Porsche 997 911 Carrera
Discussion
Oh, an other project I have completely forgotten about....
have a look at this pretty self explanatory
Before:
During:
After:
Huge disclaimer: Do not try this at home!!! It isn't half as easy as it looks on these photographs!!!
It took me roughly 14h to do this and I lost half of my hairs... You have to be a complete nutter to do this!!
But wow, was it worth it!!! It really does look factory OEM and is a huge improvement over the vulcan grey, imho.
Everything else in my 997 is basically standard, but this is what you could order from the factory (leather upholstered PCM/HVAC) and is what Porsche did with the 997.2. (vulcan grey interior parts with black PVM/HVAC)
Oh, and I fitted a cheap Dension clone (Mr. 12 Volt) I bought off Amazon.
Works really really well, but I still have to fit a microphone (a visible one that was supplied is not acceptable to my eyes. will have to buy one in the states that fit the same mounting point of the oem one in the steering wheel column). I didn't have a CD changer, but nevertheless I didn't need programing it. My built in telephone modul (fully functioning with its own SIM card
) still works alongside the bluetooth (although without microphone atm)....
have a look at this pretty self explanatory
Before:
During:
After:
Huge disclaimer: Do not try this at home!!! It isn't half as easy as it looks on these photographs!!!
It took me roughly 14h to do this and I lost half of my hairs... You have to be a complete nutter to do this!!
But wow, was it worth it!!! It really does look factory OEM and is a huge improvement over the vulcan grey, imho.
Everything else in my 997 is basically standard, but this is what you could order from the factory (leather upholstered PCM/HVAC) and is what Porsche did with the 997.2. (vulcan grey interior parts with black PVM/HVAC)
Oh, and I fitted a cheap Dension clone (Mr. 12 Volt) I bought off Amazon.
Works really really well, but I still have to fit a microphone (a visible one that was supplied is not acceptable to my eyes. will have to buy one in the states that fit the same mounting point of the oem one in the steering wheel column). I didn't have a CD changer, but nevertheless I didn't need programing it. My built in telephone modul (fully functioning with its own SIM card
) still works alongside the bluetooth (although without microphone atm).... Today I got my some brake work done at my friendly mechanics place.
A couple of miles ago I had a brake pad warning in the dash. Looking at the brakes, it where the rear brake pads that needed replacing.
But the front discs looked worn, although the pads still looked good.
So I ordered this lot:
4x Bosch brake pad wear sensors
4x Textar brake pads (OEM manufacturer)
2x Brembo front brake rotors (ordered their new PVT ones that are not bound to either left or right side)
2x Textar mounting kit for the front (rear one where stupidly expensive and I dared reusing the old ones)
Now, regarding the Brembo rotors, the old ones where directional, having cooling fins/vanes.
The new PVT ones use pillars instead and aren't directional. So there is only one disc that fits left or right. This also corresponds to the technical drawing and the Porsche part numbers comparison.
But nevertheless the holes do have a certain pattern that looks wrong now on the right side of the car (will do photos and post them later).
Also I have only now seen that they are 200 grams heavier than the standard ones....
Has anybody else used these PVT brake calipers??
Other than that I'm very pleased not to have done the work myself, as on the rear axle two pistons on the same side of each caliper where seized. So only the inner brake pads on the rear where worn, whereas the outer ones still had plenty of life left in them.
On the weekend I plan to do an oil and filter change and fit the winter wheels
A couple of miles ago I had a brake pad warning in the dash. Looking at the brakes, it where the rear brake pads that needed replacing.
But the front discs looked worn, although the pads still looked good.
So I ordered this lot:
4x Bosch brake pad wear sensors
4x Textar brake pads (OEM manufacturer)
2x Brembo front brake rotors (ordered their new PVT ones that are not bound to either left or right side)
2x Textar mounting kit for the front (rear one where stupidly expensive and I dared reusing the old ones)
Now, regarding the Brembo rotors, the old ones where directional, having cooling fins/vanes.
The new PVT ones use pillars instead and aren't directional. So there is only one disc that fits left or right. This also corresponds to the technical drawing and the Porsche part numbers comparison.
But nevertheless the holes do have a certain pattern that looks wrong now on the right side of the car (will do photos and post them later).
Also I have only now seen that they are 200 grams heavier than the standard ones....
Has anybody else used these PVT brake calipers??
Other than that I'm very pleased not to have done the work myself, as on the rear axle two pistons on the same side of each caliper where seized. So only the inner brake pads on the rear where worn, whereas the outer ones still had plenty of life left in them.
On the weekend I plan to do an oil and filter change and fit the winter wheels
Really great thread - thanks for posting your story so far.
