Timing Belt - Once and for All

[dubbed]

I'm making this post in the hope of helping myself as well as other MKIV owners about something we should all be aware of.

So if you own or are planning on buying a MKIV you would have done your research (I hope) and know that the timing belt is prone to failure i.e. snapping causing severe engine damage, hence the belt should be replaced at 80,000-100,000kms. It's probably the biggest service in the life of a MKIV, so whilst doing this job the waterpump should also be replaced with one that has a metal impellor as the OEM part has a plastic impellor. Along with this it's a good time to replace the tensioner because the pulley is susceptible to seizing.

I've had one quote so far from a VW specialist in Melbourne for about $1,500 including oil/filter change. I've had another quote for just labour from someone who does it at home for just under a third of that cost (includes changing thermostat, bleeding the coolant system etc).

Now, for those of you who have done this, can you please list how much you paid, what you got done, and where you got it done? It'd be good to get first-hand experiences in this area as there doesn't seem to be any definitive answer.

PS: Sorry if any of my information is wrong. I am also assuming that this issue effects the 1.6l, 1.8l turbo, and 2.0l (3.2l V6 uses a timing chain so it shouldn't need replacing unless something goes wrong or it's racked up lots of kms - thanks qsilvera ).

Update: I just spoke to AUDI Spares (very friendly by the way) who quoted ~$900 for the timing belt, water pump, coolant etc. The guy I spoke to said that the water pumps need replacing approxmiately every four years so having a metal impellor isn't as important like people make it out to be... Although I've heard the opposite. They'd cover the cost in the event of a failure anyway.

[qsilverza]

3.2 L V6 and 2.8 L use Timing chains, dont really need to be replaced until about.... never But the american guys have been talking anywhere from 120,000 Miles to 200,000 +.

[spa]

I'm quite interested in this too, now that I'm >80000 :|

[Mr Messy]

Should the T-belt etc be done earlier if chipped?

Also are the recommended service intervals okay?
I considered a 306 GTI6 for a while but they are sooooooooo much trouble with belt snapping etc and the Peugeot intervals aren't good enough.

[ope126]

Answer...

Ring your local "friendly" VW service department, they will tell you 4 years or 60,000kms.

or

Refer to your owners handbook.
Mine owners manual includes a service schedule supplement, that states that it should be replaced 4 years or 60,000kms.

Mine was done at 63,000kms at Camberwell Volkswagen.
Price around $1500. (incl. water pump)

I trust this helps!

[Jmac]

Always has been 4 yrs or 90k mate and i wouldnt do it any later than that. Not sure where the 60k came from unless you have a sticker in your book, some do . No hesitation do the water pump with metal impellar, tensioner (a given) Belt and 90% of the time the hydraulic dampner, now thats for the 5V Agu and the likes for the 1.6 all the above apart from the dampner. Diesel up to 2000 60k and after 2000 90k or 4yrs which ever comes 1st.
Cheers
Jmac(VW/Audi/Porsche Tech)

[Mrk_Mickey]

3.2 L V6 and 2.8 L use Timing chains, dont really need to be replaced until about.... never But the american guys have been talking anywhere from 120,000 Miles to 200,000 +.

Just for the record, a timing chain will Definitely need to be replaced at some point. My V6 golf has done 175,000km and my timing chain rails/guides were snapped when i went to replace them. VW said that the chains should last the life of the car. Chains, perhaps. Not the plastic guides.

[blutopless2]

am getting our nbc serviced next week.
its 5 years old and done 60,000k's. asked about the timing belt change and was told about the water pump impeller problem etc... so will have belt, pump, tensioner etc all changed. will be interesting to see what it costs.

[blue_reality]

$680 for timing belt and water pump and full service at a Euro Car specialist in Sydney. A VW specific service place said $750 just for timing belt, pump and service on top of that so we were stoked with $680. (That also included new spark plugs etc)

That's for a MK4 GTI. We were very happy with that price.

[dubbed]

Geeeeze that's an excellent price. It's almost worth the trip up

I've also found somewhere in my service book that the 'toothed belt' was replaced at 60 odd thousand kms in '05. Is this the timing belt or accessories/serpentine belt? If it's the timing belt I might leave it until the start of next year.