Jonttt
-
Posts
1,476 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
3
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Store
Posts posted by Jonttt
-
-
It may be worth giving Stephen an email (or phoning him, number is on the website I think)...
bmtown@aol.com
First time I have used them for this order and I've been very impressed. They are based in Liverpool not far from me but are mail order only, I initially spoke to him on the phone (via the BM Town wesite) http://www.bm-town.com/ (they are an Audi specialist) and he pointed me to their porsche lights webiste for the order. Their customer service has been excellent, they even contacted me to say I have missed the first delivery (I did not know) and provided tracking so I could ensure there was someone in for the redelivery. They seem to respond to enquires very quickly 😉
I'm not sure if there is a 987.1 option but worth asking, I know there is a 981 style option for the 987.1 and 987.2 but personally I wanted the 718 style as I prefer it. nb there is a 718 style for the 986 so a bit weird if they don#t do one for the 987.1 ?
-
Its also worth thinking about fitting a bluetooth battery monitor.......I can go from driving my boxster almost daily to not dirving it for 2 weeks (weather dependant mainly) and I have found these invaluable eg sometime I'm at the door thinking "which car should I take".....now I can check which needs its battery topping up from a run.......extract from my journal....
Bluetooth Battery Meter Review.....
So in these Virus Lockdown days the Boxster has been used a few days per week for a short commute into work but then has been stood for days without use.....although the commute runs are great with light traffic the car is just not getting the sort of run out it would normally....so I've started to wonder on the state of the battery.......I could maneauver cars around the driveway and put it on trickle charge but it would be nice to just "know" if the battery is OK or when it really needs charging......I checked out what options CTEK had to go with the charger (which already has the plug into battery connector with a status light but I find that unreliable)....sure enough they have a bluetooth device that can be left permanently on the battery with a phone app connecting to it......but its >£50 and ideally I would like x2 (ie one for the 993 and 987). The absolute ideal would be to be able to connect to either and know which car I was seeing.......so I thought it worthwhile googling alternative options ........a popular google find was a unit which seemed identical on pics but was badged up as different names with prices around £30-£40......then I stumbled on an ebay seller who seemed to be selling the same unit for £19 delivered and had sold >300 of them.....
So the sensible head said "worth a shout for £19" ...order one and see what its like......so I ordered x2 😁
Delivered in less than 3 days.......fitted and up and running with the app in less than 30 min on two cars with both identified by name.......it is simply a very impressive gadget and app for £19 delivered....whats not to like....
Install is very simple via C connectors simply placed inbetween the negative and positive terminals on the battery.....the app is installed from a link on the device and auto connects via bluetooth....then simply use the app settings to replace the device code with whatever you want to call the car.......
Comes in a simple plastic package....
just the device and pretty good instructions mainly about the app as the actual install is so simple...
A good quality metal C connector means it can be bent without fear of snapping to make a neat install as needed....
Online features and guides seem none existant hence me writing this guide for this device.....here is the manual in full for reference as to how it works and features in use...
and a very simple install....just loosen the terminal bolts enough to slide the C clip in and tighten back up.....the gap between the battery and frunk seal was perfect to simply hold the main unit in place without needing to secure it further......ps I also have the CTEK connector installed on this battery.....
It connected quickly, I renamed the device connected to in the app settings and the first reading did indeed show a lower than ideal voltage given only infrequent short trips in the past few weeks ie not having chance to charge back up through use...
Cranking Voltage was however fine on starting the car which was what I experienced in practice ie no indication on starting that the battery was down to c50% charge.
So I connected the CTEK up to recharge the battery...
and as expected all was fine just a few hours on charge later...
So what was it like to use.......well simple and pretty fun...it just worked without any messing around......my car was parked on the drive close to the house and from my lounge my phone connected to it so I could take readings remotely without leaving the house......I'll be able to do that at any time to keep tabs on the battery whenever I like......the unit is obviously ON 100% of the time so not sure what power drain will be like but it uses the latest bluetooth standards so I expect it has a sleep mode to reduce power drain simply waiting for something to connect to it.....There is more which I've not had chance to check out yet....
The settings can be configured to auto take a reading every set time limit ...the unit itself keeps records for 31 days so as long as you connect your phone to it at least once every 31 days you keep a full history of the battery, when the car was stated and stopped (trips).... these are all downloaded historically to the phone on connection .....
