wheelie_sti

Guys,

Have a MY03 STI (new shape) and have noticed that at speeds of 80 and over, the bonnet will raise at the edges maybe 1 to 2 inches.
I have checked the front bonnet lock and at rest the bonnet is extremely secure.

Should I be seeing such movement in the bonnet edges, I know the bonnet scoop is pretty outrageous but this can't be right can it?

My local subaru garage are about as much use as **** on a fish and pawn me off with nonsense. Any other STI drivers had anything similar, could it be a design issue? Is it worth investing in corner bonnet fasteners as seen on wrc scooby's?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks guys

Pete

Ex_Pug

1-2 inches?!!! Are you sure?

Some movement is normal, but I can't imagine you mean it's moving that much?

scoobyslut

I think if the bonnet was lifting 1-2 inches there would now be some nasty creases in the panel, let alone a slight blemish in the paint!
I can see there being some "lift" due to the size of the stupid air scoop height, which they had an "issue" with when first released.

I would be reluctant to retro fit additional lock pins, seeing as how tacky they look, plus it means drilling the bonnet too. So why not let the manufacturer take full responsibility if it decides to flip over,rather than it costing you money, afterall, you pay enough for the car in the first place.

Monkeh

i was driving up the M1 during the strong winds last week, and the bonnet was flexing a good coupld of cm's i had to slowdown at one point because i though it was going to rip off.

60mph head winds at 80mph is not good

wheelie_sti

Hmm, you're probably right about the amount of movement its more like 1 or 2 cm but at speed from where Im sat it seems more

Just don't fancy a Marko Martin and end up driving with the bonnet up.

Cheers guys

Pete

Italian Jobber

Tend to agree with you, had an STI on demo the other day and did notice the same problem with the bonnet lift. The bonnet lift was so great (at least 20mm at corners) that I had to slow down to under 70.
Went back and explained the problem to the dealer and was assured the car would be fine for at least 300MPH.
Have now ordered an STI and rest assured if it blows open I will regard it as a warranty issue with Subaru UK.
The Aluminium bonnet was a bad way to go me thinks without some serious cross ribbing.

greasemonkey

If the rest of the car hadn't been so darn heavy, they wouldn't have had to make the bonnet so thin! I suspect there's also an issue here with the blobeye redesign being carried out quite hurriedly. Maybe the bonnet would have been a bit sturdier if they'd had more time to test it.

The bonnet is retained very securely by the lock, there's an extremely small chance of it actually opening under aerodynamic load.

ShyTot

Has anybody thought what migh happen if the bonnet can up on the motorway.....
It happened to a friend of mine a good few years ago in a Volvo. It VERY quickly folded over the windscreen and smashed it, throwing alot of glass in his face.
And then guess what ????

He was doing 70MPH in the outside lane of the motorway, but he couldn't see where he was going!!!!!!

We lauged about it afterwards, but I think a new pair of pants were in order at the time....

greasemonkey

I've had a bonnet come up on me in very similar circumstances, lane 3 of the M4. Did the windscreen, folded over the roofline and shattered the sunroof as well, bloody glass everywhere.

As you say, vision is somewhat restrictive, but no point panicking, that's when accidents happen. Just had a good look round, principally to make sure the driver of the car behind me hadn't done anything silly, pulled gently over to the hard shoulder, and started working out a way to tie the bonnet down.

wheelie_sti

---------------

Jesus dude, don't even go there, it's been on my mind since the heavy winds last week
What are we saying? If the bonnet flips up it's a warranty issue for sure?
If thats the case, is it worth re-itterating to the dealer that if such a thing happens I will be back with avengence just to make sure that such a visit/concern was raised and documented!

Pete

greasemonkey

Hell no, it's nowhere near as black and white as that. Would depend entirely on the circumstances.

wheelie_sti

Thanks for all the replies guys, really appreciate it. As i suspected it's not as cut and dry an issue as i first thought.
Ill keep you posted of any further issues.

