80k miles / looking to buy / cambelt?

[Chippie1]

About £1000 of small change
I’m currently running a 2001 A4 into the ground, 16 years since the last timing belt kit renewal, looks fine.

my opinion completely what’s the point in throwing 35k plus at a vehicle and skimping on a Cambelt change for peace of mind.
Let’s not forget going back a year or so 80k or 4 years was the guidance which is what @VanMan48 is currently looking at

 

[DXX]

my opinion completely what’s the point in throwing 35k plus at a vehicle and skimping on a Cambelt change for peace of mind.
Let’s not forget going back a year or so 80k or 4 years was the guidance which is what @VanMan48 is currently looking at

Personal choice I guess. The 4 years interval was complete VWUK BS and was never the service interval in the rest of Europe.
The interval in the UK is now the same as the rest of Europe, I haven’t read any stories from European Forum members about the timing belts that failed before the due mileage.
I’ve read plenty of comments about ‘running under constant tension / elevated temperatures’ but that is what it’s designed to do.
My background is in maintaining submarines, surface ships and other offshore marine infrastructure. If planned maintenance was based on What If then the equipment would never get through commissioning. Mean Time Before Failure is a good tool and there are hundreds of thousands of VW Transporters to run the stat’s on.
It always amazes me that people will quite happily spend £1K on a vehicles maintenance just in case but won’t spend the same on a private medical examination on the basis that ‘they don’t want to know’.
Anyway back on topic - the dealer made a decision not to sell, the sales business is self regulating. A vendor making poor decisions will soon be out of business, if they are well established it’s fair to say they are getting something right.

 

[dubber36]

It always amazes me that people will quite happily spend £1K on a vehicles maintenance just in case but won’t spend the same on a private medical examination on the basis that ‘they don’t want to know’.

The difference there is, if the cam belt fails, it costs you money to fix it. If your heart explodes, it won't cost you a penny.

 

[Chippie1]

Personal choice I guess. The 4 years interval was complete VWUK BS and was never the service interval in the rest of Europe.
The interval in the UK is now the same as the rest of Europe, I haven’t read any stories from European Forum members about the timing belts that failed before the due mileage.
I’ve read plenty of comments about ‘running under constant tension / elevated temperatures’ but that is what it’s designed to do.
My background is in maintaining submarines, surface ships and other offshore marine infrastructure. If planned maintenance was based on What If then the equipment would never get through commissioning. Mean Time Before Failure is a good tool and there are hundreds of thousands of VW Transporters to run the stat’s on.
It always amazes me that people will quite happily spend £1K on a vehicles maintenance just in case but won’t spend the same on a private medical examination on the basis that ‘they don’t want to know’.
Anyway back on topic - the dealer made a decision not to sell, the sales business is self regulating. A vendor making poor decisions will soon be out of business, if they are well established it’s fair to say they are getting something right.

I’m fully aware of the Cambelt topic and how it differed to the rest of Europe. For me personally I maintain my vehicles regularly with regular sometimes unnecessary services etc but was the way I was brought up with my dad a mad car enthusiast. I’ve had 3 transporters and have never paid anywhere near a £1000 for a Cambelt and have always had water pump done at same time and still not close to a £1000 I would probably say up to £750 for a decent job. People willing to spend £1000’s on making them look pretty with wheels and suspension etc and fitting them out as campers etc that’s what I mean by small change in reality

 

[VanMan48]

I’m fully aware of the Cambelt topic and how it differed to the rest of Europe. For me personally I maintain my vehicles regularly with regular sometimes unnecessary services etc but was the way I was brought up with my dad a mad car enthusiast. I’ve had 3 transporters and have never paid anywhere near a £1000 for a Cambelt and have always had water pump done at same time and still not close to a £1000 I would probably say up to £750 for a decent job. People willing to spend £1000’s on making them look pretty with wheels and suspension etc and fitting them out as campers etc that’s what I mean by small change in reality

So if you were in my shoes would you expect a 80k mileage van to have that done or to be done as part of the purchase? Just working out if I was asking the earth or not!

 

[darkman884]

Its been doing 16000 miles a year , so never off the road really.
HOW has it done that mileage, stop start driving / delivery van style, get a belt on it.
If you like the van that much ,get it and change it later , dont sweat it.
would be at your expense i guess.
Linear motorway miles , i wouldn't be too bothered about it.
If i liked something "that" much i would have it and do something about it later.
Why are you so keen ?
Is it very very competively priced

 

[VanMan48]

Its been doing 16000 miles a year , so never off the road really.
HOW has it done that mileage, stop start driving / delivery van style, get a belt on it.
If you like the van that much ,get it and change it later , dont sweat it.
would be at your expense i guess.
Linear motorway miles , i wouldn't be too bothered about it.
If i liked something "that" much i would have it and do something about it later.
Why are you so keen ?
Is it very very competively priced

Its £35k. I'm casually looking for a LWB kombi in grey / black, and there's not loads about basically unless you go to £50k for low miles. Hence my interest. I don't know how its been used though.

 

[Chippie1]

So if you were in my shoes would you expect a 80k mileage van to have that done or to be done as part of the purchase? Just working out if I was asking the earth or not!

None of my vans have made it to 80k without a change as they’ve always reached the 4 or so years first.
It’s 5 years old now so I would be changing it.
Are you sure it hasn’t been done? What’s the service history like?
Is it a panel van? 5 year old with 80k on seems steep?

 

[VanMan48]

None of my vans have made it to 80k without a change as they’ve always reached the 4 or so years first.
It’s 5 years old now so I would be changing it.
Are you sure it hasn’t been done? What’s the service history like?
Is it a panel van? 5 year old with 80k on seems steep?

Not been done. Has a great service history and been looked after. its a highline kombi. twin sliders but no reverse cam or heated seats.

 

[Sasquatch]

Just working out if I was asking the earth or not!

Not at all. Its a big money used vehicle and it's not an unreasonable request, particularly is the cost to them will be minimal in their own workshop.

You've not even bought it yet and they've already given you an inkling of how cooperative theyll likely be if you find a fault post-purchase.