2 hours ago, Stevey Y said:

Hi I have lived in the world of high milage for twenty years and believe me I have never met anyone who changed a cam belt every 3-5k thats not practical, as you previously quoted you have not heard of cam belt breakages in Europe, thats because  we rarely get anyone from Germany posting about this problem, it does happen as frequently over there if you look at their car sites they tend to keep things in house as do we, a prime example when I first bought my Passat the engine of which is fitted to Audis but under a different code, I wanted to find out about the oil pump drive as its a wet belt, absolutely nothing on any British web site, but go on the German sites and we have multiple wrecking around 100k + due to the belt letting go, VAGs official line is its a belt for life, I had mine changed with the cam belt at 80k and whilst my mechanic grumbled about doing it as you have to drop the sump to get at it the first words out of his mouth when I walked in was, you were right and he then produced the old belt that had a couple of teeth missing and was pretty crispy due to being boiled in oil all its life, why not believe Audis information?, because its based on cell testing data which will never replicate real life, the reason the older engines never suffered this was because they used Gates belts which were thicker and better made, they then went over to INA probably because they were cheaper but definitely not as well built, if you look at other OE brands they have used such as Dayco which is now regarded as aftermarket Dayco would still be one of my choices as its built under a Gates patent for their Gator Grip belt which was awesome.

Steve

 

4 minutes ago, kevin8661 said:

Maybe read my post properly. The 3-5k I was referring to was OIL CHANGES. The point being that maybe people don't move in from old habits even as technology improves.

 

6 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

Yes it's sad but true that Audi standards in all stages of making and selling cars have dropped over the last two decades in its efforts to enlarge market share. Audi is still trading on its prestigious reputation from that time, but that can not last as more and more defects come to light.

Absolutely seems that way sadly 

Morning Kevin,

I think it was understood that you were referring to oil changes, and yes technology has moved on. The days of changing oils every 3K miles are well remembered, along with reboring, crank regrindig etc. and yes part exchanging your car for a new one every year. Things have changed and ‘marketing’ has become the key word. Encouraging owners to buy servicing contracts with their PCP whereby the vehicle gets service at c18K or 18 months - whichever comes first, ensures dealers and fleet operators spend as little as possible on servicing and the ‘plan’ becomes lucrative. 
I could well be called old fashioned, but anyone who runs a modern diesel for c18K miles does not have the vehicle’s best interest in mind, when you consider stop/start systems and oil dilution. 
What surprises me is that potential buyers have undue respect for ‘full service history’ where the vehicle may spend half a day in a workshop every 18 months, and get abused for the rest of its time. 
For me, full service history means an oil and filter change at least at 8 to 10k mile intervals. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

20 hours ago, kevin8661 said:

 

Hi my bad with the confusion about oil changes vs cam belt, but I can't believe anyone in their right mind would take the advice of a dealership in good faith, they are just telling you what they think you want to hear especially with Audi who now build overpriced cars that frequently and expensively break just like the rest of the manufacturers, but people blindly follow the myth of bullet proof, what I am saying is if you do your research and take at least some of the advice given on forums like this you may well make your car last longer than most.

Steve.

 

So no surprise, Audi went ahead and changed my cambelt even though I told them the reason it’s with them is the bent valves.
 

Now they confirm the engine is kaputt and looking at £15k to replace which is uneconomical.

Audi Uk were quick to point out it must be something else as the cambelt shouldn’t go at 39k but can’t actually diagnose what this could be? 
 

would changing and starting the engine not have caused more damage to my engine? 
 

They are offering me 2k… in return or potential that I pay £7.500 to change engine although this felt like a carrot being dangled as I’ve already been told that’s uneconomical. 
 

any advise or comments much appreciated thank you particularly anyone who knows how long the cambelt is actually covered for? Is there a despite 140,000k recommendation-3 year rule or otherwise? 

16 minutes ago, Ingolstadt said:

So no surprise, Audi went ahead and changed my cambelt even though I told them the reason it’s with them is the bent valves.
 

Now they confirm the engine is kaputt and looking at £15k to replace which is uneconomical.

Audi Uk were quick to point out it must be something else as the cambelt shouldn’t go at 39k but can’t actually diagnose what this could be? 
 

would changing and starting the engine not have caused more damage to my engine? 
 

They are offering me 2k… in return or potential that I pay £7.500 to change engine although this felt like a carrot being dangled as I’ve already been told that’s uneconomical. 
 

any advise or comments much appreciated thank you particularly anyone who knows how long the cambelt is actually covered for? Is there a despite 140,000k recommendation-3 year rule or otherwise? 

