Timing belt 2012 VW Golf TDI

LLeonhard

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 4, 2012
Location
Columbus, OH
TDI
Golf 2012
Hello all

I had my 110 K service done yesterday and in conjunction with that I asked the VW shop I go to (not a VW dealership, but an independent VW / Audi specialist) to provide me with a quote for the 120 K service including DSG and timing belt replacement. The guy looked a bit weird at me and said that the timing belt was not required to be replaced till 130K. I told him that I was pretty sure it was due at 120K based on what I have been reading in these forums ect. He said that there was nothing wrong with changing it at 120K if that's what I wanted, however he let me know that I could wait till 130K.

I thought he was mistaken by that but sure enough I checked the service manual today and it does say that the 2.0TDI should have its timing belt replacement done at 130K. It does not apply to the 2.0TDI at 120K.

For some reason I seem to have read in here that everyone talks about the 120K range when the timing belt is due at these TDI's, so just wanted to get peoples thought and ideas. It's a fairly expensive repair (have not received the quote yet but I expect it to be around 1,200$) so if I can wait to have it done at 130K instead of 120K I will do so. I do drive close to 4,000 mile per month so it will only mean that it will be a couple of months after the 120K service, however I'll take that anytime.

Let me know what you guys think

Thanks
 

seth1065

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2011
Location
NJ
TDI
2011 JSW with DSG, Panoroof, rear air bags and the always fun velcro blocks, Blue with beige int
I was quoted about $1500 at a guru that is with DSG service as well.
 

tdi90hp

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Location
Canuckland
TDI
2011 Golf TDI 6 speed(gone but NEVER forgotten)
wow. lots of dough. To think if you were driving a jap gas car in a stick this would cost you 0 dollars. makes ya think....Buys a tonne of gasoline.
 

seth1065

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2011
Location
NJ
TDI
2011 JSW with DSG, Panoroof, rear air bags and the always fun velcro blocks, Blue with beige int
I did not know cars from Japan did not have timing belts in them :confused::confused::confused::confused:


wow. lots of dough. To think if you were driving a jap gas car in a stick this would cost you 0 dollars. makes ya think....Buys a tonne of gasoline.
 

autoxerwgn

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Location
Plymouth Meeting, PA
TDI
2011 JSW TDI DSG, 2006 TDI (Sold)
I did not know cars from Japan did not have timing belts in them :confused::confused::confused::confused:
Of course some of them do, but most have gone to chains years ago. It's true, if you were driving a TSX Wagon, you wouldn't need a timing belt change or an expensive DSG service. I like my car, but there is no denying it's expensive to maintain. I would never be able to afford it if I didn't work on cars for a living and was able to do the work myself.

I did a quick quote and it looks like the $1500 price is about right using factory list prices and book time for labor. Comes to about $400ish for the DSG fluid change, and about $1000 for the timing belt and water pump. Don't forget. If the place is a legit shop, they pay the rent and bills by making money, not by giving work away for free.
 
Last edited:

LLeonhard

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 4, 2012
Location
Columbus, OH
TDI
Golf 2012
There is a guru that will replace timing belt for $730 so I think I will go with him. He's a trusted tdi guru in here and has great reviews. I haven't received the quote yet from my regular place but I'm sure it will be close to$ 1,200 and that difference is just too big to pass on.
 

TDI RED

New member
Joined
Sep 24, 2018
Location
Tampa bay area
TDI
2012 Jetta TDI DSG
Hey new to the club here and I was wondering if my 2012 Jetta DSG timing belt interval is 120 or 130k. I bought it from a guy near me with 120k miles on it and he was heavy pocketed and kept up with the maintenance. Heck, I even called the VW dealership he bought it from and they said he came in for the 120k service. I guess I just am not sure whether or not they did they timing belt. I asked him but he had no clue and could care less because he had two 2018 BMWs sitting in the driveway....
 

Wheels57

New member
Joined
Nov 1, 2018
Location
Canada
TDI
2010 VW Jetta
2010 Jetta TDI Timing belt

I am up to 176,000 km and my dealer just alerted me to book in my timing belt change. I asked him if there was a warning period. No, he replied it just breaks and you are in for a lot more repair value if it does break! I have it booked in in two days time. Here's hoping I make it!

I made it, and what a difference it appears to make. Tighter response.
 
Last edited:

740GLE

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Location
NH
TDI
2015 Passat SEL, 2017 Alltrack SE; BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat,
People have gone +150-170K miles on a stock belt, it's preventative maintenance, VW gave a high cerntainty the belt will never fail less than 120K, but that doesn't mean it'll last well beyond that. You'll be fine.

My 2010 was about $1K when I had it done at a local shop. Sadly I only enjoyed that belt/rollers/water pump for 30K more miles before it was crushed, but they were sound miles.
 
Top