I have an 04 plate STi type UK. It apparently has an aluminium bonnet which is mean to be lighter. I am worried though becuase when I am going very fast there is a lot of movement in the bonnet and it looks like it could come up.......is this experienced by anyone else?? Also......at very high speeds (private road of course!!) there is a whistleing noise in the car which is quite loud.....anyone experienced this either????

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Bonnet flutter is "normal" on these cars. It's, as you say, a combination of lightweight (or inadequately braced, depending on your point of view) construction and the large scoop cramming air through the intercooler.

Whistling could be window seals, but fold your mirrors back and and check there are no QA stickers behind them. These have been known to partially lift and vibrate/whine.

 

Hi Mate,

Yep welcome to the STI ownership my MY03 does this as well. You should also notice the rear spoiler wobble The Noise is the window seals. and don't worry to much about the bonnet it's quite normal

Dave

 

thanks for the help guys......I found out when I was sitting on the bumper of an Evo 6 coming down the motorway........when I saw it I thought it was going to pop up so slowed down......was gutted because he thought he had whooped me......never mind....I will know for the future.....and as for the rear spoiler..........it is continually flexing......annoying at first but got used to it now!!!!!

 

Did the classics have an aluminium bonnet aswell??

 

They shouldn't shake at UK motorway speeds

get it on the autobahn at 150 then you will see it shaking

 

STi's and some WRXes do, but the rest (inc UK/Euro) cars are steel.

 

ah , cheers.

 

my MY04 WRX has alu bonnet ... did not like droping it to shut it ... thought it might shatter

 

Steve stop rubbing it in that we can do any speed over here .

 

ok sorry

 

It's made of aluminium, not glass or china...

 

ok ok

Ya know what I mean I think ... having had steel bonnets B4 was amazed how little it really weighs ... which means ya have to drop it from a greater height to get it to lock .... just do not like doing that on a new car !

 

I concur with Wurzel, at 150mph it flaps like ****, mind you, so does my heart - when some twut pulls out in front of you!

 

Yep its looks like the bonnet is pulling off the intercooler

 

yep, mine does this to, its quite worrying, however I find it quite a useful reminder to slow down

 

Yup 150mph on the Autobahn and the bonnet is lifting, but its never come off yet... touch wood!

Also, when your at Autobahn speeds, the rear spoiler stops wobbling!

 

Bonnet flutter is a design feature.
Its purpose is to distract you so that you do not look in the rear view mirror & notice that the rear spoiler is flapping like Rolf Harris' wobble board

 

This is what I love about scooby net - I have spent the last two months since buying WRX worrying about the bonnet at high speed! where else on the earth would I find out the answer to that question!!! - tops !!

 

isnt it nice when you realise that its not just you!

I have pulled over a few times, just to check if I shut the bonnet properly. 'Er in doors thinks Im mad and seeing things!

Im also sure I can see the back of the scoop flapping around also...

 

On my way back from LeMans I was following my mate in his F40 at fairly high speed - must have been getting almost a 2cm gap so see if you can work out my speed

 

my 22b spoiler flexes quite a lot at pretty much any speed on the motorway

 

Why on earth are you dropping the bonnet to close it? Lower it gently while supporting its weight, then press it smartly shut with the palm of your hand.