I got a foam gun and a gallon of Meguirs foam wash ( I think ) off Polished Bliss ( where I have got all my cleaning stuff since I found them a couple of years ago with the new STi ... ).

The foam eases off the heavy dirt, so when you wash properly ( 2 bucket method, lambswool mitt etc. ) you have less grit and abrasive dirt to shift / rub into the paint... It's NOT a substitute to a hand wash... try it and see !

 

Bump

Can't let this thread drop too low...

 

thats how I feel at the moment vulnax

 

Just a quick note in case anyone is thinking they need a cold air intake system
I have a Litchfield CAI available for £125 instead of £230 new!

 

Sorry to hear about your STi Mark, hope all gets sorted for you.

Lee

 

Have Slipend givwen you any news yet Mark?

 

AMC Subaru Simon,

yes, Subaru saying the warranty has been invalidated due to the exhaust being changed.



need to start collating info on other hatch engines that have gone bang and same faults as mine, low compression on pistons 2 & 3


I've started a thread on the general forum

 

Bad news

 

Gutted for you Mark, I thought you checked with Subaru prior to fitting the new exhaust and they said all was fine as it was catback, sounds like someone their end is backtracking on what they said.

Is it looking like ringland or are they thinking something else?

 

Whenever I'm feeling low about Impreza problems I go and have a read on the GTR register in the R35 section! Some of the stories on there make for interesting reading lol

 

Sorry to hear this mate. Keep trying and they will sort it for you in the end I'm sure. Have you told them you setup and moderate the UK hatch STI forum, that you are Chairman of the RB5 Owners Club etc. etc.

If you are looking for a huge list of all the ringland failures have a look at the USA forums mate, there is a post on there (think it's on NASOIC.com or IWSTI.com) with a scary list of all the US cars that suffered engine failures because of the first factory ECU map.

Have you ever had the car re-mapped or the ECU flashed by the dealer? (i.e. are you still running the early factory ECU map from Japan that is known to cause det problems/ringland failure). Subaru dealers were given a new map to flash into the ECU of all STI's that amends the fuel cut / reduces the chances of det on UK fuel. Was this done on your car before you drove it off the forecourt at the dealers? My dealer was suprised I knew about all this, but admitted they were re-flashing all their customers STI's ECU's when the cars came in for a service and that it was the first factory ECU map that was responsible for my ringland failure.

But to be honest this sounds more like your dealer causing the agro and not the IM Group. I had ringland failure on number 3 piston (without any mods at around 3K miles) and had no problems getting a short engine. I told the dealer afterwards that I was fitting a full sports cat milltek exhaust system and getting a sensible re-map (i.e. under 350bhp) and they were also cool with that (they know I use expensive oil and change it every 5K miles). I'm not however going to name names because I'm sure Adrian Hogg from the IM Group reads this thread!

I don't know the whole story, but it sounds to me like you need to let people know that you should not buy or take their STI's to AMC Subaru, they don't seem to be very good at assisting their customers when it comes to warranty claims!

 

LOL your not kidding, £7-8K gearbox re-builds with Nissan saying they are outside of the warranty. Also try £14K for a little knock on the front bumper in a car park because it activated the 'pedestrian safety system' that among crazy things like new bonnet hinges, also requires that the car's ECU is changed for a brand new one!?!

No wonder the insurance premiums for the R35 have gone through the roof...

 

Dave P: I have had no dealigns with them before and can only go by what they tell me

As far as I understand it, they ask Subaru if they are allowed to carry the work out under warranty, basically authorising them to do the work and get paid for doing it

it must be in their interest to try and get some work , be it warranty or not, rather then just fobbing me off with a warranty issue.

Its not for me to say as I dont know their converation but AMC said they had an email from Subaru UK advising them my exhaust has invalidated the warranty.



anyway, I have left 3 message with A Hogg to call me back, nothing.

So I have emailed the directors of IM direct and had an immediate response to my matter, and yes I have mentioned my RB clubs and everything else you listed ,along with links to other engine failures (it was quite a long email)

I hope to hear something this afternoon.


I miss my scoob.

 

just to add, my car had the PPP added on the car when I picked it up.

 

Ohhh **** !

read the above comments...

 

As I posted elsewhere, my 330S was in for warranty work on replacement front wheel bearings ( really noisy! ) and the service manager said it was due a service recall for possible piston damage! He meant the dodgy initial STi map, and as the 330S has the PPP ecu ( think it IS the same as the PPP for the STi ) then the PPP ecu'd cars and 330S's are "safe" from the poor red line / fuel cut / broken engine issue.... and said my 330S was fine as the ecu was sorted by the PPP / prodrive 330S upgrades.

So Mark your ECU should not be the problem... ? As I think you alludedto when you posted your car had the PPP

 

Aaron bird has a 330S and has the same engine failure as everyone else, i think there have also been other 330S 's too,

 

Gutted to hear that Mark, really am sorry for you & the arrogant hassle encountered from Subaru 'warranty'.

 

First Prodrive map also needed correcting and a revised map was released by Prodrive...

 

INDEED!!!
All ok so far since rebuild but do stay away from the redline and use Optimax all the time guys and girls!!

 

UPDATE!!!

Phone call from Phil @ Subaru UK who was dealing with my case.

He said the exhaust must be either the standard STI or the Prodrive one to keep the warranty, anything else, even other Subaru (STI Genome) will simply void it.

So they have every right to stand by their decision that the warranty is void as mine isnt either of these.




















HOWEVER, as a goodwill gesture, the fact I'm a loyal customer of theirs they will pay to get all works done to get me and my car back together again, including a courtesy car during the whole time my car is in for repair.

So to cap it I'm HAPPY

 

Good result, but smells a bit of "keep him quiet, he could make trouble"

Bottom line from the top bit is, we don't care if we make it, if it ain't on your car when delivered your foofed.

Alternative is save the ccash for 3 years and on its 3rd birthday give it 1 hell of a present.

 

tbh i cannot drive a car that will just loom over me every time "will the engine let go today"

so I am going to sell it when I get it back.

 

And replace with what? The oil burner and join the high mpger's?

Haven't heard of any horror stories about them going bang or the 2.0's.

 

I felt the same way as you,and p/x it for a new car.Problem is what to next.

 

Litchfield

 

That's good news then . Get it remapped as soon as you run it in and job done, no more worries

 

Time for an RS.....

Mog

 

My problems where with IM not the dealers. Wonder if they will replace it for you a second time as a good will gesture when it goes wrong?

I ended up getting a vxr not the same league as the sti and most dealers are crap but nothing to complicated to go wrong and its a wee bit more of a challenge in the wet. If i had the money i would be tempted by the RS now.

 

Wish i had bought a Litchfield

I was in the dealers the other day & had a quick shifty at this brief. Some pretty nice trim as standard too.

A few very quick phone pics