I'm looking to buy a Golf gti 25th anni and I saw one today. Talking with the seller (private individual) and then the garage mechanic where the car was actually displayed, i had a wtf moment. The car has 200.000km on the clock and the timing belt and water pump were changed at 120.000. I knew they have to be changed every 90.000km, so I told the guy, but he told me that's not true. So I asked the mechanic and he opened AutoData in front of me and showed me (under the correct car/engine) that it said the first change should be at 90k, then check every 30k and must change then every 180.000km. WTF?! Is this true? Then the mechanic told me I'd have to change it next at 270.000km (90+180), but surely that can't be true. Or can it? :wonder:

Is then AutoData wrong? I mean, I'm going to do the belt+water pump anyway after/if I buy it, but if they HAVE to be changed, I could knock probably something off the asking price.

Edited 20 July, 201114 yr by jmf

The general rule for cambelt change for most cars is every 60k miles. I have owned 3 mkiv 1.8T Golf's including a Tornado Red Anniversary no1763. On speaking to 3 different VW main dealers about cambelt change I was given 3 different answers i.e. 50k,60k,&80k. Oddly Skoda recommend every 40k, which I think is to cover themselves against the known issues of the VAG plastic impellor water pump fitted to VAG 1.8T's. It's also a good way of making more money!!! Most people change the water pump for the metal type when doing a cambelt, which isn't so prone to failure, & as long as that has been done 60k should be safe.

Plus there a complete pig to get to because of engine mount in way

I heard someone on here saying that it is better to go for the upgraded plastic impeller because the metal one is prone to seizure. Any truth in this one?

I heard someone on here saying that it is better to go for the upgraded plastic impeller because the metal one is prone to seizure. Any truth in this one?

Its not the impeller that seizes, its the bearings that supposrt the shaft or they have that much play in them that the water pump shaft becomes off centre brakeing the vains on the impeller.

Both the plastic and metal types can have bearing fail but usally its only the plastic one that the impeller gets stripped on!

But i did have a friend that had a car with a metal impellered water pump and those bearing went and the water pump shaft came off centre and because it was a metal one it actually locked the whole timming belt and then snapped it!!

Needless to say he was lucky with a new timing belt kit, new pump and new gasket and complete set of valves!!!!

Just need to keep an eye on it and have it changed very cam belt