New (to me) manual Forester XT

New (to me) manual Forester XT

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Discussion

Carma

Original Poster:

233 posts

218 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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This week I have just bought my second Forester a 2004 2.5XT manual (heated leather, moon roof, cruise & nav). My first is a 2002 JDM auto 2.0XT. I got the manual 2.5 this week to have a more involving drive (I drive 90% B roads) and to start to teach my 15 year old son (16 in december) clutch control, on a private road of course!

I really like the JDM auto Forester it has only 33k miles and it shows in the condition, it has dark tinted rear glass a mild body kit that I like, Ive not seen another like it, and power fold mirrors.
Ive fitted a VF34 turbo, pink injectors, Walbro fuel pump, STi TMIC and Hayward & Scott exhaust inc 100 cell cat, Samco inlet, Gates timing belt & tensioners, Simon (JGM) mapped it to 303.8bhp at Surrey RR.

The mapping had to be sympathetic because of the auto box and to be honest I don't really need 300+bhp for the school pick up & trips to the tip etc.. I may have a leaking head gasket now further checking required (loosing coolant from the O/S/F head area).

Anyway back to my post having decided manual was better for us I am about to start swopping parts from the auto to the manual, I did research converting the auto but it seemed easier to buy than convert.

Has anyone changed the fixed rear quarter windows themselves as opposed to calling Auto glass type companies?
Im not sure the 2.5 engine would last long if I swop the turbo etc.. and up the boost? (perhaps I'll leave this until my son isn't using it for practice).
Does anyone know if the power fold mirror loom is fitted in all Foresters or will I have to modify if I swop them?
Will my 2.0 stainless system including 100 cell CAT and up pipe fit and be suitable for the 2.5?
Is the VF34 roller bearing turbo a good fit for a 2.5?
Which ARB drop links are thought best (recent advisory on 2.5 MOT)?
Are Tien coil overs too harsh for normal road use?

Any info much appreciated!

v8250

2,724 posts

210 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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you'll be better off asking these Q?'s on subaruforester.org - there's a mass of technical data there within the tech files that will answer all your Q?'s

Carma

Original Poster:

233 posts

218 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Thanks, is it just me or is that forum quite confuddling to use?

loskie

5,144 posts

119 months

Friday 28th November 2014
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Not just you. I think it is because it is USA based. A.part from the European forum
Doesn't seem to be a decent UK site.

Carma

Original Poster:

233 posts

218 months

Friday 28th November 2014
quotequote all
loskie, glad its not just me, I have more success searching goggle and quite often find an answer that's posted on the forester.org site which there own search system didn't show me, its happened literally 10+ times nowbanghead

Anyway I swopped the power fold mirrors over today with the drivers door mirror and window switch assembly and the fold function worked!! The windows didn't, the JDM window switch block had an additional 3 way connector (only 2 connections used) where as the UK manual didn't, I swopped the window switch blocks back and the windows worked! While I had the door cards off I found the JDM had some fairly flash speakers fitted so I will swop these also.

Rear hatch swop tomorrow, both Foresters are O1G silver but the JDM has a spoiler with integral brake light plus dark tint window which I prefer.

v8250

2,724 posts

210 months

Saturday 29th November 2014
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Carma said:
Thanks, is it just me or is that forum quite confuddling to use?
I understand, the new layout takes a while to get used to but a post with your Q?'s in the European forum will get very helpful responses from the fellas. They're a really good bunch of folk, no Mumsnet gibberish, and they've often completed the mods you're wanting to do. And oddly, they like 'Karma', Carma...ala, help another chap and the karma will be returned in kind one day...

Carma

Original Poster:

233 posts

218 months

Saturday 29th November 2014
quotequote all
v8250 said:
I understand, the new layout takes a while to get used to but a post with your Q?'s in the European forum will get very helpful responses from the fellas. They're a really good bunch of folk, no Mumsnet gibberish, and they've often completed the mods you're wanting to do. And oddly, they like 'Karma', Carma...ala, help another chap and the karma will be returned in kind one day...
Thanks for the advise I use a diff name on the Forester forum so perhaps its fate... I have posted in the new member intro section and had a whole 2 replies blabla so at least I know I exist. I will drift in a European direction whilst we are still talking to them!