Performance mods suggestions required within warranty

[duffnote]

Now that I've decided to keep the WR1 for at least another 18 months, I thought I'd treat no. 505 and the top gear test car to a birthday present. I phoned the previous owner last night to ask if he had the key ring, and he told me the car's drive train, diff and rear suspension had been rebuilt by prodrive, along with various engine repairs following its use as the Subaru press car. I've never had it tested but would assume that at least this one puts out 316BHP. Anyway, I've extended the warranty for 2 years, and would like some performance upgrades within warranty. I have

[danr55]

are you looking for power or handling mods?
power mods will be within warranty if your dealer is friendly...
how much was the additional 2 years warranty out of interest?

[duffnote]

Thanks Dan, I think power first, then handling. Warranty was

[marky mark]

If you have a miserable dealer then they could play up about anything. A good dealer will let you go the decat/remap route at least.

You need top speak to them really and find out what they will allow (or rather what they are prepared to swap back over in the event of a warranty claim and IM wanting to inspect the car before paying out).

[danr55]

definitely, speak to the dealer first and see what they say.
if they dont allow power upgrades of any description, make a start on handling/brakes

[Harvey.]

Will the dealer accept an aftermarket exhaust? If so that would be your first step and a complete decat will give more power than something with a sports cat.
Next on the list would be ported headers and replacement up-pipe. The heatshields can go back on the headers so it is not a detectable mod but you will feel a clear performance difference if it is done properly.
As regards the up-pipe, a purpose designed up-pipe will give more than the O/E up-pipe even after the O/E item is ported but you cannot replace the heat shield so it is obvious you have a replacement up-pipe.
Will the dealer allow an exhaust and up-pipe? If so you have plenty of scope for more power.
Third on the list would be a full Ecutek remap by a competant mapper. Unlikely to be detected by the dealer.

Have a word with Anders on this forum as he faced the same senario a last year. I cannot remember the figures he had from the various stages but when the dealer drove his car, without knowing the modest changes made, he commented on how willing the car was.

[duffnote]

Thanks Harvey. So far the dealer has only suggested brake upgrade to prodrive! I wonder is the suspension whitelines stuff would be ok?

[marky mark]

You need to ask. Lets say you uprate your Roll bars, bushes etc. to whiteline and then have a (very typical) MY04 rear suspension knocking then obviously they could well tell you to get lost.

If you had an engine failure with Whiteline goodies on they are also capable (and within rights) of wiggling out of it but obviously they would have to complete barstools

Speak to your dealer - no one else can tell you.

[WR 1mposter]

I've got all the whiteline stuff fitted and my dealer just done my rear shocks under warranty !

But if your dealers not so friendly then best leave alone or go elsewhere

[duffnote]

Thanks guys, I've gone for grooved discs, ceramic pads, and PIAA light upgrades. Anything else my dealer says will effect my warranty.

[chris]

That seems a little by the book.

What part of the country are you in? I'm sure someone on here can point you in the direction of a more mod-friendly dealer.

[SPIKE LIKE MIKE]

Thanks guys, I've gone for grooved discs, ceramic pads, and PIAA light upgrades. Anything else my dealer says will effect my warranty.

How long u got left on warranty?? Re-map,induction,de-cat- 350/350 different car fella

[WR 1mposter]

Thanks guys, I've gone for grooved discs, ceramic pads, and PIAA light upgrades. Anything else my dealer says will effect my warranty.

How long u got left on warranty?? Re-map,induction,de-cat- 350/350 different car fella

Read the thread

Duffnote has took out the 2 years extended warranty !

[SPIKE LIKE MIKE]

Thanks guys, I've gone for grooved discs, ceramic pads, and PIAA light upgrades. Anything else my dealer says will effect my warranty.

How long u got left on warranty?? Re-map,induction,de-cat- 350/350 different car fella

Read the thread

Duffnote has took out the 2 years extended warranty !

Should o spent it on mods.............

[chris]

Thanks guys, I've gone for grooved discs, ceramic pads, and PIAA light upgrades. Anything else my dealer says will effect my warranty.

How long u got left on warranty?? Re-map,induction,de-cat- 350/350 different car fella

Read the thread

Duffnote has took out the 2 years extended warranty !

Should o spent it on mods.............

I'm not for sale!

[SPIKE LIKE MIKE]

Thanks guys, I've gone for grooved discs, ceramic pads, and PIAA light upgrades. Anything else my dealer says will effect my warranty.

How long u got left on warranty?? Re-map,induction,de-cat- 350/350 different car fella

Read the thread

Duffnote has took out the 2 years extended warranty !

