digi MK2 8v timing belt interval

[was]

How often should I change the timing belt and tensioner on my '91 8v?

Am I right in thinking that its a "non-interference" design - ie if the timing belt does fail then the pistons wont hit the valves and no damage will occur?

Cheers.

[Veedubgt18v]

um no if the belt fails then you will bend some valves, damage some pistons. its not a hard job and i do mine about every year. for the sake of 30 quid and a couple of hours. use a vw tensioner tho gsf ones are wank

[vwsystems]

this is a qoute from rec vw info thing http://www.endosquid.com/audi/audinfo_vwFAQ.htm

loads of info on mechanical and electrical problems

How often should I change my drive belt?
A: 8 Valve engines, around 60-75k miles, 16V's BEFORE you reach 50k miles. 8V
 ? engines will NOT be damaged if the thing breaks, 16V will be.
 ? The VR6 engines use an actual chain rather than a synthetic belt and do not
 ? have to be changed.
 ? The only exception to the 8V rule is the Heron head used on European
 ? A1 GTIs (not sold in the USA/Canada). It does interfere.
 ? Note that tensioning the belt correctly is tricky, if it's too tight you
 ? may prematurely wear out a bunch of bearings.
 ? If it's on too tight, you'll hear a characteristic whining/high pitched
 ? sound.
 ?

[was]

Heron head used on European
   A1 GTIs

Heron?? I take it A1 means Mk1?

[Veedubgt18v]

yep that is correct!

[adyh]

So every 8v GTi apart from the Mk1 is protected against cam belt failure ?