine that a lot of belts sit in store rooms for many years before being put to use. So age isn't really an issue. 

In this day and age they seem to out live timing chains quite well.

[DarrenJC]

Had an ST Ford before this and it was 10 years as well.

Pleasantly surprised when Audi phoned me but I dont think I'd leaving my own much longer than the 5 years either. Not sure why they would phone out of the blue and say this though if it wasn't true 🤷🏽‍♂️

 

[Steve Q]

I know on my A6 2.5tdi it's 8 years. Which has never been a problem.  

[Magnet]

This is illogical to me, and I believe it is engineeringly unsafe, and wouldn’t be for me.

While noting David’s - Itspointless- comments, I’m afraid I would have to counter the view that …’so age isn’t an issue’. It can, and is indeed an issue. 
The ongoing serviceability of a completely unstressed belt stored in a box for say 5 years, cannot be compared with a fitted belt which has been subjected to hundreds of highly stressed stop/ starts every week, sometimes in sub zero temperatures. If (in caps) Audi U.K. and I then guess Audi Global  ( rather than a dealer) are saying there is now only a mileage limit, then how many of us doing short but regular low mileage trips around town etc. would be prepared to chance our engines ,when running on a 20 + year vehicle? 
Darren’s dealer’s phone call is interesting, and I’m not sure whether it was an out-of-the-blue call, or it was as a result of Darren having made a prior enquiry -? 
Audi economics??
Profit is made by the Audi dealer when fitting new belts and VAG make a profit on resale of the belt kits manufactured for them. However, if a belt fails, the potential for revenue is considerably higher where the vehicle is declared beyond economical repair and has to be replaced, or a very expensive engine replacement arranged - potential for far more profit! Now   the Audi Economics makes logical sense - to Audi!! Sorry folks but it still doesn’t to my pocket. 
Additional point to consider - renewing the auxiliary belt -? 
I can see this timing belt scenario becoming an ‘inherited issue’ for buyers in the future, as the baby is passed on as the purchaser’s responsibility. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[DarrenJC]

2 minutes ago, Magnet said:

This is illogical to me, and I believe it is engineeringly unsafe, and wouldn’t be for me.

While noting David’s - Itspointless- comments, I’m afraid I would have to counter the view that …’so age isn’t an issue’. It can, and is indeed an issue. 
The ongoing serviceability of a completely unstressed belt stored in a box for say 5 years, cannot be compared with a fitted belt which has been subjected to hundreds of highly stressed stop/ starts every week, sometimes in sub zero temperatures. If (in caps) Audi U.K. and I then guess Audi Global  ( rather than a dealer) are saying there is now only a mileage limit, then how many of us doing short but regular low mileage trips around town etc. would be prepared to chance our engines ,when running on a 20 + year vehicle? 
Darren’s dealer’s phone call is interesting, and I’m not sure whether it was an out-of-the-blue call, or it was as a result of Darren having made a prior enquiry -? 
Audi economics??
Profit is made by the Audi dealer when fitting new belts and VAG make a profit on resale of the belt kits manufactured for them. However, if a belt fails, the potential for revenue is considerably higher where the vehicle is declared beyond economical repair and has to be replaced, or a very expensive engine replacement arranged - potential for far more profit! Now   the Audi Economics makes logical sense - to Audi!! Sorry folks but it still doesn’t to my pocket. 
Additional point to consider - renewing the auxiliary belt -? 
I can see this timing belt scenario becoming an ‘inherited issue’ for buyers in the future, as the baby is passed on as the purchaser’s responsibility. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

Thank Gareth. No question raised to Audi on my part. I recently bought the car and set up a general service plan with them, set up the Audi app and access to the vehicles service history through the app....then around 2 weeks later, got the courtesy call to say that since my timing belt was done with them at 70k, it's now not due until 200k.

 

I agree with you. I won't be leaving it to chance and waiting until 200k but at the same time I won't be worrying that I have to get it done bang on the 5 year mark either.

D

[Itspointless]

I bought a 12 year old focus several years ago with 50k on the clock original timing belt, sold it to a friend who put another 60k on it over the space of several years. He never had the belt changed. 

He sold it back to me in 2021 cheap, so cheap I give it to my ex girlfriend who needed a car, anyway to cut a long story short she sold it last year with over 120k on the clock and I see it on Facebay a few months later with a suspected snapped belt! 

The car was a 2005 model so the belt lasted well past its use by date and recommended mileage.

I've seen a few manufacturers giving two intervals lately I.e 80k warranty and 120k out of warranty.

Personally I've always done the belt on the cars I care about on mileage alone and not had a belt snap on me yet.

I think someone that uses their car alot is gonna hit the mileage long before the belt is considered out of date and those that don't use the car a lot don't do enough miles for the belt to be that badly degraded in the time frame. 

[Magnet]

Hello Darren,

Many thanks for the extra detail, which gives a clearer understanding - albeit now even more confusing. Cutting to the chase, unsolicited calls from dealers informing owners they don’t need to spend money with them, must be rare. I too certainly wouldn’t be waiting until 200K,  and not taking much licence either on the previous 5 year change period.

Hello David,

I think we can make as many experience claims of belts lasting beyond their recommended change intervals as we can by listening to owners who have ignored change limits and found themselves with wrecked engines. 
I agree with your suggested principle that high mileages covered over long distance trips is much kinder to belts and they can indeed reach mileage limits without issue. Where we differ - and apologies for repeating, but low annual mileage vehicles put much higher stress rates on belts, and you just cannot assume that they are going to last until the high mileage limit. 
Sorry, can’t make it any clearer. 
Kind regards,

Gareth.

