Painted Air Intake Vents
 

Do you guys (and gals!) think the 987 air intake vents for the engine would look good painted the exterior color of the car? From pictures I have seen, the Cayman looks like it is painted this way.

Please share your thoughts. Thanks!

I can't decide yet. I like the contrast but I think I may prefer the vents in the body colour. I think I may have to do a quick photoshop job to see how it looks...

Berj, if you do a photoshop, please share the results with the forum. Thanks. A good way to see the impact, is to look at the car configuration on Porsche's web-site. The Cayman is clearly the exterior color, and looks great this way IMHO! That's what got me thinking about this potential customization.

I say go for it. Definately added some visual appeal in that area on the 03/04 986 IMO.

I hate to state the obvious, but the Cayman grills are vertical while the 987s are horizontal. I'm curious if this will be a switchable part between the two and also how the box would look with the Cayman grills. If they are switchable, I would imagine that will be a popular mod, soon. As for color, I vote for the OEM silver.

One thing I definitely like is the Cayman fog light/bumper treatment. I think that would look cool on the Box.

SD987, interesting suggestion about the potential switchability. Maybe that would work too.

I got a paint quote from a highly recommended Paint Shop in Lake Bluff, Illinois, who does a lot of super high-end cars, including Porsche, for $75 per grill. Sounds fair. About 1 hour per grill (take out, prime, paint to match, clear coat, and re-install).

One other comment here, I had a dealer offer to do that as a "No-Charge" option, if I purchased my car from him! I only mention this for potential new/used car buyers, as a potential negotiation tactic.

Well for what it's worth, I personally think the contrast looks exceptionally good. I would not paint them body color. It also makes the 987 distinctive.

tmc

I have a set on order from bumperplugs.com. (No affiliation)

I will post pics pre and post install on my 2006 Guards red 987S

Chris C Atlanta, please clarify! What did you order from bumperplugs.com?? Did you order air intake vents for a Cayman? Please help me understand. Thanks.

The thread was about the grey intakes on the Boxster...I will receive my painted intake vents next week and take pics before and after I install them. I have a guards red car...and can't wait to get rid of the metal look vents

(It appears the Cayman vents are body colored already)

Chris C Atlanta, I don't see the intakes on bumperplugs.com web site. How much are they? What year is your Boxster? Thanks.

You can find them in the Order section, 175 plus core exchange. My car is a 06 s.

Taking out...and putting back in?
 

Chris C Atlanta, are they hard to take out, and put the newly painted ones in? Please post pictures ASAP! Can't wait to see your final results. THANKS!

Chris C Atlanta- do you have any pictures of the painted air vents yet? Are you happy with bumperplugs quality? Thanks for your help.

Hi,

I'm not a fan of the Body Colored Intake Vanes, I think the car will look too drab, it needs a little contrast IMHO...

Happy Motoring!...Jim'99

Hey Jim, how are you doing! I respect you opinion, but, I just disagree. I think they look great as is, but, would look a little better the same color as the body, like the Cayman is set-up. But, that's just IMHO! I am a more monochromatic kinda guy.

Will install them tomorrow and post pics. They are high quality, but it took a while to get them.

IMO they wll be a drastic improvement on my red car--I can't see keeping the gray ones. If my car was silver or grey maybe, but they're outta place on a red car. I like the monochrome look on the 986 and on the cayman.

Chris C Atlanta, I talked to Eric (owner) at Bumperplugs, and he said that he is going to double the price of the painted vents. Very labor intensive to paint them right.

I like the color matched idea. Go for it.

Ok...with painted intakes, and with faux titanium ones...I know which one's I like!

Awesome job, Chris C Atlanta!!!

You have taken a great looking car, and improved upon it! Not an easy thing to do.

How long did it take to put them in?

Thanks!

Install takes about 5 minutes a side, but it's not for the faint of heart. Aside from depressing one of the vanes to release a clip, it's strictly a brute force removal!

See this url for instructions...and thanks to the Renntech folks

Side vent removal

Car will be lowered Monday, and then I'm finished fixing questionnable factory choices...


:)

How much are you lowering...30mm???

H&Rs are 1.4 and 1.2 front and rear...about 35 and 30mm. Ride height is low, but looks perfect. Ride is not jiggly but fimer overall.

bmussatti,

I assume you check out that other board, but if you don't, "Robert" a salesman for Porsche just completed his Cayman training and reports that the Cayman side intake flows 30% more air than the 987s, is body colored and interchangeable. :cheers:

SD987, thanks, I'll check it out. Right now I am going with bumperplugs painted vent, but maybe I need to re-think that!

Hi Chris C Atlanta, you have had these painted side vents for a few months now. Is everything OK with the paint quality? Any chipping or cracking?? Thanks for the update.

Chris,

A little late to the party, but i wanted to tell you that your body color intakes look great. It goes a long way towards integrating them with the quarter panel.

I hope someone on this forum tries installing the Cayman intakes on a 987soon, that would be tight!

I prefer them in the stock color but more power to you if you like 'em body-colored.

What's funny is that it's a Tequipment option if you want to have titanium-colored vents on the Cayman. :rolleyes:

sorry for the internet redundancy, but:

Chris Huck (a sales guy over at Pioneer, here in SD) just did the Cayman grill install on his 987S and posted to ppbb about the mod, including a pic. While I applaud his experimentation...the outcome seems pretty...meh.

Martin J.S. over at rennteam.com did that on his black 987S also.

Edit: never mind, I see you're talking about the air vent. Martin J.S. did the Cayman front bumper swap...

Very interesting, since I have been told the Caymen vent won't fit the 987. I hate it when people (Suncoast Porsche Parts Dept and a few Dealers) give the wrong info! But, I have been wrong too! :)

Hey SD987, can you please cut & paste a photo over to this site?? Thanks :) .

My apologies to Chris for blatantly pirating his pic.

http://i2.tinypic.com/rh73ah.jpg

IMHO...I like it!

I like that alot - any idea how much to buy a set of these vents?

I did a lil mod to my 987 vents using some red door molding (my car is black) - I'll post some pix soon - I think it looks kind of racy - but I still like the idea of the cayman vent (especially if it allows for more air!!!!!!)

I called www.suncoastporsche.com about these a couple months back....the vents are cheap...about $30 each. Thejn you have to get them painted to match your car. Bumperplugs charges $175 for that.

is the unpainted color the typical grayish that the stock vents on the 987 or is a true unpainted item? Just hit the suncoast website - didn't see em

Yeah - the whole mis-information thing with Porsche seems to be commonplace - I'm still trying to get down to the bottom of the whole labor included vs labor additional on my passenger airbag deactivation kit. In fact, I'm still waiting for my second key - when I bought my car the dealership gave me one key and said that was standard - of course they back peddled a few days later when I found out differently - but here I am a about 6 weeks out from purchase and still with one key (and a bunch of 'stealership' excuses). I have to admit, for a high end vehicle, sometimes I feel that dealing with Porsche is a bit like dealing with Saturn!!!!

If the car wasn't sooo amazing - I dunno - I'd walk :D