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Old 02-12-2020, 05:27 AM   #10
RedTele58
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Guys - be careful when you're ordering. There are several different versions/components of aero kits.

The early kit is composed of 1) a front bumper cover which is a 986 SPECIFIC cover - it is NOT a 996 euro GT3 front cover. 2) Early style (rounder and curvier) side skirts, and 3) an aero kit specific decklid/spoiler combo w/ some interior trim pieces.

The later kit is composed of 1) late style side skirts (sharper and more angular) and 2) a rear spoiler that mounts on top of a standard rear deck lid. The later kit has NO front bumper cover and NO decklid and interior trim.


Reference what is being called a "GT3" bumper cover. The GT3 was introduced in Europe several years before it was introduced in North America. The early euro GT3 had the round headlights as on the 986 and therefor the front cover would bolt directly on a 986. For the early 996 ('99-'01), Porsche offered a 996 aero kit which was the European Gt3 body kit - a GT3 bumper cover, side skirts (in the same style as the early 986 aero kit) and the double decker "taco" spoiler.

So there are several front bumper options that will fit a 986 - 1) 986 aero kit bumper, 2) '99-'01 996 standard bumper cover, and 3) '99-'01 996 aero kit (European GT3 front bumper cover).

The American introduced 996 GT3 (2004-2005) bumper cover will NOT fit the 986 - the American GT3 had the angular 996 headlights.

Side skirts - two different styles: earlier (softer and curvier), later (sharper and more angular.

Deck lid/spoiler; again, an early and late style. The early aero kit provided for a rear deck lid composed of fiberglass. It is a longer decklid to cover the extra ~two inches where the pop-up spoiler lives. (The pop up spoiler is removed with an early kit. There are also several additional plastic trim pieces that live in the trunk area. One covers the gap where the pop up spoiler lives, the second covers the area where the third brake light lives, as the aero decklid is smooth and deletes the dip where the third brake light opening sits.

The later style rear spoiler simply mounts on top of the standard decklid and the pop up spoiler stays in place.

9864Ever - careful... the bumper cover shown on the Suncoast website is NOT a 986 aero kit bumper cover! It's a late 986 front bumper cover or a 996 bumper cover.

There are no differences in the rear bumper cover for an aero kit.

Chase this link - you'll see what a complete early aero kit looks like:

https://www.redlineautoparts.com/porsche/1997-2004-boxster-996-911/1997-2002-porsche-986-boxster-factory-aero-kit-i-front-bumper-rear-bumper-sideskirts-trunk-spoiler-bx026/?device=c&keyword=&campaign=369100617&adgroup=pla-4586681475291776:aud-807800756&utm_term=&identifiers=pla-4586681475291776:aud-807800756&Campaign=**LP%20Shop%20-%20Catch%20All&CampaignId=369100617&AdGroup=Catch%20All&AdGroupId=1329310318532975&AdId=83082015825343&Network=o&msclkid=a5c9a3c6925d101612fffd829aabb00f&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=**LP%20Shop%20-%20Catch%20All&utm_content=Catch%20All

THAT is a complete early aero kit. Notice the very different grill openings than what is shown on the Suncoast page.
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