Project: 2008 Subaru STI
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: 
The STI at its first mobile detail job nice and dirty after a couple snow storms 
Let the mods begin... First up the CO's, Exhaust, and Removal of the Mud flaps The BC Coilovers: 
instructions and adjusters: 
Install pictures: Frt stock: 
Set up and install: 
Loosening up and removing 
After shot: 
Adjusters on the front (this was later fixed) 
Rear install: before: 
after: 
Rear adjuster: 
Invidia Q300 Install pictures: the exhaust in the box: 
Getting ready to remove the Magnaflow exhaust 
Old exhaust removed: 
Joe doing the final install [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/08%20impreza%20sti/joeworkingontheexhaust.jpg[/IMG] Mud flaps on the car: 
Mud flaps off the car: 
Final shots of the car: 
my favorite shot: 
Next up the downpipes 
Extended arm rest install 
Extended 
Cargo Tray 
Rear bumper guard 
Tranny mounts 
Sways, Tranny Mounts, Bushings all getting installed 
More bushings 
Support Brace 
Strut Bar 
Endlinks 
Shorty antenna install 
Stock 
50/50 
After 
Kenwood DNX-7140 Install (installed by the pro) 
AV Panel from Japan 
Stock panel with the new head unit 
After with the new Japanese AV Panel 
Random stuff 
Debadging the car 
Dental Floss 
Leftover adhesive and ghosting 
3M adhesive remover was used 
Compounding and polishing 
Final before and after 
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 Let's start with the wheels. 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. 
Before Brakes and Wheel Wells. (reference left side, forgot to take all the complete shots, both sides were pretty dirty) 
Wheel being pulled off using ratchet and jack. 
Wheel off the car. 
Back 
P21S Gel on the wheels, I let it dwell while I cleaned the wheel wells and brakes Back of the wheel 
Front of the wheel 
What it looks like after P21S sits for a while, the P21S Wheel Gelis pretty thick. 
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. 
After I applied Swissvax Autobahn on them. 
Results from all that hard work on the wheels. 
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. 
Brushes were used to help clean up the wheel wells etc 
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. 
Caliper After Polish and before Autobahn 
Applying the SV Autobahn 
Removing the SV Autobahn 
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) 
Rear Before 
Rear After 
Front Before Front After 
After of the wheel back on the car (less the tire dressing) 
Of course the wheels were done again but much easier this time around. Take a look. Let's do the interior first Before 
After 
Prep Some before shots (this is how I got the car from the dealer) 
Before engine shots 
Cleaning up the engine 
P21S Total Autowash on all the areas with wax build up around the rubber trim, bug and tar etc. 
Now for the foam canon 
Claying the car 
Swirls everywhere 
Measuring paint 
After polishing under the Brinkmann 
After shots of the engine 
After shots of the car 
Last shot sorry about the pictures being all over the place this project happened over a course of time....
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: The STI at its first mobile detail job nice and dirty after a couple snow storms Let the mods begin... First up the CO's, Exhaust, and Removal of the Mud flaps The BC Coilovers: instructions and adjusters: Install pictures: Frt stock: Set up and install: Loosening up and removing After shot: Adjusters on the front (this was later fixed) Rear install: before: after: Rear adjuster: Invidia Q300 Install pictures: the exhaust in the box: Getting ready to remove the Magnaflow exhaust Old exhaust removed: Joe doing the final install [IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/08%20impreza%20sti/joeworkingontheexhaust.jpg[/IMG] Mud flaps on the car: Mud flaps off the car: Final shots of the car: my favorite shot: Next up the downpipes Extended arm rest install Extended Cargo Tray Rear bumper guard Tranny mounts Sways, Tranny Mounts, Bushings all getting installed More bushings Support Brace Strut Bar Endlinks Shorty antenna install Stock 50/50 After Kenwood DNX-7140 Install (installed by the pro) AV Panel from Japan Stock panel with the new head unit After with the new Japanese AV Panel Random stuff Debadging the car Dental Floss Leftover adhesive and ghosting 3M adhesive remover was used Compounding and polishing Final before and after 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 Let's start with the wheels. 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. Before Brakes and Wheel Wells. (reference left side, forgot to take all the complete shots, both sides were pretty dirty) Wheel being pulled off using ratchet and jack. Wheel off the car. Back P21S Gel on the wheels, I let it dwell while I cleaned the wheel wells and brakes Back of the wheel Front of the wheel What it looks like after P21S sits for a while, the P21S Wheel Gelis pretty thick. 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. After I applied Swissvax Autobahn on them. Results from all that hard work on the wheels. 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. Brushes were used to help clean up the wheel wells etc 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. Caliper After Polish and before Autobahn Applying the SV Autobahn Removing the SV Autobahn 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) Rear Before Rear After Front Before Front After After of the wheel back on the car (less the tire dressing) Of course the wheels were done again but much easier this time around. Take a look. Let's do the interior first Before After Prep Some before shots (this is how I got the car from the dealer) Before engine shots Cleaning up the engine P21S Total Autowash on all the areas with wax build up around the rubber trim, bug and tar etc. Now for the foam canon Claying the car Swirls everywhere Measuring paint After polishing under the Brinkmann After shots of the engine After shots of the car Last shot sorry about the pictures being all over the place this project happened over a course of time....