thebeephaha

2003 2.5X 4EAT Forester in Sierra Gold w/ 90k on the clock and quite a few mods!



CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS!

FS: Lots of stock parts from my 03X + others.

Mods I have done! Finally broke into categories.

Performance / Exhaust

• Custom OBX / Weapon R cold air intake with DEI Titanium heat wrap.
• Group A throttle body spacer.
• eBay oil catch can
• OEM fender plug
• Derale 15451 oil cooler relocation kit
• Wix 51515 over sized filter (used on Ford / Jeep V8 engines)
• Perrin aluminum lightweight crank pulley
• IxizPstop aluminum pitch stop mount
• Replica Borla headers (TopSpeed Pro-1 Version III) wrapped in DEI Titanium Wrap
• Stromung high flow cat
• Prodrive Forester XT specific axle back
• Napa Gold 1356 oil filter (for Mazda Miata, smaller than OE to fit with new headers)

Wheels / Suspension / Brakes

• Goodyear Eagle GT 215/55R-17 Tires
• 04' STI Steering Rack
• Whiteline steering rack bushings
• 19mm STI rear sway
  
• Swift Sport Springs
• KYB GR-2 Struts
• eBay Impreza front strut bar
• eBay Impreza rear strut bar
• Rear drum brake to disk brake swap
  
• Stoptech slotted rotors
• Hawk HPS pads
• Perrin master cylinder brace
• Whiteline subframe locking bolts
• Camber bolts

Lighting / Electrical

• Morimoto H1 Bi-Xenon HID retrofit w/ XB35 6000k bulbs, E46-R extended shrouds.
• Maniac Motors 140w alternator
• OEM security system upgrade
• Fake alarm dash mounted blinking LED
• Hella Supertones
• Optima Red Top 35 battery 8020-164
• XScorpion BTRP ring type battery terminals, "gold" for + & "platinum" for -
• Paranoid Fabrications "The Big Three" & "RS2.5 Lucid Grounding kit"
• 5000k LEDs interior lights (map, dome, cargo)
• 6000k LEDs for rear license plate lamps
• Map light shroud removal mod
• 08 sport black tail lights
• Subaru acrylic fog light protectors (tinted "mustard yellow")
• Auxiliary Hella Optilux 2500 driving lights
• Harbor Freight fog lights, for aux rear reverse lights.
• 3rd brake light "FORESTER" logo vinyl mask
• Moved rear SUBARU logo to the front grille, removed star emblem.
• Debadged rear except for the AWD logo to cover the holes left behind.

Audio / Video / Gauges

• Eclipse AVN4430 w/ removable TomTom navigation
• Eclipse iPC-409 iPod cable
• Eclipse AUX105 RCA AUX input cable
• 120GB Apple iPod Classic
  
• Alpine PDX-5 (5-channel amplifier installed under driver seat)
• DB Link PK4Z 4 gauge amp wire kit
• Stinger 20ft 9 conductor Speedwire (4 speakers + remote wire)
• HOSA 6.6ft 8 RCA connector snake cable (6 speaker audio channels, rear video out, rear backup camera)
• Pioneer TS-SW2501S4 subwoofer in Sea-Scooby V2 "custom" kit installed by Sea-Scooby
• AudioControl OVERDRIVE 2 Channel Line Driver (using to boost the low line output of the pre-fader on my head unit to my amp for the sub channel)
• Absolute RSW250 Amplifier Controller RCA to RCA (easy volume control for my sub connected to the above line driver)
• Subaru Tweeter Kit
• HERTZ Special Car Audio by Elettromedia - ECX 165 6.5" Fronts & ECX 130 5.25" Rears
• Sea-Scooby front and rear spacers with XTC foam baffles.
• ScanGauge II
• Custom made 3 60mm A pillar gauge pod with ProSport amber/white series gauges: oil temp, oil pressure, vacuum/boost.
• Escort Passport 8500 x50 Red radar detector with SuperCup mount and stealth cable install.
• eBay reverse camera with eBay adapter to make it work with my proprietary Eclipse camera connector.

