Backdating facelift 986
 

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?

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

HAHA

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

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!

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

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:
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-20...t-1280x960.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-M...-h960-no/2.jpg

Before and after 2:
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-20...d-1024x768.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7...-h768-no/1.jpg

Think I could probably live with that!

Or how about...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f...-h960-no/3.jpg

And:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-l...-h768-no/4.jpg

You can always get Strosek's front bumper.

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