What did you do with/to your Boxster today?

[cribfiller]

a few weeks ago I was cleaning my 02 and changing the oil, getting it ready for a long winters nap. As I was wiping down the dash area the cloth caught the knob that adjusts the dimmer of the console lights and snapped the stem that goes into the cluster. You can imagine my reaction.

I was able to locate the guy in Canada who has manufactured a replacement part, with a search on this forum and others. I also was able to locate a used cluster for sale at a reasonable price. So for the price of two stems from Canada, I purchased the used cluster. This way I could practice on taking one apart, before I did mine.

I stayed home from work today and decided to see what these things look like inside. With patience and going slow, and following steps posted online I was surprised at how simple it was to take it apart.


This is one of the pieces that broke. You have to split the cluster to replace as they install from the back side of the face.


I also decided to take one of the face dials off, I used a plastic picnic fork inserted under the indicator and with a small flat bladed screwdriver popped the dial off using gentle pressure.


The tricky part was the small plastic retaining piece that inserts into the hole and holds the face dial in place, see object to the right of the dial. I did this with a small screwdriver form underneath the dial, gently prying it up. As you can see a small piece of the edge did break off, the material is very brittle. I think it will still do the job it was intended for and cosmetically will be under the indicator needle when reinstalled.

So now I wonder if anyone has painted the face dials or changed them to a different color. One project leads to another. My car is speed yellow and adding a bit of color to a black interior would be nice.

[Boxtaboy]

I know a Boxster owner who installed a yellow tach in the center, and kept the other dials black, like how Ferrari does it. Looked kinda cool.

Originally Posted by cribfiller

So now I wonder if anyone has painted the face dials or changed them to a different color. One project leads to another. My car is speed yellow and adding a bit of color to a black interior would be nice.

[Porsche9]

Hey Boxstaboy, I like your knobs and eject button. We're did you find them? Thanks.

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by Porsche9

Hey Boxstaboy, I like your knobs and eject button. We're did you find them? Thanks.

Eject button:
EJECT BUTTON!!! 12-volt / Lighter Insert Aluminum Faux Ejection Seat Button Red Eject Button****-****Mitsubishi 3000GT****/****Dodge Stealth Parts

The knobs are from the Becker radio that is factory installed in the Chrysler Crossfire. I was tired of the cheap looking black knobs, and while I don't own a Crossfire, it looked like they would fit our radio, and it does. You can get them from Beckeraudio on EBay. Just search for Becker radio knobs and it should pop up. If you paint your current knobs, you should try to use flexible paint or it'll crack. These knobs, you can squeeze em without worry of the paint cracking, and they look better than the black stock ones.

[Luckyed]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Eject button:
EJECT BUTTON!!! 12-volt / Lighter Insert Aluminum Faux Ejection Seat Button Red Eject Button****-****Mitsubishi 3000GT****/****Dodge Stealth Parts

The knobs are from the Becker radio that is factory installed in the Chrysler Crossfire. I was tired of the cheap looking black knobs, and while I don't own a Crossfire, it looked like they would fit our radio, and it does. You can get them from Beckeraudio on EBay. Just search for Becker radio knobs and it should pop up. If you paint your current knobs, you should try to use flexible paint or it'll crack. These knobs, you can squeeze em without worry of the paint cracking, and they look better than the black stock ones.

$15 shipping for a $19.99 part.....no thanks.
I found the same thing on Amazon for $23.95 with free shipping.....
https://www.amazon.com/12-volt-Accessory-Ejection-non-functional-Vehicles/dp/B00NGWOEUQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1483715628&sr=8-4&keywords=auto+eject+button

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by Luckyed

$15 shipping for a $19.99 part.....no thanks.
I found the same thing on Amazon for $23.95 with free shipping.....
https://www.amazon.com/12-volt-Accessory-Ejection-non-functional-Vehicles/dp/B00NGWOEUQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1483715628&sr=8-4&keywords=auto+eject+button

Yep, that's where I got mine from too. Should've mentioned that, but instead posted link from original seller seeing that it was cheaper (but didn't see that they charged that much shipping).

[paulofto]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

The knobs are from the Becker radio that is factory installed in the Chrysler Crossfire. I was tired of the cheap looking black knobs, and while I don't own a Crossfire, it looked like they would fit our radio, and it does. You can get them from Beckeraudio on EBay. Just search for Becker radio knobs and it should pop up. If you paint your current knobs, you should try to use flexible paint or it'll crack. These knobs, you can squeeze em without worry of the paint cracking, and they look better than the black stock ones.

They want $53 CDN PLUS $46 CDN shipping for these 2 knobs. Jeeeeeezus that is criminal. Then again I don't have to buy them. I Plastidipped mine and they look new. The silver does look good though.

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by paulofto

They want $53 CDN PLUS $46 CDN shipping for these 2 knobs. Jeeeeeezus that is criminal. Then again I don't have to buy them. I Plastidipped mine and they look new. The silver does look good though.

Yeah, the silver knobs actually make the radio look retro to me, which is kinda cool. A few years ago, I read that Becker Audio sold the pair for only $23. Crazy how the prices go up so much, and the price you say they'll charge to send to Canada is crazy. Do they make silver plastidip? I am thinking that you can paint them with some type of paint made for plastic that allows some bending, sorta how the paint on a bumper is flexible?