Cam belt

[lowdown]

My guess, and I stress it's only a guess.

There are two factors here time(years) and wear(miles).  I gather the cambelt system has 2 discreet components: the belt and the tensioners.  My guess is its time/age that kills the belt and wear/miles that kills the tensioner.  If either fails it's a disaster.

(My local mechanic told me it's the tensioner that tends to fail first.)

[Mikester]

You also need to take into acount driving style, as if those miles are covered in high revs and taking a lot of stress its going to go earlier than if its off boost motorway miles in theory.

[Colinv]

You also need to take into acount driving style, as if those miles are covered in high revs and taking a lot of stress its going to go earlier than if its off boost motorway miles in theory.

it's definitely 4years or 80k that the belts get changed at now. Vw changed it from 120k a few months ago now