Topic: diamondedge's 2007 WRX - "STi TMIC, Redux"

[RockThePylon]

Only about two grand for the set.

This made me choke on my beer.

Only two grand for a set of wheels.

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

This made me choke on my beer.

Only two grand for a set of wheels.

And here, I only paid $500 for my second set of rims.

[05LGT]

Every time I think about buying nice wheels, I think about how many sets of tires I can abuse with that money instead...

[diamondedge]

And here, I only paid $500 for my second set of rims.

True. These GC wheels were pretty cheap when I think about it. Maybe I'll just buy some 04 STi wheels for a summer set. (That's blasphemy though I don't drive an STi)

WRB suits no subaru chassis better than it suit's the GD/GG models. I have always admired your car

Thanks Cole!

This made me choke on my beer.

Only two grand for a set of wheels.

I had to double take when I read Jonny's link. OH YUH EN-KAI SPESHO EDITION WHEELZ $$$$ *facepalm

Every time I think about buying nice wheels, I think about how many sets of tires I can abuse with that money instead...

But hard parking requires no tire abuse.

So once I get low, I considered that if I go for a certain wheel/offset combo, I would need to roll my rear fenders, because wag0n. I do want to have a look at the rear quarters and see if there's any rust to tackle first. If so, yaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

I've been putting off removing that darn OEM crossbar on the back as well...that's next.

[Canuckrz]

True. These GC wheels were pretty cheap when I think about it. Maybe I'll just buy some 04 STi wheels for a summer set. (That's blasphemy though I don't drive an STi)

Implying the 5x100 04 sti wheels are cheap and easy to find. I've seen rashed up ones with hammer weights go for 1300.

[diamondedge]

Implying the 5x100 04 sti wheels are cheap and easy to find. I've seen rashed up ones with hammer weights go for 1300.

Yeah agreed they're not easy to find by any means. There was that set on sale last year for 1100~1000 bucks...the kjijiji ad even stated condition was "7/10"

:/

[jellynuts]

It's not blasphemous at all.  04 BBS' are plain yums. 

[diamondedge]

Saturday night, went to click on the headlights. See a flash on the left - uckfay. Driver's side all dark now. The parking lamp was broken for a while now, main bulb decided to pack it in.

OSRAM Nightbreaker Unlimited H7 bulbs on the way.

Did a quick detail on the interior, plasti-dip on the dash isn't holding up all too well around the HVAC controls. Will look to re-do it in proper paint when it gets warmer. Also - AutoGlym on Weathertech's turns them into skating rink rubber, hahaha

A photo because what's a Monday without pictures.

[diamondedge]

Bulbs are in. Damn...way whiter than I expected, sweet. And the throw and beam pattern is great. It feels like a new car haha.

Here's a comparison shot. Philips unknown H7 on left vs OSRAM Night breaker on the right. I'll swap the parking lamps to LEDs to get the color temps closer.

[RedBimmer93]

Osram makes great bulbs

Are you going to be putting another osram in the passenger side of the car too??

[diamondedge]

Osram makes great bulbs

Are you going to be putting another osram in the passenger side of the car too??

  Yeppers I changed the passenger side too. When I examined the passenger side bulb, there was a black mark on the glass on the filament end.

[RockThePylon]

Keep track of the kms/days those suckers last. I put some nice bulbs in my old Focus, and I swear they only last 4 or 5 months. I was some chapped.

[N3UBIE]

I have been running the Osram Nightbreaker bulbs in my car for over a year now and they are still going strong. They are much better than the two sets of PIAA lights before which lasted 3-4 months each before a bulb burned out. Doesn't hurt that they are just as bright as the PIAA's for a third of the price.

[seat safety switch]

Keep track of the kms/days those suckers last. I put some nice bulbs in my old Focus, and I swear they only last 4 or 5 months. I was some chapped.

In my (limited) experience the Osram stuff tends to last longer than Sylvania.