In fact, inspiring me to go-ahead with the purchase of an early 997.1 3.6 cab that I've just put a deposit on. It's a high mileage, 110k miles, 2 owners, with Porsche main dealer FSH, from a Porsche specialist in the UK with a good warranty.
Particularly like what you did to the centre console - I'm keen to restore the faded fan and temp controls. Did you replace or restore yours?
Cheers
In fact, inspiring me to go-ahead with the purchase of an early 997.1 3.6 cab that I've just put a deposit on. It's a high mileage, 110k miles, 2 owners, with Porsche main dealer FSH, from a Porsche specialist in the UK with a good warranty.
Particularly like what you did to the centre console - I'm keen to restore the faded fan and temp controls. Did you replace or restore yours?
Cheers
Thanks for reading 
Yesterday was my 3 year anniversary with this car, so Happy Birthday I guess
To celebrate I brought her to the local specialist just this morning. I simply have no time at the moment and I wanted a specialist to have a good look over, since it was mainly me who serviced her the last 3 years.
I also had a wheel alignment done a couple of weeks ago (not a fancy 4 wheel alignment, rather a simple one).
Regarding the fan and temp switch, I replaced them with refurbished ones.
I have to look up where I bought them from, bur IIRC somewhere in the Baltics...
Yesterday was my 3 year anniversary with this car, so Happy Birthday I guess
To celebrate I brought her to the local specialist just this morning. I simply have no time at the moment and I wanted a specialist to have a good look over, since it was mainly me who serviced her the last 3 years.
I also had a wheel alignment done a couple of weeks ago (not a fancy 4 wheel alignment, rather a simple one).
Regarding the fan and temp switch, I replaced them with refurbished ones.
I have to look up where I bought them from, bur IIRC somewhere in the Baltics...
Great thread- I'll keep an eye out for you around Basel (I'm in Binningen) 
My 996C4S is long gone (not a practical family car!)- just the number plate remains.
Out of interest, you mentioned that you got your front end repainted- could you tell me where you got this done (assuming you were delighted with the outcome!). I need some paintwork doing on my RS4 (the 996 replacement!) and I'm looking for recommendations for bodywork and alloy wheel refurb places that won't cripple me financially!
My 996C4S is long gone (not a practical family car!)- just the number plate remains.
Out of interest, you mentioned that you got your front end repainted- could you tell me where you got this done (assuming you were delighted with the outcome!). I need some paintwork doing on my RS4 (the 996 replacement!) and I'm looking for recommendations for bodywork and alloy wheel refurb places that won't cripple me financially!
I had the windscreen replaced and the front painted at Carrosserie Born. He's on Güterstrasse just behind the station.
AFAIK he's the only Porsche approved bodyshop (check out his homepage) in Basel and thus has always some nice cars there.
Service was spot on, although I had to come back to have some slight holograms rectified (I can be properly anal about this sort of stuff, when I want. "Deformation professionelle" I guess). Was no issue at all and they sorted it out without any issue. So far the best bodyshop in Basel I have used so far.
AFAIK he's the only Porsche approved bodyshop (check out his homepage) in Basel and thus has always some nice cars there.
Service was spot on, although I had to come back to have some slight holograms rectified (I can be properly anal about this sort of stuff, when I want. "Deformation professionelle" I guess). Was no issue at all and they sorted it out without any issue. So far the best bodyshop in Basel I have used so far.
Today this happened:
I'm furious not to have gotten a photo @ 33 km/h
But still, 333'333 km, 33.3 km, 13:33
I haven't really planned on this photo, despite having reset the day trip at 333'300 km. (forgot to do it at 333'000 km ....)
The cherry on top is that it has been taken about 500m from an OPC and with a lovely 964 in the rear view mirror.
disclaimer: photo taken on a private road by a passenger
I'm furious not to have gotten a photo @ 33 km/h
But still, 333'333 km, 33.3 km, 13:33
I haven't really planned on this photo, despite having reset the day trip at 333'300 km. (forgot to do it at 333'000 km ....)
The cherry on top is that it has been taken about 500m from an OPC and with a lovely 964 in the rear view mirror.
disclaimer: photo taken on a private road by a passenger
No update for a long time ....
Last weekend I did quick oil/filter change @ 338'113 km myself.
8l of Motul 8100 Xcess 5W40 and a Mahle oil filter
Oil looked good (the Indie last year put Midlands Avanza 5W40 in) and this is what the magnetic sump plug (FVD) looked like:
Nothing to worry about ...
The old oil filter (Mahle as well) was cut open and no metallic debris whatsoever was present.
I also replaced the cabin air filter, since this wasn't done last year.
