I was just on the Subaru web site, building a WRX, and I see this message associated with the STI performance muffler and the performance suspension kit:

* Sold "as is" without any warranty coverage. Intended for off-highway application only. May bring vehicle out of compliance with safety and/or emissions standards. Can only be lawfully installed by end user. See Subaru dealer for complete details.

Do any of you have either of these, or at least know what's going on? I can see the muffler being illegal because of noise levels, but why would a suspension kit like that be illegal for street use?

Thanks,
Jeremy

I think they are generalizing the disclaimer, if that makes sense? you know, so they don't have to go through and specify what parts are legal/illegal and so they don't get screwed in anyway for selling it to you...

1- we all know most aftermarket parts are not warrantied anyway... so we buy them, but them on our car and deal w/it...

2 - soa is covering their butts

3 - a lil bee told me that.. although the wrx made it through the federal testing and all.. the aftermarket sti parts were not federally tested, thus not approved, thus... soa could not warranty them...

i am sure they will hold up just fine and there will be no warranty issues...

j. www.subiegal.com (http://www.subiegal.com)

The way my dealer explained it to me was that if you bought the parts your intent was not pure. Basically if you got the beefed up suspension, you were not going to drive it like say, your grandparents. They are assuming that if you buy the goodies, you are going to beat on it and drive it harder than the stock vehicle, and therefore the chances of stuff breaking was that much higher.
Not sure if that is true or not, but what I was told by my dealer

I spoke with a Subaru rep. today regarding my RS and the subject came up about the WRX suspension upgrade. I asked him the very question as to why only end users can install it and not the dealers. He said that a stock WRX meets US bumper height requirments, but the supsension kit lowers the bumber height. US dealers are not allowed by federal law to do the install.

I got a giant sticker on my first upgrade saying..."WARNING:NOT FOR STREET USE, OFF ROAD ONLY." Struck me funny considering they were only clear corners, my moms Camry has them on it..http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/rolleyes.gif

another question for anyone who has or knows about the STI muffler and susp. upgrade. what is the piping diameter of the muffler? looks a little small on the pic of the wrx accessories pamphlet. and how big is the sway bar that comes with the susp. upgrade kit? for those with the whole kit, how much of an improvement over the stock setup? money well spent or shoulda went with DMS?
pj