2000 S3 cambelt gone!

[shabs_S3]

hey guys this is my first thread and im a newby.

i have had the cambelt on my audi s3 go at 69000 miles, the car is a december 2000 and has a full audi service history.

now the handbook says 80k miles for a cambelt change.

i have been on the case with audi and they are looking into a goodwill gesture, does anyone think they will pay up due to me having a full audi service history and the audi book saying 80k miles for cambelt change?

 

[rodenal]

I hate to say it but its doubtful that audi will contribute towards it, may be an idea to take the car to a specialist instead

 

[Mo-S3]

Dont give up hope. If you push hard enought there is very good chance they will pay up. Ok maybe not all but a percentage of it. Have a look through previous posts as some members have had some joy in getting Audi to stump up some cash.
Good Luck

 

[S3Rossco]

Nope, they should pay up, i'm sure the recommended, change is at 60-70k, but thats a 10-20k grace period as it is actually due around 80k and Audi should confirm this.

If you have a full Audi history, with stamps going by dates not mileage ( as the car is now nearly 7 years old) then you should have no probs in getting some compo, if not all paid.

 

[shabs_S3]

cheers guys i thought so, because when i went to the audi dealership in bristol, they confirmed that the cambelt would be ok for upto 80k, and they tried to fob me off with the 5 year age thing, however i have a few mates that work in audi and they said the 5 year rule isnt a official statement and is not even on the equipment they use!

now the other thing im having hassle with is the car being a german import from new audi uk said they couldnt deal with the matter and have now put me onto another department within audi that deals with them should be hearing something fairly soon hopefully good news will keep you all updated.

 

[AndyMac]

If it's got FASH then why didn't the idiots change it at 5 years old like they're supposed to?
Your beef is with the dealership, who'll claim they recommended it was changed, but the previous owner didn't get it done.
Audi won't pay up, they never pay up, even a goodwill gesture will be only a50:50 split on the cost and dealers charge over twice the going rate for labour so it'll still be more expensive than taking it to a specialist (as it's mostly labour).
A mate of mine had a similar situation with his 16v GTi and it was under warranty (Warranty Direct), 11 months with the car off the road taking them to court - not recommended.
I'd get a price on an exchange engine see what the damage would be, but definately not get the work done by an Audi dealer.

 

[Aky]

So when should the Cambelt be changed? 5 years or 80k miles - whichever comes first? If thats the case would you recommend a 2002 with 36k miles to be done anytime soon? (apologies for hijacking thread)

 

[S3Rossco]

So when should the Cambelt be changed? 5 years or 80k miles - whichever comes first? If thats the case would you recommend a 2002 with 36k miles to be done anytime soon? (apologies for hijacking thread)

Technically yes as the change is every 80k or 5 years whichever is first, and as your car is nearly 5 years old it should be changed, irrelevant of it's low mileage.

hope this helps...:icon_thumright:

 

[Aky]

oh bugg3r - I wasn't banking on that! Better get it booked in later this year

 

[S3Rossco]

oh bugg3r - I wasn't banking on that! Better get it booked in later this year

All you have to do is "Thank me" buddy!!! :icon_thumright: lol.....

 

[Aky]

All you have to do is "Thank me" buddy!!! :icon_thumright: lol.....

Any chance of paying for it??

 

[S3Rossco]

Any chance of paying for it??

LOL.... u posted in the wrong section, jokes n humour is a few clicks up LOL

 

[Tallpaul]

so has the cambelt snapping not caused any damage to the internals of the engine???

 

[jesters3]

My Waterpump/Cambelt went at 93k and I needed a brand new engine. Fortunatley I still had the Audi warranty and a great dealership who battled my case. My saving grace was that it was the waterpump and that I had the service notice saying change not due until 115K when I asked for it to be checked at 80K. The only problem with that is that in the book it says 115k but in kilometers and not miles.

However the trouble I would expect you to recieve is that the car is 7 years and as such anything like this could be considererd for normal wear and tear, however Audi may assist but like AndyMac says the max you may get would be 50% of parts and 50% of labour. This was what was offered to me before I mentioned my warranty.

The engine and install cost over £6k so better find out the extent of the damage

 

[s3_tny]

Just to let you know, i was in VW the other week and on there service sign it said for the 1.8 engine that cambelt was 80,000 miles or 4 years which i thought was strange as they're the same engines as audi but audi state different times??? just my 2cents anyway

 

[claudefrog]

i think its up to you to make sure the servicing is done to schedule, one thing id always check to make sure is done on a car at 60k or 5 years.

 

[shabs_S3]

Just to update everone, audi have said they wont contribute as expected, and although the car has a full ASH, they said because it was bought privately the mileage could not be verified and also the car is over 5 years old i couldnt be bothered going through the legal liability option as it would take too long and i need my car back!

however i do have the gold cover warranty through warranty direct and i gave them a call and they said they would cover 100% labour and 90% on parts... so i got the all-audi (audi specialist in bristol) to pick up the car and they are going to commence work on tuesday.

i know someone has mentioned warranty direct to be a pain in the rear up above but they seemed quite helpful to me.

May i also say audi in bristol charges £90.00 an hour for Labour!!!!!

 

[fasteddie]

hate to say it when someone has obviously had misfortune but this should be a warning to everyone in any doubt as to whether they should or should not change the cam belt, my belt was changed at 45,000 on 5 years. I had a friend who wrote off an engine when his belt went - you rarely get away with it if it happens!