Should o spent it on mods.............

I'm not for sale!

Indeed...you are not alot of use to man nor beast either.....

[chris]

Be nice, it's my birthday!

[SPIKE LIKE MIKE]

Be nice, it's my birthday!

F-k off CASPER...

[SPIKE LIKE MIKE]

...................happy birthday

[Houdini]

Err... at the risk of trying to get back on topic, can I suggest that the best thing you can do to your WR1 whilst keeping the warranty is to upgrade your brakes.

I remember getting used to the power and talking to people about getting a bit more oomph, and the better ones said, 'Why bother? It's quick enough! What do you want to do with it? Go drag racing?'

Since then I've understood their wisdom. Upgrading the power on the WR1 without first sorting the brakes is akin to jumping out of a plane without checking your parachute ( done that too )

Use what you have, but use it to your advantage. Spend the money on an AP Racing brake kit, and you'll have more fun without losing any warranty (except the warranty on the brembo's which doesn't matter as it will be replaced by an AP warranty anyway ) It will set you back a bit more than 1K but worth every penny. Just ask anyone that went to Spa last year!!

[SPIKE LIKE MIKE]

I remember getting used to the power and talking to people about getting a bit more oomph, and the better ones said, 'Why bother? It's quick enough! What do you want to do with it? Go drag racing?'

So you then got a T25 could'nt help myself "Arri"

[Houdini]

I remember getting used to the power and talking to people about getting a bit more oomph, and the better ones said, 'Why bother? It's quick enough! What do you want to do with it? Go drag racing?'

So you then got a T25 could'nt help myself "Arri"

Err... fair point

[The Swede]

Knowing how cr@p the brakes are, I'd start by getting that issue out of the way. Even on my low powered 03 STi I'd overcook them regularly.

Then I'd go handling. Try to make the most of the 316bhp you already have.

Finally I'd indeed go exhaust first.

Maybe start by decat-ing the standard exhaust. Easy, cheap and you'll get some better sound.
have a small remap (which nobody can notice) and you got a car where you can't really lose the warranty. In case of issues, pop the cat quickly back in place

[WR1 Bro]

The standard brakes aren't that bad!!! For 90% of people they will more than cope!

[The Swede]

Hmm... You think so ?

Might be it's not that bad in UK in fact. Busier traffic doesn't really allow you to blast for 8 or 10 miles flat out without having to let the whole lot cool down.

I always ran out of brakes when I pushed the car on a 10 mile back road where I'd hardly ever meet traffic.

Better brakes might be good if you do some trackdays though.

[WR1 Bro]

But Swede, you don't fit into the 90% of people that I mentioned.

The resales of Brembos is very good. This should suggest that for most they are a REALLY good brake option!

[duffnote]

Based on some threads on here I've ordered some turbo groove discs and ebc red stuff (or something) pads all round. Plus some zenon (or something) headlights which should help since I live in the middle of nowhere.

[WR1 Bro]

Based on some threads on here I've ordered some turbo groove discs and ebc red stuff (or something) pads all round. Plus some zenon (or something) headlights which should help since I live in the middle of nowhere.

You technical jargon is great... a tad better than mine.

I've heard fairly good things about the turbo groove discs. Not SO sure about the Redstuff pads. Make sure you get the braided hoses and some good fluid.

[The Swede]

But Swede, you don't fit into the 90% of people that I mentioned.

The resales of Brembos is very good. This should suggest that for most they are a REALLY good brake option!

Well, I fit indeed in 10% of the space of a normal person indeed

[Anders_WR1]

Duffnote,

My first power upgrade were a set of Harvey's ported headers, followed by his up-pipe. My advice would be go for both at the same time, as you'll probably end up fitting the up-pipe anyway.

You'll notice a good amount of extra torque across the rev range and the turbo will spool up much quicker. In the higher gears I can reach 1 BAR by 2,700 rpm and 1.3 BAR by 3,000 rpm!

I had my car remapped by Powerstation last summer and scored 330bhp and 300lb/ft. That was an increase of 30bhp and that was with an ambient temperature of 27C.

I heard decats are bad for our cars unless you get the turbo ported to stop boost creep. Apparently the power increase is minimal as the standard Prodrive sports CAT is a good one, unless your going past 350bhp and you'll need a bigger turbo to go past 350.

PM Harvey and he'll sort out your headers and up-pipe.

Cheers

Anders

Edited to add some photo's:


Harvey's up-pipe


Neat


Remap at Powerstation


Rich at work