Looking to customize front end
 

of a 2001 Porsche Boxster 986.......what is the best look in your opinion

GT3 MK1 bumper.

I concur, with spoiler lip... IMO the biggest visual impact one can make to the front end of the 986 is litronics if not already equipped.

Who sells them?

Also, any recommendations for the rear bumper cover? Any way to remove the warts? Mine got clipped so I want to take advantage of the opportunity to change things up.

2003-2004 Bumper... followed by 996 MkII (2002-2004) front-end conversion which will need your fenders and headlights replaced.

I can't seem to find a picture of what I did, but I removed the warts or bumperettes and replaced them with a blank plate. I then mounted the license plate over top of it. I used a perforated metal that looked pretty darn good IMHO. I know another member here used a black plexiglass blank (their picture attached). I had a few of these blanks made up and bought the trim for them, but never did anything with them. If you want one, let me know and I can probably part with one cheap as I now have a Gemballa rear bumper and don't really see myself going back to stock.

Kirk

are your blanks artic silver?

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/x...0.html?image=4
http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/w...ontbumper4.jpg

the ctr turbo style looks really good to me

Guess we're not really on the same page here.....

No what I've got are the black pelxiglass inserts like in the photo.

For my arctic silver car I had installed the perforated metal blank and painted it silver.

Kirk

Kirk - PM me with how much you'd like for the blanks. Does the underlying metal structure unbolt from the bumper beam? I have to admit that I haven't done more than a cursory look. Thanks.

In addition to style, you should also keep in mind the importance of quality. Depending upon your level of perfectionism, all of these body kits and aero parts require an awful lot of fine detail work in order to achieve "factory" like fit and finish. During my search for a kit for my vehicle, I discovered that there were vast differences with regard to quality and construction amongst a wide range of manufactures . Don't be fooled by anyone who tells you that these parts come primed and ready to be installed "out of the box". Be prepared to spend some time and money having it installed by an experienced professional.

Johnny, quick question- I've noticed on another Boxster owner's car who has a fiberglass replica of the GT3 bumper that he has some nasty rock chips on it...and I'm not talking about small chips, but some chunks that came off from rocks hitting it on the freeway at high speeds presumably...and it looks just awful. With a fiberglass front bumper, is this inevitable, or is the solution just getting a clear bra installed? Even with the clear bra, however, I'm thinking if you get bumped lightly by another car in a parking lot, your bumper will be cracked, as opposed to the OEM polyurethane bumper just deforming and then bouncing back to shape (as mine has a couple times already). Or, do the higher quality fiberglass bumpers have a flexible nature to them?

Skip fiberglass in general. Not nearly as durable.

Certain that it is, when fiberglass takes an impact, it is far more susceptible to being damaged than polyurethane. However, the nice thing about fiberglass is that it can easily be repaired as compared to polyurethane. Polyurethane is a great material provided that the part(s) fit well. I have seen several aftermarket body kits and aero parts made from poly, wherein the fit and finish was terrible. This presents a real problem, because poly cannot be "manipulated" or shaped like fiberglass to ensure a perfect fit. Personally, I have not had any problems with the fiberglass body kit on my vehicle. And, to answer your question regarding rock chips and road rash, I have clear bra installed on my vehicle in several key areas and it has proven to be invaluable.

To further elaborate on the topic of fiberglass, there is a vast difference in quality and durability between a European manufactured body kit/aero part that meets TUV standards than most of the domestically produced "stuff" one encounters on Ebay and the like.

Thanks, I figure there must be high quality fiberglass out there. I mean, Vettes and Lotus cars use Fiberglass extensively, and I don't see them running around with big rock chips on their front ends. Lol. Perhaps they have some more flex in them or have protective covering.

Do you know where they use these materials? I doubt in bumpers.

If you like the style, the Caractere bumper shown in your photo is a very high quality piece. Be cautious, however, there are a few "knock offs" of their design out there.

http://www.tuvdotcom.com/pi/web/whatCertifiedProduct.xml?LanguageChanged=en-us&sLand=&sLang=

Here is an interesting site worth checking out . CSR Automotive is a German company who specializes in making some really high quality TUV certified body kits for 986, 987, and Cayman ect.. at reasonable prices.
FVD Brombacher USA use to import some of their products.




http://de.csr-shop.info/public/catalog_xmlxslproducts.aspx?suid=315&mcid=726295&M NUCategoryID=726295&zid=60b8c11c-e055-4ce2-99ca-1350377c0f09

I always liked this company's rendition of the GT3 style bumper for the 986/996. Its made by a Germany company called In-tuning.de. Its also a high quality TUV certified product. The importer in this country is Strictly Foreign, however, there's a seller on Ebay who offers it as well.



http://www.estrictlyforeign.com/INOAK-PORSCHE-911-996-FRONT-BUMPER-p/in%20900034.htm

OOohhh, I like that!

http://www.garyhanda.com/box/newf1.jpg

brightened up in ps to see the detail:

http://www.garyhanda.com/box/newf3.jpg

what about this front end?
heres the ebay link, i hope someone tries it out
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-Porsche-997-GT2-Front-Bumper-4-Carrera-Boxster-996-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem20b100095eQQitemZ14040 8523102QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

http://986forum.com/forums/attachmen...id=13077&stc=1

Its definitely a cool looking design. However, it looks like it might be a little too "heavy" for the front end of a boxster. In any case, its anyone's guess on what the quality and fit of this product is like. Interestingly, they don't say what the material is. I assume that its fiberglass. Also, FYI this company has gotten some pretty bad press on the 6Speed forum..