When did you change your timing belt?

[ohsnap!]

Long time lurker, first time poster!

I've just picked up a 2002 Golf GTI after years of wanting one. After some researching around I'm a little confused as to when I *should* change the timing belt. It seems to be a fairly good spread and going by users on 'tex they say they had a change at 80k miles (128k km) and then in the service manual it says it should be replace at 180k km, and then again there are users saying it should be replaced at 90k km. So when exactly did you change yours?

The car has 106k on the clock and I'm hoping to get some more love out of it before I pick up an ECS kit and switch it out.

Oh and as a side question, what's your average L/100km? I'm getting roughly 9-11L/100km with a good mix of highway and 'to-the-store' driving.

[dylan8]

Welcome!

I did mine at 90k i think...
I get a average of 6lt-7lt/100km, but im in a 2lt slow

[YellowDieselGolf]

I did my first belt at 90k. I recently enquired at the dealership and they advised that VW suggests its required every 105k.

[clark]

Mine were done at 90,000 and 180,000 as recommended by my VW specialist.

[JustCruisn]

Mine were done at 90,000 and 180,000 as recommended by my VW specialist.

x2
90k or 4 years.
My water pump failed before the 90k so it was done then at around 80k. Then the pump failed again at 130k so the belt was done again too.

For fuel economy I get 9.7 l/100km, mixed urban highway. My wife gets slightly better.

[johnw]

4 yrs up on my belt forbthe 1.8T but only done 40000km, I sometimes wonder if belts do perish that quickly with time. Better safe than sorry I guess, the last one was changed 60k and 5 yrs from new (prev owner)

I get about 8.5-9 l/100km with the 1.8T, chipped and driving half half highway/shops.

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[bullsta]

7 years for mine (80k).I,m surprised with the fuel figures.I live northern beaches Sydney and drive to work in City each day and average 7/8 ltr per hundred and just chipped which has slightly improved it.
I do leave early though so traffic fairly minimal.

[Jmac]

4 yrs up on my belt forbthe 1.8T but only done 40000km, I sometimes wonder if belts do perish that quickly with time. Better safe than sorry I guess, the last one was changed 60k and 5 yrs from new (prev owner)

I get about 8.5-9 l/100km with the 1.8T, chipped and driving half half highway/shops.

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Your handbook will read mileage and not time for your belt, but for our conditions here time is introduced. Unless its obvious , cracked, glazed or contaminated it is then the unknown, so better safe than sorry cant agree more
Cheers
Jmac

[buzuki]

Vw has just recently updated their service schedules and included was ALL vw timing belts will now be done at 7 years or 105,00klm.

Personally id be inspecting them at 75-90k or 4 years on.

[Umai Naa!!]

Did my old 2L Generation at 100,000klms as a kit (Belt, idler, tensioner) along with a new water pump (Rooted).

All our customers get theirs done at 105,000klms or 4 years (now 8 years), as per the VW service schedule.