Backdating facelift 986

[pothole]

Guys

I am wondering how hard / easy it is to make a facelift 986 look like an original 986.

I'm thinking of buying a 3.2 early next year and my choices would be broadened by including the facelift model. However, I much prefer the amber lights and simpler, cleaner bumpers and air intakes of the pre facelift model.

Purely from pictures, it looks to me like the front bumper would be a simple bolt off/on swap. Is this correct?

Same for all the lights.

I assume the side air intake bits are an easy swap?

But then there's the rear bumper. Thanks to the new spoiler shape, the rear bumper is clearly not a straight swap. Is it just a case of fitting the old cap to the pop-up spoiler mechanism, or is it more complicated than this?

[Crono0001]

I have the front bumper and lights to sell if you'd like them.

[KevinH1990]

I think the lights needed for a UK model are different from the lights on a U.S. model. The headlights are aimed differently due to the "drive on the left" British roads.

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

I think the lights needed for a UK model are different from the lights on a U.S. model. The headlights are aimed differently due to the "drive on the left" British roads.

You are correct about this. Lights for a RHD car are set up differently.

[pothole]

Yeah, will be sourcing parts from the UK. But at this stage just wanting to check what the technicalities are!

[Mark_T]

Pothole - can't tell you about the rear bumper/spoiler. I've looked at that myself because I am going the opposite way - applying the facelift components to a '99. The front bumper cover, headlights, tail lights, side markers, and side intake grills are all a straight swap-over though.

Too bad you're in the UK - I would swap you the trunk/spoiler parts needed as that's the only part of the facelift I haven't done yet. You should have little difficulty finding someone close by willing to swap parts as most owners want to go for the newer look and finding a guy with an '03 or '04 wanting to do a total parts swap is like hitting gold. I wish I could have found someone like you when I first started this process.

Are you looking to also go back to the 4-spoke steering wheel and buttplug shifter as well?
I have a 4-spoke steering wheel and airbag I would like to sell off if you do.

One of the plusses to doing it your way is that you will get a glove box which the older cars don't have.

[Porsche9]

Interesting on the idea of backdating. I too prefer the look of the earlier car. It will be interesting to see over the years if this becomes a trend kind of like people back dating the short nose Carrera to the long nose.

[tonysilver986]

I have a pre face lift model we could swap parts over with. Even better if you get artic silver

[pothole]

Originally Posted by tonysilver986

I have a pre face lift model we could swap parts over with. Even better if you get artic silver

Afraid it's definitely going to be Guards Red. it's one reason why I feel like I may need to include facelift cars as insisting on Guards severely limits my choice if I also insist on pre facelift!

[heliguy]

Everything is interchangeable, but why would you do such a thing?

[pothole]

Originally Posted by heliguy

Everything is interchangeable, but why would you do such a thing?

Very simple. Because I prefer the original design. The facelift is fussier and change for the sake of change.

[heliguy]

Are you looking to also go back to the 4-spoke steering wheel and buttplug shifter as well?

HAHA

[pothole]

Originally Posted by heliguy

Are you looking to also go back to the 4-spoke steering wheel and buttplug shifter as well?

HAHA

Butt plug shifter, yes! Four spoker, probably not!

[pothole]

Been thinking about this. The solution for me maybe be to just clean up the facelift rather than a full back date. Take out the strakes in the vents that look very fussy to my eye. So:

Before and after 1:



Before and after 2:



Think I could probably live with that!

[pothole]

Or how about...

[pothole]

And:

[Johnny Danger]

You can always get Strosek's front bumper.

[pothole]

Thanks Johnny, but not really feeling the Strosek solution. No doubt hard to find and pricey if you could, too!