[starxidiam]

Do you HAVE to get your car serviced at the Subaru Dealership?? is there a certain brake pad, oil filter, oil, or a certain way to rotate the tires?? Do you have to take it to the Subaru dealership because they actually know about our cars? Because my parents are complaining about me driving all the way over there, when you can do it at a local place, like Goodyear, jiffy lube, etc...I told them i don't trust anyone that does not know my car is AWD and has a turbo and all that stuff, to work on my car. I went to a place to check my brake pads and they lifted the car and they were amazed like they had never seen Brembo's and had never seen all the wheels turn when turn one of them...I was like wow, this is how it came. so please give me some feedback, and don't get angry if i am saying stupid stuff. I need to go tomorrow to get my car serviced.

[Szumita]

i always bring mine to subaru, just because. they have always treated me good, and i will probally have less of an issue if i need warranty work, since i get all my service there. just me $.02.

[USNSTI]

No you don't have to. But if you don't know a good shop that you trust, you could do a lot worse than a subaru dealership. Like you said at least they know something about your car.

[starxidiam]

How come i have to pay for oil changes, brake pads, oil filter, and tire rotation? shouldn't that be covered under warranty? i have 10200 miles.

[LightWerkz]

unfortunately its not a bmw where they do all the maintenance for you for 4 years.

Oil changes and things like that are not warranty, its under maintenance, and subaru does not do that for free.

[starxidiam]

yea my sister and my mom both have bmw's and get that stuff for free, lucky. so what is covered? i heard something about a one time brake pad change for free? whats that?

[toogood]

crew_chief on here got his brake pads replaced for free under warranty...

as far as a shop to work on the car...i would ask around about that particular shop...like what was said above its about who you trust with your ride

[starxidiam]

so basically i should go around shops and ask them what kind of car i have and what they know about it?? or what

[toogood]

Originally Posted by starxidiam

so basically i should go around shops and ask them what kind of car i have and what they know about it?? or what

i would ask some locals or stop by autozone/advance auto parts etc an see what they say about the local shops...

or since you live in s carolina...maybe their chat thread might know of a good shop other than subaru

[EBTurbo]

Originally Posted by starxidiam

yea my sister and my mom both have bmw's and get that stuff for free, lucky. so what is covered? i heard something about a one time brake pad change for free? whats that?

I'm not positive on the warranty but it think its 3yrs/ 36k, the pads must be at or under 1.5mm. then the dealer will replace them for free. I think it is unlimited too. just drive till your pads are that low and go into the dealer.

I would recommend going to the dealer. then they wont have an excuse to deny any warranty claims. if you do decide to go with aftermarket shops keep track of your service records. it will help in the end.

EB Turbo

[starxidiam]

newb question.. whats a chat thread.

[toogood]

Originally Posted by starxidiam

newb question.. whats a chat thread.

click on forums then scroll down to the regional section where it sais "texas ohio florida etc etc...just find your area and click on it...all the subes that are in your state/area might be able to give you some advice

[Blackfang]

I am a Service Advisor for a Subaru dealer and have worked for quick lubes, small independant repair shops and a few dealerships and here is my take.

Nothing states that you have to use a dealership. In fact you can go to whoever you like. There are good things to this(cheaper service, parts are cheaper, etc) and downfalls to that if they do not know what they are doing(i.e using wrong parts,faulty aftermarket parts, screwing up the repairs,etc). If you do not want to use the dealer, make sure you know and trust who is working on your car. Stay away from your quick lube shops. They usually employ a lot of younger inexperienced kids to do all the work. I have seen Jiffy Lube sell crap to customers that was not needed at that mileage. I have seen a lot of screw ups from them too(i.e overfull on oil, spilt oil, spilt trans fluid, damaged trans filter, etc). I have replaced engine and transmission due to their inexperience with the Subaru. Please, find someone good and that they know the cars.

I recommend using a dealer you can trust. I say this not because I work for one(lol..ok it was a joke people), but it helps out in the long run. Yes, some of them can be shady,careless, and only care about one thing.... getting paid. However, not all of them are like this.

Another thing, sometimes parts break out of warranty. I can say that if you are out of warranty and need any goodwill repairs done, a person who doesn't use the dealer will likely not get a thing from the dealer or SOA. If you are a good customer then you most likely will get it covered(not all dealers are like this. I chose to take care of my customers if they are repeat service customers). Just something to think about.

If you do your own maintenance, remember to save the oil filter box top, receipts(photo copy it being the receipt can fade) and record the date and mileage you performed the service/oil change. This will help you out if you ever need any warranty claims.

Sorry for the long wind and hope this helps.