Thanks for the advice KlausC. I think the 1/2 suggestion is pretty conservative (overly) as I noted in my first comment. We regularly hear of people who take their 105k mile belts to 115k - while I think they are really pushing their luck, I think as long as the belt isn't 'time' old as well as 'mileage' old, it should be safe right to the limit.

Your note on the operation of the hydraulic tensioner WRT the affect of cold ambient temps on it's pressure on the belt is very astute. This type of tensioner 'hardening' by the cold would indeed be expected to shorten the life of the belt.

I think what you're really saying here that the cars with VIN code 38, 39, 59, 61, 64 & 68 sold in the specially noted markets have a different belt tensioner. That makes some sense. I still think I would err on the side of caution as opposed to pushing it right to the 120k/10 year - 150k/15 year limit (for VIN code 39 & 64).

Any chance we could retrofit that new tensioner onto our older cars?!
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1998 V70 AWD->FWD Turbo 200k+