Mixtape's WRB BRZ

[mixtape]

2016 Subaru BRZ in World Rally Blue

Ordered in October 2015 and picked up in December 2015 from Cross Creek Subaru of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

My first Subaru and my first manual car after owning an automatic Honda Fit for eight years.
I have put many goals for this car ahead of myself for the next few years and I hope to monitor and document them here from now on!

Shoutout to my buddy Nick from ProAuto LLC [http://www.proauto-llc.com] in Columbia, SC for the good deals on a lot of these parts!

Lighting:

• Buddy Club taillights
• Valenti smoked fourth brake light
• Diode Dynamics LEDs [dome, trunk, license plate]

Exterior/Body:

• TRD-style spoiler (paint-matched to K7X)
• 3M paint protection film [front bumper, full hood, full fenders, headlights, mirrors]
• Rexpeed wide polarized mirrors

Interior:

• Weathertech floor mats
• Raceseng Ashiko in translucent blue

Engine:

• K&N drop-in air filter
• Grimmspeed hood struts

Misc.:

• Clutch return spring removal

Most recent photos:
[updated: 04.08.2016]

[mixtape]

Checking out and test-fitting the TRD spoiler before dropping off for paint, and after installation of all the taillights:

[mixtape]

A few days ago we had a foggy morning so I went out early and shot some photos:

[img]http://www.mixtography.com/16-Subaru-BRZ/i-CGXT***/0/L/DSC_7799-L.jpg[/img]

[spicyricecake]

You plan on 3m taping the spoiler on or drilling?

[mixtape]

Originally Posted by spicyricecake

You plan on 3m taping the spoiler on or drilling?

I will actually do both for peace of mind, if nothing more. I feel like it will be more secure that way.

[spicyricecake]

Originally Posted by mixtape

I will actually do both for peace of mind, if nothing more. I feel like it will be more secure that way.

Ahhhh but then you'll lose the holeless trunk! should definitely consider a swap with someone who needs the trunk if you're going to drill holes on it anyway but I understand you'd want to keep your trunk for the paint condition.

how much did the spoiler set you back and did you get a paint quote? I thought about doing TRD myself

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by mixtape

I will actually do both for peace of mind, if nothing more. I feel like it will be more secure that way.

Good plan, I installed mine a few weeks ago with only 3M tape. It seems to be holding just fine, however, I've started noticing just a tiny lift off of the furthest corners. I'm going to put some bolts in later this week to hold it down better.

How does yours bolt in? I got mine from ebay and it has 2 nuts molded into the spoiler itself. The nuts aren't 100% lined up with the OEM holes, so I will have to open them up just a tad to get a bolt through the trunk into the spoiler.

[mixtape]

Originally Posted by spicyricecake

Ahhhh but then you'll lose the holeless trunk! should definitely consider a swap with someone who needs the trunk if you're going to drill holes on it anyway but I understand you'd want to keep your trunk for the paint condition.

how much did the spoiler set you back and did you get a paint quote? I thought about doing TRD myself

I thought about that, but I believe this spoiler does not reach far enough onto the trunk to cover holes made by someone for another spoiler - that, and the fact that this paint is so hard to match are keeping me from doing that.

I ordered the spoiler here: TRD Spoiler : Japan-Parts. It set me back about $300 including shipping to NC.

My paint quote ended up being right around $250 including paint and mounting.

[mixtape]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

Good plan, I installed mine a few weeks ago with only 3M tape. It seems to be holding just fine, however, I've started noticing just a tiny lift off of the furthest corners. I'm going to put some bolts in later this week to hold it down better.

How does yours bolt in? I got mine from ebay and it has 2 nuts molded into the spoiler itself. The nuts aren't 100% lined up with the OEM holes, so I will have to open them up just a tad to get a bolt through the trunk into the spoiler.

That is the exact reason why I want to do both. Stuff picking up at the edges like that bothers me, and I travel a lot on the interstate so the spoiler's going to take some harsh wind from time to time.

Mine bolts in the same way. It has two bolts toward the center molded into the plastic.

[BigTuna]

One other question, What kind of difference did you feel taking the clutch spring out?

[mixtape]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

One other question, What kind of difference did you feel taking the clutch spring out?

A huge one.


The clutch has a constant pressure through engagement all the way to the floor now, instead of that strange "dead" or "weak" zone halfway through that it had with the spring. It is much easier for me to achieve smooth shifts, both up and down, now. I had trouble properly learning and memorizing the clutch point with the spring in it.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by mixtape

A huge one.


The clutch has a constant pressure through engagement all the way to the floor now, instead of that strange "dead" or "weak" zone halfway through that it had with the spring. It is much easier for me to achieve smooth shifts, both up and down, now. I had trouble properly learning and memorizing the clutch point with the spring in it.

Gotcha, Does it seem like a difficult thing to do to put it back if you didn't like it?

[mixtape]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

Gotcha, Does it seem like a difficult thing to do to put it back if you didn't like it?

I have heard multiple accounts but the general consensus is: it's a one-way job. After doing it myself, I can confirm that it seems like it would be damn near impossible to put back in.


I don't regret doing it, though, for what it's worth.

[mixtape]

I finally got the spoiler paint-matched and put on, and I couldn't be happier!