I just bought a bugeye...

[chicken n waffles]

What are your personal thoughts on the EDM/JDM headlights? I think they look the best out of the group suggested...

they ARE the best looking ones, which is why i recommended them

[jamapor]

What are your personal thoughts on the EDM/JDM headlights? I think they look the best out of the group suggested...

they ARE the best looking ones, which is why i recommended them

I'm guessing this is why they're insanely expensive? Or was I looking at the wrong ones? (priced over $1000)

[complacent]

What are your personal thoughts on the EDM/JDM headlights? I think they look the best out of the group suggested...

they ARE the best looking ones, which is why i recommended them

not cheap, but beautiful. your first dollars are probably better spent on EM and a TBE.

[jamapor]

not cheap, but beautiful. your first dollars are probably better spent on EM and a TBE.

On that note, is there a thread on all these acronyms that keep flying around? I can't keep track...

[Cereb Daithi]

EM = Engine Management
TBE = Turbo-back exhuast
CBE = Cat-back exhust
JDM = Japanese Domestic Market
AP = Access Port

think that covers all that has been said in here so far

[complacent]

Here is a good starting point.

[WRXWagon2112]

Important things to know about headlights. As Daithi pointed out ...

JDM = Japanese Domestic Market
EDM = European Domestic Market

The difference being the Japanese drive on the left-side of the street (opposite of what we do in the States) so their projector beam headlights shine high and to the left (which would illuminate the signs on the side of their roads). If you were to use those JDM lights in the U.S. you'd be blinding all on-coming drivers and find it difficult to see signs on the side of our roads. There are adjustments you can make to alter that pattern, but only so much.

Europeans (from the continent, not the U.K.) drive on the same side of the road as us so their headlight beam patterns are the same as ours.

But ... JDM lights are cheaper than EDM lights. So it's your call: go with cheaper JDM lights and not have the correct beam pattern or spend the extra money for the EDM lights and be a good citizen.

--Alan

[jamapor]

--Alan

Wow, extremely helpful post. Thanks a bunch.


Why are EDM so much more expensive? Is it the cost of shipping? Would it be cheaper to have a friend over there buy a pair and ship them?

[drwrx]

Sorry, I'm late to the thread. I will keep my thoughts short.

The first thing to ask is (and this requires some serious thought) where do you want to be? 240whp? 270whp? 300whp? 330+whp? It seems like a loaded question, but it is probably the most important and will guide the rest of your decisions.

Fortunately we have folks in this group and on this board who have WRX's in nearly all these categories.

If you want to know what each feels like and what it would likely cost in time and money to get there? Come out to a meet and ask some folks. None of us are shy about sharing our experience.

There are now a number of alternatives for do it yourself engine management:
www.enginuity.org for info on the map editing software (free)
www.tactrix.com to purchase the cable you need ($80)
www.openecu.org for the map reading/flashing software called "ECUFlash" (free)
www.osecuroms.org for some starter maps that work very well (most of them are free)

And performance parts choices; exhaust, turbos, injectors, intercoolers, intakes, etc., have never been cheaper.

The road to all the above stages are well traveled and guidance is easy to find. And we would love to help you on your journey!

[jamapor]

The first thing to ask is (and this requires some serious thought) where do you want to be? 240whp? 270whp? 300whp? 330+whp? It seems like a loaded question, but it is probably the most important and will guide the rest of your decisions.

Well, this is definitely a question that's gone through my head many times. To be honest, I want to make the car turn heads first. For me, that's cosmetically. I feel that cosmetic changes are going to be a lot cheaper short-term.

However, I do want to put more power into the car. It's my first AWD car, so mastering driving it is priority one.

Let's be honest: I just want to show up my friend in his dyno-tuned (but stock) Acura TL. (quite doable)

I'd be interested in putting my car on a dyno as-is and seeing what it's pushing whp. I don't want to have to put 4k into this car, but I wouldn't mind putting in 1-2k.

Any thoughts?

[avriette]

To be honest, I want to make the car turn heads first. For me, that's cosmetically.

I suspect you will change your mind after you show up at a DCAWD meet or two. There are a lot of pretty <s>Subarus</s> AWD cars there. The next step is catching Julian.

(booooo bbcode!)

