850 Cars: cam belt replaced after 100000 miles

[amazondean]

I have just had my cam belt replaced after eleven and a half years and about 100000 miles.

I have owned this Volvo 850 TDI for over ten years and never had the cam belt changed. The previous keeper had it done in December 2007 and when he sold it to me in 2008 I just kept driving it. After about seven years I was just trying to run the car into the ground, as it was by then just an old car, but failed miserably.

Last year to celebrate my ten years of very trouble free and cheap motoring I decided to spend some money on it. I bought a scrap car and swapped all the interior over as it had full leather seats, the darker interior and the wood effect dash. I also used the drivers wing as mine was being held on with black tape. Various other bits was used from the scrap car.

Then after a few Months laid up I decided to have the cam belt replaced after an incredible eleven years and 100000 miles since the last change. I asked the garage to give me the old belt to see what condition it was in and surprisingly it was in very good shape. I was expecting it to have been bordering on failure but I believe it would have lasted a good few more years.

I would say that in ten years of owning this vehicle the car has cost me no more than £1000 in servicing and repair costs, so thought it was time to pay the old girl back. I am planning on keeping the car for as long as I can, as long as it doesn't cost too much to keep on the road. I realise these diesels are now getting very thin on the ground!

[volvo again]

I think the recommended change interval is 80k or eight years so you're only a little bit over.
Just about to change my cambelt at 130k. last done at 100k (so the sticker says) but not 100% certain so I err on the cautious side.
Glad to hear you keeping it on the road

[amazondean]

I suppose your right, it just seems like it has been forever!

[isettaman]

I was very cautious with mine, when I bought it the vendor promised me the belt had been changed the previous year but couldn't produce any documentary evidence to back this up, so I changed it. This was on years, not mileage, as it had only covered 66,000 from new in 1996.