[Itspointless]

I understand what you are saying, just trying to say if you have a 7 year old car with 20k on the clock then changing the belt seems pointless.

If it's 7 years old and 10k away from the interval then yea I'd recommend changing it. 

I would always advise that you stick to the manufacturers schedule. Apart from oil changes that seem a bit far between lately.

After a random call from audi I would pop into my local dealer and see if there's any truth in this change.

Normally they will give you a courtesy call informing you a service is due but changes in manufacturers recommendations Normally comes in the form of a letter or email.

[DarrenJC]

To be fair....my owners manual says 133,000 miles and zero mention of years either.

[Magnet]

Sorry Darren - last comment on this:- the belt on a 7 year old car which has covered only 20k will have had a hammering, unless that 20k had been covered in relatively few long trips. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

[Richy76]

I have a 2018 q3 , I just phoned Audi Exeter for a cam belt and water pump price , they have told me in June this year Audi have cancelled the five year and now replaced it with 130000 miles period . 

[Richy76]

Just phoned Audi Exeter for cambelt water pump change , I have a q3 black edition 2018 48000 on the clock , have been told the 5 year is now not required just to do it at 130000 miles

[Magnet]

Hello Ian,

I think there a fair amount of varied debate outlined above that should allow you to make a considered opinion. 
If you continue with the same annual mileage you aren’t going to reach 133K miles until the vehicle is 13 and a half years old. 

We don’t know what your plans are for it in the coming x years, so it would be difficult to offer advice, but if you could share that with us then we should be able to assist with some more opinion. 
In addition, do you intend to entrust the ongoing servicing of this 5 year old car to an Audi main dealer? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Richy76]

I am thinking of keeping it for a while , I had a quote from a specialist £633 , I phoned Audi for a quote didn’t get it all i got was it’s not ready yet till 133000 miles .Audi quoted me a very high price for 2 tyres and a battery , went to quick fit got both for half the price , so may keep it with Audi for cambelt and water pump when I get a price , 

[Magnet]

Thanks Ian, but ‘thinking of keeping it for a while’ doesn’t really give us much to go on in terms of advising on a possible course of action, but……

I would be very surprised if an Audi dealership will be cheaper than the independent specialist - but if does sometimes happen. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Dave262]

For our (2015 ) A3, the myAudi app shows replacement of the camshaft drive belt at 225,308km. Not sure if it has always said this. Our Audi dealer said we need to do it after 5 years, so we had this done in 2020 at significant cost - it's obviously an earner for them. After recently spotting this in the app, I queried this with Audi customer service, and quoting the email reply - "Regarding your query about the camshaft belt renewal interval shown on the myAudi app, the information displayed is accurate. The specified interval of 225,000 km without a time limit aligns with the manufacturer's recommendations for your vehicle model. Audi's maintenance schedules may vary, and it's not uncommon for certain components to have mileage-dependent intervals without a strict time constraint" So there you go.

[Magnet]

Welcome to the Audi Owners Club !

Good to have you onboard.

Many thanks David, yes that is what was already known.

The debate is whether this ‘no age’ limit makes good and safe mechanical sense. 
As you can see, there are owners who are prepared to accept that at face value, and those who question the logic of this deviation. 
I think there is enough opinion within this thread to allow owners to make a decision which they feel suits them, and at the same time gives them an all important peace of mind. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Steve Q]

Just my 2 pence worth, I know I wouldn't be risking it. I appreciate my A6 is older but it's interval is every 8 years. I certainly wouldn't go over that.  

So if it were mine I'd stick to 5 years. Also the £633 tive been quoted is reasonable in my opinion 

[MR.T]

Interesting thread, thanks for all past contributors.

We have a 2019 Q3 but v low mileage at 32k - cannot get any definitive advice from Audi on the timing belt interval - don't want to replace it unnecessarily.

Is it prudent to wait another year or so until it has done 50k?

 

TIA.

[DarrenJC]

I think I'll still be doing mine every 5 years or as close to it as I financially can, purely for my own peace of mind. 

On my Audi app now it even shows up, saying it's to be changed every 225k with no time interval below it.

[Linds]

Thanks for this thread. I am currently having a dilemma. Cam belt change or not? Audi told me it is now 130k no time limit. My car 2018 Q3. I have a reasonable quote from a small independent garage who don't agree with the new 130k rule and didn't  know about it either. They replaced some lose bolts on my cam shaft as I had an oil leal and seem to have tightened the belt - which now makes a noise like a vibrating grumbling noise. Could this be a sign of needing to be replaced? It didn't make that noise before the bolts were changed and my cam belt was slightly more slack before. 

[Magnet]

Thanks for being in touch Linds. 
When you say your small garage tightened the belt, and it now makes a noise - concerns. I’m also intrigued to work out how you actually know the belt is tighter than it was. 
If (in caps) the belt is tighter than it should be, are you happy to entrust the fitting of a new belt and assembly to them? 
Water pump? - if cambelt driven on your engine. Wondered what you propose to do about that. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Linds]

Hi Magnet, Thanks for commenting. I had to drive my car today 70 miles the noise was not apparent ongoing but just when turning on the engine and going slower. I know the belt is tighter because pre garage visit- I took off the casing to see the cam belt - I wiggled it and it was more loose. On hearing the change in sound - rechecked under the casing and the cam belt is definitely tighter. I asked the garage after changing the bolts if my cam belt was OK and they did not say they had done anything to it. The independent garage specialise in audi and use genuine parts. They seem to have a good rep. The water pump is on the opposite side on my 1.4 petrol engine I am told. I am thinking of going back tomorrow to ask them about it. (Noise). 

Edited April 22 by Linds