Beloved WRX broke down on Monday. Advised to recover it to a Subaru main dealer as part payment for repairs maybe considered as a goodwill gesture by Subaru.
The car is 8 months out of warranty, has 60K true recorded miles (last 40K mine), Full service history with the first three services performed at Subaru dealers and the last three services carried out at Powerstation, Tewksbury.
Dealer requested approval for repairs on Tuesday and was refused by Subaru. I contacted Subaru UK customer service yesterday to ask for the descision to be reconsidered for the following reasons:

I am a long term Subauru customer, currently own my third Impreza.
I intend to buy more Subaru's in future.
60,000 miles is very few for a major engine component to fail.
The car has been fully serviced according to schedule.

This has failed to change the descision not to contribute to the cost of repairs by Subaru.

The dealership the car is currently located at has quoted £3000 as cost of replacement engine (aparently cheaper than stripping and re-building)

Any opinions, advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

Tony

 

I have an 03 WRX whose big ends have just gone (at 61k miles). For £3000 (incl. labour) I have got a forged 2.5 litre bottom end that can take 450bhp for when the mood takes me.

 

What was IMs reason for refusal?
It sounds like you followed the service schedule and used a VAT reg. garage?

PMd you.

Nick

 

Do you know why it happened?

 

I thought the newage cars were less prone to bottom ends failing?

60K miles is low mileage for this to happen, especially as it has been serviced on schedule.

Hope you get it sorted out

 

60k does seem low for pretty standard engine to fail, do you track it a lot? If you are going to have to shell out at least £3000 I would go somewhere like API and get something a bit more special bunged under the bonnet.

 

Unfortunately mate, you're pretty much shafted- it's totally at their discretion re whether to help if the car is out of warranty. If it was less than 8 months then you might have stood a chance, but I don't see them changing their minds on this one!

Take the car to someone like APi and get something a bit tastier than a std engine put under the bonnet

Ns04

 

Sorry to hear about this - I thought Subaru's were supposed to go on for years?

Do you think that the PPP had anything to do with it insofar as increased power could lead to increased wear/pressure on the engine?

 

^^^^Agree. Could be a blessing in disguise because if you have to spend that money just to get it back on the road you just as well have something better/stronger under the bonnet.

 

Subaru are happy with the PPP less so on the STI intercooler/bonnet scoop upgrade I would imagine. (Insurance companies don't like them) The upgrade has a big impact on the way a car performs out on the road.
It shouldn't have failed though, hope you're able to extract some plus's out of it.
All the best

 

That's bad news, sorry to hear that
Did you carry out any intermediate oil services?
Have they come up with an explanation as to why this may have happened since the car has been serviced regularly?

 

I realise that Subaru are happy with PPP but do you think that it might affect engine life expectancy?

 

If Subaru are happy with PPP and give a warranty on PPP surely that answers the question? PPP did not make this car blow up, If other mods have been done I'm afraid Subaru are within their rights to decline a repair, After saying that on my previous car (MY04 WRX) my local dealer fitted all sorts of after market parts with out complaint! (Robinsons of Rochdale we salute you) If the car has been ragged on track days as the piccys show it does give Subaru a good get out clause, particularly as the car is effectively 2/3rds of the year out of warranty. I feel for the owner as it's going to cost! But if the wallets out at least get some £/BHP.

Simpsons !

 

unfortunately i am in a similar position can you tell me where you got this done as its an option for me too i have heard the 2.5 is more flexible too?
t.b.h if i am to spend £3000 i would want some extra grunt not a replacement .. mine had 85,000 miles a ppp wagon 53 plate and currently sat in the garage.. patrolman confirmed bottom end damage and i am now canvassing opinions on what where and how much

 

I'm confused, you've got a PPP, you've got an STI intercooler upgrade, you've seriously upgraded your brakes, you use Powerstation to service your car... call me suspicious, but I'd "suggest" you may have had the PPP map "tweeked"? I certainly would have... no point otherwise...

I'd accept Subaru were not bourne yesterday and get a stronger lump installed for your 3k.

 

mitchjazz, has your car only had a PPP upgrade?
It's worrying 2 people have had big end failures on non modified(?) engines.

 

It probably doesn't help your case that your profile shows your car to have aftermarket mods and you racing on the track!

 

Even with a completely standard car, you would have been very fortunate to get a 'gesture of good-will' 8 months out of warranty. With the mods you have, I'd say you were very optimistic to ask..!

Still, look at it as a perfect excuse to have a nice 2.5 bottom end and a bigger turbo fitted..

 

He doesn't show any engine mods apart from the PPP

 

STI intercooler?

 

I thought that, you never know who's looking

 

STI IC..?
'Panel' filter..??

Also, iirc the warranty is not valid if the car is used on the track/competition (check the small print..)..?

These are potential problems for a car IN warranty, let alone when you're looking for a hand out 8mths out of warranty..!!

 

wait for all the "didn't prefill the filter" brigade to turn up

i think the goodwill coffers at i.m are running low, we tried for a broken tappit on a car 5 months out of warranty but with only 29k on the clock and that got refused as well.

 

i think the goodwill coffers at i.m are running low [/QUOTE]


I think your right but i think its the same with everything. hard times make things tighten!

 

Agreed that this can't help matters!

https://www.scoobynet.com/scooby.php...&photoid=15562

I was under impression that new age Scoob was/is bomb proof so I'm also surprised to hear that an engine has let go. Still seems rare though as I've only heard of this one & there must be 100's of 1000's of new age Scoobs on the road.

TX.

 

Thanks guys for the all comments and opinions. Have had no luck with IM over the phone or by letter.

Just have to stump up the cash and probably get a strengthened bottom end and if the funds strech far enough, bigger turbo and 3" Miltek system. car now moved to Powerstation awaiting the go-ahead.

Tony