Hey,I am an owner of a 2003 wrx sedan. I am getting some body work done. I already need a new hood , headlights, and front bumper. All i need after that if I were to do a 04 05 front end swap would be the fenders correct? If I am wrong please let me know....if I end up doing this, i would need to order the parts ASAP, so I need quick responses ;) . Also, I am doing a full color change.....I am stuck on this one. Alot of wrx owners who have done this do the gunmetal thing and all. I want something much different. Any suggestions, I kinda wanted to go with the lime green from my previous veedub. Thanks in advance!

-Chris

Should be just the fenders extra you'll need
I know somebody local who's done this already, looks pretty wild with the '03 backend and '04 front.

Lime green would look pretty slick if you did it right. Get you some '04 fenders and party on, man! Post pictures here when it's done. I want to see.

So does that mean the 9-2X front end can be bolted on to a '02 Impreza? I'd love to see a sedan with that snout.

I would assume the 9-2x would fit, but it wouldn't have the flares like a sedan. It's a wagon front end.

My deal is this. I am getting a complete paintjob, its running me around 4,700.00 Doorjams and all...everything but under the hood basically. I have seen jobs this shop has done. Top notch! Its a full rotisserie restoration shop basically. I dont need that, but thats the kind of work they do there. I figured, I need a new hood, headlights, bumper (bumper Beam)...why not fenders and make it an 9-X2 front end conversion. Is the price a lot different say if I were to just get the bug eye front end versus the 9-x2 front? Oh, and thanks for the positive reply on the lime green, its a thought....I had it on my 02 turbo bug, pretty sweet color ;)

-Chris

Ah, I missed that you had the sedan. Definitely keep us posted on how this turns out, and what the Saab parts cost.

I wonder if there is any way to graft the flares in to the Saab front clip?

I don't see why you need the flares, the track is the same up front between the sedan and wagon, it's just the wagon's fenders are formed with a smooth transision whereas the sedan is formed with flares.
It's only the actual forming that's different, nothing more. You could more than likely use the flared fenders on the wagon if you wanted.

You can indeed use the flared fenders on the wagon, and vice versa. But it looks... wrong. Which is why Subaru didn't give the wagon flares. The wagon front end on a sedan would make the back end look significantly wider than the front end (whether it would actually be wider, I don't know). People have put the sedan fenders on the wagon and it looks unbalanced because there's no way to get the rear fenders to work. I'm assuming that would be true the other way around, too.

So, could I use the WRX sedan fenders instead of the wagon fenders? Or, do you guys think the wagon fenders would make the car look more aggressive in the rear....thats a pretty cool concept also. ;)

-Chris

I just read somewhere that the radiator support needs to be modified for the newer 04 headlights to fit! Can any one confirm this. Also read that the fenders would bolt right up, but somewhere else, not to sure where, but some holes dont match up correctly. Read that it would take 50-100 hours to complete the swap!!! Could anyone that has had this swap done please let me know and confirm this with me? Thanks in advance!

-Chris

As I recall, all the front end stuff is interchangeable, as long as you swap all of it. You might have to make some very minor "custom" alterations, but even so it shouldn't take anywhere near 50 hrs. If you do end up with the 9-2x front end on a sedan, post some pictures so we could all see what that looked like. Or, if someone is Photoshop-savvy, they could do it for you via computer.

If you switch out the rad support too, it doesn't require modification.
But otherwise, yes it will need modification.

Ok, car went into the shop today....they are going to start it tommorow morning. I am doing the 05 sti front conversion, minus the HID's...too damn expensive, but the appearance of the wrx and the sti lights are identical for 2005. Anyways, I have come to 2 paint colors for the wrx. One is Plum Crazy, they had a 70 cuda at the shop that color, i love it. OR, Lambo orange. Maybe I might do Sapphire pearl from the 96-97 toyota supra.

-Chris

Sapphire pearl

I found a new color. Its a custom mix ....base od Violet with blue and gold pearl/

-Chris

sapphire pearl.....please.

Well, post the pictures when it's done, whatever you do. Note the "Pictures of your ride" thread at the top of the forum.

