Just bought an 05 Legacy, a few questions.

[Speed addicted]

I've just replaced my Berlingo utility car with a 2005 Legacy 2.5se.
It's a far nicer thing to spend time in and is essentially a time travel device compared to the journey times in the Berlingo. It also warms up in a sane amount of time in winter!

I may have to commute for the first time in about 15 years so obviously a car that uses twice as much fuel is a better idea.

I've only had it a few days and I'm really enjoying the car so far.

I managed to source and refurbish a set of BBS cross spoke wheels before I got the car, so it has new Michelin Cross climates fitted all round. Seems to work just fine in snow.

I do have a couple of daft questions though, first minor annoyance is the drivers mat sliding under the pedals. I noticed that there's a hole in the carpet that matches a hole in the mat but nothing to connect them together.
What do I need to go in there?

The clock doesn't work, I've looked online and it seems to be a common fault. Any easy/cheap ways to remedy it?

I'd like to play my Ipod through the stereo, is the grom connection thing any good?

Should there be more than one interior light? It has the dome light behind the front seats but that's it. The dome light was out and a new bulb has sorted it.

There is a slight clonking noise coming from the front going over speedbumps. It had 3 drop links changed for the MOT, would it be worth changing the 4th and the antiroll bar mounting bushes to try and shut it up?

Edited by Speed addicted on Sunday 12th February 22:34

Edited by Speed addicted on Sunday 12th February 22:35

[vxr2010]

Hi clonking is probably a drop link , but worth a look and try wobbling things , mine recently was a locking ring on a coilover that some how got loose , the mat the hole in the floor is supposed to have a hook in it on impreza and foresters i'm assuming yours is the same , options are source a new hook but possibly carpet hole is too big , source a larger hook or cable tie to seat unscrew seat then re secure with cable tie where seat screws down , clock probably a case of ebay or a used supplier try subaru may not be too much or find a clock that can fit in its place , interior light yes probably only one maybe a higher wattage bulld ,i think that covers it , hope that helps

[vxr2010]

stereo , can't help there depends on what you have fitted of the many types available , quite a few upgrade the stereo and or speakers , halfords have had some good ones in recently for around 105£ with built in bluetooth

[MDMA .]

i have the same Legacy I run as a daily. bushes should be classed as consumables! they seem to be made from chocolate and go through them quickly. seem to be forever chasing a noise from somewhere

there should be a hook for the floor that the genuine mats fix to.

and yes, only the middle light comes on when you open the doors. you can run a thin cable from that light to power your front ones up though. link here - http://www.uklegacy.com/forums/index.php/topic/904...

[LFB531]

I use one of these to run my iPod and 'phone in an Impreza, can't imagine the Legacy is that much different in cabling terms.



Ipod cable in the centre cubby below the armrest so nice and neat, remote control sits on the centre console behind the gearshift. I transplanted this from another car and I needed a Subaru specific adapter cable but that was only a tenner or so. Even with fitting the hands-free microphone and getting the cable behind the headlining, don't think the whole job took more than 90 minutes. It also has USB and line-in options, sound is way better than an FM modulator and I like the way the screen replicates the iPod display.

Edit: in fact, just spotted this on the 'Bay where someone has fitted this kit to a Legacy. Wouldn't be my choice of screen location but it obviously can be done! (sorry the pic's sideways!)

Edited by LFB531 on Monday 13th February 10:36

[ericmcn]

Get whiteline compliance bushes, Subarus eat OEM bushes for breakfast and spit them out.

The drivers mat has a plasic notch thingy for the carpet.

[Speed addicted]

Well, that's the clock sorted. I managed to find a working one with a damaged face and made a good one out of the two.
Got hold of the previous owner and now have two keys.

I've managed to get the peg thing that goes in the floor. It looks like the hole is too big so I'll bodge something up. Tie wrapping it to the seat support may well be the easiest option.

The stereo isn't replaceable as it's built in and also contains the heater controls. My wife has a parrot kit in her Audi and it's been more hassle than it was worth really, I'll probably go for the Grom kit to give me an Aux in on the CD changer button. I'm not sure if I'll bother getting a phone kit installed as the basic one is only £50 and it's a second car.

I've had a look at wiring the map lights to the dome light, but the sunroof is in the way so I'll live with the light being in an odd place. At least you can easily check there's no-one in the back seat...

First tank of fuel is done at an average of 27mpg and 300 miles on the tank. I'm happy with that.

I'll give it a going over with a clay bar and a good coat of wax when I get the chance. Mainly to make it easier to get the muck off from driving on country roads.

So far so good, I can see me keeping this one for a while!

[MDMA .]

I have a genuine 30pin Apple lead that connects to the back of the oem stereo. it never gets used. next time I get a spare hour, I will remove it and post it to you if you want to make use of it.

[Konan]

Speed addicted said:

The stereo isn't replaceable as it's built in and also contains the heater controls. My wife has a parrot kit in her Audi and it's been more hassle than it was worth really, I'll probably go for the Grom kit to give me an Aux in on the CD changer button. I'm not sure if I'll bother getting a phone kit installed as the basic one is only £50 and it's a second car.

You can convert it over to Double DIN but it's not a low budget job.

[Speed addicted]

MDMA . said:

I have a genuine 30pin Apple lead that connects to the back of the oem stereo. it never gets used. next time I get a spare hour, I will remove it and post it to you if you want to make use of it.

That would be brilliant, thanks very much!
I take it plugs into the cd changer port on the back of the unit?

[MDMA .]

Speed addicted said:

That would be brilliant, thanks very much!
I take it plugs into the cd changer port on the back of the unit?

TBH, not sure. Previous owner fitted it. I don't have an ipod or anything, so never used it. Will have a look when i get a minute.

[Speed addicted]

Konan said:

Speed addicted said:

The stereo isn't replaceable as it's built in and also contains the heater controls. My wife has a parrot kit in her Audi and it's been more hassle than it was worth really, I'll probably go for the Grom kit to give me an Aux in on the CD changer button. I'm not sure if I'll bother getting a phone kit installed as the basic one is only £50 and it's a second car.

You can convert it over to Double DIN but it's not a low budget job.

To be honest I was pleasantly surprised by how good the factory stereo is, also I'm attempting to keep it a low budget car. Weather or not I actually manage that is a different matter entirely!

[S47]

27MPG seems low - my car same '05' reg gets 33 in normal driving, touring 35+
Make sure you have the correct spark plugs fitted, when I bought mine new [denso]plugs had just been fitted by previous owner [I had the receipt] so never checked 'em - after 44000 miles I changed them [they ought to last 50K miles!!], the new ones were the correct NGK's improved my MPG from 29-33 immediately. It's well worth fitting the correct NGK plugs though they are hard to find, Engine feels smoother too
What does your average MPG dash display say?
Mine averages between 38-39 now - while on the denso plugs it was 35-36.

[Speed addicted]

Dash display is reading about 27mpg, I do have a fairly heavy foot and all the driving so far has either been quick country roads or town so it's not miles away. I'm also only on the 2nd tank of petrol since I bought it.

I'm going offshore (oil rigs) for three weeks on Monday so I'll have a better look at it once I get back.

[StrokesUK]

For the aux in I bought a Grom adapter off amazon that plugged into the CD changer plug, has been faultless if a bit pricey. The clock is a common problem, apparently just bad solder that needs redoing but haven't got round to it yet as it works most of the time.