99 Boxster - Front bumper being replaced
 

Hey all,

I'm dropping off my car to get the front bumper replaced next week (flying road debris gouged it, and it's generally road rashed enough to warrant replacement).

I have really thought about taking this opportunity to pay the difference and get a different bumper. You know: It's not busted, it's just an upgrade opportunity.

Anyway, looked at the Boxster S bumper and the Aerokit II bumper. I'm going to be driving this car purely on the street, so I don't see needing a 3rd radiator anytime in the future.

After looking it over and looking at alot of pictures....I'm thinking it's best to just stick with the Boxster bumper. It looks great, it doesn't lower the front height at all (like the Aerokit bumper appears too), it won't increase air resistance/drag/noise, it costs nothing extra...

Can anyone tell me any reasons, other than looks preference or the ability to add a 3rd radiator, why the other bumpers would be preferable?

Thanks all,

Joe

Other than looks, no reason. I put a GT3 cover on mine because the original came with two spider cracks, I've never regretted it. I also put the spoiler lip on, to your point about height, I scrape if I'm not careful in some turn ins. I can't understand how you could put the mo30 kit on without hitting all the time.

You could go with a bumper for a base 03 or 04. That way you don't have the middle grill, but you get the updated design.

I went from original bumpers to the facelift and took a pic without my grilles inserted, but the lines on the facelift bumpers are definately a noticeble upgrade.


Prior
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/3096/boxster003.jpg

After
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6924/dsc00235ct.jpg

Damn, I thought the 2003+ front bumper didn't bolt onto the 97-02 frame?

Also, when the body shop asked Porsche about the S bumper, Porsche told them the bumper wasn't much more "but it's alot of work to make it fit and requires numerous brackets and new attachment points."

I didn't want to tell the body shop that Porsche was wrong, but my understanding was that it was a straight bolt-up.

front bumper was a direct replacement, need new grilles tho' cant reuse the pre facelift grilles as clearly they are different. The rear bumper is missing some lower screw mounts, and the upper bolt holes are completly missing beneath the spoiler I drilled mine out and both are on

The S bumper will fit without any modifications, but you will have an ugly void left behind the center opening section if you don't add the center radiator. That void left will also suck in air to a section where it normally should not go (hence disturbing airflow), since it is blocked off with a base bumper. Therefore, I would either replace with another base bumper, or source an Aerokit bumper made for a base car that doesn't have the center opening.

Good point I didn't get an S altho it looks better for this exact reason

Here is a really nice after market bumper. Of course it does not say the cost. I personally think it is the best looking upgrade I have seen.

http://www.lltek.com/slideshow/porsche_boxster_986_rieger/index.htm

only negative thing about that bumper is it will look goofy without sides and a rear bumper