Timing Belt Service D2 S8
 

Hello, looking for advice on this, I'm no 100% sure if I'm being overly paranoid or not!

Timing belt on my D2 S8 was last done 40k, 5 1/2 years ago. I have it in my head that it needs done again, but... A quick gander at the service book reckons it's an 80k interval between timing belt changes.... Which means I have many, many miles before it needs done. It's the age of the belt that I'm worried about but the service book doesn't seem concerned with age!

What say ye people of the forum?!

I've seen 7 years quoted, 10 in some places and anything from 70,000 to 100,000 miles. How many miles currently?

Did mine soon after I bought it (3 years ago now) when it was already well over 10 years since manufacture and over 70,000 miles. No evidence of any prior work and the garage said it was all in good condition.

So I wouldn't bother yet.

I know its the age and mileage of the belt but whats the total mileage of the car?
Were ALL the relevant idlers/tensioners changed for OEM or equivalent (e.g. INI) when the belt was done. When I last changed mine I found that the previous change included some pulleys which were unidentifiable and one which was probably original i.e. had never been changed. Also, was the belt a quality belt (OEM or equivalent)? Some garages do not always fit "Audi only parts" as they claim.

So the last place to do it were 'CamSpec' a crowd down near London Village which I believe are reputable. Was done at 36k (05/2010), car just over 70k now.

Jaysus wept, just found the rest of that receipt.... 2k, bring tears to a glass eye.

My old car, in case folks haven't realised 👍

I 'think' from memory Audi will quote 5 years as a time based interval, but given the low annual miles and fairly ideal storage conditions I was happy to stretch in time

I can't recall what they advised now on miles but was less than the book quotes

Camspec use all Audi parts so should be all good in terms of tensioners and pulleys etc. The original belt would've been 8 years old when changed, but with the period of low to no use somewhere in there.....

I'd be tempted by a cambelt kit from All German Parts on cost grounds

The only thing I don't know is whether the water pump and thermostat are original. If they are I'd get those changed too but be prepared for sheared water pump bolts

I've seen an S8 in bits for belt change and it's not as bad as people will have you believe. The whole front end incl headlights unbolts still attached to the slam panel and sits on the crush tubes

Sounds about right, if done properly. And being Adrian's old car it will have been. +++
(I did have the water pump and thermostat replaced too)

So I was quoted £950 for belt, pump and thermostat. I spoke directly to the guy that would be doing the work and he himself said that the belts don't go, it's the tensioners and pullies that go first.

Was actually a bit dubious about the garage until I spoke to the guy, told him I'd normally do this work myself, but FSH. We spoke about the v6's (my cabby is a v6) and he said that the belt setup was very similar so he did know his shizz.

The place was A for Audi and they have a very good reputation and only use genuine kit. I have inspected her A3 Golf when it came back from them to make sure they weren't taking the ****.

But I think I have made my mind up, I'll keep the belt on it for another couple of years unless I can find something with a concrete "this belt only lasts x years"

I have dropped Audi customer services an email. Surely they are best placed to answer....

Pattern parts worth considering??
 

Hi,

The owner of Premier Auto Repairs in Harrogate runs a D2 3.7 as his daily driver.

I don't think he'll mind if I pass on his advice on a cambelt full kit for my 3.7: use pattern parts. +++

That is what he did with his own car, many miles ago... :love:

Of course with a high value / rare / loved to bits motor then buy the most expensive and go to the "experts" to fit. They will doubtless confirm the wisdom of your purchase... ;)

Just don't expect to get v for m imho. :tuttut:

Robert