What... Another new member?!

[Firkinell]

Hi, just bought our first Subaru. It's a 09 Forester Diesel. Never really considered one before but was impressed when I read the owners reviews. Particularly on the off road capabilities. My wife needed a 4x4 for work mostly to access remote places during the winter but also because we've just got a place in the country ourselves. Mpg seems very impressive on paper so will be interesting to see how this is in reality. It drives great & looks the business! I've just ordered a rear tailgate spoiler & now want to get some roof rails, but I've been told these are factory options only & can't be bought as accessories. Bummer!

[Jay762]

Wotcha and welcome - a very capable piece of kit you have there.

 

I would be surprised if there are no aftermarket suppliers of the rails at all. These models are very popular in Canada so it may be beneficial to widen your search across the pond, if I get a chance ill do some digging myself today and see what turns up

[Gambit]

Hi mate welcome to S.O.C 

I take it the profile picture isn't your car then :) 

And as Jay said I would have thought you would have been able to get them. And again as said above be ideal for your needs for the off roading I know a guy near me has one for shooting and swear's by it :) 

[Firkinell]

Thanks Jay and Gambit, your help is greatly appreciated. There maywell be an aftermarket supplier of these rails but as of yet I aint found any. I'm just sifting my way through the internet looking for late model subaru salvage dealers, but I agree a widening of my search may well be needed. I can get new ones but they're well over £1000!

 

Gambit- you are correct in that the picture isn't of my Forester, its identicial except for the spoiler & rails (hence my quest). I take it your picture isn't of you then...

[Jay762]

Gambit- I take it your picture isn't of you then...

 

oh dear we had to look in Pandoras box didn't we.... :D

[Jay762]

All I have found so far are cross rails for raised bars or no bar fitting.

 

The fitting / supply of the raised bars appears to be quite the subject, possibly an aftermarket opportunity - what seems to be putting people off is the requirement to take down the roof lining on the interior to fit the raised rails, not exactly your straight bolt on solution.

 

Also thule aero cross rails get rave reviews

[Firkinell]

Thats all I could find. I actually want the rails to enhance the aesthetics of the car; to make it less estate like & more 4x4. Dropping the headlinning is not something I'm phased by (I was a Thatcham trained BMW Panel Beater many years ago) but your probably right about that being a reason these are not sold as an accessory. I Shall have to keep searching for a write-off that's being broken for spares. I'm going to check the overseas/us/Canada sites to see what I find. 

 

[Gambit]

I agree the one form the picture does look great and more 4X4. And yep very hard to find :(

[Jay762]

Does this help, comes at $550 but better than £1K

 

http://estore.subarupartswarehouse.com/parts/2010/SUBARU/FORESTER/X/?siteid=217823&vehicleid=1444424&diagram=7603316

[Subaru Owners Club]

Welcome to the Subaru Owners Club! :)

[Firkinell]

Jay- that's amazing! I've emailed them to see if they'll ship to the uk. Can't believe the price difference! That's about £330 Stirling compared to uk dealers rip off £1000+. I'll you posted how I get on with these.

My tailgate spoiler has just arrived this afternoon. Very useful template with it too. I'll take a few photos of the installation after I get it painted. I'll put photos on of the roof rail fitting too when I get them.

In the meantime, I'm going to tint the windows with the tinted film. Strange I know but I'm kind of looking forward to the work! Lol

[Firkinell]

That's odd. I thought I'd uploaded a photo of my new spoiler but it showing anywhere! More learning needed:(

[Firkinell]

.

[Jay762]

try loading it to a hosting site like photobucket then pasting the link

[Jonny b]

Welcome bud!!!

I do believe that ιs gambit in the picture!! Iam yet to be proved wrong lol

[Gambit]

Some how to guides here mate if you get stuck with stuff for the forum :) 

http://uk.subaruownersclub.com/forums/forum-2/announcement-3-how-to-use-our-forum-video-guides/

[DAVIDTOLAND]

HI Firkinell, welcome to the world of subaru   I jus saw a part of your post saying you looking for bits for your car   This company here is good for aftermarket and genuine Subaru parts & the ship worldwide they are Uk  Based    here is a link to  check em out 

 

http://www.subarubits.co.uk/

 

I have got a few thing from them and one item I needed which they didnt have they put me in touch with a place 

well hope you enjoy the car and once again welcome 

[Gambit]

Welcome bud!!!

I do believe that ιs gambit in the picture!! Iam yet to be proved wrong lol

Proper lush ain't I ;) 

[Jonny b]

I would!!! Hubba hubba lol

[Gambit]

Bottle of Beefeater I'm anyone's :D 

[Firkinell]

Just had a reply from the dealer in the states about my rails... They won't post them to the UK because of their size?! They said I'd need a freight forwarder whatever that is. Looks like I'm going to wait for some unlucky soul to right one off:(

I'll be adding the dark window film this weekend. I haven't tinkered with a car this much for 20 years!

[Gambit]

Haha you have fallen in to the trap of modding again :D I'm just wondering if there is anyway of getting someone from over there o buy them and ship them over for you ?

I think cost will be a fair bit for the postage but it's not impossible or have you had a look to see if you can arrange a firm to pick them up and ship them over.

[Jay762]

I think you could have a courier firm collect, someone like UPS etc who do door to door might be worth asking for dimensions and weight then getting a quote?

 

They are located just outside New York so it shouldn't be alien to them to package things up for collection

[Jonny b]

Don't forget import taxes bud! Don't know why they wouldn't ship em over, my cousin got his csl wheels from the states as ιt was the same price for just the fronts over here lol

[Gambit]

Iv'e heard of people getting gearbox's sent over even body panels.