Radiator protection grills GTS

[John-skoe0]

Any advice on protecting the exposed radiators on my 991 GTS? Aftermarket grills? Original parts? Fit myself? OPC to fit? Help please!

[rbh]

On my .2 GTS I fitted Zunsport grilles, very easy to fit and look very good in my opinion.

[John-skoe0]

Thank you. My other concern was the risk of restricting the airflow, overheating the engine then invalidating the warranty? Or am I worrying too much?

[mr pg]

John-skoe0 said:

Thank you. My other concern was the risk of restricting the airflow, overheating the engine then invalidating the warranty? Or am I worrying too much?

Just fitting them in theory invalidates the warranty.

[997JG]

I think you will find it does invalidate the warranty
I am trying to extend mine as the car is coming up to 3 years old and they will not renew with the grills fitted (non-Porsche parts apparently!)

[JayK12]

Had no problems with them on my BGTS, seen OPC selling cars with the 2 year warranty on them with Zunsport grilles on Cayman/Boxster GTS.

[tuffer]

The Zunsport grills are great and easy to fit, they will restrict airflow a lot less than all the leaves and dead birds that accumulate in the radiators without them.

[Piers84]

I think this is very sensitive depending on Porsche dealer. I went to see a 997.1 gt3 rs forr sale in mid sussex and they had grills fitted and it came with warranty. I told them that I wanted to fit them to my .1 gt3 and that guildford would not allow it. The guy in Burgess Hill thought that was daft because in the end one is trying to add protection.....

[rbh]

I've been using mine during this "warm spell" including a trip to Le Mans and three laps, no overheating problems.

[997JG]

This is all getting a bit daft! It is dealer specific, I have asked a couple of other dealers - some care some don't

What happens if I get the warranty arranged with one dealer (with grills fitted) and then have to have warranty work done by one who is anti-grills?

I see it the same as fitting a mud flap to my Ducati and then being told the warranty is invalid!!!

[gwsinc]

It is all a little daft, my local OPC told me it would be best to remove them before my next warranty inspection, as some of their mechanics have different opinions.

The Zunsports can be removed quite easily and they would have to know where to look to find the mounting holes.

Definitely worth it to alleviate the risk of condenser rot and ~£1000+ repair bill.

[SHIFTY]

Well worth fitting.

Took mine from dealer to Paintshield approx. 100 miles left loads of room from cars in front and still picked up quite a large dent on the O/S front cooler.

Also had them on my Boxster GTS and the dealer sold it with them still on so it does look like dealers attitude.

[Frrair]

As the car was designed to have sufficient cooling anywhere in the world I don’t think the very slight reduction in cooling due to restriction of free air by a grill will make a jot of difference in the UK, mid summer in Dubai may be....

[Jim1556]

Coupled with the fact that all modern GT cars (2RS, 3s, 3RS, 4s) come with them from factory, it's a stupid, arrogant attitude!
Or, being cynical, they want your rads to fail so they can generate more Porsche tax!???

[John-skoe0]

Thank you all for your input, on balance I think I’ll fit the grills then remove them for each service booking. Hate to think what the cost of a punctured rad will cost to replace

[Big Brin]

I was looking at getting some of these from Zunsport just last night and will do so once I get my car finally sorted by the dealers who are addressing my teething troubles on my recently acquired car.....They look so easy to fit its ridiculous. In fact how they stay in place is a wonder? I have had to replace a radiator on a previous 911, but I am struggling to remember details. I seem to recall on one side it was an air conditioning related cooler(?). Anyway it was that side that had to be replaced on my old 996TT by the aircon guy....I'd say 9 years ago it was about 1500 squids.....

[Pugley]

A case of pure arrogance.
Almost every car manufacturer on the planet make an effort to prevent damage to the radiators and condensers.
Porsche put them nearest to the tarmac and in the path of every bit of debris.
its totally irresponsible not the provide these fundamental components with protection.
I have had to replace rotting radiators on every water cooled Porsche I have owed due to damage and corrosion. Once grilles are fitted the problem simply disappears.
ITS A NO BRAINER !

[997JG]

The other thing I am going to ask - if one of the rads/intercoolers does get stone damaged (without grills fitted to comply), is this covered by the warranty?

unlikely!!

[ellroy]

997JG said:

The other thing I am going to ask - if one of the rads/intercoolers does get stone damaged (without grills fitted to comply), is this covered by the warranty?

unlikely!!

No. I had a condenser replaced under warranty, a leak, it was told of it had been a stone no chance.

I’ve had grills fitted on the next two cars. OPC advertised and sold the first of those with grills fitted, so must have sold with warranty....

[Frrair]

When I got back from my recent hols I had a look at the rads and decided that perhaps it would be a good thing to fit these to mine. After all for a couple a hundred quid would probably save me money compared to a replacement rad.

They arrived yesterday and got round to fitting them tonight, bit fiddly especially the middle one that seems about 5mm to wide and about 3mm to tall, anyway after a bit of cursing got it centred and fixed in an ok way. Struggled to get the recommended masking tape off surrounding paintwork that was now pinched by the grill but after a bit more huffing and puffing got that sorted.

Was quite smug, I like the look of them and that it should save me a few bob long term as I stepped back to admire them and then crunch... stood on my glasses I had taken off peering at the rads through the grills.

Bugger