BMCracer

I don't have time during business hours when they are open. I have time at night and Sundays, hence why I started on it last night after tea. I know what you're saying, but they don't care enough to do the job properly the first time, so what chance do you think I'd have of getting them to repair it all and clean it all properly and give it back to me how it started? And without damaging something else? Next to no chance I reckon. You know the story, the only way to get it done right is to do it yourself? Sadly that is more and more true with everything these days.

I don't agree with that, that it's specifically an airbag recall work issue. The guys at the shop that do the airbag jobs, are the same guys that do your regular service work. They don't get special people in just for the airbag jobs. What particular job they doing is irrelevant, if someone takes pride in their workmanship, they'll do every job with the same amount of care and attention whether it's a service job or a recall, whether it's on a piece of S*** 1986 Brumby or a brand new Forrester. If they don't give a S***, they won't give a S*** right across the board. BTW this logic applies to everyone, not just car mechanics. So I am going to say that yes, at least one guy at this shop is useless, and then I'm going to say the management at this shop is useless too for letting this kind of thing out the door back to the customer. And if management never ping the guy, he's going to think it's fine, and keep doing a sub-standard job. Then the others at the shop see him doing S*** work and getting away with it, so think why should they bother working harder to do a proper job, and they slack off too, and management never ping them either. And so it goes on, I'm sure you see where this is going. Give me a day or so to hear back from Subaru, then I'll tell you who this shop is, and then you can make your own choices. I might have got them on a bad day, who knows, but why should that be my problem? There is no excuse for the state my car was given back to me in. A professional wouldn't have given my car back like that, he would've done it properly, bad day or not. If you can't get professional service at allegedly ( although self-proclaimed ) "one of New Zealand's most significant automotive dealership networks", with "a history of customer satisfaction that stretches back to 1932" ( again, self-proclaimed ), where else are you going to get it from? Back yard Joe down at Buckland?

So I've just spent 1 1/2 hours in the garage cleaning up the interior after this airbag abortion job. Managed to get the scatch / scuff off the inside of the windscreen using coarse glass polish, then did it with fine, then cleaner and finally sealer. Gave the dash a thorough cleaning, and noticed there are big scratches on the top of the steering column cover ( piece between the steering wheel and the dash ), and the ring around the gear lever ( facelift car ) was not refitted properly and is sitting up proud at the front half. Tried to get that to sit down but no luck, so I'll have to have another go when I've got more time. Only way to fix the column cover is to get a new one. Same for the steering wheel that's got a big nick in it and torn the leather surface. Got to work this morning and opened the door to get out, and the trim panel on the end of the dash fell out, another piece not refitted properly. So I put that back in properly tonight, and also had to properly refit the lower footwell panel and the plastic trim piece the goes from the lower footwell panel to along the carpet edge on the sill. Anyone got any recommendations for an ulpholstery cleaner for the A pillar trims and head lining? I just hope they aren't stained...…. Sent an email off to Subaru tonight too about all this, so see what happens. Not holding my breath though. Says on their website that all the Subaru Authorised dealers are independently owned and operated, which is probably why there is no email address for each one. I don't have time to waste to go to the shop to try to talk to them, when you know they'll deny everything anyway. So if I hear back from Subaru, once that's over I'll more than likely be telling you which shop to steer clear of.

.Take photos of more than just the dash, take them of the steering wheel, door trims, A pillars, head lining, seats, every single thing they might come into contact with while doing this job.

This. I actually went to the outfit prior, to talk to them about it. I point blank said to him I've read on the internet about all the wrecked dashes etc, and I have actually seen 1 that had been wrecked, so if they wreck mine they'll be putting in a new one. He reassured me they have done heaps, worked out how to do it without wrecking anything blah blah blah. Well they didn't wreck the dash, just everything else!!!!!

Worth a try. Can't be that hard to do, look at the peanuts they have at the dealership doing it!!! But they'll probably give you some horse-S*** story about liability or some crap.

