DeeCee

Stage 3 ... with mesh grills ..

Regards from Perth

Derek

What do you think of these grills? They are partly for aesthetics (I think they look good, even my wife likes them), and partly practical (preventing leaves blowing in to block the radiators).

The first photo is the original grill ...

The next photo is with the grills painted black ...

and the third stage is with mesh grills added ...  (see next post)

Regards from Perth

Derek

On 11/4/2023 at 11:18 PM, BenM said:

I have the opportunity for some new wheels 🙂

I know the fronts will fit.

But would an 18" 9.5J rear with an ET40 offset and 265/40/18 tyre work ?

 

Cheers !

Ben

Ben, as I understand, ET40 will push the wheel 15mm towards the outside, (since the original offset is 55) and 9.5J will add another 25mm (since the original is 8.5). A total of 40mm further towards the outside of the car. 

Does that sound correct?

Regards from Perth

Derek

This Boxster does tick the boxes for 2002 (as when I first received it) .... not that I expect there to be any visible differences with a 2001 for the S version.

I imagine that the 2001 derivation was given as it would have been purchased new in December 2001. I doubt that the DMV would alter that. I could refer to it as a 2002 model ... one reason I ask all this is what to advertise when eventually the car is sold (hopefully not for many years).

Original interior ...



Updated interior ...



Alpine Ilx-507a head unit showing. In the tray is a 1Tb SSD with FLAC files. The original amplifier was replaced with another from Alpine, Speakers replaced with Focal. Pioneer self-powered sub behind the passenger seat.

Changed the gear shift knob for an old school one by IXI. Still a little on the fence here. Open to suggestions and opinions.

Regards from Perth

Derek

1 hour ago, ½cwt said:

What is the 10th digit of the VIN? ..... 

For reference the model year digit for the 986 starts at V for 1997, W for 1998, X for 1999, Y for 2000, 1 for 2001, 2 for 2002, 3 for 2003, 4 for 2004. ....

The tenth number is a 2 ... which support the year as 2002!

Thanks.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I have owned this 986 Boxster S since 2009, making this 14 years in my care ...

It was sold by its second owner as a 2001 model. In all the years I have owned it, it has been licensed as a 2001 Boxster S. 

This past year I have done a bunch of upgrades or improvements: IMS bearing along with a new clutch, wonderful Alpine/Pioneer/Focal music system that brings a smile to my face ... when not listening to the sound of the engine as it hits 5000 rpm  The top was replaced some time back for and now has a heated glass rear window. The latest change has been 17" Michelin Pilot Sport 4s on BBS/Carrera wheels (I preferred 17" over 18" for the ride quality). Head- and tail lights are now clear and not runny egg. There are a number of other smaller mods. 

All these changes and attention to details ... and only recently it occurred to me that this Boxster S is not a 2001 but a 2002. How can this be?

Well, I looked up the Vin, and this states:

Quote

 

Porsche 986

Model 986 - Manufacture Year 2002

Boxster Cabriolét (RoW spec)

3.2-Ltr, 250-bhp, Mid-engined Flat 6-Cyl

 

Yet the registration certificate at the local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) notes ...

Quote

 

Registration expiry: 04 Nov 2023 Year of manufacture: 2001

Year/Month of compliance:  2001-12

 

This suggests that the car was first registered or built (not sure which) in December 2001. 

So ... what is this Boxster S - 2001 or 2002?

Regards from Perth, Australia

Derek

ATM, that looks great! I purchased a set of 14mm H&R spacers for my rears, and expect that they will have the same effect as yours.

Why 14mm and not 15mm? Well, setting up my wheels has been challenging. Replacing the standard 17" Boxster rims with 17" BBS/Carrera rims was not straight forward. The front 7" wide wheels have the same offset, which is 50. However, the offsets for the rear wheels have both difference widths (8.5" and 9") and offsets (50 and 55, respectively.

I came across a fantastic spacer calculator on this website: https://jr-wheels.com/et-calculator

When you feed in the data, it reveals that the new 9" rears are pulled in toward the suspension by 11.5mm (owing to the 55 offset), while are still wider than the original rims by 1.5mm (owing to the extra 1" width). Using a 14mm spacer, the wheels now project 15.5mm (i.e. 0.5mm more than your set up).

What have you done, or are planning to do, for the fronts?

Regards from Perth

Derek

After discovering a few dents in the rear boot of my 986 S, caused by closing the lid on "something" inside, I decided to add protection against further damage. This took the form of 1/4" thick felt velcroed to the lid recesses ...

The dents were repaired by a paintless dent remover.

Regards from Perth

Derek

3 hours ago, ATM said:

More an indicator that no one wants smaller wheels so they are worth nothing.  I have a few sets already which is more than I need really.

Well, more fool them. The 17" wheels offer a smoother ride and better cornering than larger wheels.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi ATM

No spacers … yet. The wheels look fine to everyone but a car-person. I think they will look better with spacers.

Regards from Perth

Derek

For some reason the file size was viewed as too large and they would not link ... ?

See below.

Regards from Perth

Derek

On 8/27/2023 at 11:11 PM, TV8 said:

Looking at some new wheels for a 2001 986 S and they are 17" x 7" ET50 for front and 17" x 9" ET55 for the rear which reverses the offset. If I have understood willtheyfit.com, there will be a larger gap to the suspension on the front and I will need 10 or 15 mm spacers on the rear? 
not ever looked at this before and any guidance appreciated. 
thanks. 

I have just gone through this on a 2001/2 986S - swapped out the standard 17" wheels (7" and 8.5") with Conti Sports for 17" BBS/Carrera wheels (7" and 9") with Michelin Pilot Sport 4.

BBS rims:   7J x 17  ET50     9J x 17 ET55

Old ....

New wheels ...

[url=https://postimg.cc/R31CKz18][img]https://i.postimg.cc/x0TLzqYb/a.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/mTSQk7xs/B4a.jpg[/img][/url]

They look fine without spacers, but would look better with 10mm at the front and 15mm at the rear - ?

Regards from Perth

Derek

The Focal speakers come in a wide range price-wise. The ICU a range are pretty good value-for-money … one can spend many times these at their upper end. Reviews tend to note that their speakers are clear and neutral. This has been my experience as well. The negative (in my view) is that they sound thin when playing at a low level. They need to be played at moderate and higher levels, at least in my 986. 
 

I went with the ICU130 or the doors, and probably would go a  larger size if doing it again if you do not plan on a sub. I added the Pioneer subwoofer, and this filled in the sound amazingly …. I found this in my home system as well (KEF LS50 Meta. Plus KC 62 sub)… the low levels improve the upper range. 

No regrets with the ICU 100 in the dash.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I recently replaced the entire audio system in my 2001 Boxster S. The dash speakers are Focal ICU 100, which are two-way. They slotted straight in. No kit required. Ditto door speakers, which are Focal ICU 130. I left the rear speakers as is.

The remainder of the system is a Alpine IXL-507a head unit plus Alpine KTA-450 amplifier (50 wpc D-class). Plus a Pioneer TS-WX130DA under seat powered subwoofer. 
 

After living for many years with the stock Porsche/Becker system, this is heaven.

Regards from Perth, Australia

Derek