When to change a timing belt on Octavia vRS TDi

[woofy]

I keep forgetting that my cousin is an Audi/VW tech as well, should have asked him as I would have got a straight answer. The dealer has always been saying its an inspection at 60k but reckon to get to inspect it they may as well replace it at an extra cost of $1200 over the already big $800 service at 60k/4 yrs....so will ask them why.

[Diesel_vert]

Of course it's a popular figure. It's the correct figure for our market. It's on the Australian Service Check-sheets for VW, Audi and Skoda, and those check-sheets override everything else, as they're specific to our market.

Haha, well that's settled then.

I keep forgetting that my cousin is an Audi/VW tech as well, should have asked him as I would have got a straight answer. The dealer has always been saying its an inspection at 60k but reckon to get to inspect it they may as well replace it at an extra cost of $1200 over the already big $800 service at 60k/4 yrs....so will ask them why.

Yeah, might as well - it's 'only' $1200. You'll do anything for your car, right?

Of course, upon inspection, if the belt shows obvious signs of wear and tears, then there's nothing wrong with replacing it earlier than specified.

But just replacing it at 60 000 km regardless of the belt's condition is a blatant money grab, considering the Australian interval (105 000 km) is already nearly half that of the European interval (180 000 km).

So it's quite disappointing (to say the very least) that they're telling their customers to get their belts changed at 60 000 km, especially since it may not be needed, and at great cost to us.

[Umai Naa!!]

I'll tell you what, if one of our technicians tried that, they'd be torn a new one.

There's a difference between being thorough, and being greedy.

[woofy]

This is a joint Audi/Skoda dealership that I've seen ream P platers with S3s in servicing without blinking an eye. One guy I saw even had to get his mum to pick him up (as they wouldn't let him have his car back until paid) and go to the bank to make a loan to pay a normal service. I do see a disproportionate about of young guys getting S3s there though, so don't feel too sorry if they don't think too much about what they are getting into.

Reality seems to have left their building a long time ago, but they assume they can treat Skoda customers the same, admitedly I did get an Audi as the courtesy car last time but would have been happy with the usual Octy or Scout I've had before.

---------- Post added at 10:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------

Had a chat with my source, apparently Audi held onto the 4yr thing longer than vw and Skoda but have now gone 7 yrs. having said that they still would recommend 4yrs for city cars including a water pump change.

After cursing having the belt rather than the change he told me a very interesting bit of info about the current engine used. Umai Naa have you got any comments about that current engine?

[wfdTamar]

Was at the dealer today - confirmed, 7 years/105,000 km (at least for the diesel, not sure about petrol).

[gldgti]

hehe this is still going on..... its all written in your service schedule (in the folder in the glovebox that has all your other car documents in it probably...

150,000 (atleast for PD engines)

[woofy]

Yeah except what's in mine never matched what the dealer said and they have revised it at least three times since by my count.

[pwcar]

My vRS TDI (CR) had its 75,000 km service recently and so far no-one has mentioned inspecting the timing belt.

[woofy]

Who did the service?

[pwcar]

New place in Doncaster, looked like they were mainly a Saab dealer.
Not pleased with them:
- did something that stopped drivers side window washer working
- stated they'd added washer fluid, but only plain water comes out
- didn't fix errartic temp from climate control
- didn't fix creak/clunk from front sub-frame or suspension
- didn't even try and fix wind noise around rear drivers side window

I reckon they are on a par with the mob down the Nepean Hwy, they also didn't fix the climate control or creak/clunk issue and messed up the fuel filter sealing and made it leak diesel and stink the car out. Add that to Bayford Preston making a huge set of scratches down the drivers side and all my Skoda dealer experiences have been sub par.