Confusion over MY number of my car...
 

I always beleived my car was a MY98 model (UK) - the date it was registered on the V5 was 4/6/98, same as the service handbook. It has the new style dashboard, white dials, momo steering wheel, passenger airbag and 16" wheels so I assume it's a MY98....

However, the HT leads under the engine are dated 1997 (!?!...), the MOT certificates I have say first date of use 1997, I also can't find a Low-Fuel Warning light on the dash (I thought this was introduced for MY98!?!?)

Is this an MY97 car or definately an MY98?!....

Can anyone advise me? Where the hell is the low fuel warning light?... I have shone a torch on the dashboard and can't see it anywhere! I've let the fuel run down as far as I dare and still nothing! Can anyone point to where it exactly is?

Thanks,
Matt.

MY98

MY97's had old dash . the MY is the next full year after 1st reg - and MOT states that as they guess the date by just looking at the reg.

bit confusing i know... ;)

Steve

Cinders

AFAIK, Subaru (along with everybody else) start manufacturing their next model year cars some time before the on sale date, ie MY98 cars would have been built from Sept / Oct 97 onwards, hence the date on the leads. The MoT certificate states the "approximate date of first use". If no registration document is available to the MoT tester, he has to use a date estimated from the reg plate. So, if yours is an R plate its first use could be either 97 or 98. However, I think the new dash was brought in for the 98 model. Not sure about the warning light feature tho. I'm sure there'll be someone along PDQ to correct me if I'm wrong ;)

(Edditeed four krapp spelinng)

Its really easy and will take you about 10 seconds to check.

Lift the the bonnet and on the right hand side (passenger side) there is a silver VIN plate by the top of the suspension turret.

On that plate is an applied model code.

GC8EK8D = MY97 uk 4 door turbo
GC8FK8D = MY98 uk 4 door turbo

The 4th digit is the important one E = 97, F=98, G=99, H=00

If you have a wagon (5 door) then the second digit will be an F rather than a C

eg

GF8EK8D = MY97 uk 5 door turbo
GF8FK8D = MY98 uk 5 door turbo

The low fuel indication on my MY98 (registered 1/2/98) is an amber fuel pump sign which illuminates just below the fuel gauge and left of the red ABS indication (on the left of the area of other warnings).

The low fuel indication on my MY98 (registered 1/2/98) is an amber fuel pump sign which illuminates just below the fuel gauge and left of the red ABS indication (on the left of the area of other warnings).

may be the change over MY97 to 98 model.. like cossie killer Stef had.. MY98 interior etc.. but still with the MY97 bumper.. wheich changed later in that year

Ian - Ian,

Does the low fuel light come on for a bit when you first turn the ignition on like the ABS light comes on for a bit then turns off?

Thanks,
Matt.

What was the difference between the MY97 and MY98 bumper?...

This is my front bumper....

http://cinders.fotopic.net/p2035827.html

MY97:
Wing back seats (black & grey)
Subaru steering wheel
15" wheels
2 pot brakes (no subaru markings)
No centre pod on dash
Black dials
Front bumper with 2 holes/vents under the front indicator
Front grill flush with headlights
Low level rear spoiler

MY98:
Wing back seats (black & grey)
Momo badged air bag steering wheel
16" 5 spoke alloy wheels
2 pot brakes (no Subaru Markings)
Centre compartment on top of dash
White dials
Front bumper with 2 holes/vents under the front indicator
Front grill flush with headlights
Low level rear spoiler

MY99:
Wing back seats (blue & grey)
Momo badged air bag steering wheel
16" 5 spoke alloy wheels
4 pot brakes (with Subaru Markings)
Centre compartment on top of dash
White dials
Front bumper with 1 orange vent under the front indicator
Front grill with 'bottom lip' sticking out
Mid-level 'STI 4' rear spoiler

MY00:
Wing back seats (blue & grey)
Momo badged air bag steering wheel
16" 6 spoke alloy wheels
4 pot brakes (with Subaru Markings)
Centre compartment on top of dash
White dials
Front bumper with 1 orange vent under the front indicator
Colour coded wing mirrors and door handles
Silver/Grey centre console surround (rather than black in the MY98/99)
Front grill with 'bottom lip' sticking out
Mid-level 'STI 4' rear spoiler

The MY97 and MY98 has exactly the same front ends!

Cinders, if you have the white dials (white during the day/black with green numbers at night) and the centre pod on the dash, then you have a MY98!

I hope that makes sense!

Well I didn't know that... that means mines a MY00... I thought mine was a MY99, because it was first registered 23 dec 99...
Is this a good thing then...???
Is the MY00 the better one to have apposed to what I thought it was... the MY99...?

The MY's normally run from about September to August, so a MY00, will be from about September 99 to August 00.

Obviously it depends on whether you are being sold stock that has sat around or new stock.

I hate to say it, having owned a MY99 and a MY00, I would say the MY99 is a better car IMHO. The MY00 has the ECU that overfuels more offering more 'protection', but robs the car of some power.

It's down to a difference in the ECU map. This can easily be fixed by getting an Ecutek re-map. (I have never used Ecutek, but I'm sure someone else can give you more information if required!) :)

Cheers matey, may look into it at a later date... got 45K service due soon ££££££....

No it isn't. The model year is the official designation given to that particular batch specification of car by the manufacturer. As the others have said, the new model year goes into manufacture around September at the Subaru factory, with the cars normally reaching the UK dealer chain in December/January, although it can be earlier or later according to how much stock of the "old" cars IM are holding.

The date of first use isn't "guessed" on cars supplied through UK dealers, it will be supplied by the dealer/importer/manufacturer.

On pre-owned imports the date of first use often is a guesstimate, and to a certain extent relies upon the honesty/knowledge of the person subitting the car for SVA.

Not necessarily. Could be either.

It still could be. Depending on how much stock Subaru UK had when you bought your car, it could be an MY99 or MY00.

The model year has nothing to do with the date the car was registered, it's to do with the batch specifications the cars are manufactured to.

Steady on Tonto, you don't know what you have yet!
If your car came with colour coded doorhandles, mirrors, maplights in the headlining and variable speed wash wipe, it's an MY00. If it doesn't, it's an MY99.

Not worth arguing the toss about. If it's an MY00 it'll have the sucky AE802 ECU, but it also has the colour coded bits and extra interior toys mentioned above, and should also have the cambelt service interval at 60,000 miles instead of 45K.

If it's an MY99 it won't have the toys, but is likely to have the much better AE801 ECU (although some late MY99's did have the 802!).

Matt

The low fuel light only comes on when the fuel is low, never comes on during ignition on/start

Ian Ian

I've FOUND IT!.... It took a bit of looking with a torch but I can definately see it left of the ABS light (thanks Ian)

I guess now it's time to test it out.... How much fuel is left (rough miles?) when the light comes on?...

Careful, it may be that while the imprint for the fuel light is physically on the instrument panel, it may be that there's no lightbulb behind it. Always thought that the light was introduced on the MY99 cars.

If it is working, it will come on when there are around eight litres left in the tank (plus or minus a bit, obviously).

Have you checked the vin plate ?

Mine is deffo a MY00... its got all the colour coded bits, map lights etc etc...
I'm still tempted to get cambelt changed though for peice of mind really... it's on 42K at the moment...