RedBarediver

I would suggest looking at a Continental. It looks very much like a standard Porsche radio (you can even get the sticker to say Porsche on the radio) and it's modern tech so your phone will connect via Bluetooth etc etc. Not very expensive either.

Once I have completed the current round of improvements on mine I may finally get a Continental. My radio is okay (Kenwood) and can connect two phones (one work and one private) but it annoys me because it doesn't dim with the rest of the interior lights when I want a nice dimly lit cockpit.

12 hours ago, Boxob said:

Just a suggestion, consider swapping out the ignition switch whilst the dash it out! 

Yes, I agree. It's a pain to do with the dashboard in the car. With the dashboard out it's the easiest thing in the world. My ignition switch is mostly fine (sometimes a bit sticky) and I do think I'll do the dashboard work again (still not happy with that speedo binnacle) and then I'll just do that as well. I plan to change the carpets for black (once the new ones arrive) and will probably do the whole thing again. 

At least this time I know what I'm doing!

Replacement centre cubby cover finally arrived so I'll be putting that on in a bit

It's starting to come together now. Still waiting for the carpets to arrive and once they do I'll be straight back in there and whip out the graphite grey. Can't wait.

7 minutes ago, Daboy3000 said:

Don't even have an airbag in the dash currently, the very first models didn't have one.  I just have one in the steering wheel.

Wow, that really is one of the very first. Mine is a 98 and has both airbags.

Anyhoo, I'll try to share some pics of the process. 

I'll take some more pictures of the completed product once I get some time. I didn't take many pics of the installation process as the lighting was cr*p and I was busy.

4 minutes ago, Daboy3000 said:

My one is mint too but I really want leather.  I have dyed my seats from red so It won't be hard to make that old dash look like new.

Thanks for the help in the PMs too, I think I have everything I need but will shout if I get stuck.

No worries. You can remove the airbag cover and change it for a different one. Once you have the airbag out you'll see what I mean.

6 minutes ago, Daboy3000 said:

I'm thinking of buying this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304798217005

I guess I will just buy an airbag cover for the passenger side and attach it some how.

I just took out a grey one. It's not leather but its in WAAAAYYY better shape than the one in the link. I removed it because I changed to black seats and then decided I want to change everything to black. Plus I have the correct airbag for it too.

Just now, Daboy3000 said:

I am thinking of changing my dash to a leather one while i'm there.  Is that what you did @RedBarediver? Can't find any non airbag ones, did they even do any in leather on the early cars?

Tried some roofing sealant @Menoporsche it just finds a way in further up and the dash is in the way to seal the whole thing.

MOT next week, then I will start tearing the car apart, again.

Yeah I was looking for a leather one but the closest I could find in my price range is a "leatherette" ie smooth vinyl. I am now looking at another dash (that has intact speedo mounting points) but at least I have the airbag already so that saves a few pounds.

36 minutes ago, Menoporsche said:

Apparently you two are in the same county, so I can see a visit might be on the cards  

I'm happy to help but I'm a little swamped at the moment. Waiting for my black carpets to arrive and then I'll start changing the carpets out. I also have to change the thermostat on the 147 and service the Boxster before the MOT. @Daboy3000 feel free to give me a shout if you get stuck. (I doubt you'll need any help though)

14 minutes ago, Menoporsche said:

Tactical mastic won't save it?

@RedBarediver is looking at swapping his dash, not sure if that means taking it out or just lifting the covering off and leaving the rest in situ.

I would take the dashboard out. It's a fairly easy job - it just looks very daunting. Once you get stuck in you'll be surprised at how easy it actually is. There is a channel on YouTube called Porsche DIY and the guy shows the process over the course of two videos. I watched them a few times and then got stuck in on Sunday morning in the pouring rain. Took about two hours or so to get the whole thing out (It may have been a bit longer) but I had to do it with the hardtop on. I had put the roof down hoping for a dry day and of course once the battery is disconnected the roof stays down.. Luckily I have a hardtop so I just put that on and cracked on with the job. I put the new dashboard (actually an old dashboard) in on the same day and just couldn't finish it off because the attachment points for the speedo binnacle is AWOL - bit naughty of the seller to disguise the fact but as always with eBay it's Buyer Beware so I guess it's my fault too.  So jury-rigging something to get the speedo to stay on for the MOT took some time. Last night I finished off with the windscreen trims and vents, and speakers. Now it just needs a good clean as the whole cabin is filthy with the little bits of foam that came out of the vents.