Interior

• 2002 WRX Black & Blue Leather Seats (heaters are not connected currently)
• eBay black & blue "WRX" logo seat belt cushions
• eBay black & blue "Subaru" logo neck pillow
• Dashboard pod (dual din, replaced stock storage compartment, contains nav unit)
• Second storage pod (single din, added above the stock pod to fill removed stock head unit)
• MOMO Subaru aluminum AT shift knob
• Subaru all weather rubber mats
• eBay fabric dashboard cover in black
• Window noise fix - 3/8" clear tubing mod.
• Gauge cluster upgrade trim (silver rings around the gauges)
• Forester XS/XT chrome door handles
• Plasti Dip'd dash
• Black center console (replaced stock tan one)
• Rear seat & side cargo nets

Exterior

• Java Black Pearl XT hood with Sierra Gold scoop
• Subaru Forester XT bug gaurd
• SSI (Rallitek) Skidplate
• Importology grille
• Importology Eyelids
• Window tinting (35% front two, 20% rear sides & back)
• Paver edge front lip.
• Removed roof rack crossbars
  
• Rear spoiler
• Rear gate bar
• Rear step plate
• SPT valve stem caps Set

Engine Bling

• Gimmick Motorsports hood dampers
  
• SPT oil filler cap V2 in blue
• SPT battery tie down V1 in blue
• SG9 Forester XT engine cover with 2.5 logo painted Rust-Oleum "Champagne Mist", the closest spray paint to match my "Sierra Gold".

Misc

• STI key

Short list of future mods grouped in order of likely installation/execution:

• Fog light mod to enable fog lights without head lights on / with high beams on
• *
• Raammat the doors (especially around door speaker spacers), rear hatch, & spare wheel
• *
• Rally Armor UR Mud Flaps w/ gray logo

Old mods taken off for one reason or another:

• MB Wheels "Boost" Rims (removed after tires wore out, sold off to get Gram Lights repaired)
• 17x7" Gram Lights T57-RC Rims (destroyed in an accident, rear left wheel got two spokes cracked)
• Audiovox Movies 2 Go 7" headrest screens (removed for now, wasn't using them)
• Front "Home Depot" lip spoiler (lost when bumper was replaced)

Quick shot of the engine bay:

Attached Thumbnails

         

       

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!

Blue Fox

The one on the right is installed backward. When I installed my plate LED's, they both pointed inward (towards the plate). You shouldn't have any problems with the wiring being too short, unless someone before you replaced a bulb, and reinstalled it wrong.

Other than that, looking pretty good. I want more pics though.

__________________
2004 XT - RIP
2005 XT - 5MT - JOURNAL

thebeephaha

Thread Starter

Yea the wiring is too short to spin it around. I gotta get some slack in there. I saw some zip ties so I think that is the culprit.

More pics coming for sure.

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!

2.5x_sleeper

Good start to your Member Journal! Since you have the required 15 posts, you can link to a host like Photobucket & post pictures.

Bobby...

My MODding Journal

__________________
'07 FSXT - COBB Surgeline dyno Protune - Stage 1+
'03 X +AVO turbo kit = XT (son's)
'95 Neon Sport

thebeephaha

Thread Starter

Original 35w 6000k HIDs, now switched out for 35w 5000k Bi-Xenons.

HIDs installed

Beams


Installed some LEDs in the parking lamps. I found the housing was installed wrong by the last owner, cables were so tight I had to really work for slack to turn it the right way.


Fixed the housing by snipping some zip ties and gently pulling. Also added some chrome Forester license plate frames.


Pic of the front plate.

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!

thebeephaha

Thread Starter

Installed the OEM tweeters.

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!

thebeephaha

Thread Starter

I ordered some relay harnesses on eBay, I modded them quite a bit to serve my purpose just how I wanted. Here is the preliminary install before I get some wire loom and get it all bundled up for extended use. The install took me the better part of the evening as I custom made a lot and modded the relay but I think it turned out pretty well.

EDIT: This relay was replaced with my own design but that was eventually removed and I am no longer using a relay at all. Also, I reconnected the DRL resistor and then disconnected the DRL module.

Overall shot of the engine: (Red wire going across will be put in a protective wire loom soon, I don't want all the heat damaging the wires to the passenger HID.)


Driver HID overview:


Closeup of the HID itself (The spliced wires are for the high beam halogen, I didn't put them on the relay as they were always on for some reason when I did, so I hooked them to the stock harness. Under all of the electrical tape are connectors so I can replace the bulb fairly easily if need be. Just gotta peel the tape and re-tape, no biggie.)


Here is where I stuffed the relay itself


Passenger HID overview


Passenger Relay


Relay Fuses (I think they are 25 amp but I can't remember.)


