987 side grills -- how to remove?

[Houston C4S]

Boxsters and Boxsterettes,

I know this is mostly 986 guys/gals, but...

does anyone know how to remove the side grills from a 987?

I have not (yet) had the luxury of actually looking at one
closely, so I don't have a way to personally examine how
to do it.

I wouldn't think it's difficult, but in the back of what's left
of my mind, I think I have read there is one screw to
remove and pull it out carefully from here and here
and here.

But I don't know where the heres are. Or if the single
screw thing is even accurate.

Would anyone here know and be kind enough to reply
as to how to do this?

Thank you all for your time and attention.

All the best,

- Mark

There is a very in depth discussion about it on caymanclub.net
Try search for desnork. Lots of pictures and tips.

[Perfectlap]

^yes its a great mod IMHO. Much more fluid look on the Cayman grills than the MR2'ish 987 grills.

[Houston C4S]

I was just planning to have them painted to match the
car's color.

My theory is that the grills would not stand out so much.
If the car were silver, it wouldn't matter, but in the darker
colors it does indeed look sort of like a Mr. Two.

And wouldn't Cayman grills look out of place???

[SD987]

http://www.ppbb.com/boards/ppbbphp/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=ARCHIVES&Number=1025818&Forum=ARCHIVES&Words=kevin%20the%20slow&Match=Username&Searchpage=18&Limit=25&Old=1year&Main=1025818&Search=true#Post1025818

Houston, does this mean you have a 987 announcement to make??? :dance:

Mark, get the painted vents from Eric at Bumperplugs, and then give the painted vents to the dealership, and have them do the install. That's how I did it.

[z12358]

Just wondering, can these vents be painted at a local paint/body shop?
How about painting the roll-bars? Is it doable at a local shop and how complicated would that be? Would (could) they have to be taken out, as well?

Z.

[jinijazz]

Originally Posted by z12358

Just wondering, can these vents be painted at a local paint/body shop?
How about painting the roll-bars? Is it doable at a local shop and how complicated would that be? Would (could) they have to be taken out, as well?

Z.

Yep, any reputable body shop can do it.
Rollbar is a little bit different. To take it out, you have to remove convertible top first. Not hard, but need at least two people. The easier way is to open the top 2/3, do lots of masking, and paint it without taking it out.

Originally Posted by z12358

Just wondering, can these vents be painted at a local paint/body shop?
How about painting the roll-bars? Is it doable at a local shop and how complicated would that be? Would (could) they have to be taken out, as well?

Z.

Z, a local shop could paint the vents, but the quality and price at bumperplugs is very equitable, IMHO. I think it is about $175. Perfect paint match too. I have gotten quotes from local paint shops for $75 per vent. Another benefit with Bumperplugs is the core exchange policy. Therefore, you are never without the vents! Take out the current vents, pop in the painted vents, and then send back the original vents for the core exchange. Done in about 20 minutes.

The Roll Bar is a very different issue. It should come out, but I have seen posts on other boards that did them in place. This is a great example how a factory installed option ($535) is far cheaper than aftermarket.

[Houston C4S]

I talked to the dealer about painting them in house (this is
Park Place in Dallas) and they can do it for a not to exceed
price of $125. This is the guy who does all their detail painting --
consoles, small parts etc.

I understand now that they come out very easily and that they
dealership should not charge to do that part.

So since the car will likely be there a few days anyway, why
not have them pop them out and paint them and pop them
back in?

I am thinking to get it on some weekend -- if the weather
is nice. If it's raining, it'll just have to wait.

I did check at Bumperplugs as Eric does really great work
there (bought plugs and Rejex from him), but this is a less
expensive way to go. And I don't end up with a set of unpainted
ones that I don't need.

And regarding a 987 announcement, I guess I hadn't thought
of it that way. But the S was loaded on the ship this Monday.

So, since I will soon (hopefully) find a new home for the 986
and this is a 986 forum, and I will have a 987, do I have to resign?

I know I need a name change at least -- I am going to ask
Randall about that. He is nearly all knowing about this forum.
The 4S has been gone since October in preparation for ordering
this 987S.

The salesguy anticipates it being ready to pick up the last week
of this month -- a little sooner than I had thought.


If you are interested, here's what it will be:


2007 Boxster S 987
BASE Porsche Base Model
9Q Meteor Grey Metallic
V5 Cocoa Top
RA Special Leather Cocoa
C02 U.S. Standard/Emissions
342 Heated Front Seats
680 Bose High End Sound Package
P77 Leather Sport Seats
M6C Cocoa Floor Mats
551 Porsche Windstop (Deflector)
573 Automatic Climate Control
435 3-Spoke Sport Steering Wheel
498 Delete Model Designation 0.00!!!!!!
401 18" Cayman S Wheel
446 Wheel Caps with Colored Crest
P74 Bi-Xenon Headlamp Package
639 Sport Chrono Pkg W/Out PCM
450 Ceramic Composite Brakes-PCCB
XLF Sport Exhaust System
-------------------------


And they agreed to a fairly healthy discount. (How about that FREE
option there, eh?)

