hardtop question- year compatability
 

I have a 2002 what model year hardtop will fit my car ? Or will any hardtop fit regardless of the year car it came off of ?

1997-2004 will work

Early tops ('97-'98) have "ears". 1999-'04 tops don't.

All year 986 tops will fit all year 986 cars.

Don't forget the spinlocks to be able to mount them to the car.

I'm running a 99 top on a 03.

You just slide the spin locks into the openings on each side of the car, right? :o

It is a little more complicated than that: Porsche Boxster Hardtop Installation Kit - 986 / 987 (1997-08) - Pelican Parts Technical Article

There is a bolt that you need to insert that is a little tricky to install.

The "ears" determine which version of the roof transport system can be fitted.

^That is not accurate.

All of the RTS's (Roof Transport System) came with the same mounts (There is only one version of the 986 RTS). The 'ear' mounts cause a lot of noise/squeaking, so Porsche issued a TSB telling people to quit using them. You can use the body mounted b-pillar mounts with or without the hardtop, and with any hardtop, even the ones with ears.

:cheers:

whoa whoa new info.

My car build sheet says it came with a hard top. Since its a 97 it mustve come with the ears. Except when I purchased the car in 2008 it didnt have the hardtop.

Does this mean I can only install a 97-99 hardtop now because my car needs ears to be mounted?

Any 986 hardtop (97-04) will fit any 986 Boxster (97-04). The ears have absolutely nothing to do with mounting the hardtop to the car, they are a cosmetic quirk of the early year hardtops that was later removed.

Any 986 (97-04) Roof Transport System (RTS) will mount on any 986 car. All of the RTS's came with both the ear and body b-pillar mounts. However, the ear b-pillar mounts should not be used. The ears are essentially useless, hence why they stopped being included on later year hardtops.

What Rick3000 said above. To say it another way, the "ears" are on the early hardtops, not on the hardtop equipped cars. Since your car came with a hardtop, that means you most likely have the spinlocks. Unless whoever sold the hardtop off your car removed them.

No worries. My car above with the ears (early top) is sitting on a 2002. As long as you have the spinlocks on your car, you're good to go.

Any year 986 top will mount to any year 986 car.

Ok just wanted to be clear that I could fit any hardtop on my car which is what I assumed.

I interpreted the ears and mounting issue was with the car not the RTS.

Now that its clear. Chive on