1.0 TSI timing belt interval and cost

[u664541]

Good morning all.

Have a question regarding the timing belt on my 2016 1.0 TSI.

I understand that at launch the belt was suggested by VW to last the last of the engine but have since said 5 years/160k for replacement.
Mine's at 6 years/40k. Called VW today and was quoted £669 inc VAT to replace, probably a few quid more than I was expecting but I do live in 1985 when it comes to pricing.

Question is, is that a fair price or can anyone suggest a VW specialist in the Surrey/SE area that might be cheaper?

Thanks in advance.
Mark.

[Mikeso51]

u664541,

Regarding your statement "I understand that at launch the belt was suggested by VW to last the last of the engine but have since said 5 years/160k for replacement." Just to clarify, VAG Germany, the manufacturer, have never changed their advice.

When The EA211 engine was launched, VAG Germany (the manufacturer) were unambiguous about the life of the cam belt. In their description of the engine they said:

“Take the example of overhead camshafts (DOHC): the camshafts are not driven by chain here, rather by a single-stage, low-friction toothed belt design with a 20 mm wide belt and load-reducing profiled belt wheels. Thanks to its high-end material specification, this toothed belt's service life reliably spans the entire life of the vehicle.”

The cam belt change recommendation still given by VAG Germany, i.e. no time limit and 133k mileage limit, Is consistent with this.

The only European subsidiary who doesn’t follow this recommendation is VAG (UK).

So one might reasonably ask where VAG(UK) gets a 5 year belt change interval from? As far as I am aware they have never provided any credible technical justification, and it seems likely that it is a hangover from earlier engines. I do however recall that when they were pressed very hard on this a while back by an AudiSport forum member (some Audis use the same EA211 engine) they reluctantly backtracked and said that a belt change at 5 years was not mandatory. It was acceptable, they said, to simply check the belt condition after 5 years (and annually thereafter), and only change it “if necessary”. Despite this their printed information continues to be ambiguous, stating “check and change”, and dealers still insist a change Is mandatory.

So it's your choice which advice you follow.

And by the way, £699 sounds a high price for a replacement.

Mike

[u664541]

Thanks for that Mike.

Plenty of umms and arrs in there.

Paraphrasing you somewhat with a "pays your money takes your choice". Having experienced a cam belt snapping on M25 years ago (raining, in the days before widespread mobile phones) I may err on the side of caution I get it done sooner rather than later.
Would like to think a recommended independent garage could beat the £669 figure!

[RUM4MO]

I agree with the posting that Mikeso51 made.

These belts started off as being a 4 years ??K miles service item, then after a timing "kit" re-hash it moved onto 5 years ??K miles.

The official workshop manual defines the cam belt on at least the EA211 range of engines as not being a service item, check after Xyears/YK miles and annually after that and replace when any wear becomes apparent.

My wife has an August 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI 16V and so another EA211 family of engine type, so as we intend to keep that car until it is just over 13 years old, I plan to get that belt replaced at around 7.5 years point which will equate to roughly 50K miles - and use a proper VW Group Indie to carry out that task.

I've run a 2002 9N VW Polo 1.4 16V and got its cam belt replaced at around the 4.5 year point twice, and sold it on at 13 years and 105K miles. My older daughter had a late 2009 SEAT Ibiza 1.4 16V and it got its cam belt replaced at 5 year intervals twice and then unfortunately she sold it on soon after that.

It is easy enough to check the condition of the cam belt in your VW Polo 1.0TSI, you just need to remove the top cover and examine the belt over one revolution on the engine/belt.

[Mikeso51]

As RUM4MO says, the belt inspection process is very straightforward. You can find the official procedure in the thread at

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/4 ... nspection/

This is the SKODA information, but the engine is exactly the same EA211 vag unit.

My own situation is that I have two well-maintained cars with this engine, one with 17k miles, the other with 26k miles. I checked the belts on both at the end of last year, at the 5year anniversary, and both were pristine and just like new. I usually keep my cars for at least 10 years, and while I will be checking the belts every year, I don’t expect they will actually need changing before then. I will, however, probably have them changed by my trusted Indy at around 8 years, mainly so I can sell the cars on with “recent cam belt change”.

[u664541]

Thanks @Mikeso51 @RUM4MO for the replies and info.

I'll take a look the Skoda inspection link to check the current condition.

[RUM4MO]

Just in case that you didn't know, all these engines are built in Skoda engine plants in CZ.