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Detailer's Domain: 2008 STI Mega Write Up! Here is the long awaited DD Subie Write up. Where should I start, the mods I guess. Here is what I did before the complete detail was done. I researched and found all the parts I wanted to make this car look and handle a bit better. Take a look at the work done, I did just about all the install work myself less the AV system and a few bushings (needed a press to get some of the stock ones out) This car was a treat I never really did any of the wrenching myself so this was a great learning experience. One big lesson, the right tools and a lift are a HUGE Plus Take a look: Tuning mods: Harman DP (removed when the car was traded in) not installed yet -installed and loving it 3/17/09 Harman Motive CAI Magnaflow CBE --> removed Invida Q300 CBE installed 3/2009 Access Port (stg 2) Group N Engine Mount- installed 4/21/09 STI Heat Sheid Exterior/interior: Rally Armour Mud Flaps.-->deleted Rear Bumper cargo strip (incoming) - Arm rest extension (incoming) -installed 3/17/09 Rear Cargo Tray (incoming) - installed 3/17/09 Piaa Xtreme White Plus High Beams (9005)- installed 3/09 Piaa Plasma Ion Yellow Fogs -installed 3/28/09 Perrin Super Shorty Antenna - installed 3/28/09 Harman Motive Rear Overlay - installed 4/27/09 Valentine One - hardwired 4/27/09 Suspension: BC BR CO's installed 3/2009 Whiteline Front Sways (22 mm) - installed 3/29/2009 Whiteline Rear Sways (20 mm) - installed 3/29/2009 Whiteline Sway Bar Support Brace - installed 3/29/09 Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit - installed 3/29/2009 Perrin Front End Links - installed 4/21/09 Perrin Rear End Links - installed 4/21/09 SPT STI Front Strut Bar - installed 4/27/09 SPT Lower H Chasis Brace - - installed 5/1/09 Whiteline 08+STi Positive Traction Kit- KDT902 - installed 5/1/09 Whiteline 08+ WRX Rear Differential Mount Inserts - KDT903 - installed 5/1/09 Whiteline rear camber adjusting kit 08+ wrx/sti hatchback subaru-kca326-- installed 5/1/09 Whiteline Steering Rack Bushing kit 08+ - ksr207 -- installed 5/1/09 Whiteline Rear Trailing Arm Bushing * W0568 -- installed 5/1/09 Whiteline Front Control Arm Bushings - W0507 -on the way Stereo upgrades: Kenwood DNX 7140 installed by Mobilewerks 4/7/09 JDM AV Panel installed 4/17/09 The car in stock form At the dealer before delivery: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-1.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...mbnails-10.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...mbnails-11.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-2.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-4.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...thumbnails.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-9.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...umbnails-8.jpg The STI at its first mobile detail job nice and dirty after a couple snow storms http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/IMG_8544.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/IMG_8546.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/IMG_8547.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/IMG_8554.jpg Let the mods begin... First up the CO's, Exhaust, and Removal of the Mud flaps The BC Coilovers: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...%20sti/bc1.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...%20sti/bc2.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...%20sti/bc3.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...%20sti/bc4.jpg instructions and adjusters: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nstructins.jpg Install pictures: Frt stock: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...i/stockfrt.jpg |
Set up and install: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nstallshot.jpg Loosening up and removing http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...cktogether.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../frtsusoff.jpg After shot: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nstalledbc.jpg Adjusters on the front http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...sti/frtadj.jpg Rear install: before: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../rearstock.jpg after: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...sinstalled.jpg Rear adjuster: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rearadjust.jpg Invidia Q300 Install pictures: the exhaust in the box: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ti/invidia.jpg |
More bushings http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_0441.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_0442.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_0443.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_0444.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_0446.jpg Support Brace http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_0447.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_0453.jpg Strut Bar http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...l/IMG_2585.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...l/IMG_2587.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...l/IMG_9972.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...l/IMG_9973.jpg Endlinks http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_2552.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_2557.jpg Shorty antenna install http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...D/IMG_9048.jpg Stock http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...D/IMG_9049.jpg 50/50 http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...D/IMG_9050.jpg After http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...D/IMG_9051.jpg Kenwood DNX-7140 Install (installed by the pro) http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nwood/act2.jpg AV Panel from Japan http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...d/jdmpiece.jpg Stock panel with the new head unit http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...hejdmpiece.jpg After with the new Japanese AV Panel http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...thjdmpiece.jpg Random stuff http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_2536.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_2542.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_2543.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...s/IMG_2549.jpg Debadging the car http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ing/subaru.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ng/impreza.jpg Dental Floss http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...detalfloss.jpg Leftover adhesive and ghosting http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...imprezaoff.jpg 3M adhesive remover was used http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...madremover.jpg Compounding and polishing http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ing/polish.jpg Final before and after http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...beforeshot.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../aftershot.jpg |
Here is the set up, I have had the STI now for over 3000 miles and unfortunately I have had no time to give it even a proper wash, actually I haven't washed it yet. The day I figured I had some time it got just too hot to finish it. (98 degrees!) Anyway here is a teaser. I got started on the wheels and after 3000 miles of caked on brake dust I decided to go all out! By this I mean wheels were off the car, wheel wells were cleaned and dressed, brakes were polished and waxed. Products used: Uber Wheel Kit Menzerna PO85RD Sears Jack 19mm Socket Ratchet Torque Wrench Cam Spray Pressure Washer Now to the pictures: Before shots of the wheels. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...irtywheels.jpg Before Brakes and Wheel Wells. (reference left side, forgot to take all the complete shots, both sides were pretty dirty) http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...celeftside.jpg Wheel being pulled off using ratchet and jack. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...eljackedup.jpg Wheel off the car. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...loffthecar.jpg Back http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ackofwheel.jpg P21S Gel on the wheels, I let it dwell while I cleaned the wheel wells and brakes Back of the wheel http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../backdwell.jpg Front of the wheel http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...il/p21sgel.jpg What it looks like after P21S sits for a while, the P21S Wheel Gelis pretty thick. