Jelly

I put a Pro Drive back box that was off a wrx onto my XT and it bolted up no problems. The only thing you need to worry about is the 3 hangers. The 2 that hold the box under the bumper need to be a fair bit longer than the stock ones, otherwise you'll wind up melting your bumper. The 3rd hanger further down towards the flange wont line up at all with the car. I wound up getting a one of these from halfords - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Halfords-HEX404-Universal-Exhaust-Strap-Rubber-Black-11-5-292mm-Long-Spare/321680633007?_trksid=p2141725.c100338.m3726&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150313114020%26meid%3Dbfffad41324b4a148a2e878e615b0606%26pid%3D100338%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D17%26sd%3D321680632982 Which i cut in half, drilled out the holes and used them as my new rear hangers. Then for the 3rd hanger i just used some metal cable ties between the cars original hanger and the one on the backbox, this was just to brace it so it doesn't sway left and right. I've been swearing that I'll go back and tidy up the cable ties and make some proper hangers but it's been working fine so far and I'm lazy :P Should only be an afternoon job as long you get a friend to help with positioning the new back box and make sure you have something to heat the bolts when removing the old back box because we spent over an hour on 1 bolt until we heated it for 30 seconds and it came straight off. Also don't forget to get yourself a new gasket - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-5-Exhaust-Decat-Pipe-Flange-Gasket-Subaru-Impreza-WRX-STI-Legacy-Outback-/220720290256?hash=item3363f459d0 Jelly

Whoops, completely missed your reply. Its all gone now but i still have the motor tucked away somewhere.

Hi guys I recently had to replace my entire sunroof mech as some of the plastic guides in the runners had broken off and i couldnt see a way to repair them. This means ive got an entire spare unit with glass (cracked but water tight) and a working motor. Ive seen a few posts from people with damaged weather seals and motors so i thought id see if anyone wanted any of it before i chucked it. I'll keep the whole thing for a few days but ill put it out for the scrap men at the end of the week if i dont hear anything (i'll probably grab the motor off it first though) I'll probably let any of it go for free if you pick it up so let me know soon as. Jelly

Thanks for the shout stants but im aware of the drop, its actually one of the reasons i want to switch the seats as right now my head just about brushes the ceiling.

Hi Mate, I'd love to see some pics. I can convince myself its worth the drive :) Thanks James

Shame nevermind then. Thanks alot for letting me know Ghost

Oh cool Tomo, did you just have the backbox off Reece then?

I'm trying to smarten up my foz's interior a bit so im after some nice front seats out of a wrx/sti. Most years will bolt in so i'll look at anything as long as its in decent condition. So if anyone has upgraded their seats and still has the old ones taking up space in the garage give me a shout. Thanks Jelly

Hi Mate is this still available? I'm mainly after the centre section and maybe the downpipe, if tomobwfc is still after just the backbox you might be able to shift the lot between us :) Let me know if you can split it and how much you want, also what part of london are in? Thanks

I checked the clearance when i put them on and haven't heard anything since so it looks fine. I might change the springs to drop it about an inch and level it out a bit more, back is looking a bit lower than the front, but i dont plan on going any lower than that :)

Thanks for the offers everyone but picked up Boofies wheels last week, Very happy :)

Wow Boofle those are perfect, what tyres are on them and whats the tread like, can you pm your address so i can see how far away you are. Cheers

Thanks for the reply Alex but sorry i dont think those do it for me. Hudson those look great and are the style ive been looking for, ive mainly been looking for black wheels but im now wondering how those golds will look on my red forester.... hmmm Have a think about how much you would want for the 5 and let me know.

Hey These 16" are what i have at the moment. I was planning on keeping them as winters/spares but id probably be up for a trade.

Hi I'm after some new wheels for my Forester. I'm not sure exactly what i want yet so if you have a set in good condition then shoot me a picture. Cheers

Hi guys I'm having issues with my sunroof, it wont retract as the passenger side wont drop down with the drivers side. Ive had the glass off twice and everytime i take it off it i clean everything out, jiggle with it for a while and eventually get it moving perfectly, yesterday i tested it about 50 times back and forth before putting the glass back on. As soon as i put the glass back on it jams up again. This is doing my head in as i love the sunroof but cant use it. The sunroof has a big crack in it so im wondering if something has landed on it and damaged something on that side. I was wondering if anyone knew how to remove the runners and scissor mechanism from that side, there must be a way but i cant figure it out, im hoping i dont have to remove the roof lining to do it. If i can figure that out ill just go and take the whole mech out of a scrapped one as i was going to do that for the glass anyway. I know there's already been a few threads about sunroof problems so sorry for making another one. Thanks

Hey, i spotted this thread last week and as i have the same problem i went and checked my drop links and they looked pretty worn. I ordered 2 of the MEYLE units and put one of them on yesterday. Knocking is already gone. :D I'm going to do the other one today but i wanted to say thanks to everyone in the thread. Just fyi, there fairly easy to do yourself but make sure you've got some good allen keys and some mole grips, the thread of the drop links spins with the bolt so you either have to insert an allen key and hold it still while undoing it with a spanner, or clamp the rubber side with mole grips to stop it spinning. Obviously i wouldn't do the clamp method when putting the new ones on so some decent allen keys are a must.

