I have a 30k miles MY04 vRS, which last week went in for a 40k mile service (the big one...) a break fluid change and despite the bill already standing at £400 I thought I should be a good boy and get the timing belt done as recommended.

They recommended that the water pump be changed, so this was also done - total bill ~£650, although being a main stealer they wouldn't put a non OEM one in with the metal impeller.

I had to go back the day after for something and commented to the technician who happened to be in the service area, why it now warmed up so quickly, his response was because of the new water pump.

In response to my confused look, he went off and came back with my old water pump, which only had ~ 60% of the plastic impeller still attached. Some of the remaining 40% was rattling around in the bottom of the box, he said the rest would have disintegrated in the engine........

So, always stick to the recommended change intervals, I had wondered that as it had only covered 30k miles whether to bother with the timing belt change, but went along with the 4yr recommendation and am glad I did.

The car gets driven daily as it was intended...rapidly....so I hate to think of the ££££'s it would have cost had it gone bang.

really need to actually get my belt done atm. guys ready to do it just need to pull my finger out.

had mine in for the 40k service not so long ago, however my water pump was solid with all impellers and the belt was fine. Still glad I did that... something that I was beginning to lose sleep about and now that it's done the worries gone...

Mines on 36K and coming up to 4 year mark. Just loking around for prices etc for te big service and timing belt change. Can't believe how much they cost! I had a Y reg Ibiza cupra 1.8T before and the cam belt on that was done at 50 k (10k early) which was around 5yrs.

Think better safe than sorry though! Just hope brakes dont need doing as well! Does anyone know of any decent gargages in Kent area?