Ok, so far I have 2 votes for the sapphire pearl. Whats so great about this color? I have voted myself into Violet. The custom mix is because of this. If I make the mix, I know EXACTLY what is in the paint. If I go with a formula that is already been made. 1 , Say something happens to the paint, you can match it a lot closer. 2, people already have Sapphire Pearl, its been around for like 10 years, and its really difficult to pinpoint the mix in the formula. Okay, maybe there arent any sapphire pearl 2003 WRX's with a 2005 sti front end out there, but I think the Violet is just more badass, plus almost every car I see now a days is blue, especially where I live and go to school, everyone has a blue car! I am about being more unique than the next guy, but thats just me.

-Chris

There are zillions of ways to express your uniqueness, but if one of those things is your car's color...go all out.

Hey, if you want violet, it's your choice.....
Just seems like a color which wouldn't/shouldn't be seen on the WRX to me.
It's like the pre-97 Impreza's which came out in the light metallic purple, the color just doesn't look right.

Ok, so far I have 2 votes for the sapphire pearl. Whats so great about this color? I have voted myself into Violet. The custom mix is because of this. If I make the mix, I know EXACTLY what is in the paint. If I go with a formula that is already been made. 1 , Say something happens to the paint, you can match it a lot closer. 2, people already have Sapphire Pearl, its been around for like 10 years, and its really difficult to pinpoint the mix in the formula. Okay, maybe there arent any sapphire pearl 2003 WRX's with a 2005 sti front end out there, but I think the Violet is just more badass, plus almost every car I see now a days is blue, especially where I live and go to school, everyone has a blue car! I am about being more unique than the next guy, but thats just me.

-Chris

Ok, now I need help! lol.....I was just flipping through some mags and saw an orange with a yellowish pearl, it is on a dodge ram 1500. Looks sweet! I can see violet on a WRX, since I love the way it looks on the Nissan Skyline model I have. Also part reason for not getting a bright color is cause of the police and reason for not going to dark, i live in florida. I need a good balance. Im gonna look for more pics of the sapphire blue:)

-Chris

I was thinking that the Nissan/Mazda pearl/metallic orange would look good with gunmetal wheels, but I was thinking of that for a Lancer Evo VI.

I'd like to see an Impreza in a peral gray with the gold wheels.

Went to the shop today. The whole front end was completely removed, all of the black stuff (?) was removed from the exterior, on the roof ext... all the door handles, trunk, wing, everything removed! The 2005 STi front end arrives tomorrow!!! I beleive I will be going in for the Dark Violet, with violet pearl, blue pearl and gold pearl. Any other suggestions, I would need them ASAP! Thanks!

-Chris

Just wondering, what brought on this major swap? Was it an accident or something, or you just got bored?

What brought this on you ask? Well, I got bored of silver...the 2005 STi front conversion came because it would of costed the same to get the same front end for the 02-03. So basically I just wanted a big change. BTW I have to choose a color today. I am going with the violet with blue and gold pearl. What this does, I will get hints of blue, red, violet...and whatever is in between such as oranges and yellows from the gold pearl. Pretty much everything I wanted in one paint job! I did some reasearch on the sheet the body shop sprayed for me ;) plus, I took color theory and I am a graphics major, so it wasnt a painfull job.

-Chris

Update!!!!! Went to the body shop today. When I got there the door jams, inside trunk were painted my special violet pearl mix ;) Both fenders, upper lower radiator supports tacked (for now) in place and a new headlight was in!!!!!! Its gonna be shweeeeeeeeeet!!! I will post a link with pics when its done!

-Chris

Yep, you're gonna have to show us some pics man.

Im definently taking pics when its done. I have some progress shots, but nothing to dramatic. Its comin along nicely ;)

-Chris

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!! Cars is finished!!! Still need to take it back in for minor wiring issues and a little paint..i am a perfectionist, and I hate it! Anyways tomorrow, which is Friday, I will be taking pictures and I will have a link where you may view them.

-Chris

Way off topic here, well not way off topic but does anyone have any pics or links to pics of a wagon with the fender flares installed? I'm just curious to what it looks like........oh and congrats on getting the car done man, hope you enjoy it.

If I were to paint it I wouldnt go with a muscle car color. I mean I dont want to sound biased or anything but i think that Plum Crazy would look cool I personally think it should be left for 70's muscle cars. I would go with the lambo color or the supra color.