GT3 bumper problems... I'm Frustrated!!! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

manolo · 05-06-2011, 07:38 AM

I really like the look of the RUF or GT3 bumper, they are the only styles I would ditch my stock one for. However as I just havent been willing to spend that much $$, and I refuse to use aftermarket fiberglass, I'm still rockin' the stocker!

j.fro · 05-07-2011, 05:25 AM

I've got a fiberglass GT3 cover on my car, and it did take some tweaking to get it on and correct. I agree with looking to the JDM/import tuners to do the work. Be patient and look for someone who shows skill in their work, but may be new to the field. Agree to a price up front and stop in frequently to check the progress. Another bargaining chip may be to let them use photos for advertisement purposes or to present the car at local shows.
Good luck. The GT3 cover really does look great on the car. Oh, and there is NO factory 03-04 GT3 cover that's a direct fit for the 986.

Johnny Danger · 05-07-2011, 03:09 PM

There's nothing wrong with fiberglass as a material. An overwhelming majority of the best
"tuners" and manufactures use it. Moreover, by virtue of the fact that it can be "manipulated" and "crafted" in ways other materials can't be, it has it's benefits. It simply requires the right individual who has the experience and skills necessary to work with it .

pk2 · 05-09-2011, 09:29 AM

Fiberglass takes alot of fineness to pull a clean part out of a mold. Traditionally fiberglass is going to continue curing and warping as it does. Mix the resin to hot to rush it=heat& warps. To mix cool and it will take forever to cure but a much cleaner part

In general, a bad, rushed part takes alot of filler to straighten warps . The warps need to be blocked out.. If your car is a light color, it won't show as much. If it black, I't got to be blocked out dead nuts, lany little warps will show like moguls.

Regards, pK

yellowboxsters · 07-11-2013, 03:23 AM

So glad I came across this post as I was at my wits end thinking about it myself too. I think I'll just fork out the dollars for a factory/oem kit. Might not have the dramatic look but at least its clean, and hopefully without complications with the peace of mind that it's designed to fit correctly as it should whilst sticking to the cars relative vintage without going overboard. Really hard decision which I'm sure we all have spent countless hours or days even weeks pondering about

However I assume this was all about the fiberglass version? How about the polyurethane version? Anyone tried that yet and how did it fit? Any problems?

Perfectlap · 07-11-2013, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowboxsters

However I assume this was all about the fiberglass version? How about the polyurethane version? Anyone tried that yet and how did it fit? Any problems?

fit is lazer perfect. Durability is light years better than fiberglass if you drive your car often, particularly on crappy roads. Fiberglass does not like to be repaired once broken. I would only use it on sideskirts unless the car is a garage queen, then maybe you can explore front and rear fiberglass bumpers. Otherwise go with polyurethane, there are some aftermarket options with this materials but not many.
I'm about to have my GT3 bumper repainted for the fourth time and virtually every single time I had it painted it took only a few months before l hear "crrrash" on a steeper than anticipated driveway, high manhole cover in a construction zone or random crap on the highway I ran over. But the K turns into a drive way are the single biggest culprit. Do yourself a favor and drive around the block.

yellowboxsters · 07-11-2013, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

fit is lazer perfect. Durability is light years better than fiberglass if you drive your car often, particularly on crappy roads. Fiberglass does not like to be repaired once broken. I would only use it on sideskirts unless the car is a garage queen, then maybe you can explore front and rear fiberglass bumpers. Otherwise go with polyurethane, there are some aftermarket options with this materials but not many.
I'm about to have my GT3 bumper repainted for the fourth time and virtually every single time I had it painted it took only a few months before l hear "crrrash" on a steeper than anticipated driveway, high manhole cover in a construction zone or random crap on the highway I ran over. But the K turns into a drive way are the single biggest culprit. Do yourself a favor and drive around the block.

Thanks mate, as per your very reasons, I'm trying to avoid fibreglass and stick to polyurethane. However, as you cannot alter polyurethane bumpers, they therefore need to be made to extremely high standards in terms of fitment since you can't simply add filler or file things down to shape.

Has anyone here had a polyurethane front bumper or kit installed on their boxster and is damn happy with the fitment and presentation? If so, please chime in and advise where you got yours from?

Thanks guys

yellowboxsters · 07-11-2013, 06:32 PM

Thanks for your input guys. To answer your questions, the nrauto kit or gt3 for that matter isn't what I would call 'what I truly want' as it seems a bit too sharp for the 986 boxster era of of design and in my opinion seems a little mismatched. It that's just my style a being fussy. But then again I don't want to be spending thousands just for a kit and then more plus lots of frustration and anxiety with dealing with poor fitment, a lazy or unskilled/hesitant workshop who only wants to do straight forward no brained fitment and still be able to somehow stuff things up.
Starting to think that unless I can find the kit I desire that is guaranteed to fit like oem then I might as well leave the car the way it is and spend the funds elsewhere on performance and convenience mods like the smart top relay mod :0)