Remember guys, lets be careful out there, guys with blue nipples on the roof just love to harass us!

Pete

Gutmann pug

M40 on friday going to TSL, sat behind an identical car to mine and my bonnet came part way un-done and stopped on the lock. I was travelling at a fair speed and it made me jump to say the least. TSL had a good look and said everything was hunky dorey ..... next time im out in high wind i will wear brown trousers i think

wheelie_sti

DUDE !

Your supposed to be makin me feel better about the situation

Pete

wrx_sti_my04

I spend more time looking at the rear spoiler on my MY04 wobble up and down so too busy to notice the bonnet flex.

Gary C

Pete

I have exactly the same problem, it lifts to scary angles at the edges. Went to the dealer and for about 10s he tried to convince me I was seeing things !!!! (put him right about that)

Complained to Subaru, and got a letter back saying they have not had a bonnet failure or any creasing or folding. I was not too happy, but I have the complaint on file so if I get any problems, they can sort it out.

After a while I don't notice it now and its has stayed on at upto £"$ MPH so it seems to be ok.

Glad someone else has noticed it, begining to think I was going crazy.

Granby

iTrader: (5)

Just been down the M4 and i noticed the bonnet lifting at the edges, wasn't much but did make me think ;-)

Elmer Fudpucker

Since reading this thread I've been keeping an eye on what my bonnets been doing!!..03STi

and it's not moving that much at all,not enough to cause concern anyway,

However the rear spoiler is doing its best to double as a Rolf Harris wobbleboard

Harry_Boy

It's mainly due to the aluminium construction, exacerbated by the design of the somewhat excessive scoop.

My MY02 does it too, by the way..... No probs in two years of "enthusiastic" motoring, however....

Gary C

My EVO had an ally bonnet too and that never moved. The airflow and the scoop must do it. Carbon fibre anyone ?

Nog

...whether:

An STi 8 bonnet scoop can be fitted to an MY04 WRX. If so:

a) Is it a direct replacement, or is there a "fixing kit" (never seen the underside of an STi bonnet)
b) Will it affect the warranty?
c) Where can I get one?

Also, reading the rest of this thread, is the MY04 WRX bonnet made out of
aluminium? (trading my MY00 in for an MY04 v.soon)

Thanks

Nog

Granby

iTrader: (5)

Yes the MY04 WRX bonnet is made out of aluminium

greasemonkey

Erm, no. STi8 is the MY02 (bugeye) car. It's the MY03/04 STi (i.e. STi9/10) scoop that can be fitted direct to the MY03/04 WRX bonnet

Assuming you're actually talking about the MY03/04 STi scoop, yes, should go straight in.

Theoretically not, as increasing the scoop efficiency leads to reduction in charge temps, which should be a good thing for the engine, but this is one of those "better safe than sorry" situations.

Subaru dealers, indpendent specialists, grey importers, breakers like Grade A etc.

There are a couple of people making 03/04STi style scoops for retro-fitting to MY01/02 bonnets. I believe that these are slightly different to the "real" big scoop as the hole in the older bonnet is a different size. Still, it'd be worth checking, as you're likely to find the "copy" scoops are cheaper than the real thing, and are, so I gather, better made.

Yes.

Nog

Thanks Greasemonkey.

I will talk to my dealer when I get the car.

What's the difference between the STi 9 and 10 then?

greasemonkey

Better not to use these STi "numbers" with the new age cars, as they're not official designations, and are widely misinterpreted, as you're now aware. One person's "8" is another's "10", which does nothing but cause confusion! Better and more straightforward to use the model year and market designation instead.

As to the differences between the MY03 STi's (i.e. STi9) and the MY04 (10)equivalents, as far as I'm aware they're very slight, with the most obvious cosmetic change being the square boot lock.

BruceWarne2

Have had mine up to 260+ kph (around 162+ mph) on the clock.
Bonnet still there.
In any case, I reckon the scoop will rip off before the bonnet opens.