..you can set alerts so if the battery charge drops below x% you get a warning on your phone the next time it connects....eg as you get in the car
Some pretty neat features in such a cheap device....
Time will tell just how useful it is in practice but lockdown is a time if ever I will need it even if just for piece of mind......I'm not sure if I will leave the app to run in the background on my phone as present ...advantage is auto notifications but not sure what battery drain on my phone will be like...
So in summary what appears to be a useful and slick bit of kit if you have a car which is not ran every day nor left on trickle charge when not in use for extended periods :thumb:
-
Yep I'm happy with the change.......
-
1
-
-
I agree to some extent....in the context that I like the original lights, they suit the car and hence why they will be retained ......but they are one of the few things that date the car as lighting technology has moved so far in the past 10 years and they are in effect very early LED tech.........I have never really liked the 981 rear lights, they where the weakest part of the design.........I really like the 718 lights, they are one of the biggest improvements over the 981.........these aftermarket 718 lights are a bit "in your face" compared to the originals but then so would the 718 OEM lights which they replicate.......I think fitting a UV protection tint film to them will help "tone" them down (as per the 718 T) so they are less in your face........I think given that my OEM lights where showing their age and letting the overall look of the car down, these are a good alternative that are relatively cheap and freshen up the look of the car........I got them to try on the basis that I could easily send them back under distance selling rules......but I'm more than happy to keep them now that they are on the car..............then I saw them at night.......wow.....they are in a different league in the dark and are now one of my favourite lights full stop lol
-
wow, just been out to check them out in the dark.......they are spectacular (I dont use that word often lol).........can't get a good pic though, too much glare with a camera
-
Thats the one I got.......they only have a choice of two, the other being chrome......
Design911 have 4 choices here (but are much more expensive as you have to add VAT)...
The one I got is called the Clear Lens, Black outline, Red & white bars.......they do the same one with a light smoked lens........I have seen other options with a darker lens as well
Given the price difference I was happy to get the clear lens which then allows me to fit a tint to my liking with added UV protection ......in fact I've already ordered some from America 😉
-
The back is black but the exterior plastic cover is clear....the smoked version you can’t really see the inners at all unless they are lit up.......if you look at them from the side (I’ll try and get a pic tomorrow) you can tell the plastic cover is perfectly clear.......thats why I think it will take a light tint with UV protection film. I did not want the smoked ones as I don’t like blacked out lights.
-
from this...
After a bit of polishing......I ended up with this ........
-
718 Style Rear Lights....
So the original rear lights where letting the overall appearance down a little, not because I don't like them (I do) but simply with age and the interior finish degrading....
So I decided to try some 718 Style aftermarket lenses which can be sourced cheaper than OEM originals......sourced from https://www.porschelights.com/boxstercayman-9872-09-13
They arrived within 5 days of payment and very well packaged......they include a foam type seal which needs to be put in place but the process of swapping these over was as simple as it gets....just plug and play with no error codes.....I won't do a "how to change the rear lights" as there are plenty of instructions / videos online.....it really is a 5 minute job.....
So the units out of the box...
.....foam fitted and comparison to the OEM unit removed...
Originals...
One of each....
and fitted.....
and here is a video running through all lights workings......nb it was pretty bright so may take another video in lower light at some point...There are 4 different versions of these lights which basically are variations of smoked glass v clear and red v white lenses ....these are the red clear version.......this supplier only does this version but I had already decided that the smoked lens version is too dark ie its very blacked out. My theory being that it would be easier to add smoked film if darker tinting was needed and the level of tint could then be to user preference. I may look at adding a slight tint film at some point partly for the UV protection....
All in all I'm very pleased.....the suppliers price was the cheapest I have seen these by far and delivery was very quick......they really freshen up the look of the rear end I think.
-
2 hours ago, PFX said:
Cleaned driver seat belt using Jonttt's method, and happy to say it now retracts again as it should (I was slightly sceptical)......
😲...........lol
Always worth trying a good clean before replacing .....especailly given the price of new ones.....although lots use it as an excuse to change colour 😉
-
I usually try for 100 miles but thats more based on habit over the years than anything else
-
1
-
-
Updated for Clives
-
11 hours ago, CliveH said:
Mine is still missing from your register Jon.
