Does my 2005 Audi A4 require a cam belt change at 40,000 miles?
I have run an Audi A4 TDI SE (multitronic gearbox) for five years since new. It is a second car and has a fairly gentle life. It is only used for journeys of more than 20 miles, usually on motorways at a speed of about 65mph. It averages 49mpg and has covered 40,000 miles. It has always been serviced by Audi main dealers. My dealer now advises that I change the cam belt for £360, since the car is now five years old. The normal mileage to change the belt is 70,000. Do you think that I would be taking an undue risk by driving on for two more years, say 15,000 miles, without changing the belt? I am aware of the damage that would be caused if it broke.
It's standard Audi edict to change timing belts every four years or 40,000 miles. This came from the fact that 1.4 and 1.6 16v engines were throwing off their belts at young ages and low mileages because the plastic/nylon idler pulleys were failing. VAG and its dealers seem to have turned a disaster into an opportunity here.
Answered by Honest John on
