Not all JDM STi 03's have xenon HID headlights!
 

I saw a beautiful JDM STi 03 yesterday, with full Japanese Subaru history, and auction grade 5. It did not have xenon HID headlights, just normal ones! I thought ALL JDM STi 03 onwards had HID's? It also had the standard gold wheels with 225/45 tyres, and not the 235's that some other JDM's have, I think with BBS wheels? I personally looked in the Japanese Subaru handbook with the car, and the max tyre size was.......225! There was also the factory sticker on the drivers door pillar which says 225/45 tyre pressures. On the boot, the word 'Impreza' was a factory sticker, while above it the initials WRX was the usual plastic-chrome decal.

HID is an option - the JDM STI comes in various flavours, normally the only one people bother importing is the top spec one which I believe was called the GL.

The 'Impreza' logo under the WRX badge is indeed just a sticker on JDMs, not the plastic badge that the UK models get. (Hey, wow! A way in which the Euro car is actually better!)

Soz, the car in question HAS got HID'S, apparently normal bulbs have to be used in order for the car to pass the SVA test! My mistake.

For the most part, JDM cars do not have self adjusting HID headlamps. To pass an SVA / E-SVA test a car must have self adjusting HID lamps (to avoid dangerously dazzling on-coming drivers), so its standard practice to remove them.

Simon

Spec Cs do not have HID as they are too heavy :)

Only the 05+ cars can be fitted with the 235 section wide tyres. Or is that just true for UK cars?

When I was looking for my JDM STi, I was told that the HID's wouldn't pass the SVA test. So they replaced them with UK lights, then passed the SVA, and put the HID's back in.
However there were a few places that kept in the UK lights and sold the HID's seperately as they're very expensive.

But do get a car with the HID's fitted, they're bloody good.

DCR

i'll second that

£411 fitted at Litchfield ;) :D

Thanks for all your replies! HID's are going back on that car, and i'll be the proud owner of an 03 STi JDM, with low mileage, full Japanese Subaru history, and auction grade 5A, all documents present and supplied! I've had 3 STi Type UK's but never a JDM. It has got an STi Genome back box which I found quite noisy, so may sell that soon when I have enough cash to get the remap and full stainless steel exhaust. Trouble is, what exhaust to get and who to get to do the remap? I need a warranty with the remap, and total reliability under all weathers and driving conditions.

Bob Rawle
Richard Bulmer
Powerstation

These 3 are not a great distance from me! And what exhaust? (Not noisy)
I don't want massive torque/bhp, 340-350 ish will do.

When I test drove my My05 JDM STi at Litchfields, with a standard STi exhaust, they let me drive an MY06 with full Milltek exhaust and remap (around 340-350 bhp I believe).

It sounded abso-f'in-lutely awesome when going for it, but actually quite restrained when pottering around town. This is firmly on my wish list now!!

I compromised and went for a (second hand) Milltek back box and this sounds really really nice and not embarassingly loud. FYI I also have the decat centre section but am not sure whether to fit it - not sure whether it's worth it or not without the down pipe and a remap.

My vote would be to get the Milltek, and have the car remapped at Powerstation (next door to Litchfield - who I can't praise highly enough).

I don't think you will be too dissapointed by your location ;)

The two best posts to read are Bob's and Shauns, both cars have very good power and are still quite quiet. (Don't upset my neighbours anyway :) )

One has Janspeed/RCM and the other Milltek.

https://www.scoobynet.com/projects-4...phase-2-a.html

https://www.scoobynet.com/newage-imp...-part-1-a.html

Also, I have just looked at the original shipping details for my 'GL' model and HID's are specified in the same way as the Brembo 17' Brakes, Auto Centre Diff and 13:1 Steering rack, LSD's etc..., so I would assume it is standard fit.