2003 A4 Timing Belt

There've been too many disasters reported before the User's Manual recommended replacement period.

I agree with your dealer. In fact I don't think I'd let it go to 80K...

/daytripper '00 s4 6spd

had mine done at 60K

make sure you get all the other bits done at the same time, water pump, idlers, belts etc while its apart.

dj '98 V6 2.4

The conventional wisdom seems to be 4 years or 60k miles, whichever is the sooner. I'm about to change the cambelt on my VAG product at 5 years, but it has done only 15k miles, so I think a reasonable amount of latitude is permissible i.e. less miles equals more time and vice versa. The manufacturers seem to change the goalposts according to how many disasters (disgruntled punters) there have been of late.

A friend of mine has a '99 petrol A4 Avant in which the previous owner had the cambelt go at 67k. There is a nasty long list, with too many noughts entered upon it associated with this event.

You are approaching, maybe already into, borrowed time.

oddly enough, my car just "pooped the bed".. driving home tonight it start a REALLY rough idle and didn't have power... like it wasn't firing on all 6 cylinders... I got it home and smelled something like plastic melting.. I popped the hood and could see something that looked like a fitting on the end of a metal tubing GLOWING RED HOT. It's on the right side, towards the firewall, and down lower than the spark plugs..

ugh. i think the dealer sabatoged me.

Sounds like one or more of your ignition coil packs went bad or wasn't fully connected. In that case the unburned fuel in the cylinder/s not firing collects in the exhaust manifold and burns there making the manifold glow red hot.

Replace coil pack or two and it should be fine. They are $30 each and easy to change. Do not drive without fixing first. It can damage a number of things including the catalytic converter/s. If you think the dealer will handle it be sure to flat bed it to them.

or get them to come out to you...............