De-and Changed Some Interior Items
 

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:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423361473.jpg

After:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423361527.jpg

2. Painted bumperettes:

Before:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423361858.jpg

After:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423361911.jpg

3. Interior:

Before:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423362530.jpg

After:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423362594.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423362629.jpg

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:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423363287.jpg

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

It all looks great, nice work!

Wow looks really good!

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

Some very tasteful mods. Nice job.

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.

Very nice mods.

You made a nice car even nicer!

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

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

Now you got a sweet ride!

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423411647.jpg

:D

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

AKL :cheers:

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.

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! :)

this?

Sorry for hijacking the thread :)

97 02 Porsche 986 Boxster Double DIN Installation Kit | eBay

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

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

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423430782.jpg

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

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.

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.

Thank you sir. I appreciate that! :)

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.

Oh - I did that mod :D

There some b4 & after drama for you OP lol

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/b41423492287.jpg

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

Well done

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1423362594.jpg

Wish I could use the older cluster like this as it has the digi spedo in the center. Why did Porsche move it over to the left?

Very nice work you have done on your ride.

Thanks

I don't think you can ever be sure regarding what Porsche is thinking, but they may have moved it because of design changes to the On Board Computer option in later cars. I think the later OBC's display several lines of information and that crowded out the speed display. It may also be that they thought it was more logical to put the digital speedometer in the same gauge as the analog one.

It is my understanding that the dot matrix displays in the later cars have fewer problems than the lcds in the earlier cars, so on balance you are better off.

Regards,

A bit late to the compliment game, but these mods are great!

Finished De-Ambering
 

I kept an eye on Woody's thread, but I could never seem to be the first person to jump on a set of red and clear tail lights. He had a set of 550 tail lights the other day, but another board member was ahead of me in line.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1465686668.jpg

I found a set of 03/04 tail lights on Craigslist. They were out of my area, but the seller was willing to ship. I paid $200 shipped which was a probably a little higher than Woody's set would have been. Fortunately, I was able to sell my amber tail lights for $100, so the net cost of the upgrade didn't break the bank.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1465686710.jpg

To be honest, the amber never bothered me that much until I installed my litronics. Then I understood why other folks had gone down the "amberectomy" road. I like the "cleaner" look especially with a silver car.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1465686737.jpg

I think I am now finished with exterior modifications and my only desire is for a 987 short shifter.

It all looks very good. Love the gauge cluster.

One note. I would be a bit concerned about the emblem on the air bag. Is it metal? I don't know how those things deploy exactly, but I would be concerned about it being launched at you in a crash.

The amber didn't bother me but I hated the raised lettering on the outside of the lamp which is a trap for dirt and wax buildup and looks terrible. Took 800 grit sandpaper to them and followed with polishing compound. Now they have that smooth finish of the newer lights.

Regarding the red car, what would a conversion like that cost? Wow!

I just had dinner and when I look at this picture i feel it coming back up! Haha. :barf:

Hi Nine8Six, I love the aero package on this car and was looking for same for my, Please let me know the seller.

Thank you.

I finished what may be my last upgrade
 

I installed a 987/997 shifter in the car today. I bought it over two years ago for $130, but this is the first time I felt sufficiently motivated to set some time aside and tear the center console apart to install it. (The part number is 997.424.010.00. I have attached photos if anyone is interested is seeing what it looks like.)

There are many threads and YouTube videos on the subject for anyone who is interested in this project. As discussed in those resources, the benefits of the upgrade are that the shifter feels more precise and the throws are shorter than in the stock 986 shifter. In my case, I'm also trading my original shifter with over 125,000 miles of use for one with about 24,000 miles of use.

The shifters are readily available used. There is also a 997/987 short shifter available which would give even shorter throws, but I didn't see any of them going for a reasonable price.

That is the last upgrade I have planned for the car. I am hoping to spend more time on the track in the next few years, and that may open a new chapter in my upgrade story.

I replaced the gauge binnancle and added wood grain gauge surround
 

It turns out that my 997 shifter wasn't the last upgrade. The leather was separating from my Carrera gauge hood (or binnacle if you prefer that term.) I found a replacement with the wood gauge surround. I decided to splurge because it matched my steering wheel, shift knob and e-brake handle.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1585619061.jpg

The replacement was grey and I had to dye it black to match my interior. You can read about that here: http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/77438-carrera-gauge-hood-refresh.html

Just curious about the Porsche crest glued on the airbag. If that's not a factory item, you may want to consider removing it. If that airbag deploys with a metal crest on it, it could be very dangerous. Sorry if it's already been mentioned and of course to each their own.

Found some "Speedster Humps" on Craigslist
 

They were the right color and the I enjoyed the drive on some country roads when I collected them.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1657670668.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1657670717.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1657670772.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1657670897.jpg

They have a few minor scratches, but overall they are in nice shape. I have seen posts from owners who found them inconvenient to put on and off. I hope that I use them fairly often.

I recovered the armrest in leather.
 

http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/82431-reupholster-center-armrest-leather.html#post647892

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1658693251.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1658693285.jpg

Installed 997 Adaptive Sports Seats