If not zunsport 997.1 gt3 grill then what else?
Discussion
RC1 said:
The fitting instructions on their website suggest drilling and screwing and not zip ties
Yes, initially some small holes have to be drilled, but there are no screws involved for the 997 GT3 application. The holes are circa 3mm from memory and drilled in such a place as to be unnoticeable when the grilles are removed. 2 for the centre mesh, and one each for the side meshes.I use zip ties through the centre of the meshes as loops through which I can pass my index finger to aid with the flexing of the mesh which is necessary to fit or remove them.
For removal I find it easier to pre-bend/fold the tip of a zip tie back on itself before posting it through the mesh, and then pulling it back slightly so I can then grab the tip and pull it through to create a loop. It makes it very quick and easy.
Hope this helps.
DJMC said:
Just a reminder that Zunsport grilles, or any aftermarket part, invalidates any Porsche warranty.
- If you leave them on, have a particularly finicky service manager, and depending on the nature of the warranty claim.
I prefer to protect the integrity of the otherwise entirely exposed cooling pack from stones and debris, and I'm prepared to leave the grilles in a hedge (or appropriate recycling bin
) at the side of the road if the worst should happen. All 3 can be removed and jettisoned within a minute.I obviously wouldn't expect to pass a pre-warranty 111-point inspection with the grilles on, but I view them as an invaluable insurance product which have no down-sides.
DJMC said:
Just a reminder that Zunsport grilles, or any aftermarket part, invalidates any Porsche warranty.
It's an odd one. My OPC never once remarked about them when my car was in for service. Under the extended warranty policy, it's difficult to argue they are anything other than beneficial to both the vehicle owner and the warranty insurer.All 997.2 GT3 cars had these grills as standard, as too did the Cup 997.1 GT3 cars, for very good reason.
Just a recap - my OPC (Leicester) approved my Zunsport grilles prior to booking in for a 111 point check and 2 year warranty extension in May 2017 (3 yrs old at that point). The car passed the 111 check and extended warranty was applied.
On previous service visits several of the OPC's technicians had commented what a good idea the grilles were.
May 2019, booked in with same OPC for 111 point check and warranty extension. Car failed on Zunsports. No warranty allowed.
PGB said my 2017 warranty was void and should not have been allowed. Sytner refunded my 2017 warranty cost after I complained.
I too value the grilles over an extended warranty so I'm now out of warranty.
As for taking them off to pass the 111 check, or whipping them off at the side of the road before Porsche come to collect the car, what if you've been injured due to a malfunction and have to leave by ambulance on a stretcher? Porsche collect, take off to be repaired. You argue it's a warranty claim. They say no as you've got grilles fitted. Having been stretchered from an accident scene this scenario sprang to mind.
Also, being an insurance broker, cheating the system by removing the grilles either to obtain a warranty or taking them off in order to claim could each be seen as fraud. Not a good way to enter into an insurance contact.
On previous service visits several of the OPC's technicians had commented what a good idea the grilles were.
May 2019, booked in with same OPC for 111 point check and warranty extension. Car failed on Zunsports. No warranty allowed.
PGB said my 2017 warranty was void and should not have been allowed. Sytner refunded my 2017 warranty cost after I complained.
I too value the grilles over an extended warranty so I'm now out of warranty.
As for taking them off to pass the 111 check, or whipping them off at the side of the road before Porsche come to collect the car, what if you've been injured due to a malfunction and have to leave by ambulance on a stretcher? Porsche collect, take off to be repaired. You argue it's a warranty claim. They say no as you've got grilles fitted. Having been stretchered from an accident scene this scenario sprang to mind.
Also, being an insurance broker, cheating the system by removing the grilles either to obtain a warranty or taking them off in order to claim could each be seen as fraud. Not a good way to enter into an insurance contact.
Digga said:
It's an odd one. My OPC never once remarked about them when my car was in for service. Under the extended warranty policy, it's difficult to argue they are anything other than beneficial to both the vehicle owner and the warranty insurer.
All 997.2 GT3 cars had these grills as standard, as too did the Cup 997.1 GT3 cars, for very good reason.
The official line is that they restrict airflow and therefore cooling to the condensors. GT cars are designed with the grilles in place, therefore the cooling is correct. Not the case on non-GT cars.All 997.2 GT3 cars had these grills as standard, as too did the Cup 997.1 GT3 cars, for very good reason.
