98GT JDM Projectors on BE?

[Legacy89]

I have been thinking about this for some time now, does anyone have the dimensions of the lights? Or has anyone done this before?

[Yamazaki]

I have been thinking about this for some time now, does anyone have the dimensions of the lights? Or has anyone done this before?

The Japanese market Legacy GT in '98 is a BE. As long as your BE is an A-C type, it'll fit.

[Legacy89]

What do you mean A-C type?
mine is a 01 2.5GX with this front bumper:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/12/DSC00885-1.jpg

[Yamazaki]

What do you mean A-C type?
mine is a 01 2.5GX with this front bumper:

I mean the model year in the model code. (Example: BE5C48D is a C type. BESD4UH is a D type) The A, B, and C models differed from the D a little. The front end was one of the differences. Not sure if that included the headlights, but to be safe I just stick with like-models.
The '98 J-Spec LGT is an A type.

Here's where to find your model year(fourth digit in 'Applied Model'):
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/05/S401-1.jpg

[Legacy89]

Well, mine is a BE9BL7J so its a B.

[MoclovFlop]

Are you wanting the JDM projector foglights (I'm assuming since you mentioned you bumper), or the JDM projector headlights?

Neither of them will fit if you are talking about the BK/BD/BG generation of cars (the body style previous to yours) without extensive bodywork/modification.

If you are talking about the JDM BE projector foglights, they may work since your bumper looks similar to the JDM Rev. A-C, but being that you're in Norway, you may have received a bumper that LOOKS similar but is not actually compatible (as we did in the US with the 03-04 bumper)

[Yamazaki]

Well, mine is a BE9BL7J so its a B.

Is this right? Is the 5th digit 'L'? I thought it should be '4'...
huh.


Moclov - I'm only guessing here, but I think people think the '03-'04 are not compatible because it's a D type and people just grab a random BE part that usually turns out to be for a A-C type. I'm not there to test this, but if people with an '03-'04 US Legacy got the front end from a D type (2001/05-2003/04 in Japan) Legacy, it should fit.
This is part of the chart from the Subaru Legacy parts catalog here (keep in mind, front bumper of D type isn't compatible with A-C types):

BE/BH
A type 1998/06-1999/04 (might correspond with US '00 model)
B type 1999/05-2000/05 (might correspond with US '01 model)
C type 2000/06-2001/04 (might correspond with US '02 model)
D type 2001/05-2003/04 (might correspond with US '03-'04 model)

[rougeben83]

Well, mine is a BE9BL7J so its a B.

Is this right? Is the 5th digit 'L'? I thought it should be '4'...
huh.


Moclov - I'm only guessing here, but I think people think the '03-'04 are not compatible because it's a D type and people just grab a random BE part that usually turns out to be for a A-C type. I'm not there to test this, but if people with an '03-'04 US Legacy got the front end from a D type (2001/05-2003/04 in Japan) Legacy, it should fit.
This is part of the chart from the Subaru Legacy parts catalog here (keep in mind, front bumper of D type isn't compatible with A-C types):

BE/BH
A type 1998/06-1999/04
B type 1999/05-2000/05
C type 2000/06-2001/04
D type 2001/05-2003/04

the rev. D's are the ones with the more slantier headlights no (this forgoes a different hood and bumper skin as well)? AFAIK all of the USDM BE/BH's were rev A-C's. My 03 shares the same headlight design as the 00-02 for example. The baja, which debuted in 03, also uses the same front end parts as the rev A-C models... The only different things were the foglights.

The only rev. D's were JDM and possibly EDM models I think.

[Yamazaki]

huh, I wish there was an easy way to test this.


EDIT: I have a friend with a C type BE5. I'll ask him if I can see if the headlights swap over or not. I know the bumpers and other aero parts don't. I also know that although the VINs are different between the markets, the applied model code isn't (which is why I'm confused by the 5th digit being 'L'...). It's also why I go by model code and not year (notice that the models start halfway through the year).


It could be that I'm wrong.... I only have access to the Japanese market and that hinders my data collecting.