Hi Everyone Finally got my forester last weekend and am loving it. Im trying to solve some little niggles, one of them being the headlight washers. I wash my car fairly often so i dont think they will ever get dirty enough to need the sprayers and id rather them gone. Ive seen a few cars like the one attached that have blank plates where the washers go which im trying to track down, i was wondering if anyone had any ideas. In the meantime does anyone know of an easy way to disable the sprayers, are they one there own fuse or am i going to have to cut the wires going to the switch because the amount of times ive cleaned the front only to get in the car and hit the button with my knee, spraying soapy screen wash all over the car its getting annoying. Thanks very much guys, im going through alot of the car this weekend so im sure ill be asking alot more questions and a few pics of the car might even wind up on here :) Jelly

Hi Everyone, Thanks for all the fantastic information, i really appreciate it. Ive got alot of thinking to do i think as dont have that much money to play with so i cant afford to get anything with lower miles and i cant afford to have £1000 head gasket problems. From what ive read the head gasket issues mainly plagued early 2000-2002 foresters but i suppose its still a gamble. I have considered going for a 2.0 xt instead of a 2.5 xt but having driven the 2.5, my heart definitely says 2.5 :) I think im going to take all of your information and go and look at the car, if it doesnt show any of the problems you guys mentioned ill probably be driving home in my new to me forester in the next few weeks. One quick question for you stants, where did you get the tune as its something i was always looking into, mainly for power gains but if i can swap power for mpg to a certain point i think id be really interested. Again, thanks alot to all of you for taking the time to help me out.

Cheers Rusty, How much are we talking on that head gasket if you dont mind saying and how long do they last? Ive already seen a copy of the service book showing the millage at each service and that all adds up, im going to make sure that it all matches with mot's and HPI check as well. Also what is the mpg like, if i can get mid 20's around town if i keep it off boost ill be fairly happy as thats what i get at the moment in my 3 series. Im sure ill miss getting mid 40's on the motorway though :( With the cost of the head gasket and the fuel and high tax, do you think its worth it?

Hi Stants thanks for all the info. The Ride height doesnt look too bad (pic below), the current owner says that the owner before him put them on and he's readjusted them for more height so hopefully it wont be too bad, he's still got the original suspension so i could always swap it back. Its is indeed a 2.5l and its in Scotland, a mission and a half away from me in Birmingham but im working a few hours away their next month so its not as bad.

Hi Everyone I was hoping some experienced subaru owners might lend me some of their knowledge Hopefully soon ill be getting my first subaru, a 2004 forester 2.5 XT. Im really looking forward to it but i was hoping for some advice on what to look out for and what to ask the current owner as the car is too far away for me to check it out and i dont want to waste a trip. The car has around 89,000 miles (which im sure really means 90,000) and will have a full mot when i buy it. Its just failed the mot with worn front droplinks, a leaking CV boot and a brake fluid leak which the owner is now getting fixed. Its had some work done to it including the cambelt, new aluminium radiator, BC Racing Adjustable coilover suspension & stainless steel exhaust. It also sounds like the car has been used for towing another car at least once. I was wondering what questions should i be asking, what should i expect when i go and see it and what should i be looking out for as red flags to turn the other way. I know im asking people to do alot of the work for me on this but i cant seem to find any buyers guides on the car or any consistent information of common problems. Im already aware of some of the more common little faults - window motors, sunroof problems, window wind noise etc but none of the main mechanical ones. Any help at all will be very much appreciated. Thanks Jelly

Hi Everyone. I dont even have my forester yet but im already planning what i want to do with it. The one i am looking at has a boot like this - With the grey trim with subaru on it. I prefer the look when that part is colour matched and has the logo on it like - I was wondering if this part is easily removable for paint/vinyl/buying that part. Also somewhat related, are the sti style boot spoilers you can find on ebay for around £100 any good and are they difficult to fit? Thanks alot Jelly

Hi Everyone, Im new to the forum and hopfully will be new to subaru soon. Currently in the process of acquiring a Forester XT SG (so if you want to get rid of one please let me know :)). Anyone active in the Forester Club section will probably be seeing me soon as i have lots of questions, ill do my best not to ask anything thats already been asked and answered there. Thanks Jelly