DJMC said:
As for taking them off to pass the 111 check, or whipping them off at the side of the road before Porsche come to collect the car, what if you've been injured due to a malfunction and have to leave by ambulance on a stretcher? Porsche collect, take off to be repaired. You argue it's a warranty claim. They say no as you've got grilles fitted. Having been stretchered from an accident scene this scenario sprang to mind.
Sorry to hear that.There's always a scenario (however seemingly improbable) that will expose risk. If I thought about this stuff too much, I wouldn't dare get out of bed in the morning so I tend to approach life with a large amount of pragmatism. I take the view that I'm more likely to suffer an expensive cooling pack failure without the grilles fitted, than experience the scenario you laid out. I'm happy with that risk/reward choice.
To add context: Every car I viewed before purchasing mine either needed condensers, or had just had them replaced as part of the sales prep'.
DJMC said:
Also, being an insurance broker, cheating the system by removing the grilles either to obtain a warranty or taking them off in order to claim could each be seen as fraud. Not a good way to enter into an insurance contact.
Possibly. The warranty was on my car when I bought it. I'm taking reasonable steps to ensure a common area of vulnerability on my car is protected. So far the meshes have remained in place for the 3 visits to my local OPC, and they haven't been mentioned. I will not be renewing the warranty when it expires at the end of 2020. I'm not sure whether having non-standard components on the car invalidates the warranty, or whether it would only affect cover of components that could be proved beyond reasonable doubt to have failed as a result of the non-standard components. Regardless, I'm comfortable taking a proactive, rather than reactive approach to the cooling pack maintenance on my car.Twinfan said:
The official line is that they restrict airflow and therefore cooling to the condensors. GT cars are designed with the grilles in place, therefore the cooling is correct. Not the case on non-GT cars.
My car is a GT car. As standard it had no grille meshes.I understand the official line, but I feel that fluctuations in ambient temperatures will have a larger influence on the performance of the cooling pack than the reduction in airflow seen as a result of the introduction of a fine grille mesh. In a hot market the cooling may be more marginal but as it is, in the UK, there is no noticeable difference to the gauge readings with or without the grilles.
You could argue that the efficiency of the radiators (either a/c, or engine cooling) would be reduced to a greater extent by the usual build-up of debris (leaves etc.) which can accumulate when meshes aren't fitted, or that coolant loss via a punctured rad' presents a larger risk to the cooling systems than having meshes fitted. I can understand how this would fall on deaf ears though if a warranty claim was at stake.
The condensers (which sit within the outboard apertures and seem to collect the brunt of the debris without grilles fitted) are part of the a/c system, and have no necessary influence over engine cooling.
I'd be really interested to hear from long-term owners of 997.1 GT3's (who don't have grille's fitted) as to whether my fears about the rad-packs being extremely vulnerabe are founded in reality or not.
With regards to the extended warranty, I don't think it matters what anyone other than Porsche thinks about them. They seem to have been quite clear when asked directly, although some OPCs and even specific service advisors have taken it upon themselves to make their own decisions on the subject.
I didn't realise the 997.1 GT3 didn't have grilles fitted as standard, apologies.
I didn't realise the 997.1 GT3 didn't have grilles fitted as standard, apologies.
Edited by Twinfan on Tuesday 26th November 21:48
As a long term owner, I fitted Cargraphic grills to my 997.1 GT3 in 2009 (at around 8k miles) and changed the original condensers in 2015 (at around 22k miles). No issues with cooling since fitting and I am sure the condensers would have needed changing more frequently without the grills, judging by the rocks and leaves I have pulled from the grills over the years.
D.no said:
I'd be really interested to hear from long-term owners of 997.1 GT3's (who don't have grille's fitted) as to whether my fears about the rad-packs being extremely vulnerabe are founded in reality or not.
Well I ran my previous car, a 996 turbo, without mesh grilles and had to change the main radiator. When it came out, there was a line across, where the majority of small stones had been deflected through the grille aperture into the radiator, and various other random strikes around. There was a fair bit of corrosion lower down, due to the build up of leaves and other debris.There's a reason why they because standard fit form 997.2 onward and also on the Gen1 Cup cars:
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