Disabled the DRLs (I disconnected the resistor and taped off the end of the cable and zip tied it so it wasn't floating around.)


Fixed broken ground cable

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!

2.5x_sleeper

Your Member Journal is coming along nicely! I didn't do a Journal on the '03X, now my son's Forester. On the positive side, those MODs have been done to my new '07 FSXT that I moved on to in July & I did start a Member Journal.

Bobby...

My MODding Journal

__________________
'07 FSXT - COBB Surgeline dyno Protune - Stage 1+
'03 X +AVO turbo kit = XT (son's)
'95 Neon Sport

thebeephaha

Thread Starter

Thanks! Slow but steady progress.

Question for the other car electronic buffs, do my relays look OK? Not too "ghetto" since I did a lot of modifications myself?

Tests last night show the HIDs are getting much better power, ie no flicker, and they warm up faster, I'm just worried about longevity/safety. I was really careful about putting electrical tape over any spice or connector with an open end, but I wish I had some of those waterproof connectors. Didn't see them at my local auto parts store.

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!

2.5x_sleeper

Since you asked...

I make sure any wiring I do in the engine compartment is waterproofed, since it's going to get wet in there.

IMO, the relays should be mounted vertically with the wiring connected from below. If you used a socket, I'd fill the connectors with dielectric grease before plugging it together. This will prevent any water from getting to the connection.

I'm not a fan of electrical tape, except for temporary use. In my experience, the adhesive will release as it ages. I prefer shrink tubing, filling any splice with dielectric grease before shrinking to get a waterproof seal.

Bobby...

My MODding Journal

__________________
'07 FSXT - COBB Surgeline dyno Protune - Stage 1+
'03 X +AVO turbo kit = XT (son's)
'95 Neon Sport

thebeephaha

Thread Starter

Dashboard dual din pod installed, currently waiting for my new Nav unit to put in. Will take out the clock, not needed, and take out the stock deck and fill the space with another storage pod like the one below it.

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!

2.5x_sleeper

Looking good! You have everything looking like it's part of the factory wiring.

Bobby...

My MODding Journal

__________________
'07 FSXT - COBB Surgeline dyno Protune - Stage 1+
'03 X +AVO turbo kit = XT (son's)
'95 Neon Sport

thebeephaha

Thread Starter

7/2/10: Front lip, Hella Optilux 2500




6/30/10: Skid plate installed!



6/30/10: Latest shot of the engine bay.



5/31/10: Hella Supertones



5/11/10: Importology Grille


4/27/10: Window Tint


Went to West Seattle and shot on the first really beautiful day this year:
EDIT! High definition background pics found here: Wallpaper photography - post and contribute!!









Others:

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!

thebeephaha

Thread Starter

Installed the new Optima Red Top 35 8020-164 battery, this baby has so much more starting power than my old Energizer.

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!

thebeephaha

Thread Starter

First off, I apologize, I didn't take installation pictures. It was cold, I was tired, and I just wanted to get my nav unit it in. I worked on it from about 2PM to 7:30PM and got it all in and working perfectly. I will take internal wiring pics when I have to connect my rear view camera and a few other odds and ends. I got a few tiny scape marks on the dash from prying it open but I think I can smooth them out. The hardest part was the stupid vent and heat controls. My back and neck still hurt from disconnecting and reconnecting those servos. Works out really nice in the pod, don't have to look down anymore to do stuff on the stereo, much safer where it is now up high.


I also bought a second DIN storage pod so I have two now in the original deck location. The top one holds my iPod and has the cable routed in it via a hole I cut in the back. The bottom one holds a USB connection for a flash drive and the AUX input connectors.

Mix from cell phone pics & D300 for now:

Here it is!!! (For reference, scroll up a ways to see the pre-install how it looked.)


iPod:


USB


Nav:


iPod/USB:


Eject:


DVD: (OMG this is so dangerous! lol)


Notes:

• Gotta get a wire to the engine speed sensor for more accurate GPS readings but have no idea where that is located. PROBLEM SOLVED
• Reverse wire and rear view camera not hooked up yet.
• Connected parking break cable to common ground per instructions from fellow AVN4430 owners online to enable full function all the time.
• There is a second connector taped back on the stock harness, what is it??? See pic below: PROBLEM SOLVED

__________________
See my '99 & '03 Foresters!