Big ends gone at 60k?
 

Another question in my car search....

Spotted something matching my requirements on autotrader.

I asked the seller for further info, I have copied the following from his email..

It has a new clutch.
It has had a new engine fitted by Subaru in May. (Big ends on this model are
susceptable to failure around 60k miles).
It has had a recent cam belt change.
Pro drive upgrade has boosted power from standard 220 bhp to appx 267bhp.
minor touch up of stone chips to the front bonnet (as expected with a six year old car) and a minor peeling of protective film on the rear spoiler.

My question is, are the engines weak, is what he has said about big ends true?

Or are these issues minor?

p.s. I am thinking about viewing it this weekend

New engine - bonus!

Cambelt should be changed mid 40k
Clutch would probably need it (especially if they were at Santa Pod the other day)
Stone chips - yep

My engine went at 54k, but I was flat out in 5th gear :D

I'll let the techhies answer the weak engine bit in detail - LOL

Yes what he says about the big ends being prone is true. But they aren't prone to go at 60K.

Just it's a generalised weak spot in the engine design which will bring about failure due to one of the likely causes:

Bad maintanence/servicing
Crap oil
Airflow sensor (MAF) failure- especially on the year you say
Abuse
Bad/bodged modificatons/chips

A new engine is a good thing, just as long as it's been rebuilt properly, you say it's a genuine Subaru engine so no worries there then :)

Taken care of, they willl last alot longer than "60K" ask one of the high mileage owners on here :)

Peeling of protective film :confused: Surely he means the clear coat laquer is comming off....a sure sign the spoiler has been re-sprayed badly or it's been through the car-wash too many times

Just to be the exception that proves the rule - my engine went at 61,200 miles with big end failure. I was just driving home from work at the time, nothing strenuous. The car was a MY00 which I'd had from new, it had FSH at main dealers, and the only drivetrain mod was PPP.

It's mercifully rare - but it can happen and your seller is being perfectly honest about it. In my case it may have been a manufacturing fault, but nothing was ever proven.

My 94 STi has just gone and that was at about 90k and I would suggest was abused by the previous owner as well so 60k seems low to me?

Hi
My MY00 PPP Impreza has done over 80,000 miles and is lightly modded. No Probs.
My MY00 Forester S Turbo has covered 128,000 miles no probs.
Just make sure their serviced properly.
Jt

can anybody know wot there car has been through if pre-owned? mine went @ 52,000 altho it was only no.2 shell! still didnt stop me having a major overhaul and fitting everything P1 :D:D well before the tuscan! :D:D

Anybody had the rebuild done under warranty?

My '99 JDM Forester S/tb has provided 140,000 miles of completely trouble free motoring since I bought it new, and is still going strong*.

Prior to that I had a Legacy 4 cam Turbo that had covered 196,000 miles on the original engine when it was px'd for the Forester!

Neither car is/was driven particularly sympathetically - just well looked after in the servicing dept. Just goes to prove that they don't all break!

*Tempting fate?

I think earlier engines sound sweeter... my mechanic has heard a few 98/99 cars sounding slightly knocky... Ive got a 95 and its virtually silent.

Willy

Its because the engines are sponsered by cadburys ;)

you're not one of these embarrassing dads are you?

I looked at the car today.

The first thing I noticed was the huge blobs on the bonnet, where stone chips had been touched up very badly (wings and rear were also chipped).

The engine was not new but a re-con. It had done 2k since being installed.
It felt fine, no funny sounds.

It had a short shift, which I found really difficult to get into gear.

The car was described as excellent condition, but had the worse condition body on a scoob that I had ever seen. I don't think the respray needed can justify the high price of the car.

The re-con engine had a 3 month warranty (by Subaru), which had expired. I didn't think that was a good selling point.

look at more, id want a longer warranty for a recon engine.

Nicci,
If your not happy with the car, then walk away, there are plenty of other impreza's out there that wont give you grey hairs thinking things are going to go wrong :)
My hint is to go out and buy an autotrader, they have a buying guide that takes you though what you should look for on a car (dont forget to check all the levels in the engine bay on a scoob, including the gearbox oil level, dipstick found next to the intercooler, left hand side ;)) so a good place to start.
Plenty more fish in the sea as they say ;)

Tony:D

Just to show you whats also out there, and it sometimes pays to travel a little ;)