[jamapor]

To be honest, I want to make the car turn heads first. For me, that's cosmetically.

I suspect you will change your mind after you show up at a DCAWD meet or two. There are a lot of pretty <s>Subarus</s> AWD cars there. The next step is catching Julian.

(booooo bbcode!)

Well, in that I mean more speed = more $$. I haven't even paid the car off yet.

When is the next AWD meet by the way? *too lazy to look it up right now*

[Mr Kleen]

for less than the price of those fancy headlights or a body kit, you can get a full exhaust (including Up Pipe) and an Access Port.

remember: cars that turn heads turn POLICE heads as well...

[complacent]

for less than the price of those fancy headlights or a body kit, you can get a full exhaust (including Up Pipe) and an Access Port.

remember: cars that turn heads turn POLICE heads as well...

truth.

[drwrx]

Well, in that I mean more speed = more $$. I haven't even paid the car off yet.

for less than the price of those fancy headlights or a body kit, you can get a full exhaust (including Up Pipe) and an Access Port.

If your really out to do it cheap, watch the "for sale" threads here and on NASIOC. You will find stuff with some big savings. Here are some examples from the NASIOC board:
VF34: $550 + shp
STi "pink" 565cc injectors: $250 + shp
Walbro 255 fuel pump, 6k: $75 + shp
Sell the above as a kit: $850 shipped
STi tmic. very good shape. $250 + shp (have a PSM sti scoop n Zerosports splitter as well)
02-03 Cobb Accessport with all accessories: $400 shipped
SAMCO y-pipe: $65 shipped
Borla Hush cat-back exhaust: $400
ERZ up-pipe: $50
and these are just 1 page from todays NASIOC list.

Trust us, there are some very cheap ways to add significant power to your WRX.

Here is drwrx's perscription guide to cheap power:
220 whp:
Used Cobb Accessport: $400-$450 used (depending on year and model)
Stromung downpipe: $189 New $150 used (keep stock mid cat-pipe)
Used up-pipe: $50-$120 (depending on kind)
Used cat-back exhaust: $250-$400 (depending on kind)
Viola a 220 whp WRX for around $1,000, good for 0-60 in about 5.2 seconds and 1/4 mile in around 13.5 at about 100 mph.

270 whp:
All the above: (say $1,000)
Used vf30/34/22: ($400-$500) or new TD05 16G for $599 or Big 16G for $699 (turbochargers.com)
STi pink injectors: $250 used
Ebay TMIC: $200
You now have a 270 whp WRX for around $2,000, that will do 0-60 in about 4.7 seconds and run the 1/4 mile in around 12.8 at around 105 mph. (enough to give any stock turbo STi or EVO a run for they're money)

That's fine dr, you say, but I want to turn like an STi too.
Well, lucky for you drwrx has a perscription for cheap handeling as well:
17" wheels: $400 for used rotas or as little as $600 new
Tires: around $320 for a set of 225/45/17 Fuzion ZRi or Kuhmo SPTs.
Springs: used and new from $100-$250 (depending on kind)
Struts: $250 for used AGX, $400 new
You can also pick-up used STi springs and struts for around $500.
There you have it. For another $1,200 you are now on your way to 71 mph slalom speeds and .91g on the skidpad. Right on target for sparring with an STi on the twisties.

But wait, what about braking? I want STi stoping power too!
Well, now you just pissing me off! But once again, drwrx still has you covered.
Actually, the best deal I've seen out there is the Racing Brake special at Daddy's:
2 Rotors
2 4-Piston calipers
2 Aluminum adapters and hardware
1 Set of Hawk HPS brake pads
$1,095.
You can also get the new Subaru 4 pot front 2 pot rear set-up with hawk pads for under $1,500.
While neither of these is quite STi brembo level they have proven to be dang close.

Alright, that's it, my persriptions have run out.

[complacent]

^^ The doctor has got ya covered... for whatever ails ya

[jamapor]

*Lot of helpful stuff*

WOW. I think you just mapped out the entire route of my car for the next 12 months...

Can we make this a required pre-read for all new wrx owners? =)

Thanks a bunch man. I'll definitely look into getting some of these parts.

I did just buy the car, so the mods won't start until probably about May (when I take my new full-time job).

