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How to: Boxster Parking Sensor Fitting Guide.

pacemaker1000

By pacemaker1000
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pacemaker1000

pacemaker1000

Posted
Posted

This is a real bang for your buck mod.

You get a really useful accessory and an updated look for your car for under £16.00!!

It’s relatively straight forward once you get over the hurdle of taking a drill bit to your car.

This is the finished result:

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1075.jpg

The sensors used here are from eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Reversing-Parking-Sensor-4-Sensors-Audio-Buzzer-Alarm-/330340144598?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM

Unbelievably at the price they come already painted and the silver I ordered was so close to my ‘arctic silver’ that extra painting was not required. I suggest you try the nearest match for your car. They come with a cutter but you will require 2 scotch connectors as well.

Inside the boot/trunk remove the flaps covering the rear lights, the plastic cover around the boot release plus the carpet from the floor and loosen the back piece. These are only held in with plastic rivets which just pop out. Also pull out the left side base.

Remove rear bumper as shown here:

http://www.BoXa.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=46982

The position of the factory fit ugly PDC sensors are marked inside the bumper by a circle of dots. These are slightly too high on the curve to allow the new sensors to fit flat. Luckily, also marked on the bumper is a thin line which runs through the bottom section of all the factory position marking. Drill a pilot hole on this line in the centre where it dissects the circle of dots at all 4 positions:

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/Dscn1066.jpg

From the outside of the bumper place some tape over pilot holes and drill through using the supplied 21mm cutting bit:

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1067.jpg

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1068.jpg

Starting from either end fit the labelled sensors (A-D in order by pulling through from the rear whilst twisting at the same time.

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1069.jpg

Lay the bumper flat, tape the 4 wires to it bringing them to the centre and attach them to the number plate cable as shown.

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1071.jpg

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1072.jpg

Place the bumper close to the car and feed the 4 wires through the existing grommet used by the number plate cable:

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1073.jpg

Refit the bumper remembering to re-attach the number plate lighting connector.

Inside the boot remove the left side rear light connector (just squeeze the sides and pull). Using a sharp blade, and being careful not to cut any wires, strip an extra couple of inches off the sleeving. Connect the red and black power cable to the lights blue/black and brown wires respectively then tape or zip the 2 cable together.

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1096.jpg

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1098.jpg

Take the speaker unit and feed through the opening as shown in the top left rear of the boot. With the roof in service mode retrieve the speaker on the inside. Feed the cable along the grove in the soundproofing and into the cab. Then run it inside the carpet and down behind the seats. Experiment with the final position before sticking either onto the metalwork behind the carpet or if your really deaf on the outside of the carpet or at a place of your choice.

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1106.jpg

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1107.jpg

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1112.jpg

Feed the wire from the speaker along the boot floor and tape to the lighting cable.

At the back left of the boot you now have all the wires ready for connecting to the control box. Coil the excess up and attach the unit.

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1102.jpg

Using the stick pad attach the control box to the underside of the boot rear with the wires facing out in case you have to work on it in future.

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd334/pacemaker1000/DSCN1103.jpg

Refit all the boot carpets etc and that’s it. Test all the sensors by hand before reversing for the first time and make sure someone is watching.

Enjoy

Pacemaker1000

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bodster2008

bodster2008

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Looks like a cheap kit have had problems in the past with the cheap ones but hope your'sis ok though..........nice write up to!

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pacemaker1000

pacemaker1000

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i have tested these today and they work extremely well. i would say as good as my factory fit BMW ones.

ones i have fitted in the past were hit and miss depending on position. too low or point down to much and they would pick up the ground, too high and they would miss stuff.

i have to say that these seem to be spot on position wise thanks to the Porsche markings

yes they are cheap but all parts are interchangeable if they go wrong :thumbsup_anim:

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Colonel

Colonel

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check with insurance also, some insurers class parking sensors as a modification. I know this sounds completely crazy, but I've seen it listed on a couple of the insurance sites and on comparison sites. Hopefully someone will have had some experience of this and can provide more info. I'm guessing it doesn't make it cheaper either.

Neat job though :thumbsup_anim:

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bodster2008

bodster2008

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I would be aware of over painting sensors again some can give false readings due to the thickness of the paint beleave it or not.

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ajp558

ajp558

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Posted

Thanks Pakemaker1000 for the excellent guide.

I just fitted a set from your link to Ebay, in No. 7 Bright Red to my Guard's Red late 2003 Boxster. The colour match is very good, so they actually look like a factory fit.

I could not have done it without your guide and the one you wrote about removing the rear bumper, so I am really grateful for all the effort you went to to write them and take photos at every step. There are some differences to bumper & rear spolier removal between my Boxtster and yours, and the guidelines inside the bumper make me think that Porsche also changed the location of their sensors. The thin line inside mine runs through the top of the circles rather than the bottom.

I see that you felt the need to move the speaker inside the cab after originally locating it up just inside the top left of the boot. Was that because it was too quiet when reversing with the roof folded down, or was it fouling the mechanism or interfering in some other way?