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nomorefoam.jpg Cleaned both the front side and the back side with the Uber Boar's Hair Wheel Brush, The Uber Spoke Brush, and the Swissvax Wheel Brush, each one helped with the process of cleaning all that brake dust and dirt off the wheels. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...spokebrush.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rushwheels.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...hbackwheel.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...shfrtwheel.jpg After I applied Swissvax Autobahn on them. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...axonwheels.jpg Results from all that hard work on the wheels. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...fwheeldone.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...twheeldone.jpg Now that the wheels were done...on to the wheel wells. P21S Total Auto Wash was used to cut the dirt and grime off the wheel wells as well as the suspension bits, and brake calipers. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...il/p21staw.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...akedbrakes.jpg Brushes were used to help clean up the wheel wells etc http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...nthebrakes.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...honthewell.jpg After everything was rinsed and cleaned up, I moved on to polishing the brake calipers with Menzerna PO85RD after I put a nice coat of Swissvax Autobahn on them to give them a nice shine and protection. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...shfrtbrake.jpg |
Caliper After Polish and before Autobahn http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...eelsbrakes.jpg Applying the SV Autobahn http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...l/IMG_9920.jpg Removing the SV Autobahn http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../wipebrake.jpg Adam's Undercarriage Spray was applied to bring back a nice new look to the wheel well covers (note I did wipe down any access to prevent a oily greasy look, I was going for a matte finish) http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...wellsafter.jpg Rear Before http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...rearbefore.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...earbefore2.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...orecloseup.jpg Rear After http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...reardone-1.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1.../reardone1.jpg Front Before http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...celeftside.jpg Front After http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...wellsafter.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...hedfrtwell.jpg After of the wheel back on the car (less the tire dressing) http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...tail/done1.jpg Now onto the detail...... Products Used: Exterior: Adam's All Purpose Cleaner in the Cam Spray Foam Canon Adam's Clay Bar and Optimum Instant Detail Spray and Gloss Enhancer for clay lube Menzerna Super Intensive with the Uber Orange Pad Menzerna PO85RD with the Uber Blue Pad Menzerna Top Inspection Lusso Prototype for Detailer’s Domain Einszett Spray Wax Wheels and Tires Uber Wheel/Tire/Wheel Well Kit see below for more of the wheel write up. Interior and Glass Adam's Glass Cleaner and Uber Glass MF Towels Leather Master Foam Cleaner (alcantara) Leather Master Nubuck Protection (alcantara) Leather Master Strong Cleaner (leather) Leather Master Vital (leather) Engine: P21S Total Autowash Adam's VRT Diluted with Water in a Spray bottle Trim: Black Wow Tools: Infratech 5300 Brinkmann MaxFire Metabo PE12-175 Makita 9227 Hi Speed Rotary The Uber Foam Pads (5.5inch) Tons of "Uber" Microfiber Towels Uber Drying Towels Cam Spray 1500A with Cam Spray Foam Gun |
Take a look. Let's do the interior first Before http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1591.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1606.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1593.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1595.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1596.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1586.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1587.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1588.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1589.jpg After http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1714.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1714.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1717.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1720.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1722.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1724.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1728.jpg Prep Some before shots (this is how I got the car from the dealer) http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1583.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1597.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1598.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1599.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1602.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1604.jpg Before engine shots http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1611.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1612.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1614.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1615.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1617.jpg Cleaning up the engine http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1628.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1629.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1634.jpg P21S Total Autowash on all the areas with wax build up around the rubber trim, bug and tar etc. http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1620.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1621.jpg |
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1622.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1623.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1624.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1625.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1626.jpg Now for the foam canon http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1635.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1636.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1640.jpg Claying the car http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1644.jpg Swirls everywhere http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1645.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1647.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1648.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_9962.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_9964.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_9965.jpg Measuring paint http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1662.jpg After polishing under the Brinkmann http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1658.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1659.jpg After shots of the engine http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1665.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1666.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1668.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1669.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...e/IMG_1673.jpg After shots of the car http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1675.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1676.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1677.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1682.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1683.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1684.jpg |
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1685.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1686.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1689.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1703.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1702.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1692.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1690.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1708.jpg http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1705.jpg Last shot http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...r/IMG_1674.jpg |
Wow, really came out nice. I like the get it all done at once approach. Like me who has a home office full of e92 M3 parts waiting to be installed. |
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