Finally I topped up the cooling system with 0.2l of Porsche's own cooling mixture (no picture).
Next plans are to refit the Top Gear sports cat (took them off for the MFK (Swiss MOT)) and get the brake fluid replaced.
Last time the garage (kwikfit-esque chain) was unable to open the left rear nipple.... Hopefully I don't have to rebuild the caliper!
Happy motoring!
Last weekend I did quick oil/filter change @ 338'113 km myself.
8l of Motul 8100 Xcess 5W40 and a Mahle oil filter
Oil looked good (the Indie last year put Midlands Avanza 5W40 in) and this is what the magnetic sump plug (FVD) looked like:
Nothing to worry about ...
The old oil filter (Mahle as well) was cut open and no metallic debris whatsoever was present.
I also replaced the cabin air filter, since this wasn't done last year.
Finally I topped up the cooling system with 0.2l of Porsche's own cooling mixture (no picture).
Next plans are to refit the Top Gear sports cat (took them off for the MFK (Swiss MOT)) and get the brake fluid replaced.
Last time the garage (kwikfit-esque chain) was unable to open the left rear nipple.... Hopefully I don't have to rebuild the caliper!
Happy motoring!
No updates in a long time ....
After an epic trip to Turin last fall (unfortunately they wouldn't let me take the 997 on top of the Lingotto) the car needed an extra 1/10th of a second to start when hot. Nothing anyone besides me would notice, but I decided to proactively change the Y-cable.
So I ordered one from Porsche and had my mechanic change it for me. At the same time I ordered a new Bosch starter motor and had this changed too.
Now the starter motor was beyond its best and was most probably the original one the car left the factory with. But the damn Y-cable was basically brand new
That is the old Y-cable with a 12.14 stamp. I guess I should have checked the extensive documentation from the previous owner
old starter motor
new starter motor from Bosch
Having had all this done, I put the car back in the garage and didn't drive it during the winter months. First time I didn't fit the 18" winter wheels in the cold season since I own the car!
This also has to do with my newest acquisition, a '97 Mercedes SL 320. If you want, you can read about it in my reader's car thread.
The car starts up from cold just a little bit faster than before. But I didn't get around trying to start it when hot.
Now, since I have been pootling around with my new toy, the battery in the 997 went flat. In my infinite wisdom, I left the boot open
While at the garage, I had a nut welded to the last hole of the battery tray, so I could fit a bigger 353x175x190 battery.
Out with the old 315x175x175 mm Varta with 85 Ah and 800 CCA and in with the new Exide 353x175x190 mm with 100 Ah and 900 CCA.
Now the starts seems to start even before I turn the key, be it hot or cold
After an epic trip to Turin last fall (unfortunately they wouldn't let me take the 997 on top of the Lingotto
) the car needed an extra 1/10th of a second to start when hot. Nothing anyone besides me would notice, but I decided to proactively change the Y-cable. So I ordered one from Porsche and had my mechanic change it for me. At the same time I ordered a new Bosch starter motor and had this changed too.
Now the starter motor was beyond its best and was most probably the original one the car left the factory with. But the damn Y-cable was basically brand new
That is the old Y-cable with a 12.14 stamp. I guess I should have checked the extensive documentation from the previous owner
old starter motor
new starter motor from Bosch
Having had all this done, I put the car back in the garage and didn't drive it during the winter months. First time I didn't fit the 18" winter wheels in the cold season since I own the car!
This also has to do with my newest acquisition, a '97 Mercedes SL 320. If you want, you can read about it in my reader's car thread.
The car starts up from cold just a little bit faster than before. But I didn't get around trying to start it when hot.
Now, since I have been pootling around with my new toy, the battery in the 997 went flat. In my infinite wisdom, I left the boot open
While at the garage, I had a nut welded to the last hole of the battery tray, so I could fit a bigger 353x175x190 battery.
Out with the old 315x175x175 mm Varta with 85 Ah and 800 CCA and in with the new Exide 353x175x190 mm with 100 Ah and 900 CCA.
Now the starts seems to start even before I turn the key, be it hot or cold
I haven't told you how good this car is for some time now. In short: it is epic!
Having become a father last year means fitting a baby seat and buying a small buggy that fits the boot.
After trying different seats and reading a lot on PH and PFF about this subject, I finally opted for the Recaro Tian Elite.
As I have several cars and can't be changing the seats all the time, this means I have several different child seats.
The Recaro is my favorite out of any I own and fits the 997 rather well!
The boot is big enough for a ABC Design Ping Two stroller and a small weekender bag, with space for jackets to be thrown on top.
Even if many moan about the back seats in a 911 not being usable, it really is great to take the Porsche for a weekend away with the family
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