Since the above post, I have also fitted the following Porsche parts (if you are including OEM retrofits):
991 GT2 carbon fibre bucket seats (just like the 987 Spyder/Cayman R ones but heated and with headrest crests)
GT3 RS door pulls (not for the weight saving, as there is none, but because I think they look cool and I managed the job without breaking anything!)
987 Spyder/Cayman R PDK gear selector (same but with red accents)
997 GT3 82mm throttle body (OK, it needed an IPD plenum to make it fit which isn't Porsche but you can't see that)
Sorry must have missed it........I’ll hopefully get chance to add it tomorrow ....I’ll make a note of the OEM Mods but throttle body does not count if not fitted 😉
-
Looking good.......I’ve managed to source a full set of x4 OEM spacers with OEM 5mm extended bolts (red collars) and the longer hub screws second hand off eBay for a bargain........they are silver so I will need to spray everything black but they should be like new when I’ve finished ....thanks for the idea......ps get some of the LED side indicators you asked about....they are ace on the black edition 😉
-
-
is their website.......
I sourced them from an eBay ad they had listed under 997’s (same fitment) 😉....trading under LED-CAR-LIGHT-STORE
-
LED Side Indicator Install.....
One of the best (and only mods as it was in warranty) I did to my 981 GTS was fit the 991 LED Side indicators.........
....the side indicators on my 987.2 Black Edition are white
......and bulb.....(I have already "upgraded" the bulb to a silver type).....bulb v LED just does not cut it........so I was on the lookout for an LED option and ideally a "smoked" theme to fit in with the Black Edition.......
....usually options are Chinese where there is a compromise on quality v OEM.....but to my surprise I managed to find a german supplier for BLACK LED side lights that have TUV approval (ie OEM spec).......obviosly more expensive that the chinese options at £56.67 delivered but still much cheaper than OEM would be (if Porsche supplied them).....
On delivery .....it was obvious that these are OEM quality ie if the box was branded Porsche from the parts department you would not notice a difference......they have a "heat" sink type extension cable whcih just plugs into a secondary fly lead.....the main connection again is OEM quality and so the unit is "plug and play" with no error codes....
Old and new side by side...
Removal of the light unit is very easy ie use a trim tool to "lever" to the back of the car ie against the spring clip and lever out......disconnect the cable by pressing down on the silver clip and pull....
I taped up the fly lead on the new unit to stop if flapping around behind the bumper....
and fitting was simply the reverse of removal....
So I've gone from this....
to this....
Video.....
-
1
-
-
Be careful with fairy liquid as it has a very very high salt content......not usually a good combination with leather ie the salt breaks it down / dries it out and causes cracking when you want to be doing then opposite and adding oils back in.....your really better off using pure snow flakes 😉
-
Yep, has made a big difference.......its the crud that builds up over the years......get rid of that and it retracts a lot better ;-)......before I had to consciously "feed" mine back in....now it just retracts like it should
-
Worth noting that the OEM painted / carbon centre consoles have clear protective sheets at the sides where the seats rub.....they will rub the paint off so worth getting some clear film.....I'll see if I can get a pic 😉
Edit: here you go....
-
There has not been a black edition for sale for a while but one has come up today on Autotrader.......no480.........its a very well specced PDK but does not have Sport Seats whihc is unusual for a Black Edition as most have them specced ......
-
Who knows, may end up that way......one of the reasons I got the 987 was to play around with it......the dilemma then would be “naked” carbon or painted .....decision, decisions...to be honest though its not the car to replace the metal with carbon .....I just have an inbred hatred for Plastic parts !
-
Couldn't resist.....Carbon rear Diffusers ordered lol
nb lots of these parts are made to order....take 8-12 weeks.....I got the spoiler off his ebay store as it had already been made for stock.......if you use the online chat feature on his site he speaks great english.....the yellow 987 on the website with all the carbon fitted is his car 😉
-
I got it from ...
via their Ebay shop:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/www.superbike24.eu?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2754
I'm trying to ignore (ie want) their carbon rear diffusers lol
......and bulb.....(I have already "upgraded" the bulb to a silver type).....bulb v LED just does not cut it........so I was on the lookout for an LED option and ideally a "smoked" theme to fit in with the Black Edition.......
My 2011 987 Black Edition
in 987
Posted
The other thing to factor in with "mods" like these is that they will always have a second hand value, typically between 30 and 50% of the cost.....these are £495 delivered so I wold expect them to be worth c£200 second hand.....should I ever sell the car so the man maths says they cost me £300 lol