I am not entirely happy with the job because - the dash is a facelift with the glovebox, but has no glovebox - so that will be an extra cost, and also because of the issue with the speedo binnacle. I may look for another, better condition dash and do the work again. Now that I know how it should take no more than a day to do the whole thing. I am glad I did it because it was a great learning experience and it gave me an opportunity to remove the crappy Halfords wiring for the dashcam and the even more awful digital antenna they had installed.

Also, with the dashboard out you can check the whole of the seal and make sure you address any other potential leaks. Easy job to do on the driveway. Just take it slow and for heaven's sake be careful around the stalks on the steering wheel. I didn't take mine off but I was super super careful because they break easily and they cost a fortune to replace.

I was thinking about these console deletes last night (insomnia - probably due to a guilty conscience after spending so much on an old Porsche...) and I think this could be a real result if it turns out a good option. After taking out the dashboard over the weekend and removing the centre console I sat in the car and the improved legroom you get is very tempting I must say.

As soon as I have the current work done I think I may get one too. If you hang on to the centre console and trim pieces it's very easy to revert if you don't like the console delete. Also, it's handy to have both options if you decide to sell.

Plus, £40 or so isn't going to make me lose any more sleep than what I am losing already.

16 hours ago, Norbert said:

I just ordered it from https://craftcloud3d.com/

Material is ABS, delivery time is 3-4 weeks and costs GBP41, including the small cover plate.

I have 10% off first order referral code, let me know if you are interested. 

Awesome. Once it arrives be sure to update us with some pics.

My renewal is due in April - cheapest so far is £243.34 per annum. 

My little Alfa 147 is over £500....

3 minutes ago, Norbert said:

I always wanted a copper boxster central console delete kit.
You also assume that the measurement is in mm?

Ha ha yes so do I seeing as they don't offer it in gold...

And yes, the dimensions seem to me to be in mm too. That makes the most sense. 

I am tempted to get one just to see what it looks like.

7 minutes ago, RedBarediver said:

That looks pretty good actually. Slap some black carpet on it and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between this and the £700 part..

I checked it out and their cheapest quote is £33.93 plus £7.66 shipping for ABS and most expensive is an eye-watering £39,296.92 and £42.58 shipping if you want it in Copper..

7 minutes ago, Norbert said:

Cheapest I found (from https://craftcloud3d.com/) costs only GBP41 from Sweden. Sounds really good, i might try it. 

That looks pretty good actually. Slap some black carpet on it and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between this and the £700 part..

17 minutes ago, Menoporsche said:

See if you can write some notes somewhere at the end of every day, so after you can put up a How To post? Might help a few others  

Good idea. To be fair there aren't really any gotchas as it were. Paul pointed me to a very good video on YouTube where the guy takes the whole dash apart and removes it from the car (Called Porsche DIY). The removal process is very clear.

He doesn't show the reinstallation process and it should just be a reversal of the removal process but there are a few things to watch out for (that alarm light in the centre of the dash right under the windscreen being one of them).  The process took me a long time because I was going slow and being very careful with the old plastics. I also had a whole bunch of crappy wiring to remove as well as yanking out and throwing away the absolutely awful digital antenna and hardwired connection for the dashcam that Halfords installed. They installed the antenna right by the drivers side on the windscreen (wtf??) and I installed a proper antenna on the left side of the windscreen. I have the same in my Alfa and it works great. With that Halfords antenna the radio never received anything.

You don't need to take the stalks off but be very slow and careful around them, tape the clock spring, keep the wheels dead straight when taking off the steering wheel and mark the position of the old steering wheel when you take it off (I didn't because mine was never dead straight in any case and if it's not 100% right I'll just redo the steering wheel), and so on.

10 hours ago, TV8 said:

Thanks. I assume this is in the connectors under the seat on the standard loom. It sound like it should all be obvious when I take the seat out. 

Yes, the seatbelt wire is easy to see. It just plugs into the connector on the seat side. Car side there are just two wires ( a positive and a negative) to worry about. If you have a seat with memory and heating it is a bit more involved to get it all working but the standard seat is dead easy to install and get working. I mean, I managed it and I don't know anything about auto electrics.

On 3/9/2024 at 10:52 PM, ½cwt said:

Don't recall a T27 screws on any of the dash and wheel fixings when I stripped  mine to do the cruise retro fit or an any other interior bits. T15, T20, T25, T30, yes.

