19" BBS LM or 997 Carrera S (lobster claws)
 

Hey guys,

im upgrading my wheels on my 01S

which do you think I should go, ive narrowed it down to these 2,

But cant make up my mind!!

Anyone have more pics of these wheels on a silver 986?http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1353408741.jpg

OR
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1353408811.jpg

I would go with original Porsche wheels, I always think after market " bling " looks like you are trying to hard, or wanting the car to look something it isn't.....

But it's totally a personal view.

Good luck.

I personally would want to stay with Porsche wheels for the same thought, unless it's for track use. Dgrange - It's your car, you do what feels right for you. Also I thought that there was a Porsche wheel pretty similar to the BBS style

I like the spokes rather than the lobster claws. Agree with the other posts about aftermarket wheels so I'd try and find a set of OEM wheels like this:

Porsche 911 993 986 Boxster Sport Classic II Wheels Rims Set 7 5x18 9x18 | eBay

Well I like the bbs more just because of the offset. I dont like the polished aluminum look I prefer gunmetal. With that said how much are you going to spend? if its above the $1000 i suggest looking at the forgestars.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1353463254.jpg

im spending $1600 for the carrera S VS $1800 for the bbs lm

Go with the lobster claws...
 

the other rims look aftermarket and too "blingy" IMO. There are nicer looking wheels out there that are similar (sport classic II's, HRE P40 clones, etc.).

+1

-Jason

OP if you are leaning this way a good looking set of 17" just went up for sale on rennlist.com, I'm not sure what size is on your car now but boxsters are so much more nimble to drive with stock 17" sizes. :cheers:

+1

These look incredible on a 986 and were a factory option....my S came with them

As others have said, a matter of personal choice, but I thought 19"s were frowned upon in '01's because the suspension or frame or something wasn't up to 19" wheels.

Nah, it's only the very early Boxsters (97-99, pre -S) that can't handle 18s or 19s. By 2001, changes were made so that 18s were a factory option, and 19s should be no problem, structurally-speaking.

Personally, I would go with the BBS...as an OEM supplier to Porsche, I would approve of them more than I would the lobster claws, because the lobster claws are 987 and 997 wheels. It would bother me to see newer wheels on an older car, in other words. The LMs date from when your car was made...I know, because I saw a black Boxster in my parking garage with them in 2000 or 2001, and I have been in love with that look ever since!

Two things about the LMs...the price you are quoting seems quite low to me, at least for new wheels. Make sure you are buying genuine BBS wheels, there are quite a few low-priced clones out there. Second, if you can afford real LMs, you should also look at the LM-Rs...they are lighter with their back-milled spokes, and there are fewer spokes to clean.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1353541287.jpg

NOT TRUE!!!!!!!
Only 97 have the issue

I'm running 18" on my 99 with 285 rears
No problems
A lot of guys runs 19" on 98-99

+1 on this style!

I thought the 97 have actual clearance issues with larger wheels, and the 98 and 99 have more of a structural integrity issue with larger wheels. They'll fit, but will cause the car to wear quicker or not handle as well or something.

not a fan of the sport classic wheels,
the only other wheels i would consider would be the 18" turbo twists or the carrera light weights

More pics
 

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356010591.jpg

i think this looks really good, are they 19"s or just lowered?

another one with BBS LMs
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356010654.jpg

Want you car to look better? I say lower it. Big wheels look gash. 19s look ridiculous on a 986.

Personally, I think lowered on 17s is best for a 986. Even 18s are a bit too big and bling.

Here's a look at decked on 17s, no need for anything bigger in my view:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...mmed%25202.jpg

19's!!!http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356011239.jpg

Next to impossible to drive in this city if your boxster is that low. Same with 19"s on a 986, either you drive like a granny dodging potholes or good luck to your spine.

I tend to think that a subtle drop with lowering springs is a far better option then going with bigger wheels. My 02S is on stock 17" twists and I think the sizing is bang on for the weight and power. Maybe I'll bump the fronts to 215s or 225s in an attempt to dial out some of the understeer, but that's it. I think 19's are too much wheel for the car. I'll never understand the benefit of ultra low profile tires for street use. I think it makes the car less usable, less tossable and in may cases slower off the line and out of turns. It will likely also cost a few MPGs. If you're pushing 400+ hp then by all means, go with some huge fender meat. Otherwise, I think it's kind of the automotive equivalent stuffing a sock down your pants. It might look mean and attract attention, but at the end of the day it's "false advertising" if it's only for looks. Which stands out even more on a Porsche, not a designer known for having unneeded bling.

Just my opinion! Good luck!!! :cheers:

I love the BBS LM's and R's Thinking about doing those myself in 18". I have factory Classic 17's and they are just a little to small for my taste. I would not be willing to go with 19's. I agree $1800 is way off on the price of LM's new you are looking at around $4500+ for the rims no tires. $1800 in nice shape used you should be all over them if you want 19's.

^^^^
Are they the 997 Carrera s style wheels? That's the other one I was considering
Looks great