How much dirt could really be in there? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

ohioboxster · 10-03-2006, 09:13 AM

I answered that question today when I took my bumper cover off and cleaned behind ac condensers. I know its been covered a bunch of times but after this little project it made me realize how much crap is in there. This is a must and not hard at all it took me about 2 hours and I will rate it a two on the difficulty meter. If I wouldnt have smashed my finger putting my wheel back on I would have given it a one. Ten being the most difficult.

This is the drivers side.

Passanger side

CJ_Boxster · 10-03-2006, 09:34 AM

Dang thats alot of shmutts in there, I looked into my bumper opening and didnt see anything in there but 2 thin leafs, The previous owner removed the triangle plastic peices under the radiator fans so i was able to see there was nothing in there....Is that a good or bad thing to have those plastic peices missing.

Brucelee · 10-03-2006, 09:43 AM

Not the best design for this, no?

Hats off to you for your hard work and thanks for the pictures.

Good stuff!

aBsOlUt · 10-03-2006, 10:16 AM

Good work and thanks for the pics!

If only the car could talk...I bet it would say a huge "Thank you!"

Grizzly · 10-03-2006, 10:16 AM

It's a little late now 'cause your bumper cover is already back on, but this mesh stops that accumulation almost completely. The first picture is my 996 bumper (please disregard the bugs). The second one is my old Boxster bumper. If you don't want them to be so obvious, you can do them in black.

ohioboxster · 10-03-2006, 10:20 AM

Picture three is actually in between the radiator and the AC condenser, thats the scary part. Half the stuff fell out when I seperated them. What you are seeing is what didnt fall. How the heck did all that get in there? I dont know which pieces you mean CJ_boxster. Do you mean the big scoop looking ones?

Grizzly, did you make thoses? I think they look great. Im not taking the bumper cover back off. I wonder if I can get the grates out without removing cover.

Grizzly · 10-03-2006, 10:46 AM

Actually, Ohio, if you can get your hand up in there to pop the grilles out, it's a 20 minute job on the Boxster. They're made out of gutter mesh from Home Depot (high dollar Porsche upgrade). Cut them to shape and then install them by drilling small holes through the part of the grille that you can't see when it's installed (see pictures

) . Then screw the mesh to the grilles using small screws and those flat trim retainers (again, see pictures, and you'll recognize them). Pop the grilles back in and you're done. I did the intake vents also after desnorkling because of the possibility of sucking in birds and small children. If you want them in black, spray them black before you install them. Easy.

See where my leaves get stuck?

10-03-2006, 12:03 PM

That looks cool, but I have tried to pull the vents out of the front bumper, but I could not do it. Is there some sort of trick to it? Does anyone have directions or is it even possible to do without taking off your bumper? If I can do it without taking off the bumper I will definately do it and put mesh behind there (also but a black gloss paint of the vents themselves).

RandallNeighbour · 10-03-2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grizzly

I did the intake vents also after desnorkling because of the possibility of sucking in birds and small children.

Ah the power of a word picture. I needed a good laugh this afternoon

Adam · 10-03-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grizzly

I did the intake vents also after desnorkling because of the possibility of sucking in birds and small children.

See where my leaves get stuck?

lol, I had a cardinal stuck in there once. I noticed him after I started to smell something awful and when I tried to pull him out by his leg it broke off