DIY: WRX center console swap/install

[anothernord]

This DIY will allow you to swap the center console from an 02/03 WRX to a 96-99 B-whatever. 04/05 consoles will also fit. And as always, I'm not responsible for anything you do to hurt yourself, your car, or someone else.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2109-1.jpg

This DIY was done on a 97' Outback.

Tools Required:
-Hacksaw (I used a portable bandsaw)
-Pliers
-Screwdriver
-Dremel or something similar
-10mm, 12mm sockets


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`


1) Start by removing your stock center console. I won't go into detail here, but basically get your phillips screwdriver and undo every screw you can find in the center console. Don't forget the ones in the storage bin.

2) Remove your stock console and compare it to your WRX console, to get a preview of how much you will have to trim off the WRX unit.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2084HDTV1080-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2085-1.jpg

**NOTE** Try fitting the console first before you do the follow steps; the bracketry varies from year to year. 1995's do not have to have the shock sensor or storage bin bracket modified.

3) Before you start cutting there are a few modifications that have to be done to the guts underneath the area where the console sits; The airbag G-sensor must be moved forward to allow the storage bin of the WRX console to fit.

4) Carefully unplug and unbolt the sensor, taking care not to drop or shake it.

5) Unbolt the front 12mm E-brake bracket bolt, and set the G-sensor with the back of the bracket on what used to be the front stud, and mark where to cut a slot on the front-side of the bracket so it can fit under the 12mm E-brake bolt.

NOTE: it is helpful to have the E-brake all the way released so there isn't any tension on the cables that will pull the bracket backwards.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2089-1.jpg

6) Cut a slot with your hacksaw in the G-sensor's bracket where you marked it. Then use your pliers to bend the little tab between the cuts back and forth until it breaks off.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2091-1.jpg

7) Now bolt the sensor into it's new location with the 12mm and 10mm bolt and nut, respectively.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2092-1.jpg

8) The bracket that the stock storage bin bolts to will not line up with the WRX console's holes. It will have to be modded to line up partially with the new console.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2097-1.jpg

9) Using your hacksaw, cut off the right half of the bracket, and bolt it in as shown.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2098-1.jpg

10) This is the hardest part of the whole install. Now get your saw and start cutting small amounts of plastic from the WRX console so it matches your stock dash. The best way to do this is to take off small amounts at a time, and pull the console in and out of the car. It gets a little tedious, but the more time you spend, the better it will look.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2093-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2094-1.jpg

11) Once you have cut off enough material to allow the front and middle screw holes to line up, remove the console, grab your pliers, and turn your attention back to the bracket you bolted in behind the E-brake earlier. Bend the mounting point on the passenger side so it matches the screw hole in the bottom of the WRX console's storage bin. The other mounting point is too hard to bend, so I left it alone. It's still just as sturdy.

It should look something like this:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2099-1.jpg

12) Once you're satisfied with the fitment of the big bottom piece of the WRX console, turn your attention to the shifter trim. You want to emulate the upward curve of the radio surround piece. The step is most easily done with a dremel after cutting off the largest of the unneeded portion of the trim with a hacksaw. This step the the hardest to get right, because you have to cut a curve in the piece.

As you can see, I didn't get it perfectly matched with the dash, but it looks fine otherwise. The storage bin in front of the shift boot perfectly matches the bottom of the dash, with almost no gap.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2095-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2103-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2104-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2105-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2106-1.jpg

13) Snap on the rear trim piece, and put your shift knob back on.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2107-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2108-1.jpg


Enjoy your fancy new console, complete with a cupholder! Also, the mirror switch plugs in perfectly to the stock harness, so if you want, you can extend the wires for your power mirrors down to the center console to make that switch functional!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

-Jared

hey good job on that bro, it looks good!

still waiting on mine to get here....

[anothernord]

hey good job on that bro, it looks good!

still waiting on mine to get here....

Thanks Justin, you'll like the way it freshens up the interior a little.

I'm going to extend my power mirror switch down to the buttons in the center. Make it functional. :cool:

[hallowpoint]

looks good you might want to go back and work on the cuts and straighten them out a bit, just to finish out the look. might look into doing this its begging for wrx e-brake leaver now

[lord flashheart]

just dawned on me.. DIY stands for do it yourself.
this is a great DIY i will definitely going to do this swap when i get my next subie. great work.
i also wanna add that i had those same floor mats. and they KICKASS!

[Barricade]

:smile: great job

[boricuajr]

nice job man, thanks for the pics and tips

[Okin DaVanh]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2106-1.jpg



See right where it meets the lower half of the dash here?.....:smt017



Trim it near flush as you can, near the ash tray/corner.

you could use use a weather strip or thin black rubber door edge guard to close up that gap??? A little way of giving it a cleaner look and deaden the screatching you might get here and there.

