Tony,

I would be well up for that, gota try before you buy, but you might find this interesting, I wrote a letter to Subaru UK asking what would be the deal if I fitted Litchfield Imports Sports Cat which gives 30BHP, and this is there answer.......

Dear Mr Clarke,

Further to your letter regarding mods to your STi.

Fitment of parts not approved by Subaru (UK) Limited would invalidate the warranty only on the parts that the non-standard parts fit to or effects.

I trust this clarifies our possition.

Yours sincerely

Ian J Pyke
Warranty Manager
Subaru (UK) LTD

So what do you reckon??????

 

I reckon if your turbo blows up don't bother claiming under your warranty

 

Dave,

The cat doesnt fit to the Turbo??

 

Jacey
The cat is in the downpipe. The downpipe fits to the turbo

<cue song>
Oh, the knee bone's connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone etc.......

 

Oh right, thats that then PPP here I come

 

Jacey,

I would be careful as I would expect, in the event of a claim, for IM to say that the exhaust is connected to the engine so an engine blow up would not be covered. I would write back requesting clarification of what they mean. I would ask if this means that if the turbo failed would it be covered, if the up-pipe/headers failed (cracked etc.) would this be covered and if any engine problems, up to and including a complete failure (blow up), would be covered.

You've got to pin IM down if you want to rely on that letter to cover you in the event of a blow up (IMHO)!

Matt

 

I have to agree with Matt.

What immediately sprang to my mind was that 'the knee bone's connected to the thigh bone etc' song. All performance upgrades are tied to the engine, either directly or indirectly, so I would think it unlikely that IM would honour the warranty if the engine blew after you'd changed, for example, the dump valve.

That statement was, IMHO, as clear as mud.

Josh

 

Surely it is perfectly clear in the first place..

you increase the engine output then the warentee is invalid on any warrentee claim which could be attributied to the increased power.

If the engine blows and it can be attributed to the down pipe increasing the power then they won't pay, but if the engine blows due to a faults oil pump then they will pay out.

I personnally don't think the down pipe would increase power enough to cause the engine to blow but it is a risk that the warentee won't pay out..

JGM

 

JGM,

What I could see happening is, the engine blows up (let's say, due to a faulty oil pump) and because of the non OE exhaust, the claim is refused. You would probably have to go to court to get this decision reversed which would:

a) take many months, meanwhile, your car is sitting there, doing nothing
b) result in the terms of the warranty getting even more draconian

At worst, you loose, pay IM's court costs, the £5000 bill to fix the engine (or some other not insignificant sum) and possibly even, rent for the car sitting at the dealership whilst you argue in court.

I think IM's statement is well worded to privde them with a get out clause if they so wish whilst appearing to be helpful. Unless a more specific response can be gleaned from them, I'd say it's a risk I wouldn't want to take.

However, I suspect (and hope to prove shortly) that EU imported cars (like mine ) have their warranty claims approved by the originating importer so it is with them that this discussion needs to take place (and I would hazzard guess that they are more reasonable than IM ).

Jacey, the other avenue of investigation is that if the exhaust in question (in this case the Miltek) is of an equivalent quality and design to the PPP one (and it is rumoured that they both have the same Cat), then IM should allow this mod and uphold any engine warranty claims.

Just IMHO

Matt

 

Good thinking Matt,

But it does tend to make you think by saving £1500 on the PPP if you bought the Miltech Cat that if the engine did pack up you would be kicking yourself and wondering why you didnt pay the extra for the PPP and now lumbered with a bill of £5K plus

 

That's why I would get a definitive statement from the warranty approver (whoever that may be) that state explicitly what the terms are and what is and is not covered/effected by non IM supplied parts.....

Matt

 

Not gona bother now, PPP if I can afford it

 

PPP is being fitted to our Demo tomorrow, I will let you all know what you are missing !!!!!!!

Be patient, Subaru UK have just received the first batch of 8 kits. More will follow quite quickly.

If you want a go in a STi with PPP come to Croft on Saturday, we will be their.

Ian

 

I recon Ian J Pyke
Warranty Manager
Subaru (UK) LTD

Is a comedian if he thinks that statement clarifies the position.

Do IM attend customer facing courses or courses in writing cover my **** letters? I wish IM would wake up to the fact they are not doing themselves any favours by being so unhelpful.

 

X2WRX,

Please Please Please let us know tomorrow what its like!

 

No problem Jacey Boy

Ian

 

X2,

Please let us know if its really worth £2000 as well, as we are likely to loose this when selling the car on

 

Any chance of a drive of that at Croft Ian?

 

John

Should be able to oblige, if not on track certainly on the road.

We do have a simple rule though, if you bend it you've bought it !!!!!

Ian

 

In that case i will have to wait for a test drive of someone elses car. I would not expect to have to buy a car from a dealer if i had a shunt on a test drive, that's what insurance is for!

Should be interesting seeing how it copes against a standard engined STi5 Type RA. See you on Saturday!

 

Jacey,

The PPP is about one of the only mods which you won't loose the cost of when you sell. I suspect that PPP'd STi's will probably hold around £1000 premium come resale time.

All IMHO of course

Matt

 

John

Take a chill pill, I was only joking !!!!!!

Ian

 

Just covering my **** Ian.

I recon it was the thought of my STi5 that swung it. LOL

Looking forward to having a drive very much indeed, lets hope it's as good as the hype.

 

Matt,

Things are looking good, just wana be amaized when I drive one

 

Matt
Since pretty much every STI Type UK will be PPP'd then I would think that unmodified ones will be rarer and hence will command a greater premium

 

I doubt every STi owner will be able to afford £2000 just like that

 

Jacey,

Going on what Subaru UK has said about modifications, how many people have already changed backboxs, centre sections, filters etc already on their STI's and stating about keeping warrenties?
They are in exactly the same boat as if they were going to replace the full exhaust system.
And what do they do when something goes wrong, mmmmmmm let think about that one for a minute.

Cheers,

Rob.

 

Jacey and sideways,
If I do get it before you have chance to try it we can arrange a meet near W-S-M

mind you on one previso you leave the keys for your car with me As I wan't to drive a straight one home LOL


Tony

 

Jacey,

Doesn't take that long mate
But you see my point.

Cheers,

Rob.

 

Rob, I think if I did do it and had something bad go wrong I would be like

Tony,

Maybe I will give it a miss then mate, I am sure my dealer will have it by the next week or so