Yes

It looks like the filthy pricks had just done a suspension job and then got straight onto my car - without washing their hands first. So the A pillar trim on both sides is covered in dirty greasy hand prints all up and down both sides, as well as a bit onto the head lining. The left A pillar trim isn't clipped in properly. They've managed to put a gouge in the steering wheel ( factory Momo ) in the middle at the top, right where it's staring you right in the face all the time, and, God only knows how, scratched the inside of the windscreen just below the rear view mirror. After they've put the dash back in, they haven't bothered to give it and the inside of the windscreen a cursory wipe over to leave it in a state even close to how I gave it to them ( it was spotless ), just chuck it back together as quick as possible and off o wreck the next poor sucker's car. Really really f***ing pissed right off!!!!!!

I love my NZ new Spec B 3.0 5EAT wagon, the towing capacity ( 3.0L = 1800kg ), wagon boot space, full leather comfort, nice stereo ( factory ), cold a/c, it's quiet, looks stylish, nice thick steering wheel, just a great all round motor vehicle. Going to be hard one to replace when that day comes, hopefully in a long long time.

Thanks Dairusire. Yeah I did take pics, of the dashboard as that is what everyone has had trouble with. Except me. The dashboard is fine, it's everything else. Really pissed right off with what they've done. Just reinforces my thorough dislike for having to get anything done on my cars by anyone, because no matter how simple it is, or how professional they profess to be, they always manage to F*** it up somehow. It's not hard to get good help these days, it's damn near impossible.

Anyone got an email address for Subaru NZ? Nothing on their website, everything is "fill out the form on this page", but then I have no record of what I've sent, and they can just say they don't receive anything. Had the airbag replaced today, super pissed with the state the car was given back to me. Need to give them the chance to sort it out before I name and shame the shop that did it. But if they don't sort it out, you will most certainly hear about it right here.

Thanks man, but I'm in Auckland. Might ask Santa to get me one for Christmas

Small update here. I got the Meguiar's glass polishing compound https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/search?q=windscreen polish&segment=1&page=1 , and Meguiar's glass sealant https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/meguiars-meguiars-perfect-clarity-glass-sealant---118ml/562934.html#q=meguirs&segment=3&page=1 . Don't have any microfiber cloths so I used clean soft cotton rags. Did the windscreen, and my drivers door window ( twice ), all by hand. Made a hell of a difference!! It hasn't completely got rid of all the water marks, but I suspect I'll need to use a d/a polishing machine to get the bit extra grunt onto the glass that I can't get doing it manually. Very pleased with the result so far, except that now I can see all the marks I missed on the inside of the windows!!

Thanks guys, some great ideas there. I watched some of Pan's youtube videos, he's got everything covered so I'll watch the whole lot and learn a few new tricks. Will get a clay bar too.

So I've tried everything, and nothing seems to get them properly clean, and smooth. I don't know if they make glass differently these days, or glass cleaner is watered down to the max, but I never used to have this problem back in the day with old cars. On the Legacy you can always feel the buildup on the areas the wipers don't touch, and the water droplet marks really grind my gears. Don't get me started on the glass sunroof!! So wondering if anyone has tried the Wet & Forget Tier's Paw product, the one the spruk for cleaning glass shower doors in your bathroom. If it can get them clean it might do the job on the car??

Everyone knows where it is, but it's too far away. Maybe someone here who lives on the North Shore can get it so we can move on?

Same, stock ride height, got a front lip now, before I put that on I had to be really careful, but now it's even worse. Guess I can trade that off for how much better the lip makes the car look.

Wow 2 1/2 months since last picture. Someone need me to tell you where it is so we can move the game along?

Old: Basque Road Reserve. New:

You do know they aren't welded, right? They have a spool with replaces the whole diff centre.

I want one of these, but struggling to justify the cost, plus exchange rate + shipping. In for group buy.......

Sweet, thanks guys.

2006 facelift wagon. I need to take the rear bumper off to get it fixed. My car has a genuine towbar, which sits pretty close to the bumper. Does anyone know if the bumper will come off with the towbar in place, or do I have to take the towbar off first? Thanks.

Yeah it wasn't a genuine one, was from some towbar shop, the rating sticker specified for Subaru legacy 2.5i, 1600kg. Didn't say anything about 3.0. My car has a genuine towbar, and it has different ratings for different engine sizes on it.

Get one from a wreckers yard? My brother rang up for a Falcon one, $110 including the bolts and brackets. Fit it yourself on Saturday arvo on your driveway, save $$$