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Old 07-11-2011, 07:06 PM   #1
dickiescoob
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Default 2011 2.5i painting headlights, replacing grill, removing bumper, install hella horns

Let me start off by saying that when it comes to cars, I am a complete Noob. All I've done is read as much as I could on how to do something, and just do it. Worse case, I destroy the part I am working on, and have to spend $$$ for a new one. But, we all learn from our mistakes. So far mods on the Subie have been fairly simple, mostly because the write ups I have found here on Nasioc have been super-great-grand-wonderful-fanstastic. So here is a compilation of removing the bumper/grill, replacing the stock grill, painting the headlights, and installing Hellas on a 2011 2.5i. I used several different articles here on Nasioc, and wanted to make an all in one post for all of those since they are pretty common. Ill add in my own pictures where I found additional info would have helped that the tutorials did not cover. Hopefully this is useful for some people.

This I found to be a really good video on how to remove a bumper on the impreza. The only thing different from my car was under the bumper in the front there were 2 additional plastic rivets holding it in that had to be popped out as well. Fairly easy tho.


2 additional plastic screws

what your car should look like with bumper & healdights gone:





Next is painting the headlights. The '08 and '11 are pretty much the same. Here is a great write up on how to do that:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...ing+headlights




Some additional info that might be helpful: When removing the headlights themselves, there are 2 connections on the back you have to disconnect as shown in the pics below:



If you decide to only paint the chrome housing around the main bulb, as I did, the black housing inside the lense actually can be removed and is much easier to tape up and paint rather than the entire assembly.
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Last edited by dickiescoob; 05-22-2012 at 05:28 PM. Reason: bold headlight link
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Old 07-11-2011, 07:07 PM   #2
dickiescoob
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Hellas: These are pretty straight forward. I installed my with no relay, and just disconnected the 2 stock horns (yes there is 2) and they work fine. Technically the Hellas will be louder with a relay, and there is a write up proving this, but I didn't find it necessary.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1133994
Here is a fantastic write up for installing the hellas. It basically is disconnect the old, remove the center horn, disconnect secondary horn, bolt up new horns, connect wires, and enjoy.

Next is the grill. There are sevaral ways I have read to go about this. Buy one from SubaruGenuineParts.com (https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/p...oducts_id=1267), buy one from Grill Master (I have no link), or one from C-Mod Grilles (http://cmodgrilles.auctivacommerce.c...e-P121801.aspx). I went with the cmod grill.
Was fairly cheap, shipped from China, and had no mounting provisions what so ever. So if you decide to go this route, prepare yourself for that.
The 4 holes on top are fairly easy to add, just line up your grill, mark the 4 locations and drill them out. The grill is made of chopped matt fiber glass, so beware of that.
Mounting the bottom of the grill was a bit more tricky. I have read of people just letting it hang, which in reality it will stay on just fine, but cosmetically there will be a small gap. I decieded to just use some zip-ties to pull it in. I put them thru the existing screw holes on the bottom, and connected them to eithe the actual wire mesh (grill) or to the bendable metal clips holding the mesh in place. This worked fairly well, and I would imagine will hold up. I also painted the pillars since my car is white, and i did not want that to stand out, so just some black rattlecan paint works.Pics below:

Painted up:


Zip-Tie Locations:




Installed:



Now just put everything back on, and your all set. All of these could honestly be done in a weekend. I did mine in 2 since my grill was a few weeks after. Next for me is a new spoiler, which hopefully I will be ordering this week. Hope this helps some of you, and here are some final pics.
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Old 07-11-2011, 07:10 PM   #3
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Before:

After:







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Old 07-11-2011, 08:19 PM   #4
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Have fun with it man! But remember, don't just do stuff to your car just cause. Think it out first, make a list, save pictures of cars you like and create a folder on your desktop. The hellas are nice, pretty cool you took the initiative on the headlights. But I would make the foglight covers back to black and remove the S.U.B.A.R.U. on your grille. 3Gwrx, is a great site for you as well and check the private classified section. Definitely look into springs (new $200+$120installed) And buy a used aftermarket axelback exhaust (easy to install)...Good Luck!

