Subaru dealership recommendation for engine recall?

[Relax]

I've been putting off a recall on my 2012 Impreza which requires dropping the motor to replace all valve springs because I just don't have confidence they won't cause another problem, and with 350,000 km's, a defective spring should have let go by now. Then again, I am at 350,000 km's...

Looking for feedback from anyone who's had more than just regular maintenance done, and would consider any dealer within an hour of the GTA in any direction.

 

[cycling]

Do you trust dealerships? Me never. I have a 2012 Mitsubishi 2012, 120.000 kms. Every time I take it in for a recall or any other work. I get the song and dance, this needs to be done, etc. (Go to Speedy Muffler. Better choice.)
The girl behind the counter always says ,"This needs to be done or it will cause problems"
For my last recall cost me $100. Yes paid for it myself. Cheaper in the long run. No more lies.
Your decision, of course. However, that is a expensive job.
That`s pretty good mileage.
I should have taken pictures of my brakes. Cost me for new rotors and pads.
Would like to know how it turns out.

 

[GreyGhost]

I've been putting off a recall on my 2012 Impreza which requires dropping the motor to replace all valve springs because I just don't have confidence they won't cause another problem, and with 350,000 km's, a defective spring should have let go by now. Then again, I am at 350,000 km's...

Looking for feedback from anyone who's had more than just regular maintenance done, and would consider any dealer within an hour of the GTA in any direction.

Do you get a warranty extension or anything with this recall or just theoretically better parts? I wouldn't love dropping an engine with that many km just to replace springs. To me that seems to be asking for problems (although if I got a warranty extension I would do it in a heartbeat).

 

[Baggsy]

Bought and serviced my Turbo AWD Legacy from Marino's Fine Cars. They were pretty good, but that was 30 years ago.

 

[Relax]

Do you trust dealerships? Me never. I have a 2012 Mitsubishi 2012, 120.000 kms. Every time I take it in for a recall or any other work. I get the song and dance, this needs to be done, etc. (Go to Speedy Muffler. Better choice.)
The girl behind the counter always says ,"This needs to be done or it will cause problems"
For my last recall cost me $100. Yes paid for it myself. Cheaper in the long run. No more lies.
Your decision, of course. However, that is a expensive job.
That`s pretty good mileage.
I should have taken pictures of my brakes. Cost me for new rotors and pads.
Would like to know how it turns out.

I absolutely don't trust dealerships. That's why I diverted all the money I would have given them into my garage and tools to do everything myself, and also why I'm able to drive my cars past 300,000 kms without worrying about mechanical failures. If it's something I don't have the time or room for, then I have trusted third party shops that I don't mind paying for. For this recall, it's a huge expensive job but its free and a loaner is provided, which we need.

 

[Relax]

Do you get a warranty extension or anything with this recall or just theoretically better parts? I wouldn't love dropping an engine with that many km just to replace springs. To me that seems to be asking for problems (although if I got a warranty extension I would do it in a heartbeat).

Better parts less prone to failure, and presumably a warranty on their work. So theoretically any dealer can do it, I'd just like to hedge my bets and use one that will do a good job the first time.

 

[GreyGhost]

Better parts less prone to failure, and presumably a warranty on their work. So theoretically any dealer can do it, I'd just like to hedge my bets and use one that will do a good job the first time.

If there is a warranty, don't you want one that will screw it up? A new motor would give it more life.

 

[Relax]

If there is a warranty, don't you want one that will screw it up? A new motor would give it more life.

I've considered not getting the recall done at all, but then I'm playing Russian roulette with the motor seizing while the wife or kid are on the highway, or during the winter and need to wait for roadside assistance with no heat. This is also an opportunity to address another problem that also requires the motor to come out - oil leaking from (most likely) the cam box is vaporizing on the exhaust manifold and getting drawn into the cabin. It's supposedly only a few extra hours to get it resealed while the recall is being done.

 

[Wind Shear]

Dealerships are what they are. My Subaru experiences have been:
Subaru of Mississauga - warranty work
Budds Subaru - warranty diagnosis
Gemini Motors - parts dept

None of them impressed me very much.
Of the three, shockingly I would probably pick Subie of Mississauga. But I suspect for that work you noted they may send it out to an independent.

Who is your trusted Subaru independent? I need some AC work done and because of the "reputation" my car carries, I'm wary of the millenial shop apprentice taking it for spirited "test drives"

 

[Relax]

Dealerships are what they are. My Subaru experiences have been:
Subaru of Mississauga - warranty work
Budds Subaru - warranty diagnosis
Gemini Motors - parts dept

None of them impressed me very much.
Of the three, shockingly I would probably pick Subie of Mississauga. But I suspect for that work you noted they may send it out to an independent.

Who is your trusted Subaru independent? I need some AC work done and because of the "reputation" my car carries, I'm wary of the millenial shop apprentice taking it for spirited "test drives"

Apex in Markham is who I'd use if I had to do an engine-out job outside of warranty/recall, but I don't know if they're AC licensed. Do you already know what the problem is, or are you trying to figure it out?

 

[Relax]

And Mississauga is supposed to be a corporately owned dealership, whatever that means. I think the Mercedes dealership nearby is also corporately owned, but their service department sucks balls based on what my parents told me about their experience.

 

[Wind Shear]

Apex in Markham is who I'd use if I had to do an engine-out job outside of warranty/recall, but I don't know if they're AC licensed. Do you already know what the problem is, or are you trying to figure it out?

Compressor clutch burned out, seized compressor. Gonna get expensive

 

[nobbie48]

At some point one asks about a total rebuild. But where do the bills stop?

A 10 year old fitting snaps adding to the total and is that covered by the warrantee?

A buddy raced outboards and I watched him reuse roller bearings when he rebuilt a motor. SInce the motor was all apart I would have gone for new ones. He felt the old ones were proven and less likely to fail.

P.S. I cracked a cylinder head on a Toyota and was getting the sky may fall bit from the service manager. "If we just do the head the pressure on the lower bearing could cause a failure" I checked with a different dealership and they said BS, We do it all the time with no problems. The service manager gets a kickback from sales if they push a client into buying a new car. The dealership makes a kkilling on the trade in.

P.P.S. Re the cracked head, no matter how cute she is never try to impress her by driving your car into Georgian Bay.