Not another 996.........

[85Carrera]

Looks decent. Didn’t like these when they first came out but I think they’ve aged quite well. To the extent I’m now tempted by one.

[Volvolover]

Subscribed as I’m feeling that this could be a route I go down

[dontfollowme]

Nice, are you tempted by a period look head unit?

[MrC986]

OP, the 997 front top mounts will fit a 996 and are considerably less in price Design911 are very competitive on price and if you leave the items in your basket & don't purchase, they will eventually email you a 10% discount as a first time customer

[85Carrera]

MrC986 said:

OP, the 997 front top mounts will fit a 996 and are considerably less in price Design911 are very competitive on price and if you leave the items in your basket & don't purchase, they will eventually email you a 10% discount as a first time customer

Top tip

[Speedgelb]

gizlaroc said:

I have heard mixed reports about the 997 top mounts, some say that they are a slightly different shape and have caused a few issues with alignment.

No issue with OE narrow-body 997 front top mounts on narrow-body 9x6 cars. Have had issues with aftermarket (including brands such as Lemforder).

And if you want to be savvy, Sachs 802-553 can be had for sube £60 for a pair. They're the same top mounts OPC will charge you £80+ EACH, just with the Porsche part numbers ground off. Sachs is the OEM.

Edited by Speedgelb on Saturday 6th March 08:13

[Mikebentley]

OP great thread. I very much fancy a 996/997 C4 as an itch that needs scratching. Can I be rude and ask approx price you paid in the end? Fully understand if you don’t want to say. My view with all you are doing is that you will make it your own with the improvements and generally a better sorted example.

[MrC986]

Savvy shopping for replacement suspension parts can make a decent saving....the likes of Sachs & Spyder Performance can deliver equivalent parts. The C4 mounts are indeed more expensive than the C2 ones with the 997 ones fitting - I was speaking with a well known suspension setup business yesterday & the 997 top mounts are a regular swap on narrow body cars.

I put a Topgear sports sound pair of boxes & their 200 cell Xpipe on my car which I think sound great although a friend now has the Designtek switchable boxes as he likes the ability to press a fob button & be slightly quieter sometimes although on Sunday mornings (once he’s left his house) it’s definitely the loud setting

[Lincsls1]

Very nice indeed.
Love threads like this.

[MrC986]

The non aero cars are more plentiful for those looking although £2k to do the suspension is good if you can fit it yourself & non sunroof manual C2 models with MO30 & a LSD are the purists choice. Expect an average of £1k pa for maintenance on an early 996. If anyone is interested, the 911uk forum is a good place to start your research if you are considering buying & they have some good contributors who are traders and also technicians who will readily offer guidance on running issues.

I'm always happy to post a picture or two of mine (in one of the more unusual colours)...

I've done some interior changes as well including the back seat delete recently, retrimming the steering wheel/various centre console bits & changing the seats for something more comfortable for me

[Speedgelb]

gizlaroc said:

Cheers, but this is a C4 and the C4 mounts are very different.

My apologies. I went back and double-checked, instead of what eBay's "compatibility guide" said, and of course, you're right.

https://webcat.zf.com/nc2_teile_info.asp?PKW=1&amp...

Am aware that the wide-body cars have different top mounts, but was lulled into a false sense of security about the narrow-body cars!

[lewisf182]

gizlaroc said:

No then, that exhaust.

It is loud, like proper loud.

Where I come out of my drive there is a coffe shop, and at the moment people are all outside, all having a lovely peaceful time with their bit of cake and coffee.
I never had a 911 as I wanted to keep under the radar.

This thing sound like I am leaving the fking pit lane!
In fact no it doesn't, I wouldn't be allowed on track with this exhaust.

He spend £1300 have thing fitted last year. I need to see if I can do anything to quieten it down a bit or I will just order a new system from Topgear exhausts next week.


The problem is it is loud from 1000rpm up, I would rather it be like stock up to 3200rpm and then come alive.


I will try and get a video of it.

I had a top gear switchable on my 996 c4s and when opened it sounded incredible. Closed made a noticeable difference so could go under the radar if wanted. I think they’re reasonably priced too?

[Mikebentley]

Thanks OP for the reply regarding cost etc. Very comprehensive. I’ve looked at these for years and they are on a list of cars I must own before I am too old (53 now). Just going to watch how work goes for the next 3/6 months then I will make my move. Money in the bank is doing nothing for me at the moment so might as well start ticking boxes on my bucket list as they are seemingly only going one way. I like the shape of the Carrera 4S and prefer the lights on a 997 but your 996 looks a peach.
Again thanks and keep enjoying it.

[Baked_bean]

Lovely car OP. I bought my C2 last year and it is lower mileage but has needed a few minor hits doing, worth it though.

Interested to know how you find the B8’s, which brand arms have you gone for?

[Drew986]

Another 996 thread good work OP.

So glad I jumped on the fried-egg bandwagon last year, all this publicity is sure to start pushing prices upwards.

I bought my 996.1, C4 last year, soon after I had H&R springs fitted, I discussed with the garage doing the that while its was apart we'd address any parts it needed.

I had to double check the quotes price when they phoned to say both front top mounts were passed their beat and needed doing, so I feel your pain.

Looking forward to more updates, good luck.

[Baked_bean]

gizlaroc said:

I had ordered the Syperperformance ones.

But reading some posts from Wheels In Motion, it seems either Porsche (TRW) or CTE with the C4 with M030 suspension.

So not sure what to do now.


The CTE are around 400g lighter than Meyle arms, and have much larger ball joints, plus the Meyle ones are slightly too long for M030 suspension and can be a pain alignment wise too it seems.

This is not something I want to be doing every couple of years or so, so want to get it right.

So guess it will be CTE arms and tuning forks.

You have me worried now!! I went for Meyle Arms as it seemed to be the most common recommendation, hadn’t seen any mention of M030 (which I have)...as I am changing dampers etc. I guess it will be ok, comes recommended by Centre of Gravity so wish me luck.

[ADW67]

I seriously considered a 996 before buying my Tuscan and would still very much like one, sadly the man maths for having both does not work

[wolfracesonic]

ADW67 said:

I seriously considered a 996 before buying my Tuscan and would still very much like one, sadly the man maths for having both does not work

I thought the point of man maths is that it always works You must have let logic and reasoning sadly creep in.

[shalmaneser]

MrC986 please stop putting pics of those lovely cobra nogaros on the internet you're going to make me do something silly.

OP: this looks like a lovely car. If you want the C2 driving experience, and given you're replacing the front struts you could easily get some C2 front hubs then pull the propshaft, front diff and halfshafts which would save some decent weight. Interestingly this is what Porsche did for the GT3 which some have suggested is due to the C4 having the stiffer bodyshell than the C2.

Also, the Koni FSD dampers have been suggested as a decent upgrade which help get rid of the crashiness that the 996 platform can suffer from while still working well in the bends.

[Slippydiff]

gizlaroc said:

Cheers.

I have heard mixed reports about the 997 top mounts, some say that they are a slightly different shape and have caused a few issues with alignment.

To be honest the spyderperformance ones are meant to be very good and today I got an offer for them at £152 a pair, so have ordered those.

Just a quick word of advice, Design911 can have some good offers on parts, but ALWAYS check with your OPC, as there have numerous instances when the same part can be bought from your OPC cheaper...
If you're not already a member of PCGB, it's worthwhile joining for the parts discount they offer at all OPCs BTW.