shady2

I collect My first Subaru on saturday, an EU Import WRX.

Has anybody any experience of warranty problems as the vehicle was supplied outside the U.K?, Or hopefully any positive stories to tell.

shady2

Please help someone.

Surely someone out there with a 01/02 import has registered a car with Subaru so their vehicle is covered by warranty for three years?.

mutant_matt

OK,

It doesn't really work like that. You import your car and register it with Subaru (UK) - often refered to as IM (International Motors). IM are none to pleased about you importing a car (well you can't really expect them to be can you? ) so don't be surprised if they don't roll out the red carpet for you!!

If you do require some warranty work, having your car already registered with IM can save you weeks! The local dealer will decide what work needs doing, will contact IM and they will either get authorisation from your originating importer before undertaking the work or you will have to pay for the work and then claim it back from the originating importer.

Does that help?

Matt

shady2

Cheers Matt.
Thanks for the help.

Philip Attaway

So Matt

Would the importer register the car with IM or would you have to do it once you had the car?

Phil

PS Still ok for Sunday *maybe*?!?

[Edited by Philip Attaway - 2/24/2003 8:53:26 PM]

mutant_matt

Phil,

The importer doesn't register it with IM, you have to. Having said that, I've been lazy this time round and I still haven't got round to registering my car with IM yet.

Matt

Pete Croney

A new Subaru, bought anywhere in Europe, is now covered by a 3 year manufacturers warranty. Register it with Subaru UK.

There used to be problems with somethings not being covered by the local warranties given by some EU importers, but this has now been address by the warranty being supplied by FHI (Fuji Heavy Industries).

Happy motoring.

3times

Pete,
I assume that this now means that UK dealers 'SHOULD' help with warrenty claims on imports.

This could be good news as I am just about to start test driving.

mutant_matt

Don't bank on it!!! (though I still think it's worth it importing from Europe)

Matt

ZIPPY

Myself and a friend both have MY01 imports from Belgium and our cars have had several warranty claims and in my case a complete new Turbo within 12 months,our local Subaru dealer cant have been more helpfull and although the go ahead may take an extra couple of days from Belgium ALL the work has been covered at no cost to either of us.
Dont get me wrong another dealer treated us both like something on his shoe when he realised our cars were imported and how dare we come to him for our first service and pay him good money.
But since the other dealer opened going there for work warranty/Service cant get much better.

Dont worry get importing and save £££'s

Zippy

sickboy

I had to have some work done on my Belgian My99 some time back. Turned out to be a timing chain tensioner, but the dealer didn;t spot it and had the whole engine disassembled and sent for measuring. In the end they worked it out.

They were very good- put the warranty claim in and I didn't have to pay a penny.

Having pre-registered with IM probably helped the process. It was a pallaver at the time as I recall.

IM warranty told me to register at my local dealer. The dealer said it wasn't their job. (Repeat for several iterations). Eventually sent info via registered post to IM......must have worked because it was on their system.

BMWhere?

My experience was the other way round... I had my UK MY98 in Germany and had a problem with the boost sensor. I had to pay for the work up front in Germany and keep all the parts replaced, then made the warrenty claim to directly IM who eventually re-imbursed the full cost including labour!

MJW

My MY02 is Belgium sourced too. I'd recommend you register it with Subaru UK as soon as it arrives. I also got confirmation in writing that my 3-year warranty was activated and would advise you to do the same.
The car has been fine - no problems whatsoever - and my local dealer has no problems with servicing it.

mutant_matt

Perhaps they are becomming more resigned to it as when I registered my MY00, I got no confirmation that they had registered it, and I had to phone them to check.

Like has been said, it seems that how it works depends on how customer focused your dealer is.....

Matt

AndyMoody

iTrader: (2)

I'm importing a MY03 from Holland in a few months time. The 1000 mile service will probably be due within the first couple of weeks. Should I go to my dealer for the service and ask them to register it or contact IM directly as soon as possible with the details? I assume I contact West Bromwich with the info? Which department and what info do they need?

Thanks,

Andy.

MJW

Register it with IM directly. Here's the letter I sent them, just copy and paste it and fill in the relevant details where I've 'x'd em out :

--------

Subaru (UK) Limited
Ryder Street
West Bromwich
West Midlands
B70 0EJ

FTAO : Warranties Department


Dear Sir,

Re : Impreza WRX VIN No. [xxx]
I write with reference to the above mentioned vehicle which I recently imported from Subaru Belgium. I would like to activate the manufacturer’s 3-year warranty from when the car goes on the road on March 1st 200x. Please find enclosed the following documents :

• Copy of V5 registration document : Reg. Mark xxxx xxx
• Copy of dealer invoice from xxx, Belgium
• Copy of Certificate of Conformity from Fuji Heavy Industries, Japan

Please can you confirm safe receipt of these documents, and that my warranty has been activated.
Yours faithfully,

xxx

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

They should then send you written confirmation. Sorted !

Phil Herrup

Thanks MJW. Very helpful. I'm also importing a WRX soon from Holland though I am doing this through an agent and they have agreed to register with IM for me.

shady2

Thanks also MJW, Excellent letter I will send mine off as soon as the car arrives.