So now what?

[Starter986]

So, first this...

Installed sound system!

Then this...

Two things, and one is a phooey!

Now this:

New tires. New pads/rotors/hardware. Gloss black calipers with white emblem. Oil change, fuel filter change, air and cabin filter changes. 20mm spacers rear. 10mm front. Windows tinted sides and front. Interior ambient lighting. Clear side markers and third brake light. Aluminum pedals and dead pedal. Garmin navigation. A few other accouterments that I'm forgetting.

What am I missing? I've read the 2.5 isn't worth putting money into... so I'm looking for other reasonable mods. I welcome recommendations.

I'd like the clear LED headlights. Likewise the taillights. Can't quite $neak that by the wife.

I also welcome a recommendation for a complete LED kit for the interior, frunk, and trunk. That is the next thing I'd like to do.

Thank you! Cheers!

[Starter986]

The absence of comments would suggest to me that there are no new ideas. I'll turn to the tired, tried, and true. Thank you.

[steved0x]

Maybe one of those lights that projects a Porsche logo on the ground when you open the doors. I'd do it but I have no door lights to tap into.

Short shifter mod and/or illuminated shift inob
Ashtray delete

You still have good mods out there

[oldskool73]

"I've read the 2.5 isn't worth putting money into" ... none of these cars are 'worth' putting money into if you expect to get it back, but it's your car and your money, you can put it where you like!

"I'd like the clear LED headlights. Likewise the taillights." ... the aftermarket 'led headlights' are not generally that well respected on this board, you'd be better getting some new/used standard clear headlights and fitting a xenon kit from Nine8Six when he starts making them again Porsche Headlight Retrofit [from CAD, prototyping to finish) ... or just a generic aftermarket kit.

The aftermarket rear clear lights in various designs (eg Depo) you can pick up for a couple of hundred $ on ebay etc.

I'm pretty sure I've seen quite expensive LED 'kit' somewhere... but the interiors you can just buy generic leds in the right sizes from ebay and replace them, shouldn't cost more than a few $

So, how did you do the interior ambient lighting, been thinking about adding that to mine?

Other things I've done in my 2.5 as inspiration ... double din head unit with navigation, short shifter, led shifter knob, footwell lighting, replace top with glass version from 03 model, variable intermittent wipers, remote central locking.

[Starter986]

OK. Ashtray delete sounds interesting. The ashtray in it now... the lid won't stay down. I pop the shifter (AT) to manual (Tiptronic), the the lid pops open. More an annoyance then anything. What would go in that spot?

Yes. Cars. Money. Learned that $12K ago on the 325es partial restore. Fackin money pit.

OK. So plain old LEDs... with no worries about amperage interfering with the electrical system... resistors in line... etc?

The ambient lighting I guess, after reading the rest of the post... is more footwell. From eBay I purchased, for about $26, a package that contained 4 fairly solid-feeling LED light strips... I beliebe 12 LEDS per strip... that connect into a little harness... connected to the sensor. Comes with a little remote. I put 2 of the strips on that little lip... on the carpet... directly under but in front of the seats. The 3M adhesive sticks nicely to the carpet. Likewise under the dash and where would be the glovebox. Carpet or adhesive will work for fixation. I found that if you choose your color setting, and then shut of the car... when you return to it and turn on the key it will default to the last color. This I learned the hard way when after first installing it everytime I started the car it looked like a multi-colored disco hall in the cab. Flashing lights, multi-colored. LOL. I had my stereo installer hard-wire it in. Inexpensive, and updated the look.

Thanks for the ideas!

How about a pair of those side air vent scoops that stick out a bit? Got a line on those?

[That986]

I was about to suggest shifter then saw you had the Tiptronic.....

Just stick to spangly bits.

[kirkandorules]

Originally Posted by Starter986

OK. Ashtray delete sounds interesting. The ashtray in it now... the lid won't stay down. I pop the shifter (AT) to manual (Tiptronic), the the lid pops open. More an annoyance then anything. What would go in that spot?

996-552-096-00-B12 and 996-552-596-00 are what you're looking for, around $50 total from Pelican.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by kirkandorules

996-552-096-00-B12 and 996-552-596-00 are what you're looking for, around $50 total from Pelican.

Thank you. I'm going to order those items.

Cheers!

[oldskool73]

Re LED's, I'm using these for the interior:

https://www.banggood.com/T10-194-168-W5W-COB-8SMD-SILICA-Car-LED-Door-License-Light-Bulb-p-1029639.html

and these for the frunk/trunk:

https://www.banggood.com/36-39-42mm-12SMD-4014-LED-Canbus-Error-Free-Festoon-Interior-Light-Bulb-White-p-1046691.html

...but anything similar would work just as well. I've not had to do any electrical work to make them work, and it's not burst into flames yet... touch wood

Re ambient lighting, yeah I was thinking of doing something similar with a string of this I have, should give a nice subtle glow, just not got round to it yet...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5M-Car-lights-Driving-at-night-Ambient-Light-EL-cold-light-line-DIY-decorative-dashboard-with/32750240269.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.RUycsa

I also bought a set of Golf footwell lights and made a holder for them out of some old perspex, then fitted them up in the footwells wired in to go on when the doors open for a brighter footwell lighting...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/LED-Footwell-Light-Interior-Foot-Lamp-Connection-Cable-Harness-For-VW-Golf-Jetta-Passat-A4-A6/32830930397.html

And if you don't already have the variable wipers knob on your dash, this is quite a handy cheap mod : Adding variable intermittent wipers on an early box, the easy way