JDM Optional Rear Bumper Lip Fitment on Pre-Face USDM OBW

[Truck_1_0_1_]

Good day, everyone.

 

As my '06 OBW requires a new exhaust (holes all over the Y-Pipe and a massive hole between the last convertor and the resonator), I decided to get a bit fancy and ordered some Genome exhausts, along with the the necessary pipes.

Now as it is known, the rear bumper does not have the exhaust cutouts that the Legacy wagons do in North America, thus a modification has to be made.

 I know that Legacy bumpers can fit, but instead of going running around looking for a bumper, priming then painting it and all that jazz, there are a few of these optional lips that are available to me (EDM and JDM rear bumpers are tons too expensive for me, so that's a no-go):

 

https://japandirectjapanese.com/jdm-subaru-legacy-rear-bumper-lip-spoiler-bp5-bpe-wagon-2005-2006-2007-2008-2009-3910.html

 

 

By the looks of it, it looks like it would fit, but it would have to bring the clearance down by a few inches more, which means I would need to change the angle of the exhaust... I think.

All I really need to know is: does it fit my pre-face, '06 OBW? And if it does, does any further modification or cutting need to be done to the bumper to allow this to fit or will it directly attach somehow?

I've been asking on Subauoutback.org and while everyone is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful (and always have been: best resource on the entire net for our cars), this one seemed to stump them.

Worse comes to worse (of course), if I have to drive with my stock bumper as it is and cut some space out on it, I'll have no choice. 

Any help is much appreciated

PS: And I know about the crash bar: that issue will be taken care of :). Learned about it on here, about it getting in the way  

Edited March 8, 2023 by Truck_1_0_1_

[KZJonny]

I've got an '05 Legacy wagon for parts in my driveway. Rear bumper is in pretty good shape, and I think the colour is Royal Blue Pearl?? It's navy, and looks a lot like that photo. Pretty sure you'd need to move the wheel arch moldings over from the OB, but if it helps you out, you can have it for a LOT less than $250 USD.

I'm in St. Catharines, so definitely a little further than Mississauga, but not THAT much further.

If I am misunderstanding what you're trying to do, then no worry, I don't understand how that bumper lip spoiler fits exactly.

EDIT: LGT rear crash bar also available if wanted. I think the OB one would come down too low? My OBW isn't an XT, so I'm not familiar with that fitment, but I assume it's probably about the same as the standard model? Could be totally wrong, and maybe the XT doesn't have the turned down mufflers like the 2.5i.

Edited March 9, 2023 by KZJonny

[m sprank]

Don't know anyone who has tried such a lip install.  My gut says it won't fit without some work.  It's not perfect as you don't get the "tunnel" effect, but I have hand cut the second cut out on a bunch of imprezzas wanting dual outlets.  Should be no different the OB.

[Truck_1_0_1_]

Thanks guys!

I looked into some LGTs in Japan and it actually looks like the lip fits OVER the bumper (as it isn't flush with the rear bumper: see below pics) and is mounted to the same supports/bolts/whatever they are that the actual bumper is on, thus if this is the case, I'd gander that it should work no problem, with my stock bumper needing to be cut in the same spots as well.

 

Thanks for the offer Jonny! I'm in Barrie, so that would be a significant drive. I am coming down to Mississauga next week (for the Sportsmen Show and to get some other parts from this guy), so I will be able to test fitment prior to purchase: if it looks like it all fits up together, then we're good! (I may need to remove my, "spats,"/mudguards/whatever they are, but that's fine). If things do not fit up, I will send you a PM  

 

As for the crash bar, my mechanic has a junked LGT on site  (the rear bumper is cracked and broken throughout, otherwise I'd be good to go without this lip or another bumper).

 

[KZJonny]

42 minutes ago, Truck_1_0_1_ said:

Thanks guys!

I looked into some LGTs in Japan and it actually looks like the lip fits OVER the bumper (as it isn't flush with the rear bumper: see below pics) and is mounted to the same supports/bolts/whatever they are that the actual bumper is on, thus if this is the case, I'd gander that it should work no problem, with my stock bumper needing to be cut in the same spots as well.

 

Thanks for the offer Jonny! I'm in Barrie, so that would be a significant drive. I am coming down to Mississauga next week (for the Sportsmen Show and to get some other parts from this guy), so I will be able to test fitment prior to purchase: if it looks like it all fits up together, then we're good! (I may need to remove my, "spats,"/mudguards/whatever they are, but that's fine). If things do not fit up, I will send you a PM  

 

As for the crash bar, my mechanic has a junked LGT on site  (the rear bumper is cracked and broken throughout, otherwise I'd be good to go without this lip or another bumper).

