fwa's '08 Legacy 3.0R Limited - A new beginning

[fwa2500]

Well, I finally got something newer. The wagon was really starting to show its age and was no longer reliable. I was originally looking for a third gen of some flavor, either a Baja Turbo or an H6 Outback but between the known issues with that gen turbo engine and the outback only coming with beige interior I settled on a 4th gen. Again, wanting more power but also not wanting turbo issues there was really only one option. The 3.0R Limited.




Basic Stats
2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0R Limited
-Obsidian Black Pearl
-3.0 DOHC n/a (EZ30)
—245hp
-5EAT Sportshift w/ SI-Drive
-AWD


Modifications
Interior
-Dashcam
-LED door/puddle lights
-LED map and dome lights
-Tint (20% sides and rear)
-WeatherTech all-weather floor mats front and rear

Exterior
-HID low beams (35W, 5000K)
-LED high beams (80W)
-LED license plate lights
-LED reverse lights
-LED tail lights
-Morimoto XB LED fog lights
-JDM K2 Gear LED twin-tube mirror indicators
-Black wrapped tail light trim
-Black dipped grill “wing”
-"TapTurn" module
-V-Limited replica front lip

Engine and Exhaust
-JDM battery cover
-AEM panel filter
-Turbo XS axelbacks
-Kartboy XL exhaust hangers

Suspension, Wheels and Tyres
-Andros Spec D 18x8"
—235x40R18 Dunlop Direzza DZ102 (summer)
-JDM Legacy GT-B 5-spoke 17x7"
—215x50R17 General Altimax Arctic (winter)
-StopTech Street Performance brake pads
-Whiteline 20mm rear sway bar
-AVO rear sway bar bracket
-KYB Excel-G struts
-H&R Sport lowering springs
-Whiteline Com C front top hats
-Paranoid Fabrications saggy butt spacers

To-Do (Stuff that is ready to be done)
-Light smoke tinted tail lights
-Wingless trunk
-Partial de-badge (will leave the 3.0R)
-CyberSport trunk lip spoiler
-Small rear window visor spoiler

Planned (Stuff that might happen eventually)
-Front sway bar
-Solid endlinks
-’06-07 Outback hood with “power bulges”
-Mesh grill
-JDM double-din radio surround w/ hazard switch
-Aftermarket double-din radio
-JDM/EUDM final revision HID headlights or custom alternative

[soba noodle]

Niiiice, not a bad upgrade I have to say: 2nd gen ---> 4th gen facelift

[fwa2500]

Not to mention the jump from a 2.2 H4 putting out 135hp (when new, supposedly) to a 245hp 3.0 H6 with a small mountain of torque. This thing is like a rocket ship in comparison and I love it. It is also considerable more fuel efficient than my wagon has become.

[Lancaster6]

Hey now, all you had to do with the H6 Outback is swap the interior out. And that job is really easy and totally not a pain in the ass. /sarcasm

Hahah, seriously though these 4th gen 3.0 Legacies are really nice looking. Congrats on the new purchase!

[98legwag]

Very nice. You and I did the same upgrade except both my cars are a year newer. I highly recommend a Tribeca FSB and a bigger RSB with reinforcement brackets on the 3.0R. The mounting brackets for the RSB on the 4th gen are pretty weak and can bend easily with an upgraded RSB.

[geckoboy86]

Yay for more 4th gen 3.0Rs.

[98legwag]

Oh and since your car should have the Bilstiens, lowering springs will be limited. The Bilstiens have a different front top hat from the GT KYB struts. Some springs are designed for one or the other. All will bolt on to both sets, but the front may sit higher or lower depending on which the springs are designed for and used on. From what I have read, the springs people like most for the Bilstiens are the JDM pinks and Swifts. There is good info on legacygt.com, but that site can be kind of similar to Nasioc with the way people respond.

[Hinyo]

=) yay for the new car. hopefully you aren't planning on letting the old girl go?

[fwa2500]

A couple better photos:








(Had that guy in the back window of the wagon for about the past 5 years)







It really could use a full detail, but I am quite happy with it so far.

Oh and since your car should have the Bilstiens, lowering springs will be limited. The Bilstiens have a different front top hat from the GT KYB struts. Some springs are designed for one or the other. All will bolt on to both sets, but the front may sit higher or lower depending on which the springs are designed for and used on. From what I have read, the springs people like most for the Bilstiens are the JDM pinks and Swifts. There is good info on legacygt.com, but that site can be kind of similar to Nasioc with the way people respond.

I used to be on there but I left a few years ago after a new moderator pulled some BS and stole a FAQ that I put together without crediting me, unpinned my topic and locked it...I was starting to look into going aftermarket with the suspension again, but whatever I end up doing is still a long ways down the road, I have other things that I need to take care of first (and it is kinda nice having a comfortable car again).

=) yay for the new car. hopefully you aren't planning on letting the old girl go?

Unfortunately that is likely what will happen. I need to see first how much the repair on it will cost before I decide if I will sell it or part it out, but that is yet to be determined.

[soba noodle]

She's soooo virgin...

[98legwag]

I like the OBP. And your wheels are definitely darker than mine. I knew they came in silver and a gunmetal like color. I much prefer yours.

