07 Golf Edition 30 Cambelt

[Sqwilliams]

Hi All

I've just picked up the keys to my 07 silver Edition 30 and I'm absolutely over the moon! 

One minor problem - the car is 2007 and has 38000 on the clock and as far as I can work out it hasn't had a cambelt changed yet. I did ask the sales guy before buying and he showed me the service manual which said it should be changed at 120K! Not being massively knowledgeable about this I took his word for it, however having read posts about cambelt change on this forum it looks as though it's due at 40K or 4 years, which means it's well overdue!!! The car has a full service history - last service in July just gone - I would have thought the garage that did the last service would have recommended it, but no sign!  Slightly worried - and advice you guys can offer would be much appreciated!

Great to join the community! 

 

[MC71]

Hi there and welcome! 

The Camebelt (and Waterpump, may as well change that at the same time) need changing at 4 years or 60k, whichever comes first. So in your case it's overdue so get it done ASAP.

I take it that you have had your new car a matter of days? Did you buy your car from a VW main dealer or a car trader? Might be worth going back to them and Showing them this, copied from VW main website. Also posted a link for you. Tells you whats what.

Link
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/fixed-price-servicing

Photo


Hope that helps!

Oh and get yourself over to the "New Members Intro" say hello and post some pics of your beauty!

 

[Sqwilliams]

thanks for this - much appreciated! When you say ASAP - do you think it I've got a bit of time to play with or is there a major risk of it going pop any time? I don't want to take any unecessary risks but I'm all spent up having spent all my cash on the car! I'm really annoyed with myself that I didn't think of this before!!! 

I will get some pics up soon.

[Baz300]

I would go back to the dealer you bought it from and ask them to pay some of the cost towards the cam belt since they have mislead you about when it was due

When I bought my gti I had similar issues with dealers telling me the belt wasn't due when it was I ended up buying private as if they were dis honest about the belt what else are they hiding? And the VW dealers didn't have anything in my budget at the time

[MC71]

 

thanks for this - much appreciated! When you say ASAP - do you think it I've got a bit of time to play with or is there a major risk of it going pop any time? I don't want to take any unecessary risks but I'm all spent up having spent all my cash on the car! I'm really annoyed with myself that I didn't think of this before!!! 

I will get some pics up soon.

How longs a piece of string!

 IMO yes it needs doing. It could go tomorrow or never, that's the conundrum peeps have with changing it or when to change it s best todo what VW recommend. VW are not trying to make money out of you by saying 4 years or 60k so that you get it done with them as you could just as easily take your car to an Independant VW specialised to get the work done there,  they are saying it because within normal tolerances these are the parameters within which the Camebelt will last.

As above, take it back to the dealer and (politely, works best as you want something out of them) explan that it sholud have been done. No idea if you have any come back, hopefully someone will be along to advice.

 

[Horatio]

if it was A VW dealer you should go back kick up a fuss. I was in a similar situation when I had my Ed30. I asked on numerous occasions before picking up the car.  I had a visual health check at another VW dealer who recommended I go back and get it done. I ended up raising a complaint with VW customer services and the dealership ended up footing the bill for 630 quid.  I think the Ed30 requires a different cambelt kit so is slightly more expensive than the normal gti.

[Sqwilliams]

thanks for the advice everyone.

Unfortunately I bought it from an independent. I called him up this morning and explained the situation - he's offered to get it done at trade - £220 (belt, water pump and tensioners), which sounds reasonable? Not ideal but it's definately a valuable lesson!

[Horatio]

Also ask for the engine stretch bolts to be replaced and ask to see the old bolts as well. don't let them wash the car either, if I were you.

[MC71]

thanks for the advice everyone.

Unfortunately I bought it from an independent. I called him up this morning and explained the situation - he's offered to get it done at trade - £220 (belt, water pump and tensioners), which sounds reasonable? Not ideal but it's definately a valuable lesson!

Glad it is getting sorted for you. Always a bit of a downer when you buy a new toy to find all is not as it should be. Look forward to those pics, get em up already!!

 

[Tortaruga]

£220 (belt, water pump and tensioners)

That is exactly what I paid to have mine done. I bought from an independent 4 months ago. Same age car as yours. I told him the belt needed to be replaced, he didn't think it was due but I made sure it was done. Gave me complete peace of mind.

 Get it done at that price, it's a no brainer.

Ps: welcome to the forum and let's see your lovely gti

[maxload]

Always better to be safe than sorry. As the cost of a new cambelt is insignificant compared to the cost of a new engine if it breaks 

[Edition_30_P]

thanks for the advice everyone.

Unfortunately I bought it from an independent. I called him up this morning and explained the situation - he's offered to get it done at trade - £220 (belt, water pump and tensioners), which sounds reasonable? Not ideal but it's definately a valuable lesson!

Make sure that price is foe genuine parts too! 

[Tinytim]

VW are not trying to make money out of you by saying 4 years or 60k so that you get it done with them as you could just as easily take your car to an Independant VW specialised to get the work done there,  they are saying it because within normal tolerances these are the parameters within which the Camebelt will last.

IMO they are trying to make more money by reducing the interval time.

Pretty sure S3 and Audi 2.0t is 5 years.

I agree with the 60,000 mile bit but not the 4 years.
I also believe it used to be longer on golfs but VW changed it.

How does that work, if a car was new and it's interval was 5 clearly it's designed to last at least 5.

[MC71]

^^^^ yes, pretty sure it used to be 5 years. Have no idea if they moved the goalposts due to greed or if the parts deteriorate considerably between 4 and 5 years whether being used or not.

 

[GrayMK5GTI]

Mine is booked in at Statllers on thursday to have the cam belt, water pump and engine mount stretch bolt changed (which should ALWAYS be replaced when cam belt done - although VW don't do this  ).

my car is also a 57reg and has done 54,000 miles so is also "overdue". I find it poor that other manufacturers (ie. Ford) can give replacement intervals of 100k miles or 10years when VW can't even guarantee a cam belt for more than 4 years.

I'm sure it's just VW trying to screw us out of more money early on as how many 100k mile vehicles would be taken to a main dealer for a cam belt change? Not many I bet. 

Graeme