OEM and approved mods?
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OEM and approved mods?
I bought a 04 WRX 2 months ago and purchased the extended warranty because I plan on putting high miles on the car over the next 3-4 years. After purchasing the car, I read on the internet and was informed by my dealer that ANY mods made by companies not selling through the Subaru catalog would violate and kill any warranty that I had on the car. My Subaru dealer then gave me a catalog with "genuine subaru" performance parts including an exhaust and spring lowering kit.
Is it worth paying the extra $$ for the subaru parts? If putting an aftermarket exhaust, chip and spring kit kill the warranty I may just as well leave the car stock.
What do you folks do to improve performance while keeping the warranty valid?
Is it worth paying the extra $$ for the subaru parts? If putting an aftermarket exhaust, chip and spring kit kill the warranty I may just as well leave the car stock.
What do you folks do to improve performance while keeping the warranty valid?
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From: Lonestar State
Car Info: WRBlue 2k5 Subaru WRX STi
I called my dealer yesterday to ask them if installing an STi Axle-back takeoff would void my warranty. They said "No" as long as I leave the catalytic converters in tact.
I don't remember seeing any real performance parts that would produce HP gains in the Subaru catalog. I could be wrong.
Also, some people remove their aftermarket parts and switch back to stock before they bring it in the dealer.
Depends on how much you want to add in your car. Those Subaru parts are a little too pricey for my shallow pockets.
I don't remember seeing any real performance parts that would produce HP gains in the Subaru catalog. I could be wrong.
Also, some people remove their aftermarket parts and switch back to stock before they bring it in the dealer.
Depends on how much you want to add in your car. Those Subaru parts are a little too pricey for my shallow pockets.
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It really all depends on your dealership's service department. Some around here will let you come in with a full catless turboback, chip, etc. with no problems. Other dealers won't work on your car even with the Subaru parts. Strictly speaking, changing anything to be other than stock is grounds to refuse warranty repair on the changed item and any system directly affected by it. If you're that worried, just stay stock. Of course, staying stock is no fun....
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I've put just over 6000 miles on my car over the past 8 weeks. I was also out of state for a week, and put about 1k miles on a rental car during that time. My motorcycle only had 750 miles put on it during this time and it feels very ignored.
I'd like to do some things to improve the performance of the car, but I don't want to risk not getting covered. I think I'll go for an Accessport in the near future, and add springs, wheels & better rubber next summer. I think the Subaru performance exhaust offers more noise & some power, but I think it's less power than most decent aftermarket systems which doesn't justify the high price.
I'm moving to New Hampshire in a few weeks and I'll see how dealers up there handle mods on cars.
I'd like to do some things to improve the performance of the car, but I don't want to risk not getting covered. I think I'll go for an Accessport in the near future, and add springs, wheels & better rubber next summer. I think the Subaru performance exhaust offers more noise & some power, but I think it's less power than most decent aftermarket systems which doesn't justify the high price.
I'm moving to New Hampshire in a few weeks and I'll see how dealers up there handle mods on cars.
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From: Driving the Green Beast
Car Info: Version 7.5 2002 STi
If you stick to bolt ons you can always remove or have them removed, just hang on to your OEM parts. An accessport is nice too as it's plug and play and will give even a stock suby a little more kick.
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http://www.subaruwrxparts.com/04wrx-drivetrain.html - About 3/4 of the way down on the page there is a "SPT Performance Exhaust System (WRX)" which costs $405 - so it's not too far out of line with pipes like the Borla Hush. I just wonder if performance is there...
Description: "3" Stainless steel muffler and midpipe, resulting in enhanced exhaust sound and performance. Made for SOA by Bosal."
Description: "3" Stainless steel muffler and midpipe, resulting in enhanced exhaust sound and performance. Made for SOA by Bosal."
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From: Lonestar State
Car Info: WRBlue 2k5 Subaru WRX STi
I called my dealer two days ago. The service guy said that as long as I don't touch the cats, my warranty would not be voided. You should check with your dealer. You don't even have to say any names. 
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 144
From: New Freedom, PA
Car Info: 2004 WRX Sedan 5spd
I know not everyone is into racing their cars but I am. Coming from an autoxer leave your car stock for a good while. That way you can decide which mods are best for you. So far all I've changed on my car is bought a cheap set of used OEM wheels and put racing tires on them. Otherwise my car is bone stock and currently rookie of the year and very high in the points for my region. There are a few WRX drivers in my region who have thrown tons of mods into their car but I am constantly beating them because they didnt do the mod that really counts (driver improvment). The WRX is a great car to start out so drive it for a while before you start doing anything to it. I've saved lots of money by following this philosophy.
leave the cats in and you should be fine.......my dealer told me my catback (Blitz racing-nur spec) wasn't gonna void my warranty (had all my cats in at the time).....on the other hand it's insanely loud and i'm sure it more than exceeds the CA maximum dBs allowed on the roads here :0)
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From: www.tristatetuners.com
Car Info: www.tristatetuners.com
The story that I got from SOA is this:
Any mod that affects the power output of your car can theoretically lead to a warranty repair denial. They said that the car was produced to be reliable with the engine's output at 227 (300 for the STi). So basically if you throw an exhaust on your car that makes power, they COULD deny a warranty repair.
They denied my trans warranty because I had a catback and boost controller. Their reasoning was that the extra power put extra stress on the trans. The transmission is not intended to mate to a motor making more than 227 horsepower.
BUT, if you put springs and tires on our car they cannot deny powertrain repairs based on those parts - they could deny any suspension warranty repairs. If you put on the exhaust, they can't refuse suspension repairs because it doesnt directly affect those parts. Get it?
And one more thing. They can always claim abuse and deny to repair anything.
So just be careful, and choose your mods wisely. If you are going to play, sometimes you are going to have to pay.
Any mod that affects the power output of your car can theoretically lead to a warranty repair denial. They said that the car was produced to be reliable with the engine's output at 227 (300 for the STi). So basically if you throw an exhaust on your car that makes power, they COULD deny a warranty repair.
They denied my trans warranty because I had a catback and boost controller. Their reasoning was that the extra power put extra stress on the trans. The transmission is not intended to mate to a motor making more than 227 horsepower.
BUT, if you put springs and tires on our car they cannot deny powertrain repairs based on those parts - they could deny any suspension warranty repairs. If you put on the exhaust, they can't refuse suspension repairs because it doesnt directly affect those parts. Get it?
And one more thing. They can always claim abuse and deny to repair anything.
So just be careful, and choose your mods wisely. If you are going to play, sometimes you are going to have to pay.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 173
From: New York
Car Info: 2002 WRX wagon
I am perplexed about why there is such discrepancy between dealers about what should be strict SOA policy. Some threads and responses suggest that a dealer will, others won't, honor warranties in almost a *****-nilly fashion. Should WE rise up, tell SOA to straighten up and fly right, or we will abandon them as they do to us? While I have not encountered problems with the 2 warranty issues (so far-clutch and cruise control) I wonder what I might face in the future. 3 yrs/36K is fast approaching.