Where in the DC area do you live anyways? Just a random thought...

[jamapor]

What do you think about these stage upgrades?

http://www.rallyperformance.com/stage_p ... ades.shtml

[drwrx]

The Rallyperformance stages are fine.
But you can get just as good performance for less money.
Rallyperfromances "STi Hunter" was written-up in Sport Compact Car magazine in an article called "Spank the STi." The car came equipped with:
Scooby Sport up-pipe
Scooby Sport down-pipe
Scooby Sport muffler
STi Top Mount Intercooler
Reflashed ECU
17" STi wheels on 225/45//17 Kumho MX tires
Leda Coil over suspension
Kent 6 piston front prake calipers and 13" rotors w/ pagid pads and steel lines.
Stock rear brakes w/ pagid pads
It put down 217 whp 220 ftlbs
Ran 0-60 in 5.2
Did the 1/4 mile in 13.6 @ 101.2mph
Stopped 60-0 in 116 ft
Ran the slalom in 69.9 mph
and did .90g on the skidpad

Compared to the stock STi from the same test:
247 whp 260 ftlbs
0-60: 4.9
1/4 mile: 13.1 @ 104mph
60-0: 110 ft
slalom: 70.7 mph
skidpad: .91g

Understand, the power from this set-up comes from the exhaust pieces (up-pipe, down-pipe, muffler, etc.) and the ECU reflash. The Scooby sport pieces they used are well designed and offer good performance but are also the most expensive on the market. You can get just as good performance from much cheaper pieces. These are all parts that you can get "used" for very little out of pocket.

The Cobb Accessport, or some other kind of engine management, really should be the starting point for your modifications.

There is a lot involved in modding your car, and there are many pitfalls as well. So before you jump into buying performance parts, I would highly recommend talking to those who have gone before you.
You are on the right path.

[Mr Kleen]

the Dr. is IN...

[Sabre]

I suspect you will change your mind after you show up at a DCAWD meet or two. There are a lot of pretty <s>Subarus</s> AWD cars there. The next step is catching Julian.
(booooo bbcode!)

Hey, how did I get put into this conversation?!?!?

Some of our most innocent looking Subaru's AWD cars are the most dangerous

When is the next AWD meet by the way? *too lazy to look it up right now*

Looking to be on the 22nd of Feb. It was supposed to be next week, but it's the DCAWD Birthday meet, so we wanted to give people extra time to show up. Just keep watching the boards, I'll post it up in the next day or two

BTW, as always, the Dr. has given great advice

[zaxrex]

EDM = $$$ because of market size. JDM covers all RHD countries where many STis are sold. The EDM market is much smaller, so the cost for tooling specialized parts must be amortized across a smaller number of units.

Now if SOA wasn't bound by our litigious society, we could have the coolness from other parts of the world at a much lower price.

If you are in it for the looks, then best not take advice from me. Just for future refference.

[avriette]

remember: cars that turn heads turn POLICE heads as well...

remember: it's only illegal if you get caught.

[NYSTI]

Sorry, I'm late to the thread. I will keep my thoughts short.

The first thing to ask is (and this requires some serious thought) where do you want to be? 240whp? 270whp? 300whp? 330+whp? It seems like a loaded question, but it is probably the most important and will guide the rest of your decisions.

Fortunately we have folks in this group and on this board who have WRX's in nearly all these categories.

If you want to know what each feels like and what it would likely cost in time and money to get there? Come out to a meet and ask some folks. None of us are shy about sharing our experience.

There are now a number of alternatives for do it yourself engine management:
www.enginuity.org for info on the map editing software (free)
www.tactrix.com to purchase the cable you need ($80)
www.openecu.org for the map reading/flashing software called "ECUFlash" (free)
www.osecuroms.org for some starter maps that work very well (most of them are free)

And performance parts choices; exhaust, turbos, injectors, intercoolers, intakes, etc., have never been cheaper.

The road to all the above stages are well traveled and guidance is easy to find. And we would love to help you on your journey!

This man know's his stuff!!!

[jamapor]

DRWRX,

Any thoughts on getting this exhaust? I'm looking for a low-key exhaust.

http://www.fastwrx.com/bohucaex.html