SWP facelift legacy tuned by sti wagon.

[10samuelr]

I had a facelift uk 3.0 spec b for a year. But rising fuel costs and £700 a year tax meant it had to go. I sold it and purchased a e91 bmw 330d touring. This was £230 a year tax and mid 40s mpg. For a diesel engine it was fantastic but I’m not a fan of diesel and fuel costs have come down significantly, plus I do half the milage I used to. This meant I could go back to petrol. 
 

The search was on for its replacement. I started looking for an interesting petrol wagon that wasn’t an audi. I contemplated another e91 but a 335i. All the examples were ropey and high milage. They also like to throw bills that make running a ej20 look cheap. It was also a bit small for a wagon. 
 

I put an alert on ebay for a jdm import legacy spec b. After a month or so a couple had popped up but were too expensive for what they were and one had repaired damage in japan. 
 

I had seen this TbSTI but it was out of budget. I tentatively messaged the seller and he was willing to negotiate. Unfortunately it was 230 miles away and with UK public transport being worse than many 3rd world countries I booked my train ticket. 
one train derailment later (I did say 3rd world) I manage to get to the seller. 

A deal was done. Tax and insurance sorted. 6pm and 230 miles to home and work the following morning. One food stop half way home and a quick topup of  99 octane dino juice. Finally home 11pm.

It has lots of jdm goodies that I’m working out what they do. It has a little box on the dash which controls the auto lights. Another box which shouts at me in japanese every time I start the car. I think its asking for a toll card.  
It has keyless entry and little buttons on the doors you press to open as long as the key is in range. The infotainment is the upgraded Mcintosh, the nav is all japanese and doesn’t work in the uk, the radio only picks up radio 2 as the bandwidth is different. The tv doesn’t work  basically the whole infotainment doesn’t work in the uk. The reversing camera still works.

 

 

[10samuelr]

As you can see from the pictures the dash has cracked. I can get a new one from japan but the cost to import is prohibitive. I have sourced a new uk dash but its 600 miles away and doesn’t have the centre speaker cutout for the Mcintosh speaker. 
 

The first task was to replace the power steering pump o-ring and flush the old oil. Successful first job. Pump is now silent. 
Ordered some parts from Roger Clark. Fitted a RCM air filter. 
I have an RCM oil filter waiting to go on. 
 

Next weekend is service time so oil, filter, crush washer, spark plugs and cabin filter. Also give the headlights a good polish to restore clarity to the lenses. New lamps for the xenon  lights. New wiper blades. 
Then finally replace the transmission and diff fluid. 
I’m hovering over a new set of DBA discs and pads. Waiting on DBA to get back to me regarding best match for my driving style and use. 

I’m looking into remapping the car to uk fuel and rust proofing the underside as it will be used over winter on uk salted roads. 

Edited August 19, 2023 by 10samuelr

[SoobyDoobyDoo]

Welcome to the forum! For a second I thought this was MDMA’s old car (he’s also in the UK, he imported a white one like that and had it for a bit but sold it). Car looks fantastic, that dash crack is interesting though…really makes me wish that section was just a surround rather than one piece integrated into the dash. Was gonna say, I’m on several EU wrecker sites for some things but then I remembered I’m looking for LHD parts, not RHD…. You’re spot on with the import cost, I’m sure to bring one in from Japan now to the US would be every bit of $1500-2k USD. Def get it prepped for winter, keep an eye on the rear brake lines. Over in the US there was a recall on those. Otherwise, just keep it running and on the road and enjoy it! 

[10samuelr]

Dba never replied to my email so ended up going godspeed brakes. My local subaru specialist who rally and races a number of impreza’s, runs them on his forester sti and rates them. 
Going in next week for a full brake system overhaul. Discs, pads fluid and lines. 
 

Service carried out using a 5w40 oil and rcm filter. Rcm air filter. Dipstic oring and pcv valve. 
 

Managed to give the headlights a once over. Polished and sealed, new hid lamps and a clean and lube of the self levelling mech.    

[10samuelr]

New disks and pads all round. Also a fluid flush. 
current spec is tbsti brembo, godspeed disk and kevlar pads, sti braided lines. 

 

Now stops well and has decent pedal feel. The old parts were fucked.

[seanyb505]

I like the rotors. Similar to what gt cars are running these days.