Cambelt + Water Pump Replacement - Official guidance

My van just sailed past its 4th birthday and with only 18,000 miles on the clock, there's no way I'm changing the cam belt.

Now I get to wonder, (as a fit and healthy 51 year old), whether the odds of my cambelt snapping over the next 12 months are greater than me dying of Covid19.
I’ve got +8 years and my vans got +1 year and +40K miles, I’ll be the canary if you like.
 
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I had seen STC Services in Nailsworth recommended on this forum and as they are fairly local to me, had them replace my cambelt, water pump and aux belt for a total of £411.00 including VAT about 2 months ago
Probably overkill as mine's a 4 year old T6 with only 19,000 miles on it but I don't beleive in tempting fate and we intend to tour the UK and Europe as soon as covid allows
Hope this helps
 
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I had seen STC Services in Nailsworth recommended on this forum and as they are fairly local to me, had them replace my cambelt, water pump and aux belt for a total of £411.00 including VAT about 2 months ago
For the record - mine's a 4 year old T6 with only 19,000 miles.
Hope this helps
Did they use VW parts, or pattern?
 
It’s a bit like top trumps I just had my quote from Cardiff VW £728.22. Beat that what a joke!


Cambelt and Waterpump replacement- £576 inc vat
Alternator belt and tensioner- £224.22
However, if you have both of these repairs carried out at the same time then there will be a decrease in the price due to the two repairs slightly overlapping when being carried out.
The cost if you have the two repairs carried out together is- £728.22 inc vat.
 
Had the van serviced today at a main dealer as part of a service plan and they only went and replaced the cam belt as part of a “campaign“.

I asked if they did the water pump at the same time as was told no as it’s more work but the focus was on the belt manufacturer, unless there are obvious signs the water pump needs doing. But this would be chargable.

”So when do I need to get the water pump done?” “Not until the next service sir” “But that’s not for another 2 years” “You’ll be fine sir.”

He assured me there’s fleet vans out there running longer with high mileage before their done ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Only thing they did get me for was a split egr hose ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Van is a 66 plate on 25,500miles BTW.
 
Had the van serviced today at a main dealer as part of a service plan and they only went and replaced the cam belt as part of a “campaign“.

I asked if they did the water pump at the same time as was told no as it’s more work but the focus was on the belt manufacturer, unless there are obvious signs the water pump needs doing. But this would be chargable.

”So when do I need to get the water pump done?” “Not until the next service sir” “But that’s not for another 2 years” “You’ll be fine sir.”

He assured me there’s fleet vans out there running longer with high mileage before their done ‍♂

Only thing they did get me for was a split egr hose ‍♂

Van is a 66 plate on 25,500miles BTW.
Didn’t they contact you before changing the belt?
 
No, we’ll sort off. They said back in December when I booked it in as it was 4 years old it should have the CB and WP done as a matter of routine. After reading on here I decline as want to be sure and to get a cheaper quote.

This is only it’s second service, and technically it should have only been an inspection today but as it was 2 years ago it was last done I figured what they hey.
 
No, we’ll sort off. They said back in December when I booked it in as it was 4 years old it should have the CB and WP done as a matter of routine. After reading on here I decline as want to be sure and to get a cheaper quote.

This is only it’s second service, and technically it should have only been an inspection today but as it was 2 years ago it was last done I figured what they hey.
A bit disappointing they didn’t warn you so you could get the pump done as well.
 
Yeah it was a bit, given they gave me the hard sell 4 year old do you want to risk it bit back in December.
TBH I’d been budgeting to get it done else where next month but happy to leave it now the belts done.
 
I bought our bus last week, and managed to adopt a Service Plan with the purchase of the vehicle- which has been a very pleasant surprise. Only thing is, it's gone in for a service today and of course, it's a 16 plate with 45k on the clock, so i didn't realise that the pump and belt would need replacing at 4yrs.... i thought it was just around the 80k mileage mark. Damn it!!
 
I bought our bus last week, and managed to adopt a Service Plan with the purchase of the vehicle- which has been a very pleasant surprise. Only thing is, it's gone in for a service today and of course, it's a 16 plate with 45k on the clock, so i didn't realise that the pump and belt would need replacing at 4yrs.... i thought it was just around the 80k mileage mark. Damn it!!
Yes, but if you purchased the same T6 in Germany, did the same mileage in similar style and climate, guess what?
The cambelt needs changing at 5 years old, not 4.
Funny, that!
Mine is booked in tomorrow for cambelt, water pump and aux belt, at 5 years old and with 49K miles on it.
 
Thanks - i was just working my way back through this thread (forgive me for jumping the gun a little) and soaking up the information here. I guess I'm a little annoyed that a) I didn't do more detailed research on the 4yr replacement advice and b) the dealer didn't bring this up, despite appearing very helpful on other points. It's my own fault at the end of the day, but i thought i had a bit more mileage to play with first.
 
Thanks - i was just working my way back through this thread (forgive me for jumping the gun a little) and soaking up the information here. I guess I'm a little annoyed that a) I didn't do more detailed research on the 4yr replacement advice and b) the dealer didn't bring this up, despite appearing very helpful on other points. It's my own fault at the end of the day, but i thought i had a bit more mileage to play with first.
I find the main dealers are very helpful with where to find the coffee machine and newspapers, that’s about it.
 
Yes, but if you purchased the same T6 in Germany, did the same mileage in similar style and climate, guess what?
The cambelt needs changing at 5 years old, not 4.
Funny, that!
Mine is booked in tomorrow for cambelt, water pump and aux belt, at 5 years old and with 49K miles on it.
update: Gates timing belt and auxiliary belt, new water pump, £440 all in, at my local independent garage, happy with that.
 
Just to clear up some confusion around vag group belts and timing both the fuel pump pulley and the cam pulley are adjustable to get the timing spot on, some lazy mechanics won’t correctly adjust this or simply don’t understand what the purpose is, not only are they there to be able to get the timing spot on but also the tension. So yes it is possible for the engine to run better after a new correctly fitted belt as the timing can go out slightly as the belts naturally wear and stretch,
I just drove home from the garage and thought the van seemed a bit more lively than usual, a bit more free revving, and I haven't driven anything else since dropping the van off this morning. Anyway, not scientific, just my perception.
 
just booking mine in at a local specialist - 49300 and just 4 years old - £529 seems ok for cam belt, water pump and aux belt - £300 cheaper than Cardiff VW!
 
I just drove home from the garage and thought the van seemed a bit more lively than usual, a bit more free revving, and I haven't driven anything else since dropping the van off this morning. Anyway, not scientific, just my perception.
Funny you mention that, I noticed that mine was a bit more spritely after I had the aux belt and tensioner replaced recently. Exactly as you say there is nothing scientific to it but I guessed that my squeaky tensioner was sapping a small amount of power which has now gone away.
 
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