[MoclovFlop]

Rougeben83 is right on everything, the US is ONLY A-C no matter the year. And as I stated earlier, while the US 03-04 facelift bumper looks similar to it's JDM counterpart, it's really not, so parts such as foglights and lips don't switch over.

The US is a clusterf**k of parts with no rhyme or reason for anything (see the Baja, which makes the Rev. A-C face run for 6 years in the US)

[Yamazaki]

Huh, that's really weird. I wonder why they would do that. So the US '03-'04 Legacys are A-C only, but the bumpers, etc. don't switch? You're right, that is jacked up.
You'd think it'd save cost by producing same parts, not making new pieces for every market. Oh well.
Regardless, they'll fit Legacy89's Legacy, right?

One last thing is bugging me though, can somebody with a US Legacy do me a favor and verify what the fifth digit of their 'applied model' code is? I appreciate it, thanks.

[MoclovFlop]

I'm not sure we're clear...

While the 03-04 US bumper is a newer style, it will bolt on with no problem to any US BE/BH Legacy/Baja. So since all US 3rd gen Legacys are A-C, all parts work with their corresponding main parts (03-04 bumpers only accept 03-04 foglights...etc) and any combination of the year-correct parts will bolt on to any other year body (03 bumper and fogs can go on my 2000 BE) .

And I completely agree, I wish we would have the same parts as the JDM without thinking of them as "exotic"

I'll get the code in a second...

EDIT: It's BE9AY6J

[Legacy89]

Yeah the applied model number is correct, just checked.
Also checked the fog light hole against the picture of the lights and it seems it would work, im not afraid to do somework on bumper/mounts either.
I have to remove both bumpers and skirts anyway for repairs and paint.

[Yamazaki]

I'm not sure we're clear...

While the 03-04 US bumper is a newer style, it will bolt on with no problem to any US BE/BH Legacy/Baja. So since all US 3rd gen Legacys are A-C, all parts work with their corresponding main parts (03-04 bumpers only accept 03-04 foglights...etc) and any combination of the year-correct parts will bolt on to any other year body (03 bumper and fogs can go on my 2000 BE) .

And I completely agree, I wish we would have the same parts as the JDM without thinking of them as "exotic"

I'll get the code in a second...

EDIT: It's BE9AY6J
Thanks guys. I guess that throws out the idea that the Applied Model code is universal... :smt011

At least I know now, and won't give any further misinformation....


On a funny note, some Japanese think of the US parts to be "exotic".

[rougeben83]

I'm not sure we're clear...

While the 03-04 US bumper is a newer style, it will bolt on with no problem to any US BE/BH Legacy/Baja. So since all US 3rd gen Legacys are A-C, all parts work with their corresponding main parts (03-04 bumpers only accept 03-04 foglights...etc) and any combination of the year-correct parts will bolt on to any other year body (03 bumper and fogs can go on my 2000 BE) .

And I completely agree, I wish we would have the same parts as the JDM without thinking of them as "exotic"

I'll get the code in a second...

EDIT: It's BE9AY6J
Thanks guys. I guess that throws out the idea that the Applied Model code is universal... :smt011

At least I know now, and won't give any further misinformation....


On a funny note, some Japanese think of the US parts to be "exotic".

The grass is always greener on the other side, that's all.

The big diff between the A-C and rev D's is basically the headlights, hood, and front bumpers. The last two basically had to be modified to fit the new headlight shape, which really just had a slightly steeper angle next to the grille. You won't really notice it until you put a rev D headlights in a car with rev A-C hood and bumpers...though it's very subtle even when that happens. There's a small, triangular gap between the headlight and hood that is usually covered up by the weather stripping anyway...

[MoclovFlop]

Yep, and there's a set of Rev. D Headlights over at RPM Garage right now if any one is interested...

[Legacy89]

So there is a small difference on those headlights?

[MoclovFlop]

Yea, since you have a Rev. A-C front end, those headlights (the ones with the orange, circular indicator light) will have a small gap between the lights and the hood as rougeben83 pointed out. There are a few people who have had them on here I think, search and you should find some pics. It's not too bad from what I've heard, but it's not right so if you're a perfectionist it may get to you...