jdmchico

Someone may be interested in knowing what the part number is if they happen to come across one. Some of the more savvy Yahoo Auction sellers may put the part number other than stating S402 in the title. It’s also order-able from Amazon Japan which ships internationally if someone wants to try ordering a set. I was able to score an entire new S402 suspension because someone put the part numbers in a thread. Just returning the favor for those interested. Keep up the press your build is coming along great.

I am in the middle of requesting Subaru of Japan to issue a letter stating that the vehicle is 'substantially similiar' and submit a petition to the NHSTA. I believe the someone already did the legwork for the Forester for the same years, as it was on the approved list. For what it's worth I already received a verbal approval.

Part number for those plates are ST2629021000 for reference. They sometimes make parts on and off for the S402 and tbSTI, mostly mechanical. I was able to score a new parts by continually placing orders to signal demand for a rerun.

I am trying to do this myself. I have all the necessary components but were you able to use your existing beam to mount or did you get another one? Thanks

That is the cluster style my car originally came with. I swapped it over to the newer one. I wasn't tracking the USDM wiring to be significantly different. The FSM I used only differentiated between Normal and Mid Combination meter and not by LHD/RHD as it usually does. It was also in English, not the Japanese FSM. Your build is looking pretty solid. The only S402 items in my car are the red console lights. I have a new set of S402 bilsteins with the coils to match that I hope to install by December. Just waiting on one last part before I can press play.

This was a pain in the ass but I was able to go from pre facelift to post facelift cluster by copying key codes from the second IC chip in the pre facelift to the post facelift cluster. There are minor wiring differences in regards to airbag, HID auto level and one or two other wires but everything else works.

Interesting I may try it out

Trying to recreate this kit. Where can you get custom thickness steels from?

Yes, that is right! As for the S402 the biggest difference between the tuned by STI (next most comparable trim level) are the Engine, ECU, Fenders, shocks, springs and rear sway bar in trunk. The S402 also has 2.5L engine and has its own twin scroll turbo specific to it. I would say the difference is greater between a US Legacy Spec B and JDM Legacy Spec B than an S402 vs a tuned by STI Legacy. As for the front and rear bumper that is stock for JDM. The US market got the fat bumper version.

You should read NHSTA website on importing vehicles there is a list of vehicles eligible for importation. The 2005 & 2006 Forester is on the eligible importation list. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/elig120115.pdf What you are probably getting confused on is this is not an automatic process. You have to create a docket with NHSTA to get your car on the eligible list and provide amplifying information as to why it should be allowed. Cars that were never made for the US market are significantly harder because there is no crash and safety data. That is where the 25 year rule would come into play.

The key words are "substantially similar", region of manufacture doesn't exclude it. As for 5th and 6th if it is substantially similar in performance of safety it wouldn't matter if parts interchange or not. There are two courses of action for the OP. 1. Get a letter from Subaru stating the JDM Legacy is substantially similar. 2. Go through a registered importer (RI) and they can conform the vehicle to safety regulations.

From NHSTA: While there is no specific restriction on importing a right-hand drive vehicle, they may not be imported under eligibility decisions based on the existence of substantially similar U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicles alone. Our experience has shown that the safety performance of right hand drive vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country. However, we will consider the vehicles "substantially similar" if the manufacturer advises us that the right-hand drive vehicle would perform the same as the U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicle in dynamic crash tests. It should be noted that the Subaru Forester 2006-2007 can be imported. Because Subaru certified it as substantially similar.

I have a spare ECU that I sourced (tuned by STI); I just basically copied my current ECU's eeprom using a raspberry pi 4 and 8 pin chip clip. and it worked without issue. No locksmith needed.

You could swap out the TCU for the TCU compatible with that transmission. I am not sure what the price is for your market but in Japan it is cheap. I bought a couple myself to try out as there are many software revisions with changes in regards to shifting.

I just recently changed my dash. My car is JDM and the date of production was January of this year. The new Dashboard is definitely made of a different material than the original. My original dash wasn't sticky, it had some scuff marks and I was going to refresh the entire interior anyways. If you never done it before it can take all day to change. It took me a couple of days.