1999 S Reg SUBARU IMPREZA 2.0 TURBO ESTATE
UK car, unmarked cosmos silver paintwork, one lady owner, 87,000 miles with full SUBARU MAIN DEALER service history and in absolutely superb condition throughout. Features include air conditioning, alloys, power steering, eleectric windows, remote central locking,gauge pack, Subaru approved immobiliser/alarm etc etc. Mot Jan 05. Stunning looks with performance to match. One only. £7495 .For more of our quality cars, click on dealer website or go to www.priceritecars.co.uk. £7,495.
Price RiteDealer's Website Dealer's Location Tel: 0114 2218800
Distance: 40 miles

(main subaru dealer!)
Enlarge 2000 SUBARU Impreza Turbo, 1998,
S reg. 56000 miles, 5 door, UK car, one owner, FSH, CAT 1 alarm, 16inch alloy wheels. £7,995 . 01995 640542 Gibsons of Brock.
Gibson BrosDealer's Location Tel: (01995) 640542
Distance: 23 miles
Price: £7,995


Glossary of Terms



Enlarge



(main subaru dealer)

97(R) SUBARU IMPREZA Turbo 2000 4WD,
Green, Std, 6983613£7995. Glossary of TermsHoldcroft Subaru and Isuzu
Tel: 0151 4952091
Distance: 27 miles
Price: £7,995
Dealer's Website
Dealer's Location
Contact Dealer


Tony:D

Tony, I don't think you've read Nicci's wish list...

We know what to look for when buying run of the mill N/A cars. It just the more specialised bits on Scoobs that we need to know about.

Nicci's wish list is very specific and will not be deviated from. We are patient and can travel for the right car. It is very annoying when people say the car is "mint" or "excellent" condition when it is far from.

Nicci's wish list can be found here:
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=347958

Cheers
Garrick
(Nicci's other half)

Whats wrong with 5 doors and green? :D

Aircon will be the hardest bit for you, it isnt factory fitted, its a 1k option, ok the above are examples, then you have something a little older like this:-


1995 M SUBARU IMPREZA 2.0 turbo, Prodrive edition, UK supplied,stunning example.54000 miles full comprehensive service history,highly polished,headlamp covers, last owner for 8 years, prodrive suspension, prodrive gold alloys,Stainless exhaust,full STi interior trim, loads of history,new cambelt, all invoices with it,every MOT with it, must be the best example available at this age. must be seen to be appreciated £6995

You have to remember that at 6 years+ old, your not going to find many excellent examples, especially with air con (id personally go for the cleanest example you can, with or without a/c and get it fitted afterward, get your parts from somewhere like grade a subaru).
7k definately wont buy you a low mileage example though :( not a 97/98 car, your looking at average mileage here (60+k) and possably one that doesnt have fmdh, or any history to speak of :(
I always find though, that thursday morning, get on the autotrader site and do a search for what your after, ive bought a couple of good cars from looking first thing, and dont put it off, you will be amazed how quickly a bargain goes! :eek:

Tony:D

A few years back I owned a 95 Impreza turbo wagon.
When I purchased the car it had 120,000 miles on the clock, however, the engine was missing very badly under load. This turned out to be the fact that the previous owner had fitted standard plugs to the car. A new set of genuine spark plugs cured the problem and the car still drove spot on when I sold it with 150k on the clock 18 months later.
I think as long as they are looked after and serviced correctly they seem pretty reliable.
Andy

So is 3 month warranty on a re-con engine too low (I think it is)?

and to Tony, thanks. I am checking autotrader twice a day. I know I am ruling lots of cars out having aircon on my list, but I will see what comes along.

Presumably you know this already, but I'm fairly sure you can still have aircon retro-fitted to any classic Impreza. None of the cars left the factory with it, it was always fitted by a specialist prior to registration. It was £995 new.

I fitted air con myself to my MY00, and took it to the local garage for gassing up

Cost me approx 250 quid for the bits, and about half a day to fit it all, and 40 quid for re-gas & test

Works a treat :)

Would you care to tell me where you got the bits from? :)

Sounds good Sonic :D
If i gave you £350, would you fit it to mine? :)

I got all the bits from here :)

and the Rad from Grade-A, belt & a few bolts from the dealers

Fitting was quite easy, the hardest part being the heater matrix, although on the facelift classics, this is relatively easy

Remove the glovebox, then 4 bolts to remove the matrix :)

Glenburgie in scotland were selling complete kits for 175 +vat +shipping

Sounds good to me. Got roasted this summer gone :D

What summer? :Suspiciou ;)

You remember that day back in June don't ya? :D

Is it really that easy?

Air Con fitting is that easy yes :)

as long as you get all the right bits :D

as they changed the bits, year to year