Just a thought from only looking at pics. +1 for going to get 1 yourself and doing it with pics.

[anothernord]

In that picture, you can see a blue sharpie line where I later cut off the excess. Now its fine.

I do like the weather stripping idea though.

[datdookie]

!!!! thats freakin awesome i hate our cup holders i cant even put an arizona can to hold it in place and i love arizona

[GTDrifter]

whats the red button infront of the power window switch for?
good diy

[anothernord]

whats the red button infront of the power window switch for?
good diy

That would be the control button and indicator for my Innovate wideband.

[mrpyb]

whats the red button infront of the power window switch for?
good diy

That would be the control button and indicator for my Innovate wideband.

don't let him fool you. it's actually NOS! :smt029

[anothernord]

whats the red button infront of the power window switch for?
good diy

That would be the control button and indicator for my Innovate wideband.

don't let him fool you. it's actually NOS! :smt029

When I get an income this summer, it very well might be. I'm designing a twin-charging system. :twisted:

i got mine in today, although i didn't have to do any bracket trimming... may want to add that as a possibility in the 1995 leggys

looks way clean :D

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t232/wakeboardingguy/100_0112.jpg

[Okin DaVanh]

i got mine in today, although i didn't have to do any bracket trimming... may want to add that as a possibility in the 1995 leggys

looks way clean :D



Definitely goes great with the WRX seats.

[anothernord]

Zues, so did the holes for the screws in the storage bin line up?

the front one didnt. closest to the dash, but the back two did

[chaksq]

Interesting write up. Might be tempted to try this, although I'd want to see how well the shifter plate lines up for my auto trans.

Interesting write up. Might be tempted to try this, although I'd want to see how well the shifter plate lines up for my auto trans.


you have to trim it as well, i'll take a pic of the trimmed AT plate soon

[datdookie]

zues, what year wrx did you get yours from?? looks different from anothernord

[ESSYMOND]

its the samething

they arent the same, mine's raised around the shift bezel, this may also explain why anothernord needed some different mods to get his to fit

[anothernord]

My console is from an 02 buygeye, and I think zues's is either from an 04-05 wrx, or the 03 buyeye.

[ESSYMOND]

they arent the same, mine's raised around the shift bezel, this may also explain why anothernord needed some different mods to get his to fit


Is your car an automatic? Is that a Nokyan shifter? How does the shifter work since the stock one has the big trigger knob lol

[Yamazaki]

My console is from an 02 buygeye, and I think zues's is either from an 04-05 wrx, or the 03 buyeye.
The '04 and '05 are NOT the same.
This is an '05:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/05/ImpOB05console1JPG-1.jpg

The parking brake isn't even on the same side...
The '04 is the same as the '03 (and I thought the '02 as well).
[EDIT: the '02 IS the same as the '03-'04. The A/T has a raised shift area. the M/T does not.]

Both of these are from an '02:
M/T:
http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/565/421/images/2010/5/6/276/998/15905166638.276998642.IM1.16.565x421_A.562x421.jpg

A/T:
http://images.autotrader.com/scaler/565/421/images/2010/4/27/278/733/15791964313.278733916.IM1.07.565x421_A.316x421.jpg

[ESSYMOND]

zeus's is from an 02 bugeye as well, but automatic i believe...

[Yamazaki]

zeus's is from an 02 bugeye as well, but automatic i believe...
Yeah, that's what I was trying to show with the pics at the bottom of my post...
I was also correcting the statement that '05s are the same as '04s.

[datdookie]

ohhh, thanks for the feed back, i really like the auto one just for that little lift

yeah, i like the bump too, i just need to put the boot on the right way and it'll look great

[datdookie]

oh, i didnt even notice that...well ive been looking around the internet and cant find the auto center console anywhere.

[geckoboy86]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/IMG_2107-1.jpg

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

-Jared
What is up with you ash tray area?

[Garrison]

Just finished this with an 04 today . I was surprised to find how much material needed to be removed, its definitely not plug and play like I thought. But, thanks Jared the directions were fantastic, I love the way this thing feels

[Garrison]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/10/IMAG0584-1.jpg


Mine didn't come with the window switch, I guess someone else already pilfered it.

[Garrison]

Update:

Installed my new 03 seats and Wisconsin Mark's radio (thanks again buddy); I thought I'd share :)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/11/IMAG0661-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/11/IMAG0659-1.jpg

[shoguy]

anybody done this with an auto car yet? I have the majority of the console already minus the shift bezel area, guessing I would need the raised one to clear the shifter?

[couchfuzzy]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

Doing this to my wagon here shortly.

[grayguy]

I've had a wrx console for 2-3 years in the shed, I should really do this haha