B11 legacy ob,l,etc front bumper compatibility

[bluedotsnow]

has anyone swapped a standard L front bumper with an OB and or limited? 95-96 legacy and used a 98 bumper? fast lift stuff can't tell if the mounting is exactly the same but but its all B11 body style is the uni-body and mounting the same across all years including face lift? I know wiring is a whole other matter especially for headlights!

[bratman18]

They are all interchangeable from 95-99, but you may have to use the bumper beam from the donor car as well.

[johnceggleston]

bumpers and grills usually match. different bumper means different grill. the GT grill may interchange with the outback without the bumper. if so then the outback bumper would swap with the GT without the grill.

 

but the L, LSi and brighton bumpers will need the grill to swap.

 

the support beam ... i'm not sure. for years i read that you you HAD TO replace it to swap the bumper cover. but recently i read that you do not, but only once did it see that. so i would plan on the support beam as well.

[Fairtax4me]

My 96 L with a 97 or 98 (don't recall exactly) Outback bumper and grille.

You can't just swap the plastic fascia, and actually it's alot more work to even try. Unbolt the whole thing from the donor car by removing the 2 large bolts on each side behind the headlights. The 3-4 screws along the bottom where the bumper attaches to the lower core support, and the one screw on each side that attach the bumper to the fender. You have to push the wheel well liner out of the way to get to them. And there might be a pop clip or three that need to be removed.

 

Outback and GT grilles are taller, the indent in the bumper where the grill fits is larger accordingly. An L/Ls grille will have about a 1/2" gap between the grille and bumper if you use it with an Outback or GT bumper, but they mount the same otherwise.

 

Wiring for the later two piece lights is no different, the wires are the same color, but 97-99 use 9007 bulbs (rather than 9003) so you have to swap to the 9007 style sockets.

But the one piece lights still fit the same with the OB/GT bumper. The two piece lights are kind of a waste of time IMO unless you find some in pretty much perfect condition. The adjusters on the two piece move the entire headlight rather than just the reflector inside like the one piece, and the light output is no better than the one piece style. They do make the car look a little nicer, but when you gt up close the gaps around them are huge because the whole housing needs room to move for adjustment.