The change interval comes up regularly on here. The annoying thing is that VAG in U.K. recommends changing the belts at half the mileage and time that they quote for other markets.

I got my 2018 Golf 1.4 non ACT changed last week at my indie. I took the view that even if I left it another couple of years it’s only a one-off job in my ownership. Also the trade might down value if I trade it in in a couple of years with a missing belt change.

My indie also recommended changing the auxiliary belt (what we used to call the fan belt) although I think the official recommendation might be seven years. I got it done anyway.

Just to follow up my post of yesterday. I want to the garage today with my wife’s car and the mechanic was there. I asked him what the belts on my car were like when he took them off. I sssumed he would say they were fine. In fact he said there were signs of perishing and cracking.

That doesn’t mean to say they were structurally about to fail but maybe 5 years isn’t unreasonable after all.

That doesn’t mean to say they were structurally about to fail but maybe 5 years isn’t unreasonable after all.

I think 5yrs is utterly unreasonable. Where is the scientific evidence for significant deterioration of a modern aramid belt after such a short time? If VAG UK is globally alone in advising this, it seems to me a disgraceful example of profiteering from unnecessary work.

The puny unenclosed fan belt on my TR7 which also drives the alternator is still fit for purpose after 43 yrs. Our old Focus OEM cambelt was also still perfectly functional when the car was scrapped at 21yrs and over 160,000 miles. Cheapo cambelt changes run the risk of a good original belt being replaced by an inferior product from goodness knows where and faulty reassembly of the apparatus by a cack-handed mechanic resulting in misalignment timing problems causing reduced power and increased fuel consumption......or worse.

I asked him what the belts on my car were like when he took them off. I sssumed he would say they were fine. In fact he said there were signs of perishing and cracking.

A cynic may think he would say that to make you feel better about the money you spent on getting them changed.

Yes possibly but I am glad I had it done. My using the term “reasonable” in my earlier post was a reference to my decision in my particular circumstances. It wasn’t intended to be an endorsement of VAG belts and policies.

Arguably no real choice in your situation, given that your car still has some market value and it going bang would be a significant loss.

Thats how they get you.