Hi all,

It's probably realistic to say that if a timing belt fails, the repairer is going to struggle to get a claim approved. A lot depends on your relationship with your parts distributor. If you spend several thousand pounds a month with the same distributor you are far more likely to get some financial compensation. Bosch were so concerned about timing belt warranty, and the pitfalls thereof, that they stopped buying in and branding belts as 'Bosch'.
I think that for very expensive multi-valve engines; unless you specialise in a particular make and have excellent resources available for strip and rebuild should the worst happen, then it's best not to get involved.
Often independents are doing the 2nd replacement, the 1st having been done by the main dealer.At this stage everything is worn out, crank and cam oilseals, water pump, pulleys and even the timing cover has probably seen better days.

Tom W.