Have you contacted IM? assuming that it is imported from the EU then there should not be a problem.

If it's a grey from Japan then you don't stand a chance of getting it serviced by a main dealer.

Nigel

 

I know persnal imports are popular in England because the cars are much cheaper elsewhere in Europe and Japan.
But just what makes buying a car in England so expensive?
Compared to Belgium there is even a (slightly) lower VAT tax.

 

Which 'main dealer' in Bolton did you try, cos there isn't one

You can go to either Robinsons of Rochdale (and claim 10% SIDC discount) or A & J White in Blackburn. If you want servicing done at Robinsons, though, you'll probably have to book a couple of weeks in advance.

 

Tony,
first question - is it an european import? if it's outside
the Eu they wont touch it.
if its Eu - look at this site
http://europe.eu.int/comm/competition/car_sector
and trawl through the documents - complicated
the way i read it is that they have to do repairs under guarantee/recalls/free services - but can presumably refuse to do normal servicing !?
you could argue that, "if i have my car serviced elsewhere, do i loose my guarantee with Subaru" ?

simplest thing to do might be to ring the Subaru 'HOTLINE' on
0121 557 2112 and talk (complain!) to Madeline Passmore
(info taken from the EU site)

is that any help ????
cheers Alan

 

Hi Tony - try registering it with IM for servicing. I'm not sure what their reaction will be as it's a Cypriot car.

All OK with my MY02 Belgian import - in fact Montys in Sheffield just did some excellent work under warranty, even though it wasn't really a problem with the Scoob itself.

 

Try Gibsons of Brock, they won't have a problem servicing it.

 

Cryprus do have different cars apparently to the normal Euro imports that a a lot of us have bought.
I seem to remember something about that a while ago on this forum.
They may not be doing anything wrong unfortunately.

 

Tony - your car isn't from the EU if it's a Cyprus import, and most dealers will refuse to touch them - also the Subaru European 3yr warranty won't be applicable - in fact I don't think you get any Subaru warranty??

You can keep trying dealers, but i suspect you may have to get it serviced outside the Subaru network.

 

Thanks to everybody for all the replies.
I got the car from Gibsons of Brock. Strangely enough none of these possible problems were ever mentioned by them!!
Having looked through all the EU docs I have not really found anything of concrete evidence to say that dealers should/must service the car.
And as Jon1T says cyprus is not yet a member of the EU..it is only a candidate state.
I was told by G of Brock that the car has 1yrs Subaru warranty, but that will have gone down the river after their (non-dealer) 1000mile service. I did buy a 3yr warranty through them though so am covered for a fault on my 5th gear synchro (loud metallic crunch above 4000rpm in 4th when changing up to 5th).
One other thing I noticed is that I do not have anywhere to get the service stamped...which I shall take up with Gibsons next week when the car goes in.

Perhaps it would be worth someone producing a list of plusses v minuses for importing a Scooby? Had I known what I know now, I would have bought one from a dealer.....then again given their response to me over the phone perhaps I'm glad I didn't..and probably won't in the future!

If someone has imported from Europe without going through an importer..perhaps they could also produce a list to put on the forum as well? Or is there such a list in existence somewhere?

Thanks to everyone for all the help anyway, Tony_W

 

Tony,
there is a list
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/importingimprezas
it's V quiet at the moment, but most people on there imported
direct from a Subaru dealer in europe.
too late for you, but anyone else thinking of importing is
best advised to go direct to an E.U. dealer
Importingimprezas is run by a "Distinguished" member of this site (you have to apply to join) who 'lurks' in ICE
alan

[Edited by albob - 5/15/2002 10:54:15 PM]

 

Cheers Alan,

Will go and have a look.

Tony

 

This whole concept of refusing to service certain cars produced in the SAME factory is absurd; also the illogical protectionism of this also stinks. Screw 'em all mate! Enjoy your STi at a discount and use much better specialists to look after them. Spend what you save on bits and insurance! UP THEIRS!

 

Hi all i to ordered a car from gibsons of brock and i was told the car was (eu spec) and with a 2 year warranty .The car was in stock and i would be delivered in 3 weeks time .Six weeks after i found out that the are came from cyprus with no subaru warranty and that i had to pay for it before thay would ship the car i got a refund on my deposite and ordered a uk car .NOT HAPPY WITH GIBSONS
CHEERS MARK

 

Moral of the story - Avoid Cyprus sourced cars, unless bought for the price of a used Fiesta!

This applies to all readers thinking about buying from car supermarkets. Do your homework thoroughly!!

 

Strange...

I've a car from Gibsons and it was sourced from Belgium. I have a copy of the invoice from the Belgian dealer to show to Subaru UK too.

Steve

 

Nail has already been hit on head. Cyprus is not in the EU, the car is not EU sourced and therefore they're not servicing it.

This is admittedly stupid as servicing makes them good money!

 

Harry Boy,
Have to dissagree with you mate, cars sourced from Cyprus are in fact pukka! A while back when i was looking to buy an Sti 5 type r Cyprus was the best place top buy it from. The specification was exactly the same as the Jap model but the bonus is that as the car was made for the cypriot market, the ECU was mapped for 97 RON fuel unlike the cars which are sourced from Japan that require 100RON fuel! So as you can see, Cypriot cars do have their advantages! Im interested to know if you have experienced something which has detered you from bying in Cyprus! Let me know.

Regards

Gez

 

Gez, your point is perhaps a valid one however harry's refering to the subject matter

"Dealer refusing to service Personal Import"

People have been sold cypriot cars as UK spec for the same price as cars from belgium and holland, believing that they can get them serviced in the UK by UK dealers. They can't.

As we all know Jap (am I allowed to use that word in this PC forum that we live in) imports will not be serviced by UK dealers, so buying a Jap spec car from cyprus has no detrement as you would not expect it to be serviced by UK dealer.

Does that make sense, buggered if I know


[Edited by boultsy - 5/24/2002 2:21:30 PM]

 

I imported my STI 5 Type R brand new in dec 2000 from Cyprus and got a blinding deal.

Took the car to my local main dealer in enfield, middx and had no probs them servicing it they even were able to supply me a dealer warranty from RMI for two years at £400.00.

Moral of the story is not all main dealers are ar53holes at servicing imports.

Mel.

 

Mel,
you must be local to me! Live up in Oakwood! Have you got grey type R??? If so must be you!

 

Has anyone been refused a service by a dealer?

I was refused point blank by one in Bolton. Can they do this by law?

Is it worth taking it further with EU commission, IM or Fuji e.t.c.? Surely Subaru in Japan would be hacked off knowing that someone buys one of their cars and then cannot get it "officially" serviced? After all; the cars, whether UK dealer bought, or imported, all came from the same factory.

Has this happened to anyone else...I can't be the first..

[Edited by Tony_W - 5/12/2002 6:20:53 PM]

 

Thanks to everyone for the replies..
My car is from Cyprus so it's debatable whether it's EU !!

I shall speak to IM or on the hotline, then post the results later this week...

Ta for the advice.

Tony

[Edited by Tony_W - 5/12/2002 6:20:13 PM]