Browsing through the S`sport website I saw reference to servicing to "Subaru best practice"? Does this mean that if Scoobysport service my car Subaru will accept this for warranty purposes?
I have to admit I begrudge paying silly money for sevices which include checks that I do every week anyway! I have to admit, however that at the 7500 service the dealer agreed not to check the scheduled fluid levels and used the oil I supplied which reduced my bill to just over £30, but I got what I wanted-the dealers stamp in the book! I religiously change oil+filter mid way between sheduled services.
JohnD

 

John
From what I was told by a (subaru) dealer, ANY garage can service your car, as long as they use original Subaru components, and the warranty would not be affected.
I would still check it out with your dealer though.
Ron

 

John

Further to what Ron has said, as long as the services are carried out to the same standard (i.e. performing the correct fluid changes etc) aswell as using genuine parts and the services are carried out at the correct mileage / time intervals, then any garage can service your car and you can still say that it has a 'full service history' (and your warranty will still be intact, although if you take this route, then you may well be opening yourself upto some hassle from IM, if you needed to make a warranty claim).

Obviously with a less 'main stream' car like the Subaru, you are best sticking to either your main dealer or good independent company (such as Scoobysport).

Chris

[This message has been edited by Chris L (edited 05 January 2001).]

 

Guys you are quite right.

Manufacturers/importers used to be able to insist that you had the car serviced by a franchise dealer, to maintain your warranty. But some years ago the EC got hold of this and deemed it a restrictive practise.

To comply, you must use the manufacturers OE parts and recommended lubricants. Silkolene is not recommended by Subaru UK, but we spoke to the head of warranties just over a year ago and ran through all the specs of the fluids we use. These exceeded the requirements laid down by FHI and we got approval.

We have invested heavily in all of the Subaru specialist tools, the diagnostic units and the full set of workshop manuals.

Having serviced and repaired Imprezas and Legacies for 4 years (and only these cars) we are probably more experienced than many franchise dealer technicians. Many of you know that Steve Lawson joined the workshop team a while ago, Steve has worked on Subarus for over 7 years and has been on virtually every Subaru workshop training course.

We also charge for the job on what it takes, not what the book allows us.

The one thing we can't do at the moment is warranty repairs. This will change at the end of this year.

If one factor alone set us apart from other Impreza servicing companies it is that we are Impreza users.

We have 6 Imprezas between 7 staff. We drive and enjoy our Imprezas every day. It is only with such intimate, long term use of the car that we can diagnose some of the faults that occur. When we drive an Impreza, we know exactly how it should feel. Whether its a Sport or a 22B. We also know how our customers will use them and what they expect.

Because we expect the same.

 

Thanks guys, this is good news.
Pete - I`ll be in touch in due course re-15000 service.
Regards JohnD

 

Pete,

certainly not wishing to doubt your word, but for my own peace of minds sake, have you an electronic copy of this agreement.

I for one would switch to using you, but the little nagging voice at the back of my head always says "IM will try to get out of it (if something goes wrong) if you dont get a dealer to service it"....

Only risk will be once I start to use you, its going to be harder and harder to avoid those brakes and a full SS exhaust!

robski

 

I don't have a copy, although I did read about it in the Telegraph when it came into force.

You could call Subaru UK for clarification.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that when the the law regarding warranties was changed if stated that;

Firstly, any reputable dealer can service your car to manufacturers approved schedules.

Either OE or "comparable quality" parts can be used for the servicing. This is certainly true where people choose to replace their standard brakes for AP's or Brembo's.

 

Yes Kurt, in fact the warranty booklet says "equivalent design and quality".