Legacy Touring Wagon

The BG5 Legacy Touring Wagon

The second-generation Legacy Touring Wagon went on sale in Japan in October 1993 and was built until June 1998, when the BH5 took over. BG5 is the code for the 2.0-litre wagons, and every one has full-time four-wheel drive. The GT carries the EJ20, a 2.0-litre DOHC flat-four, with a two-stage sequential twin-turbo system: one turbo works alone at low revs and the second joins higher up. It made 250 PS at launch. Naturally aspirated EJ20 versions sat below it, such as the TS Type R at 155 PS.

The big change came in June 1996 with the GT-B, on Bilstein inverted dampers. With the five-speed manual its twin-turbo engine made 280 PS, the first 2.0-litre production engine to reach that figure; with the four-speed automatic, which brought Subaru's VTD variable torque-split four-wheel drive, it made 260 PS. The final update of September 1997 added the GT-B Limited.

What BG5 owners upgrade

Much of what BG5 owners buy keeps a thirty-year-old wagon running as it should. Alternators lead the ignition range, timing belts and engine mounts the engine range, and radiator caps the cooling range. Tie rod ends refresh the steering.

On a GT or GT-B, the twin-turbo engine breathes through pod and panel filters from the intake range, and a stronger clutch kit and lighter flywheel from the drivetrain range handle the power. Bee R, HKS, APEXi, Cusco, Exedy and Tomei are among the names owners choose, with Advance Alternator for the charging side.

Genuine parts

The youngest BG5 is now more than 25 years old. The EJ20's camshafts are driven by a toothed belt, and a belt that skips a tooth or breaks lets valves strike pistons, so a car with no record of a belt change should have one before it is driven hard. On the twin-turbo cars, the system that brings the second turbo in runs on vacuum through small rubber hoses, which harden and crack with age and are a routine replacement.

Service items and the parts age wears out are in our genuine Subaru parts catalogue for the BG5.

Wheels

Factory wheels ran from 14x5.5 +55 to 17x7 +53, with 15x6 +55 and 16x6.5 +55 between, all held by M12 x 1.25 nuts. Sizes that suit are listed under wheels that fit the BG5.