Also Audi UK advise that it states online somewhere the cambelt is only covered for 3 years or 60k however this is not stated in my owners manual. Isn’t this quite a vital bit of information missing from the book? 

Unfortunately Ingrid, unless you can find in the paperwork that came with the car a guarantee covering the cambelt you are fighting a losing battle.

The only recourse I can see is legal action in the courts, but that would be horrendously expensive and unlikely to succeed against the resources of a huge company like Audi.

Sorry that I can not offer much hope. I wish you luck.

1 hour ago, Ingolstadt said:

Also Audi UK advise that it states online somewhere the cambelt is only covered for 3 years or 60k however this is not stated in my owners manual. Isn’t this quite a vital bit of information missing from the book? 

Hi they print millions of owners manuals up front therefore what might have been their recommendation five years ago is still current until they have them reprinted, their new engine will come as a bare block which they will bolt on all the old ancillaries with new gaskets, from a personal point of view I would try and source a second hand engine, fully dressed with the ancillaries it should be about three grand for a good guaranteed unit and probably about a thousand to fit, alternatively sell it as low milage salvage.

Steve.

17 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

Unfortunately Ingrid, unless you can find in the paperwork that came with the car a guarantee covering the cambelt you are fighting a losing battle.

The only recourse I can see is legal action in the courts, but that would be horrendously expensive and unlikely to succeed against the resources of a huge company like Audi.

Sorry that I can not offer much hope. I wish you luck.

Small claims isn’t that bad it’s about £500 so in the scheme of what I’m losing that’s small change. 

17 hours ago, Stevey Y said:

Hi they print millions of owners manuals up front therefore what might have been their recommendation five years ago is still current until they have them reprinted, their new engine will come as a bare block which they will bolt on all the old ancillaries with new gaskets, from a personal point of view I would try and source a second hand engine, fully dressed with the ancillaries it should be about three grand for a good guaranteed unit and probably about a thousand to fit, alternatively sell it as low milage salvage.

Steve.

Thanks Steve just seeing what options are. Appreciate your advice I’ll ask them to clarify what you’ve said as from my perspective I’d have thought they’d be replacing all that was necessary if they’re charging £15k. 

Just now, Ingolstadt said:

Thanks Steve just seeing what options are. Appreciate your advice I’ll ask them to clarify what you’ve said as from my perspective I’d have thought they’d be replacing all that was necessary if they’re charging £15k. 

Also I’ve checked with 3 separate garages /engine specialists and there are for my car and engine no time schedules or mileage restrictions on the cambelt. Sometimes it takes a person to fight back the autonomy to bring about change and justice. So we can all sit here and complain about how awful and unfair things are or we can come together to advocate and fight. 

Thanks Ingrid,

As I understand it, you will have to provide a comprehensive engineer’s report on the damage caused, and more importantly, a full report on the belt, it’s mode of failure, and the precise reason it failed. The specialists who complied the reports, will also have to be present at the hearing to answer any questions. All of this is obviously going to cost a considerable amount of funds - fine if you win, but one heck of a loss if you don’t. As has already been said, Audi legal and technical specialists will have been through this before, and will be well versed in getting under a snakes belly with a top hat on and coming out blameless on the other side - just so you know what you will be up against. 
Before advising further, would you be prepared to let us know the extent of the service history of the vehicle - with dates and mileages and where carried out? 
Regards,

Gareth. 

 

 

analysed 

Hello again Ingrid,

Sorry to contradict 3 specialists, but there is a recommended ‘change at mileage’ limit, but what VAG have done is to remove the time limit and obviously the ‘whichever come first’. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

In case it helps anyone, and as I understand it:-

VAG’s recommendation on timing belts changed in July 2023, to supposedly bring the U.K. in line with the Continent.

Change - remove the time limit (taken as every 5 years)

Current mileage recommendation has been quoted at 180k miles - but I’m doubtful on that - and most likely?? to be in km. - and an inspection at 150k miles - or it’s it Kms 
For what it’s worth, I would not run a timing belt for more than 5 years unless you are prepared to gamble thousands of £s on consequential damage. Justification:- engineeringly averse stop/start systems, low annual mileages, with consequence of vehicle running at less than optimum temperature, more gear changes etc. all putting additional stresses on belts. 
Change auxiliary belt at same time. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

 

 

Hello again Ingrid,

Notice you have replied to another thread with similar issues.

Just wondering if you would be prepared to share its service history as requested earlier, and as the owner of the car on the other thread has posted? 
Regards,

Gareth.