Last edited by CapeCod27; 07-11-2011 at 08:26 PM.
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Old 07-11-2011, 08:32 PM   #5
dickiescoob
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I was looking at exhaust, but I haven't looked into the differences between axleback and catback and the benefits to either. Ive.already.done front and rear sway bars, but haven't looked at springs at all yet. They just stiffen up the ride correct? & I like the subaru lettering, its unique Spoiler is next, followed by possily.rims.
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Old 07-11-2011, 08:45 PM   #6
That guy in Maine
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CapeCod27 View Post
Have fun with it man! But remember, don't just do stuff to your car just cause. Think it out first, make a list, save pictures of cars you like and create a folder on your desktop. The hellas are nice, pretty cool you took the initiative on the headlights. But I would make the foglight covers back to black and remove the S.U.B.A.R.U. on your grille. 3Gwrx, is a great site for you as well and check the private classified section. Definitely look into springs (new $200+$120installed) And buy a used aftermarket axelback exhaust (easy to install)...Good Luck!
...maybe he did save pictures of other cars he liked and they were similar to what he did? I haven't really seen the blue with white on the new 2011s and I think it came out pretty nice, it's his own car and he can do whatever he wants to it, I personally think it looks pretty cool.

Good job taking the initiative and doing those mods.
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Old 07-11-2011, 09:13 PM   #7
dickiescoob
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Oh I definitely played with photoshop before hand. I had a pic of a white sti with the sport grill, I painted in hellas, painted the lights and.i liked it, so I did it. I like it and it.already turns alotta heads
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Old 07-11-2011, 09:20 PM   #8
KartRacer3
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Great writeup, I will probably end up doing the same grill minus the letters. Also once I get my hella horns , exactly the same as well as the headlight covers except black for those. And I have fog lights
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Old 07-11-2011, 09:50 PM   #9
dickiescoob
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Awesome. Post pics when your done. One thing to consider is removing the orange reflector. Its illegal, but sexy...
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Old 07-12-2011, 09:45 AM   #10
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I do not like it. I think it is all of it that I dislike. I do like the originality though.
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Old 07-12-2011, 12:34 PM   #11
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So let me get this straight. You took apart your headlights and didnt remove the amber. Then you preceeded to paint the chrome a ugly blue ( if you wanted to paint it should have done red) then you painted the foglight inserts. Fail. But hey if you like it thats what truley matters screw everyone else and me right
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Old 07-12-2011, 12:55 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rkeel0 View Post
Awesome. Post pics when your done. One thing to consider is removing the orange reflector. Its illegal, but sexy...

its illegal to mod your headlight in anyway
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Old 07-12-2011, 02:45 PM   #13
dickiescoob
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Yea I know some people wont like it, but its unique and I like it. Mostly wrote this up for people wanting to do mods to have a post that contained several mod links
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Old 07-12-2011, 04:00 PM   #14
dees421
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I think the blue looks good. You should get some fog lights though. Nice job
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Old 07-12-2011, 04:32 PM   #15
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Not bad,
but the grill just doesn't flow well...reminds me of this......
...
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Old 07-12-2011, 04:38 PM   #16
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Lol wow yea I see the resemblance...
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Old 07-12-2011, 04:44 PM   #17
2004wrxy
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But I do like the blue....looks pretty nice!
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Old 07-12-2011, 04:53 PM   #18
dickiescoob
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Yea I like it too. Its different. Seems like half the people do like,.and the othetr half dont. Lol
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Old 07-12-2011, 05:20 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmiller219 View Post
its illegal to mod your headlight in anyway
This statement is un-informed at best.

Do you know the different laws for every state? I'm not a lawyer, but as far as I'm aware there are only laws pertaining to the color and area of coverage for the brake lights (red), reverse lights (white) and turn signal bulbs (amber). I believe turn signal bulbs only have to be amber in the front too, rears can be red or whatever.

I don't think any of these laws pertain to reflectors. As long as the bulbs are amber you're fine. Just saying.
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Old 07-12-2011, 05:37 PM   #20
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i looked into the rules for the turn signal reflector up here in washington, and there has to be an orange reflector by law..wether or not a cop bothers you about it is something else.. nothing was said about blacking out the chrome, so thats legal.
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Old 07-13-2011, 10:38 AM   #21
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I say matte black the Subaru in your grill and leave it. Points for originality! But all chrome and shiny is a no go. Matte them out and even better!!!

Dare I say blue maybe?!
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Old 07-13-2011, 11:25 AM   #22
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I thought of doing blue, but didnt look good. Flat black not a bad idea.......ill have to photoshop it first to see....
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Old 07-14-2011, 04:34 PM   #23
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I think it looks great, not my style, but well done. I am going to be getting a sport grille soon myself and felt that the completely bare mesh looked.... I don't know empty... Possibly going with a black 'i' badge, but I really think the "subaru" across the front gives it a unique look.
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Old 07-14-2011, 06:41 PM   #24
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Yea its definitely different from most lol
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Old 07-14-2011, 10:46 PM   #25
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That's... interesting. Did you use a wiring harness for your Hellas? If not they won't be as loud as advertised if you used the stock wiring.
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