 

Awesome. Glad to hear it dude.

I realize it's not exactly around the corner, but I've driven from here to Aurora for parts when the price was right in the past, Hah!

Also, no speed shops to speak of near me, so I'm always going at least to Mississauga to the JDM guys, or Touge, or to Brantford and Subie Supply Company. You're lucky having a couple of Subie specialists up your way as well.

 

I totally forgot about the Sportsmans show as well. Haven't been since I was a kid, like 30+ years ago. I wonder if it would be as cool to go as an adult, haha!

Good luck with the trim fitment, that's a good look. I too would love to have a JDM/EDM bumper, but the cost just isn't reasonable for me right now for a peice of plastic. I don't know if they were ever cheaper, or if there are aftermarket knockoffs, but $800 USD is a LOT of money.

 

[Truck_1_0_1_]

Thanks man!

Yeah, my mechanic is a general mechanic, but he's an unofficial, "Subaru Specialist." He knows the torque specs of all the brake and suspension bolts of our cars by heart, it's awesome lol. He's got a ton of random parts lying around (my camshaft sensor was going bad last year, causing my car to stall at idle constantly. I went down to see him and, "oh yeah, I've got an EJ lying around here, lemme see if the sensor is still on it )" and a few junkers onsite that he harvests for customers or for scrap and he's had the LGT for a while. He has contacts with many of the JDM shops in the GTA (and just outside), as well as scrapyards, so he's super invaluable for cars and he's become a great friend: the Subaru community has always been awesome (he's on his second Forester, so he lives the life as well lol).

 

My first Sportsman's Show was in 1996, when I was 6 (turning 7) and it has DRASTICALLY changed (for the worse), but they still have some great deals on certain fishing equipment that costs the same on eBay, but without the shipping costs.

And yeah, there's an OBW bumper on eBay (EDM) that is PERFECT for my car, same colour and everything and it's only $186 CAD!... but the seller is in Scotland and they won't ship to Canada... And even then, shipping would probably be like $400.00, which is ridiculous still. But thank you for the kind words! If I can make it work, it will look excellent and I'll be happy.  

 

 

 

 

[m sprank]

Born in 90 and thats "old"' considering I get questions from 17yr olds.  I sure have not grown younger with the cars.  The primary owners are now a group I no longer recognize or resemble. 

 

I hope you enjoy the show and get your rear bumper situation sorted. 

[KZJonny]

I want to say my Dad brought me to the Sportmans show when I was.... 10? Maybe, likely younger.

So, like '90-'91 or so?

I remember a giant tank full of trout, probably Splake, in hindsight, and that I met Bob Izumi and got a floating keychain signed by him....

Never go back. (So they say, and as a world traveller in my youth, I kind of agree......)

For the money, if that is CAD, I would consider trying to make friends with someone in the UK who would repackage and send internationally, if they lip doesn't work out. I had contacts there forever ago, and wish I still did for the same reasons. EDM parts for my ancient brit motorcycle would be sweet. Instead, I pay the premium to get stuff that's been imported.

Any case, subaruoutback.org is awesome. Plenty of knowledge there, and there are some members that contribute both here and there. Especially the XT crowd, but it's all the same. I agree that the Subaru online community is pretty damn good. (Norton as well... but that gang are practically geritatrics at this point. )

[m sprank]

5 minutes ago, KZJonny said:

 that gang are practically geritatrics at this point. )

Careful now.  I get AARP offers in the mail.  I might need some Geritol too.  So, I would fit in with that crowd. 

 

[KZJonny]

7 minutes ago, m sprank said:

Careful now.  I get AARP offers in the mail.  I might need some Geritol too.  So, I would fit in with that crowd. 

 

Seriously, funny not funny.

I'm 42, and the latest advice I've been getting is to consider taking fibre suppliments and upping my water intake. Totally off topic, but jeebus.... Really?

I was 25 yesterday. A couple days before that I was 10, and out fishing with my Dad, not a care in the world. 

EDIT: Had to google AARP. That does not translate into Canuck very well. 

Edited March 10, 2023 by KZJonny

[m sprank]

50 hits fast.  Blew out my knee dragging a Christmas tree up hill after chopping it down this year.  You know your done when you can't even chop down a Christmas tree without injury anymore.  You can stick a fork in me.  I'm done.

[KZJonny]

5 hours ago, m sprank said:

Born in 90 and thats "old"' considering I get questions from 17yr olds.  I sure have not grown younger with the cars.  The primary owners are now a group I no longer recognize or resemble. 

Sooo... not born in 90 then.

I get it, that's cool. Being old and math aren't good friends.