De-and Changed Some Interior Items

[KevinH1990]

I have had my car almost nine years and I thought it was a good time to show the before and after shots of the changes I've made during my ownership. One or two changes per year have had a cumulative effect and made the car more enjoyable and convenient.

1. Installed litronics and changed to non-amber "smoked" side markers.

Before:



After:



2. Painted bumperettes:

Before:



After:



3. Interior:

Before:



After:





Note the wood trim items, painted center console, 5-gauge cluster and double din nav unit. You probably cannot see the garage door opener on the dash or the intermittent wiper control.

4. 2004 top and frame install:



The advice on this forum and several others has made this all possible.

[CHRISP357]

It all looks great, nice work!

[Redboxs]

Wow looks really good!

[itsnotanova]

Where did you get that airbag? What's next?

[Chuck W.]

Some very tasteful mods. Nice job.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by itsnotanova

Where did you get that airbag? What's next?

The airbag came with the steering wheel, brake handle and shift knob. I think the seller was building a race car. I think the airbag is leather, so it may have come from a car with the full leather interior. The Porsche crest does not appear to be OEM. I think it is glued on.

Regarding what's next, I have a few things in mind:

1. I want to install the components for the dynamic self-leveling litronic headlights. Right now, the headlights swivel when I turn on the high beams, but the factory option compensated for the up and down motion of the car. A Brit who posts on Renntech and Boxanet has figured it out, so I think that will be a fun mod if I can find all the parts I need at a reasonable price.

2. The top fabric is getting a little worn. Although it is newer than the original one it replaced, it is 11 years old. So, I'm thinking of doing that in the next year or so. I need to figure out the best-quality product after considering price and then find a good time to do it. I may take the frame off the car and do it while I have the hard top on next year. I don't have time to do it now.

3. There is a thin strip between the upper and lower dash that some folks paint. I think it would look good if I painted it to match the console. It is difficult to get it out, but if we have a snow storm that keeps me from driving the car for a week or two I may take that on as a remedy to cabin fever. I don't want to overdo the painted trim. There is a point when enough is enough.

I'm planning to keep the car for the foreseeable future, so I like to make changes to keep it fresh.
Thanks for the feedback.

[RedTele58]

Very nice mods.

You made a nice car even nicer!

And yes, the airbag is from a full leather interior car.

[Dlirium]

Very nice car! I got your next project right here:

Now you got a sweet ride!

[Allen K. Littlefield]

Originally Posted by CHRISP357

It all looks great, nice work!

+ 1 on what Chrisp says. Very tasteful and still looks like a Boxster.

AKL

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by Dlirium

Very nice car! I got your next project right here:

Now you got a sweet ride!

Maybe not. I'm trying to stick with OEM part upgrades from either a 996 or a 986. The only exception I've made so far is the Pioneer headunit and I think that looks better (less busy) than the stock PCM units from the early part of the century.

[coen]

I love what you did with dash, aircon/satnav/screen stuff..

what do I need to go from:
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/IMG_0030+11423362530.jpg

to :
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/IMG_50021423362594.jpg

I would LOVE that


thank you sir!

[coen]

this?

Sorry for hijacking the thread

97 02 Porsche 986 Boxster Double DIN Installation Kit | eBay

[Joe B]

Originally Posted by Dlirium

Very nice car! I got your next project right here:

Now you got a sweet ride!

Please do not put a spoiler like that on your car. I threw up a little in my mouth when I saw that !

I like everything you've done to your car. With the hard top, it looks a lot like my 2003 S !

[amitmishra4]

Looks great, curious about the five gauge cluster though-where did you source that and was that straight forward? What are the outside gauges showing-voltmeter and oil pressure?

Update: found this-
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/90-ELEC-996_Cluster/90-ELEC-996_Cluster.htm

[KevinH1990]

Here's the entire story on my adventure with the 996 cluster. http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/43017-carrera-gauge-swap.html


I bought mine for about $150 or $155 because it was damaged. I put a lot of time into making it work, so I have to figure that into the final cost. I think I answered a want ad on Pelican Parts. The seller was a Porsche technician who had replaced it under warranty because of a problem with one of the LCD's.

I think a good source would be to find someone parting out a 996. Read the Pelican Parts article carefully because there are two types of clusters and you need the correct one.

If you need to re-program the cluster, here are the instructions: http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/47801-programming-a-carrera-instrument-cluster-for-transplant-to-a-boxster/

You need to be a contributing member on Renntech to access them. If you aren't, send me a PM with your e-mail address and I will send them to you.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by coen

this?

Sorry for hijacking the thread

97 02 Porsche 986 Boxster Double DIN Installation Kit | eBay

That's what I used.

Here's some information on re-routing the wiring for moving the HVAC controls and installing a back up camera: http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/51283-does-anyone-know-vss-wire-02-bose.html

The last few posts in that thread show some better pictures of my final installation.

[coen]

Thank you sir. I appreciate that!

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Dlirium

Very nice car! I got your next project right here:

Now you got a sweet ride!

He needs the one from the guy that had it on backwards where it actually created lift

Joking aside, great looking and very tasteful mods.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Dlirium

Very nice car! I got your next project right here:

Now you got a sweet ride!

Oh - I did that mod

There some b4 & after drama for you OP lol

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

^ That is worth it, very nice. Love that cluster and the 2din mate

Well done