I know that the recommended mileage for a cambelt change on a V6 TDi is 80k but my car is just past the 6 years old and the mileage is only 47k. Is there a 6 year recommendation for change or can I wait a bit longer?

I don't want to spend up to £500 on a cambelt unless I have to but on the other hand, I don't want bent valves and a knackered engine either.

Recommendations appreciated and approximate costs too if you've had one done recently.

J

Open the belt cover, look at both belts, if they have no damage, look like nice continuous strip, no chaffing etc, then the belts are OK. Check tensioner indicators if they line up, misalignment towards "too loose" indicates that the belt is stretched.

If you have access to VCDS/VAG-COM, check basic injection timing, if it is in allowed range, it is another confirmation that belts are OK.

However, you might want to also inspect (and replace) V-belts, and the airco belt tensioner, and spray zinc on airco clutch while at it. Corrossion and dirt are biggest problem there, after a few salty winters the tensioner and airco clutch were full of rust, and the airco V-belt looked really tired. Cost little to replace, not much effort either other than bringing the front to service position and removing viscous fan.

Alll these checks would take under 15min for knowledgeable person, replacement of V-belts takes under 1hr, mostly getting access to them.

If you start getting coolant loss and it is not radiator, hoses etc., you might want replace belt and water pump then. Otherwise you should be OK with just an inspection every year or so.

My Superb's belt looked OK but with some signs of wear at 73k, water pump had the same play in bearings as the new one and was not leaking so I still use original one (6 years, 102k and counting).

Edited 28 March, 201214 yr by dieselV6

Diesel V6 makes some good points.

I did my timing belt and water pump almost exactly a year ago at 5 years and 50,000 miles, with a lot of help from a very knowledgable friend. Our conclusions were that everything was in good condition and didn't need doing at that early mileage.

If you ask VW / Skoda, they will tell you that the service interval is for 4 years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first, but that 4 years is across the entire range of cars, from small high revving petrol engines to our larger, slower V6 lumps.

I still believe that age has little effect on the condition of the belts. Obviously sunlight will degrade them and exposure to fluid will do the same, but in the dry, dark conditions under the covers .... ?

Inspection is the best bet. Look for the condition of the lettering on outside of the belt, the suppleness of the belt, signs of any cracking around the teeth, tension etc.  

It's a big job .... took us all day and the (trade) cost of the genuine VW bits and water pump came to about £200 inc VAT.