Looking at an Impreza with the following spec
 

Hi all,

I am looking at an impreza bug eye X reg on sunday with the following spec:

Running 349bhp (remapped by Duncan @ RaceDynamix??)
Walbro 255 fuel pump
Sti pink 550 injectors
VF28 Turbo
Samco hoses
STI top mount
K&N 57i induction
Manual boost controller (1.4 bar at the moment)
Pro drive back box
De-cat (all cats removed)
Stage 1 clutch Exedy

I am worried that this is too much for the turbo / engine to handle. Does this look like safe power? It's been running like this for about 15 months. it's done 78k miles and as mentioned it's an X reg bug eye estate.

What are common problems I may have to fork out for? I take it these are single mass flywheels too? (DMF's hate me)

I'm coming from a 350z so fuel costs aren't a massive concern but I don't want to have to spend a bomb on parts if the car goes wrong!!

Anything I need to look out for when viewing? It's recently had the following work:

new coil packs and spark plugs
injector seals
ecu coolant temp snesor
complete leak and pressure test
new tyres

Any thoughts on this at all please?

Many thanks for any help you can provide!

Will be bugeye at that age.
Capable car but old looks now.

Sorry, yes, not sure why I put blob haha, edited now :)

Strange it has an MBC especially since it's been mapped!
Could be on there to mask a problem?
1st thing I would be doing is removing it and getting a remap from a different mapper.

Is it a wrx or sti? 350 bhp is a fair amount for a wrx, and while there are plenty of people with that kind of power I'd be concerned about the long term life of the engine. So I'd look for very regular oil changes and lots of maintenance.

As above which model Impreza are you looking at?.SJ.

As has been said depends how its been looked after and treated and how many miles its done on that map.

By description it can only be a WRX.

Out of interest how much is the car?

if its a wrx pay very close attention to the gear box if you go look at it and have a test drive. listen for whining or crunching up and down the gears as the box is on the limit at that power level. as said above very strange to have a mbc on a properly mapped car, ask if theres a dyno print to confirm power as it may have been mapped on a rolling road.

hi all,

Many thanks for the info.

IT's a WRX - it worried me with all that power...

I'll make sure to check the gearbox - he mentioned that it's a bit notchy.

It's up for £3900

there's a printout of the rolling road confirming 349bhp.

I questioned the MBC -

Response was:

"Because the WGS wasn't limiting properly, I really didn't want something electric stopping the boost from going too high"

VF28 turbo with 349bhp?? Bit optimistic!!

Old turbo the VF28 they come on the classic STi impreza around the late 90's so its probably a 17 year old turbo if its been bought used, and how long has it been running that sort of power or power of the car it previously come from??? plus there not the strongest turbo either so how long will it last before you have to buy another turbo!!

regarding the gearbox:

"Gearbox is spot on, they are all notchy in terms of the movement but still very positive and has never jumped out of gear. There is a tranny noise again as with my previous scoob and bmy friend's blob eye, but thats standard. No crunching or skipping."

MBC as he doesn't trust electronically controlled ones? :Suspiciou
Noisy tranny?
Has he got the compression and leak down results on paper or just what he says?
If in doubt walk away.

You'd be far better off making an offer on the White Bug STI wagon that's for sale.

I made 336bhp with same mods just a 3inch system. Same mapper but no mbc. That was 4 years ago and car is still going strong. Covered nearly 100k miles and the lad who has owned it for past 2 years abuses it.

Is that with a VF28 turbo???

Yes mate it came off a low milage p1. This was in 2012