Can anyone out give me a definitive answer to the question:-

At what mileage should I have the cam belt changed on this engine?

I have owned VWs (2 x GL5 Passats and a GTX Scirocco) for 20 years, and have recently purchased '99 Octavia hatchback. I am surprised that there is no recommended schedule for the cambelt in my Skoda service booklet, and the local agents offer differing opinions. One Plymouth area agent suggested that the expected charge would be

The latest service sheets state that all petrol cambelts should be checked at 60,000 miles and then 20,000 miles after that.

My arguement is how do you tell by looking at a cambelt if it needs changing? Personally I wouldnt sign a job card to say its OK, so they get changed at 60k.

I have the same model and recently checked with my dealer when arranging a service. Their reply was that they check the belt each service and change when it needs it. As you say, there is no set mileage for the work. A local VAG independent quoted me