I'm due a service soon. What are peoples thoughts on how important it is to get it serviced at Subaru? If I get it serviced elsewhere and still get a stamp in the book does it make a difference really?

 

IMHO not necessary, but a specialist is better than a no-name back street garage.

My pal gets me Millers oils at silly cheap prices, so I do my own lub, but timing belts etc., I use my tame mechanic/MOT tester.

HTH

dunx

 

To be honest i'd never take my car to subaru, i'd always use a specialist like API, Greers etc. Better service, prices and the quality is second to none.

 

It rather depends on how you intend to move the car on when you sell it.

 

I reckon most people would want to see dealer history for the first 3 years, then a good specialist after that.

 

You'll always get different replies on this. I've had my two main services and oil changes done at Subaru - not had anything to complain about as yet and they're normally pretty good with extras ie changing side light bulbs,back boxes etc during the normal service period/cost.

Having said that i do call specialists as well but the price isn't much diferent normally. We'll see when my third service is due!

 

If you trade your car in to a dealer, they'll probably knock money off if it's not got Subaru stamps.
If you sell privately to a 1st time Scoob owner, they will like to see Subaru stamps.
If you sell to someone who knows best (like most on here), they will prefer known specialist stamps.

I'd say Main Dealer stamps would be ideal, but you have to weigh up the cost and consider how long you intend to keep the car and how old it is. As said, if it's under 3 years old and you don't intend to keep it very long, then safer to stick to Subaru.

 

Well I would have a nice day out if I were you forget those who say speciallists are better than subaru dealers, not correct, you get "speciallists" who are worse than most subaru dealers and you get some that are as good or better than most subaru dealers, but personally if you want to keep that stamp in the book, take her to Prosport in Stockport (0161 4329999) as you wont find a better garage, dealer or speciallist, that does the job out there as good as Pete and the boys

Tony

 

If i was buying a car i'd probably lean towards one with a dealer/specialist history, but from a owner point of veiw i do my own servicing and then i know 100% its been done to a high standard and i've not been ripped off.

 

I would agree with tony prosport stockport not to far away and know there subarus.

 

Personally if there are receipts/history for parts & work done even if by the owner himself I would be happy.
Sometimes more so as you tend to look after your own car 100% right if you can

 

It is essential that you have dealer service history during the warranty period of a new car. After that it is your choice.

But if you go to a specialist or do your own work during the manufacturers warranty period, you will void the warranty.

You can buy an extended warranty of one or two years, I think, from the dealer and that again ties you to the manufacturer and his terms and conditions for a further period.

After the manufacturers warranty is expired I don't think it makes a deal of difference proividing it is done by a known Subaru repairer. " Fred in the shed " probably wouldn't help - competent though most of them are - HISTORY - is the word when trying to sell a car for best price.

David APi

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Dave, its infact against civil law for a manufacturer to void a car's warranty because of where its serviced; so long as genuine parts and manufacturer's reccomened fluids are used.

Dealer (i.e 3rd party extended, i.e second or thrid year onwards) warranties may have a clause; so the onus is to check the small print. These are usually underwritten by the insurance sector so their clauses vary depending on who underwrites it.

But I'll say again, if its a manufacturer's warranty (first year), you can have it serviced where you like. Just keep proof that genuine parts were used (invoices etc).

 

Yeah I know all that. You try it with I. M. See where you get - and who needs the hassle of trying to sue a major motor manufacturer. That will cost more, potentially prove fruitless and cost heaps.

The money loss trying to sue them will be greater than the differential cost of the dealer versus independent servicing costs......

It is better [ less potential hassle ] to pay up for the overpriced dealer servicing during warranty, then look elsewhere.

David

 

He is right you know

TBH David has got more to gain by saying different of course

 

Your telling me that I.M are ignoring EU law thats been in force since 2003 which every other manufacturer abides by? (http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/busi...BER/index.html )

Shocking. Illegal. And downright underhand. Why is the OFT not informed of this?

Having said that, this could change again in early 2010 as the current motor vehicle block exemption regulations (MV-BER) will expire ( info here: http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib...snbt-05060.pdf ). Time will tell what the new MV-BER regs will include.

 

Listen, never let the truth get in the way of a good advert

 

Dealers and warranty assessors are also first class bulls**tters when it come to wriggling their way out of a hefty claim.

They back down quite easily after you provide relevent quotes of the law and proof that work is carried out as per manufacturer's specs. (been there done that - won ).

What often people fail on with independant servicing is not using genuine parts. Say, an engine fails whilst in warranty, the dealer/warranty assessor looks at it and finds a Fram oil filter on it; bang goes your warranty.