Cheers,

Andrew

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chrismanchr

chrismanchr

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Posted

great write up again from the mod guru but 1 question I have , I allready have PDC but my sensors arnt fat and ugly lol infact theyre totally flush you can hardly see them

minor gripe I know ,I cant believe you'd dis factory fit sensors lol ,great pics ,if i didnt have pdc this would encourage me to fit it

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pacemaker1000

pacemaker1000

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Thanks Pakemaker1000 for the excellent guide.

I just fitted a set from your link to Ebay, in No. 7 Bright Red to my Guard's Red late 2003 Boxster. The colour match is very good, so they actually look like a factory fit.

I could not have done it without your guide and the one you wrote about removing the rear bumper, so I am really grateful for all the effort you went to to write them and take photos at every step. There are some differences to bumper & rear spolier removal between my Boxtster and yours, and the guidelines inside the bumper make me think that Porsche also changed the location of their sensors. The thin line inside mine runs through the top of the circles rather than the bottom.

I see that you felt the need to move the speaker inside the cab after originally locating it up just inside the top left of the boot. Was that because it was too quiet when reversing with the roof folded down, or was it fouling the mechanism or interfering in some other way?

Cheers,

Andrew

Your car is newer than mine and hence the movement by Porsche of the factory sensors. the early 'ugly ones' were kind of set in their own pod and so able to be positioned different to flush ones. while experimenting with the position i used a 2p coin as a template and that's when i realised that flush sensors needed to be moved down a bit to a flatter part of the curve

you are correct about the roof down. it was still audible but you had to be actually 'listening' for the beeps. i was worried i would forget and inadvertently reverse into something. i suppose it depends on the unit and volume but i would say they ALL need to be 'behind' some trim as when i tried it on top of the carpetted rear it was deafening.

glad the guides were of help and thanks for your comments

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pacemaker1000

pacemaker1000

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great write up again from the mod guru but 1 question I have , I allready have PDC but my sensors arnt fat and ugly lol infact theyre totally flush you can hardly see them

minor gripe I know ,I cant believe you'd dis factory fit sensors lol ,great pics ,if i didnt have pdc this would encourage me to fit it

sorry if i offended you but come on these ARE ugly :D

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ajp558

ajp558

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Yuk, those early Porsche senors certainly are fugly. :thumbsdown_anim:

Thanks to Pacemaker for a suite of truly excellent DIY guides. I have now purchased the mesh trim so I can follow the guide on cleaning and protecting the radiators, and this morning I ordered the Xenon light pack from Ebay.

I will have a look at moving the parking sensor speaker inside the cabin at the weekend, but yes, it is certainly loud enough.

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greyseal

greyseal

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If you don't like the look of the sensors, or having to drill holes, there is an alternative. (see the link below)

It's a strip, placed on the inside of the bumper, nothing visible on the outside.

It works on electromagnetics (or magic)

It's £80 for the rear.

Has anyone tried these?

My link

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  • 4 months later...
Robabob

Robabob

Posted
Posted

If you don't like the look of the sensors, or having to drill holes, there is an alternative. (see the link below)

It's a strip, placed on the inside of the bumper, nothing visible on the outside.

It works on electromagnetics (or magic)

It's £80 for the rear.

Has anyone tried these?

My link

I'm thinking of going for the parking dynamics system myself as I'd rather have no holes to drill. I don't know anyone that has used it but found one post on this thread from someone that had a good experience http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=57987&sid=de67c923f1072886c0cfa6d5a5954348

Ideally I'd like to find more people with feedback on this system but I might try it anyway as I guess all I have to lose is my money :sad01_anim:

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  • 6 months later...
Guvs

Guvs

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Not sure if anyone will be interested in this type of revers sensor set up, not everyone's cup of tea but might tick some of the boxes from the above threads.

reverssensor.jpg

there are more details on the "running reports" section in "my speed yellow minor Mods"

Guvs.

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teknow

teknow

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Each to their own. Fitted them on the Mondeo as the rear end is a light year from where you sit.

But on a Boxster, is it really necessary. I'd rather go for a camera hooked up to a double DIN unit myself! :D

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m4tt

m4tt

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Posted

I've been thinking about this mod as my wife is not blessed with space awareness.

If you're in traffic do they go off all the time?

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Guvs

Guvs

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I've been thinking about this mod as my wife is not blessed with space awareness.

If you're in traffic do they go off all the time?

Hi M4tt.

Only if your in Reverse :worried_anim: I take it your not a mechanical DIY'er then M4tt :confused:

Guvs.

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m4tt

m4tt

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I've been thinking about this mod as my wife is not blessed with space awareness.

If you're in traffic do they go off all the time?

Hi M4tt.

Only if your in Reverse :worried_anim: I take it your not a mechanical DIY'er then M4tt :confused:

Guvs.

Sorry should have been more clear, was thinking about front. Perhaps i'm having a blond moment.

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