[Huffer]

Looks nice man! What did you do with the waggy?
I really miss trunk space with a sedan... #longrooflife

[Navi271]

What's the mileage on this one?
I like that a few of us have moved from a wagon to sedan, but I'm the odd one out with the turbo lol.

Congrats on the new car!

[Yamazaki]

Somehow I missed this thread earlier. Yay for more 3.0L Legacys!
It looks real good too...

[Reuben]

Sad that my USDM broskie for beast may be no more, that BK and my BG are what kicked off our friendship all those years ago. But onwards and upwards, you've picked a bloody nice replacement, I fricken adore the EZ's! Don't worry, Beast is in no danger of going anywhere, and you'll def be given the keys when you finally come say hi!

First mod. Getatunelol (there is so much untapped potential in those motors!)

[fwa2500]

I'd love to see this thing continue on with someone else that can give it the love it needs (maybe even swap it!), parting out is the last resort...and to be pedantic, I think X-Plane started it all....holy shit, what has it been, nearly 12 years now? It looks like I joined the .org in '04 but I can't remember if there was time before that. Ah, memories...

Side note, fix your signature! Links are broke-as :tongue10:


Put in LED license plate bulbs in last night, the quest for a modern and comfortable cruiser has begun!

[Reuben]

I tried to the other day, but the profile UI makes no sense... *shakes cane at frustrating new technology*

[98legwag]

Put in LED license plate bulbs in last night

When I did that it was a nightmare. I kept dropping the LED in the compartment for the bulb. Once it was done and I got used to how bright the LEDs were I was pleased.

[fwa2500]

LEDs are almost all in, low/high are done, license plate lights are done and I have the indicator bulbs. I'm still not thrilled with the performance of the projectors, there wasn't as much of a performance boost over the halogens as I was hoping for (not near as much as with my friend's 2015 WRX)...but holy balls the high beams are like turning on two mini-Suns on the front of the car :lolz: I also swapped the fogs to yellow bulbs as I have grown to like them on the wagon. I'm just waiting on the controller to arrive before swapping the turn indicators over as well. I ordered a unit that will allow for one tap indication (one tap=3 flashes along with several other functions) like you find on lots of modern Euro cars. I'm not sure if I will swap the tails to LED or not, they are pretty solidly bright as is, I'm also torn on doing the interior lights and door puddle lights.







I also found a playmate for it...







Such a sexy beast....


This afternoon I will also be changing out the front rotors and doing pads on all corners just to have a fresh start as well as putting in new front wheel well liners as they were slightly torn up (I think the previous owner munched them on a parking curb).

[98legwag]

Hot damn, thats a nice playmate. What LED kits did you go with for the lows and highs? I swapped my interior LEDs over from my wagon when I bought my 3.0R. I recommend putting them in. There are pics in my thread linked in my signature.

[rkrenicki]

Side note, fix your signature! Links are broke-as :tongue10:

I tried to the other day, but the profile UI makes no sense... *shakes cane at frustrating new technology*

I fixed your signature a few days ago, not sure if you noticed.. In fact, I fixed everyones signatures one by one. No more broken sig links.

[fwa2500]

What LED kits did you go with for the lows and highs?

They are both the 80W bulbs from NewBrights on Amazon, they highs are great but I think I'm going to switch the lows to HIDs and return the H7 LEDs, I think the lack of performance is due to the LED unit being better suited to reflector housings as opposed to projectors.

[98legwag]

OK. Thanks. I may look into the high beams.

[Navi271]

All my interior lights are LEDs. I'd recommend doing it if you're still on the fence. I love the bright puddle lights the most, being able to see far away at night when I open my door.

[soba noodle]

+1 for interior LEDs

[soba noodle]

Have these for map lights, one panel for each side: http://www.ebay.com/itm/331086497423
Two of these panels for the main dome light: http://www.ebay.com/itm/231112786654 and two more5 panels in the trunk(bright enough, no need for LED strips or anything).
Some basic LEDs for door lights.

[fwa2500]

I had most of the internal lights in the wagon converted to LEDs, the warm white I had in the dome lights were fine, but I just wasn't a fan of the cool white on the interior.

[fwa2500]

On Friday I swapped the reverse lights over to LEDs, love the result, Saturday I tried putting LED switchback bulbs in the front corners and blew a couple fuses, so I think I'm just going to go back to normal bulbs for the turn signals. I think the slower flash suits a Japanese car better anyway (ze Germans can keep their crisp LED turn signals...). Yesterday I swapped the brake lights to LEDs, those I like a lot.





I'm also experimenting with LED interior lights but am not sure I like them, I will be keeping the LED puddle lights though (you can kinda see them in the background of those pics).

[fwa2500]

So as it turns out the HID bulb bases on the new-style Morimoto bulbs are *JUST* too long to clear the caps. Grrrrr...Back to halogens until I can figure something out, might order a pair of DDM bulbs as those still have the traditional bulb base style. I will also be going back to standard bulbs for the turn signals, just not feeling the LEDs there, I'm currently looking for some of those mirror-coated ones but haven't found any that have decent reviews yet. Next up: tyres, I keep going back and forth between a couple different ones but will likely get the same model Hankooks I have on the JDM wheels from last summer.

[geckoboy86]

Few questions.

What dash cam did you go with and did you hard wire it?

And what "TapTurn" module did you use?