 

No, not ignoring the law by any means, More along the lines of being obstructive and unhelpful.

We bought and used an I.M. factory recon Impreza short motor way back in 03 or maybe 04, bought through our then dealer at Fenny Compton garage.

It was built into an engine and supplied for a standard road car to a "fred in a shed " in Stoke on Trent. It rattled the moment it started and the actual fault was that one of the big ends had been left untorqued. Finger tight, but not torqued.

We paid for the garage to take the engine out again , we collected it, rebuilt another unit, returned it to the garage to refit it. We picked up all of the costs.

We were then told that the fact it was " not fit for service " meant nothing to IM, as they never covered " incidental costs " if they didn't fit it. Eventually after 9 months of arguing, I got back the cost price of their bag of poo short motor.

Never again. That episode cost us around 500 quid.

So you can understand my reluctance to rely upon what the BER says they must do.

David

 

they can also refuse a claim if it's over 1000 miles past it's due service time, thats another get out clause for manufacturers

 

I'd echo this, a big folder full of receipts (preferably in some kind of order) is far more important to me than stamps in a service book ...it's not exactly difficult to fake a stamp ...plus Subaru (dealers) also seem pretty good at losing info re: past services (so can double check a cars history) too

 

If you want to p/x your old car against a new/used car at a Subaru main dealer then they will want to see main dealer service history, they cannot put a Subaru assured warranty on a car that does not have main dealer history.

I know this from experience, my Legacy Spec B was serviced from new by a local Subaru specialist and not the morons at Sparshatts where I got the car from, but when I brought another new car from them three years later they were unable to offer me as much for my Spec B as they could not put an assured warranty back on it due to the specialist history, they basically had to farm my old car out to a broker rather than put it on their forecourt.

I succesfully made several large warranty claims, it was a struggle to get them sorted, but I've always had trouble with Subaru and warranty claims (with or without dealer history).

 

Same here..

I have a folder full of receipts/docs, starting with the original (new) car purchase invoice and including everything ever spent on the car in the 5yrs I've owned it, from light bulbs through to AP's etc. All include the recorded mileage with date and are in chronological order. TBH it's more for my peace of mind than any potential resale value and something I've done with all my cars.

One day I'll add up what I've spent... like hell I will lol..

 

Just realised that one of the stamps in the book isn't subaru so wouldn't be full subaru history anyway. Will see what quotes I can get elsewhere. Subaru quoting me circa £450 for my 60k service; hope I can beat that elsewhere! Is there anywhere that lists exactly what is required from the service?
Cheers

 

^^^

If that 60k service includes cam/timing belt (which it should at that mileage) it ain't too bad tbh..

 

Does any one have a list that has mileages/age and what services are due depending on mileage?

I have bought an 05 sti with DCCD, but only has 20,000 miles on it.
I'm wondering when is cambelt due, given it hasn't been done and its 4 years old....albeit with low mileage.

Cheers.

 

50k for cambelt.

Big service is your next one though, 30k as that's diff oil etc.

Good price list here http://www.grahamgoode.com/subaru/im...cesMay2009.pdf

The 'FSH' on a 20k car which is 5 years old bugs me as it usually amounts to 2 services in 5 years. The 'or 12 months' bit is the bit most people ignore.

I have a good set of stamps in my book and a folder full of reciepts. It is a modded car anyway so a garage would never understand the value as a trade in. I'd get more private.

5t.

 

Mine is 4 year old with 3 services and 20k miles.
I wonder should i be getting a T-belt done soon as a precaution anyway??
Prob due diff and gearbox oils now also, even though its not up to 30k miles.

 

Aye not singling your car out in particular chap, its just a general rant. Same as a weekend toy that only ever goes places at max attack then there are questions as to why the motor has let go wehn its only done 30k (ignoring the fact it's been pushed hard and serviced by miles not years...)

I would say youn are getting up to the oils, the belt is 5 years really but it is easy to look at and see if it has cracks in due to the rubber perishing. If not, its ok to go!

5t.

 

Ye i think when it hits 40k kilometers (here) i'll do the diff oils etc an check T-belt. It has 35k kms on it now. Next service is meant to be done at 47k i think.

I'm a little paranoid about T-belts as I had a 05 VW caddy that broke teeth of the timing belt, which had only been done 5k before hand! Luckily i've already got a v tuned in ear, and heard the engine not change while sittin on the motorway donig 80 on the cruise control, and though....."whats that?" pulled into the hard shoulder, knocked it off, checked the dip stick etc, then it wouldn't re-start because timing had gone out.......Lucky it didn't restart! Turned out no damage was done, bar the faulty belt.