So there you go.

Thanks for all the help and advice -- I really appreciate it.

Best,


- Mark

[djomlas]

is it me or are those handles just ugly compared to 986?

im referring to the red one in the link

[SD987]

Houston, nice !

You'll have to give the rest of us envious owners your impressions of the PCCB and Sports Exhaust (someone just posted a sound clip to the 987 SE on Rennteam). Congrats, sounds like a great ride

[Houston C4S]

SD,

Thanks!

The sport exhaust was a no brainer (not that I have much of one) as
I had put a set on the 4S and the sound was just glorious. Awesome,
as some might say. I do hope, however, that this one is as good.

No one I know of (and I posted that rennteam link on this forum)
has actually heard it. I reckon I will be among the first.

I am just an exhaust sound loving sports car guy and I am not
ashamed to admit it. That actually is my biggest complaint about
the 2001. There is no exhaust note. What were they thinking????

The PCCBs, on the other hand, was a tough decision. I have read a
zillion forums about them. My conclusion is that, somewhat like
Macintosh computers, the people who don't like them or don't
think they are worth it are people who don't have them.

I think they are way expensive. I do.

And in most braking scenarios, the tires will affect one's braking
ability more that the brakes themselves.

But there are two things, besides long life and no brake fade
no matter what, that were the deciding factors.

One is that they reduce unsprung weight significantly. Like
close to ten pounds per corner. That is a LOT. And it affects
all aspects of perfomance.

You could spend that same amount on the lightest wheels
and tires and not quite get that same reduction. (Rennworx
carbon fiber wheels (Dymags, I think they call them) are
about $8,500) And then you have to add tires. And you still
may not lose as much weight.

And then there is the brake dust issue. I hate it. A lot.

These are not supposed to dust up your wheels. (And they
had better not!)

So I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks again for your interest.

All the best,

- Mark

[1JB]

Removing the side vents was an absolute bear for me. There was no way I could remove it. Remember that the vents on the Cayman are different. I believe I found the instructions for the 987 on Rentech. I ended up taking it to my dealer and having them remove them and install the new ones. Cost about $60 but it took them a lot of tugging to get them off and at one point they let me know they might break them they were on so tight. They ended up getting them off with no damage. Mayber yours will be easier.

I second getting them from Bumperplugs. Takes a while but absolutely fantastic finish. That's why it takes so long, there are several steps from sanding to priming and several final coats put on along with waxing. You also get like $60 bucks back (can't remember for sure) when you return the originals to them undamaged which made the cost of having my dealer do it right worth it.

[Perfectlap]

HoustonC4S,
which generation of PCCB do you have? The latest design seems to be a night and day revision over the 1st and a big improvement over the 2nd.

Expensive but an extra second or an extra few feet of braking can save your life. Your exhaust aint gonna do that for you!

[Houston C4S]

Perfect Lapping One (unlike me!),

These are the latest Gen 2 ones.

I have read about the Gen 1 version and they had some real and
expensive problems with them.

They fit these on the S Carreras used at PDE and seem to have
no problems with them.

They are supposed to be immune to fade, have superb feel, they
don't rust and they don't dust. In any event, I guess I will have to
report in on that.

And you are correct, the sport exhaust won't help with that.

And the exhaust may be heavy, etc. etc. But if it sounds anywhere close
to as good as a 996 with sport exhaust, I won't care. That exhaust
allowed the engine to make pure Porsche music. With none of the
dreaded resonance typical of aftermarket exhausts.

And if you haven't heard a 911 with factory sport exhaust at
full scream, you really have missed out. Go to a DE or wherever
fine cars are found in your area, find someone who has it and
ask for a ride. Prepare to be impressed.

Hopefully this will do that too. And if so, I will be a happy guy.
Actually, I am normally a pretty happy guy anyway, but a drive
in a sports car that goes like it should, stops like it should and
sounds like it should just kinda puts the world back in its proper
place.

You know?

Thanks for all the comments.

Gotta git for now -- I am going on a Boxster drive with Randall
and Travis tomorrow AM. I know some of the best sports car roads
NW of Houston and I don't think either Randall or Travis have found
them. They are in for a treat. Anyway, it's late now, been a long day --
great bidness meeting, good drive to Austin and back, etc. But it's
time to pull down the curtains, batten down the hatches and call
it a day.

Y'all drive safely now, hear?

- Mark