Jamina

I have KYB Ultra i think which is what i was recommended to retain stock setup. I am with @Tidgy on coilover myths though, recently tried a car on coilovers setup for road use and it was great. From the outside you wouldn't notice a difference anyway so if my shocks start playing up again I will probably just move to coilovers next time.

Thanks for the link that's really interesting - what a silly reason to risk damage later down the line for the sake of a minute or so...rules are rules i suppose. I guess that's why cars have a lot more visible vapour on start up.

http://www.subaru-impreza.org/impreza-brochures.shtml

out of interest - what does the secondary air system do?

Thanks @Impreza abuser I think I may have been very lucky and someone down the road from me has a spare heater console I can salvage this time. If not I now have a website that looks promising which I will post up if I get round to testing.

Have attached a picture of the bulb and the console it came out of. it’s the standard filament bulb that sits behind the dials for temp, speed etc research tells me that JDM spec and UK spec are different and mine is UK spec. i just can’t seem to find the actual code for the bulb

Depends on your needs I guess. 10K is a frustrating budget I always think as there is almost too much choice. Want a German V8 you can’t afford to maintain. Grab an BMW M3 or Audi S4 before the good ones are thrashed. want an impractical coupe, get yourself a 370z. Maybe a family car you can’t fit the pushchair in pretending to be a hot hatch because it pops every now and then. Get a golf. if you fancy a hot hatch that’s pretty unusual, offers comfort but has a bit of rawness to it a Mazda 3 MPS can be found sub 10K. Be wary of bad maps though. if you have more details around your needs I should think people have loads of experience on here. Personally, I would do what you said not to grab yourself a nice 2.0l STI. They’re just the perfect all rounder (other than fuel economy of course, but helps to keep the miles per smiles down) Or you could throw some cash at my beaten up MK2 fiesta. Cheap fun can be just as good.

Still looking for the above. Checked a few breakers who have said they come up but you have to keep searching. Apparently not as sought after as I though due to weight and other options in 18” being preferable. let me know if you know of any

Photo

Konig never got back to me. Checked with a 3rd party company who said they will most likely for over Brembos but weren’t sure if they would stick a little from the arches so... have done some more research and think I have settled on looking for a set of 5x100 BBS wheels that I think came standard on the spec c anyone know where I can find a set of these. Picture to follow!

I was told that HIDs might have to be a factory standard to pass MOT? Did some research and it seems LEDs are the way to go now which are supposedly just as good but can’t find which LEDs are right for an 03 STI Anyone got any ideas? ta

Thanks @Jay762 that’s the conclusion I came too from the link you sent me. Have also emailed Konig to see what they say...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F323847200254 these would have been the original wheels that came with the car. 17” 7.5J ET53 5x100 so 17s must fit!?

Thanks @Jay762 by the looks of it these would actually give more clearance then!? think I got my original ET wrong, need to check tomorrow on the wheel but i think they are actually ET45. So the wheel spec is almost the same just moving from 18” to 17” and ET45 to ET40. wish I understood wheel sizes a bit more 😂

Can anyone confirm if the wheels @Ryan_Lewis is selling will fit over Brembos? I have an 04 STI so it’s 5x100 PCD but I get the impression the ET on these means they won’t fit without spacers?

Hi @Ryan_Lewis, Cheers for letting me know I appreciate it. I am still deciding what I am after. I do really like what you have but I’m convinced these are totally the wrong spec for Brembos. I will do some more research on it.

I have seen a set of PFF-7s and think these are possibly a nice way to go. Same wheel spec as what I already have but weigh in a bit lighter. If they aren't filling the arches enough I can always add some spacers to fill them out. So will be on the hunt for a set, trouble is I believe the 5x100 option are fairly rare... Preferably going to get a cheaper set that need a refurb so I can choose a colour

Does anyone run 17" wheels on a non-widetrack STI? I am thinking about changing wheels and there is a plethora of choice out there. I currently have 18", 8JJ, ET51 but was thinking that moving over to 17" and losing the low profile tyres might make for a smoother ride. I believe the original wheels would have been 17"? Have been looking at 17", 8.5JJ options (no idea what ET I need) to fill the arches a bit better. Rota have some nice options... @Ryan_Lewis is selling a really nice set but i'm guessing these aren't suitable for MY03 STI and is quite a trek from me. I may be tempted to get a set of these if they do the right size. Any first hand experience or advice on 17" over 18"? Cheers

@savage bulldogs oh my 🥴 i really shouldn’t ask but do you know how much they would be after for the series McRae or any other early ones he might have that he wants to part with? You’re welcome to pm me if he doesn’t want it plastered all over the forum

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Impreza-WRX-WRC-Re-Creation/333209135938?hash=item4d94cfeb42:g:6jIAAOSw86hc56qJ

Thanks for all the advice on this, forgot to update thread! Issue now resolved, the steering rack was the issue, now been replaced and all working good as new :)

wow @savage bulldogs that is some collection, makes me wonder what they are not selling!!! Would love a Series McRae or any standard/interesting early impreza at some point. Hope they find the right home.

My pump seems fine when fluid level is correct. No noises and functions correctly. A little more research tells me this could be steering rack boot or something of that calliber. Things would be much easier with a ramp 😂

I have topped it up again, I am now pretty much convinced it’s a leak or some sort as the fluid is draining when the car is not in use. Ill get it booked in and taken care off, don’t want the power steering to cut out again!