 

I wait to be corrected...

The Torx screws behind the steering wheel that hold the airbag in place. I believe they are T27s (could be T25s)

On 3/8/2024 at 6:45 PM, markjh said:

Isn't the later model glove box where the earlier model airbag is? It's been a while since I was in a later model 986, so I can't remember what they did with the passenger airbag to accommodate the glove box. 

Well, I have managed to fit the new dash. The mounting points for both the earlier and the later versions are the same so no worries there. However, the mounting points for the speedo binnacle on the new one are non-existent. Looks like someone just yanked off the speedo binnacle instead of properly removing the screws like any normal sane person would. 
This meant I had to make a plan to get it to fit securely. I've managed it but not entirely happy with the whole thing yet. I'll have a look and see what else I can do to make it more secure.

On 3/8/2024 at 8:00 PM, Boxob said:

They don't occupy the same space; the glove box is below the airbag but the later airbag could be a different shape.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364532506478

 

That is correct. Although mine didn't come with a glovebox so that's another thing I have to source

On 3/8/2024 at 6:27 PM, Boxob said:

My understanding is the newer dash can be fitted to the earlier model. It was done by someone on here @topradio ? I think you get cup holders too with the newer dash. 

The newer dash fits perfectly fine, and the airbag etc looks the same. And yes, this dash can accommodate cup holders (although I must say I am not too concerned about that). I think you would need a slightly different central vent housing etc. 

I still have work to do on the installation as I ran out of daylight and patience yesterday. The airbag still has to go in, the steering wheel, the vents on the sides, the light switch and ignition surround, the trim pieces next to the windscreen etc. 

Lots of little jobs but I'll get to it.

Well, don't I look silly now? The dashboard from eBay arrived today. Very well packaged and looks quite nice. Only one or two little marks on it that one probably won't notice once it's in the car.

But....it is for a newer 986 and has a glove compartment. Correction - it has the space where a glove compartment should be.

Mine is a very old 986 (one of the first) so it doesn't have a glove compartment in the dashboard. Will this make a difference? I presume the dash will still fit (even if I have to put a few extra holes in somewhere) and I can just source the glovebox from a breaker's yard later on to complete the installation.

17 hours ago, TV8 said:

They appear to be in very good condition. I paid £300 which seemed like a fair asking price so didn't haggle at all. 

Same as what I paid for a similar set in black. Dead easy to swap out. Literally just two wires to connect. I was stressing for about two weeks beforehand that I would have a hard time getting the electrics sorted but it was very simple in the end. No doubt if I had bought heated seats with a memory function I would still be struggling (and have paid a LOT more).

And, it makes the car interior feel and look so much better

£130 with these guys. Makes it seem worth it, doesn't it?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391913152499?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D261548%26meid%3D570e959bbf09460ab7f4c1a3015b5666%26pid%3D101770%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D391913152499%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p4375194.c101770.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3A189cdf0a18e0a4f3dbd2d932ffffc2c0|pageci%3A8359209e-dc73-11ee-b576-d2b9daad0fae|iid%3A1|vlpname%3Avlp_homepage

Edited to say I see now it is only for the leather cover  to the console delete. Not the actual console delete

1 hour ago, T911UK said:

Only available in black and red, black ones have doubled in price again, 2 years ago they were about £120, then £300, now £700

Wow! I guess I don't want a console delete THAT badly.

11 hours ago, Daboy3000 said:

As far as I am aware they do not make them in Graphite grey ( code C50 ) any more.

No, they don't. I was looking for one for ages before I decided to just change the seats to 987 seats (much better) and am now changing everything inside to black. Once that job is all done I may revisit the idea of a console delete again. Except this time it will be a black one which will be a lot easier to source.

56 minutes ago, ½cwt said:

Just keep the old instrument pod if it the replacement comes with one (I somewhat doubt it as they do fetch money as separate units).  You have to take the pod out to remove the dash anyway.   Looking at the parts cat, dash part numbers are a minefield mostly due to colour and finish by the looks of it but year by year there are various numbers.  I hope the basic structure remained the same, or fitting might be a trial.

The dash looks pretty similar to mine, but as you say there are always changes and updates etc etc. Hopefully it's not too much of a hassle to get in, even if it isn't the exact same. I don't think the basic 986 interior changed all that fundamentally - at least not within the first generation.