Gauge cluster swap

[986bsdriver]

Currently I have a MY2001 Boxster S and it's a USDM model. Nothing wrong with it, but it's annoying to see MPH on my dash and have to refer to the digital speedo which is tiny. Also doesn't help that it seems to be out by 10km/h anyways.

I recently came across a CaDM market cluster that came out of a wrecked Boxster S but it's an MY2002. Displays KMH so all is well and comes with OBC enabled as well so the wrecker says.

I got a call after placing the order that the cluster only works with the 02 and newer models so my 01 is not compatible. I haven't seen the plugs on my cluster yet to confirm but I'm pretty sure based on eBay pics that I got the new style cluster.

Can anyone confirm that the 02 cluster will work on an 01 boxster? And has anybody changed the cluster to one for a different market before? Also, if I were to buy a durametric cable, would the vin be stored in the dme or the cluster and would it matter that they aren't matched up?

[The Radium King]

pretty sure 02 will not work in an 01; bunch of stuff changed between the two years - ecu change, switched to canbus (of which the cluster is an integral part).

[particlewave]

The VINs wouldn't match. Neither would the odometer.

Find the correct cluster and just swap the dial faces.

[PaulE]

On my 03 S there is a way to push some buttons to change the speedo and odo from miles and mph to kilometers and kph. I accidently changed it a long time ago and had to crack open the owners manual to figure out how to change it back. I don't remember how to do it and can't look because I'm at work. Maybe that can also be done on the 2001? Maybe check the owners manual to confirm?

[986bsdriver]

Originally Posted by particlewave

The VINs wouldn't match. Neither would the odometer.

Find the correct cluster and just swap the dial faces.

I think this is my best bet. The cluster looks like the one I have except it's got the kph dials on it. And I keep the same mileage which is good cause the new cluster has 30000km more then my current one

On a side note, does the vin and odometer have to match for it to function? I figured it was a straight swap

[986bsdriver]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

pretty sure 02 will not work in an 01; bunch of stuff changed between the two years - ecu change, switched to canbus (of which the cluster is an integral part).

That would explain why the salvage yard called me back and said that it only works for 02 and newer... I guess I'm swapping dials at this point, but Atleast the mileage would be legit

[emore93]

Don't mean to add to the confusion but...
I thought 97 - 00 were different than the 01 - 04 clusters?
You should be able to look at the back of the cluster to determine if it is similar.
The 01-04 (if I remember correctly) white, green, and blue connections while the 97-00 are white, black, and blue.

I did a 996 swap and it was basically plug and play. Everything worked fine but the miles.
I went ahead and had it changed over to the correct miles and VIN (just because I am anal about those things) but it was working without changing any of that.

I have an 01S that I put 02 996 cluster into.

[That986]

Is your cluster an 8000 or 7000rpm cluster? Does it have the digital mph in the middle or the side?

[986bsdriver]

As far as appearance wise the Canadian and the us clusters look the same as the one I got in the car currently.


I'm not using a 996 cluster but I figured that the 996 would have went canbus at the same time the 986 did. Also none of the gauge swap guide mentioned the canbus issues that may come with an 01 boxster so I figured it was good.

[emore93]

It has the 8000rpm tach.
The digital mph is on the left side.

[That986]

Originally Posted by emore93

It has the 8000rpm tach.
The digital mph is on the left side.

As far as i know as long as you're swapping like for like you'll be fine.

[986bsdriver]

I'm swapping the cluster dials if it doesn't work. Out of curiosity, I googled canbus and 996 but it never really came up with anything. I'd imagine the 02 996 would have canbus and if those clusters work with the boxster, I can't see why an 02 wouldn't work on an 01 like emore93 did

[That986]

I looked into this myself and the general consensus was that if i got another cluster from a 2000 (7000rpm tach, mph in the middle) then it's a straight swap. If i wanted the later anniversary model cluster then i'd be in trouble as the connections are different.