I did have a set of the really beefy Osram 'offroad only' 85W H4s and the low-beam lasted only a few months even with a relay harness, though.

[diamondedge]

In my (limited) experience the Osram stuff tends to last longer than Sylvania.

I did have a set of the really beefy Osram 'offroad only' 85W H4s and the low-beam lasted only a few months even with a relay harness, though.

The old bulbs were Sylvania's. Duly noted - I'm curious to see how long they last.  The Sylvania's in the plastic/cardboard blister packs at Canadian Tire look similar to the NightBreakers but the "blued" part looks wavy on the Sylvania's whereas it's more crisp on the OSRAM - like they did a better job dipping it. Who knows though if that has an effect on performance.

Here's a pic of the LED parking lamp bulbs on a dark street... Then I noticed another parking light bulb was out, that amber corner. Damnit.



Here's a color temperature comparison between the low beam NightB's and Philips 6000K 194/168 parking lamp, still mismatched but better IMO than the old halogen 168s/



Today I finally took off my rear crossbar. Driver side screws came out no problem. The passenger side hex was fine but the torx was so uckfayed from my last attempt.  So I grabbed  soapy water, soaped her up and wiggled her free. Rack city.



Maybe more fuel economy. More so I don't feel half adequate with just one crossbar rack... One looked so weird.

[jellynuts]

I had trouble with Subaru crossbars too.  I over-torqued them and pulled the nut that was pressed into the claw out a bit. 

And then they never tightened up the same. 

[diamondedge]

So...I stopped by Subaru Calgary to buy a part. And say hi to Asstuna. He was busy helping a couple with an Outback.

Spot the difference 2 dollars can make.






Finally covered my one bare (wiper) nut. Can't have bare nuts around Rathburn, knowmsayin? Since everyone is doing exhaust... I also installed this over this past weekend.







MadDad Whisper 3'' CBE. HNGH dual tips. It took me about 2.5 hours to free the two springbolts on the downpipe to midpipe connection...(no impact tools, all 125 lbs of asian fury right here, and lots of penetrant). Bolted up the new CBE with the Grimmspeed adapter and a new donut gasket in literally no time. I definitely need longer hangers, so those are on order. I have a portion of the axleback that's really close to rear subframe. I hear squeaks on occasion, I presume it's from the axleback sliding against the subframe (nails on chalkboard kinda sound....shudder).

The fitment on the stock hangers though, check that out.




BUT WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU HERE IS A VIDEO!



Initial thoughts - holy uckfay is this thing ever bassy and deep. From in the cabin with the windows up, I can faintly hear the deep rumble from out back...man I love it. I don't think it's obtrusive at lower speeds and revs. No drone at any speeds I have found thus far in my wagon.

I will state for the record, communication from Rich @ MadDad was exactly as everyone has said in the past. Hard to get a hold of, but once you do, it's easy sailing. There was about a month of radio silence but once he got back to me, he shipped right away and even cut me a discount for waiting. Pretty swell aside from the wait. And it gave time for the loonie to recover hahaha.

[jellynuts]

Nice Gabe. Nice.

You should talk to Spencer about audio

[RockThePylon]

I need a ride a long to hear the whisper!

[kijho]

Your video is actually really good man! I'll post up what I have tomorrow night !!!

[diamondedge]

Nice Gabe. Nice.

You should talk to Spencer about audio

So ummm

Your video is actually really good man! I'll post up what I have tomorrow night !!!

Thanks for filming Spencer 

I need a ride a long to hear the whisper!

Yeah RTP for sure. I'm out of town next week...but I'll be back for the week after.

[Canuckrz]

Its everything I always hoped it would be. Its gr8 m8 I r8 8/8.

[RedndWhite]

.... Crap Gabe, making me miss the boxer rumble.

Sounds awesome!

[kijho]

Won't sound as good on an iphone speaker, best listened to on decent speakers with bass

[RockThePylon]

When did Timmie's become the new Barlow meet?

Sad I missed it. I'll bring my dB meter for the next one!