A
angconcerts
Thanks
TripleBee
And unless I am wrong, your 2.5 TDI has no belt or chain. Just a couple of gears.
And a new canvas will be about € 300 - 500?
There is a post about someone changing the canvas himself.
And a new canvas will be about € 300 - 500?
There is a post about someone changing the canvas himself.
studioTUNGSTEN
Lifetime VIP Member
Agreed. Asked around you get every different answers for cambelt's life in the uk. I personally believe 4-5years limit is only for the marketing purposes. My experienced VW&Audi specialist insisted it should last 105,000miles. If I am the one in the million who get cambelt snapped before that, I could smile for that. ;-)
A
angconcerts
Thanks
studioTUNGSTEN
Lifetime VIP Member
Its totally up to you, it is more likely failed water pump comes first so I can bear at least 5 year for the job as my 2015 SE mileage is only 30,000 at the moment.
calikev
Administrator
Admin/Founder
Can you get me one of those €300-€500 roof bellows ?
TripleBee
Well, I would need to buy it myself, and then send you? You'd better get one yourself in the UK at VW.
I don't know the exact prices, and they might have gone up in the last years.
I had mine done recently at an independent garage done with approved parts he kept all the parts he exchanged and gave them back to me...Cam belt was perfect. Waterpump and all rollers had no wear. Also changed the ancillary belt at the same time. Total £320 inc vat.
I just don’t understand how VW UK can tell us we need to change the cam belt in 4 years or 100,000 miles when in Belgium they do not put any date restriction. I’ve just had mine done 19000 miles... All the parts taken off were absolutely perfect with NO wear.... And there are people that say oh but what if..... Life is full of what ifs......Is it that VW UK think they can screw more out of us gullible Brits...
H
Hotel California
Super Poster
VIP Member
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Lots to read regarding cambelt change if you do a search
The Dutch dealer (official VW) i use also says 100.000km no time limit .
I do think VW goes out from the fact a Cali will be doing a lot of km/miles a year , but i think half of them does not a lot and sits parked up to much....
The Dutch dealer (official VW) i use also says 100.000km no time limit .
I do think VW goes out from the fact a Cali will be doing a lot of km/miles a year , but i think half of them does not a lot and sits parked up to much....
My California has done 19,000 in just over 4 years...If it had been a T5 delivery van it would have probably have done 100,000 miles.. And yes you are right MOST California’s only do small mileages every year ... yes some do more.
rod_vw
Gone bigger.
Top Poster
VIP Member
Being only too aware of the results of a broken cam belt I would rather err on the cautious side and get mine changed around the 100,000 miles or four years. I went for genuine parts (belt kit and water pump) fitted by an independent workshop. That way I have the full two year guarantee on the parts although it works out more expensive.
Consequences of a broken cam belt is often a new engine!!!
Consequences of a broken cam belt is often a new engine!!!
Obviously 100,000 miles is too much but me thinks VW are more in it for what the in it for them nots what’s in it for you....For the same reason If your van sits in the drive way and you use its very rarely the same 4 year rule applies..... Yes rubber can perish not being used but water pumps and bearings don’t wear out by lack of use....
studioTUNGSTEN
Lifetime VIP Member
If the cambelt replaced poorly, it will break in 5 min. Thats why I keep using original parts but never mind if it is a VW dealer or not. Any experienced garage(VW specialists) will do better than a VW commercial van centre. I still do not beliebe how VW leave California to the commercial sector of their service chain. I have dents & a scratched base when servicing my swivel seat, they(Cordwallis group) have no experience in handling California. Badly treated always.
Bellcrew
Top Poster
VIP Member
Perhaps when the belt is changed at four years we should require the dealer to obtain the replacement from Holland or Belgium, they are patently superior in every way.
H
Hotel California
Super Poster
VIP Member
Lifetime VIP Member
@Bellcrew , don't know if your reaction is sarcastic or not ( which with both of them i'm ok with btw. ) but this is what they tell us here . Seems there are some strange diffrences between VW UK and VW on the mainland Europe .
Also on the roof repair (diffrent thread i know) very diffrent ways on thesame repair here and in the UK .
) but this is what they tell us here . Seems there are some strange diffrences between VW UK and VW on the mainland Europe .Also on the roof repair (diffrent thread i know) very diffrent ways on thesame repair here and in the UK .
Bellcrew
Top Poster
VIP Member
The comments from the continent are most welcome to fully understand these inexplicable differences of rejection/replacement criteria, some on here are understandably reluctant to question their dealers recommendations but it is a puzzle.@Bellcrew , don't know if your reaction is sarcastic or not ( which with both of them i'm ok with btw.
Also on the roof repair (diffrent thread i know) very diffrent ways on thesame repair here and in the UK .
TripleBee
The cambelt of my VW Golf 4 needed changing every 90 000 km. Later on with the pumpe deuse, it was 120 000 km. Now it is 210 000 km for my common rail California. The new cambelts are reinforced with glass fibre. So almost lifetime use. They could make lifetime belts, but then they loose extra incom for parts and work.
This means, in the UK I'd have my 3rd cambelt already as mine is getting 10 years old now, and would be looking at a 4th?
My waterpump is still dry, and the engine is still running. Also in Belgium there are low and high mileage vans, so this is no reason.
I will have mine changed in about 5 years when I reach the 210 000 km mark.
This means, in the UK I'd have my 3rd cambelt already as mine is getting 10 years old now, and would be looking at a 4th?
My waterpump is still dry, and the engine is still running. Also in Belgium there are low and high mileage vans, so this is no reason.
I will have mine changed in about 5 years when I reach the 210 000 km mark.
westfalia
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