My 06 WRX Sportwagon developed a whining noise a week or so back so took it to my local independent garage. They suspected the gearbox bearings had gone and would cost me about £700 to fix. Given that the car has only done 43,000 miles it seems to me that something like this should not be failing. The car has been serviced in my ownership at 30,000 and 40,000 miles by my local Subaru franchise so I took it to them for a 2nd opinion. They suspect a front diff bearing and reckon £900 to fix.

I bought the car, which is a Cyprus import, 2nd hand but all the servicing looks to have been done in accordance with the book.

Question is have I got any chance of Subaru UK or Subaru Japan helping me out on this?

Many thanks