Bosxter S (986) 18" Sport Design / GT3 wheels??

[newboxsterS]

Hi There

I am after a little more info on these wheels.

They seem to fitted to quite a few Boxster S's so I presuming they were a factory upgrade option. Looking through the for sale ads, one person describes them as GT3 alloys others describe them as Sport Design alloys.

You can see a pic of a car with them on here:

www.pistonheads.com/sales/158754.htm

I have seen them up close and they appear to be split rims. Are they lightweight? Any info appreciated.

[Dr S]

The Sport Design wheel was used on the 996GT3 Mk1 and available as a factory option for the Boxster. Had them on my seal grey Boxster S together with the wide spacing plates. Looks the business IMHO

[flow99]

Look great but bugger to keep clean if covering them with brake dust on a regular basis.

[Don]

newboxsterS said:

Hi There

I am after a little more info on these wheels.

They seem to fitted to quite a few Boxster S's so I presuming they were a factory upgrade option. Looking through the for sale ads, one person describes them as GT3 alloys others describe them as Sport Design alloys.

You can see a pic of a car with them on here:

www.pistonheads.com/sales/158754.htm

I have seen them up close and they appear to be split rims. Are they lightweight? Any info appreciated.

Yep. They are split rims and they are lightweight. They are "Sport Design I" alloys IIRC and resemble closely the ones fitted to the GT3. I can't remember quite if they are actually narrower than those on the GT3 or are identical, sadly.

I have them on my car and they look fan-feckin-tastic.

[Don]

flow99 said:

Look great but bugger to keep clean if covering them with brake dust on a regular basis.

Absolutely true. I track my car a fair amount and the post-track-day cleanup is a real git.

[MaKSiNG]

These wheels also suffer badly from corrosion. So if you look at a car with them on make sure you give them a good look.

Had the 993 Turbo wheels on mine.
Carrera wheels are my favourite though.

[Don]

MaKSiNG said:

These wheels also suffer badly from corrosion.

Not in my experience. I have had them on both my Boxsters and have never had any corrosion issues. Nor have most of the people I have known with them. I DO know of ONE owner whose wheels discolored horribly. Porsche refurbished them under goodwill. They discoloured again...and I understand the owner was pushing for them to be replaced under goodwill...don't know the end of that story. But that really is the only bad experience with 'em I've heard of.

MaKSiNG said:

So if you look at a car with them on make sure you give them a good look.

Agree totally. These wheels are not the most kerb friendly - so check for damage prior to purchase.

[S99]

Got these wheels on my Boxster too.

They look fantastic, but as already mentioned can be awkward to keep clean.

Don't let this be a deal breaker; plus they were not a cheap option when the car was new.

[MaKSiNG]

Don said:

Agree totally. These wheels are not the most kerb friendly - so check for damage prior to purchase.

Maybe that is it then. They get kerbed and lacquer peels and then they corrode under the lacquer.
Apologies. I've never had those wheels but just seem to remember a few miffed owners on the Boxster forum.

[GreigM]

They do corrode badly - I had 2 sets for my GT3, both approx 5 years old and both corroding very badly. With the first set it was because the previous owner never cleaned the insides of the wheels (which you can't do without removing them) and they corroded badly under the years of grime/salt etc. With the 2nd set someone has used an acidic wheel cleaner (like wonder wheels etc) and it got into the "split" and started corroding. Both cases were due to incorrect/lack of cleaning but its understandable as they are very difficult to clean properly.

Also because they are split rim they are notoriously difficult and expensive to refurb correctly - it cost me £100 per wheel to get mine done - a fiend who went to his neighbourhood wheel fixers and not a specialist paid the price when several of the bolts came out while moving.

So IMHO they look great but are difficult to properly clean and thus corrode easily - and are expensive to refurb - so I would avoid them at all costs.

Also the ones for the GT3 are larger than the boxster wheels.

[newboxsterS]

Don said:

OK, Thanks for all your info. There is something to bear thinking about.

The car in the pic is the exact same model I am hoping to buy this week. Same colour same wheels. Nice one.

The wheels are definatly wider than the normal wheels. They look VERY wide from the back when standing behind the car and make the Boxster look real mean.

[Don]

GreigM said:

Also the ones for the GT3 are larger than the boxster wheels.

Thought so...

[MaKSiNG]

Don said:

GreigM said:

Also the ones for the GT3 are larger than the boxster wheels.

Thought so...

996 wheels will not fit straight onto a Boxster because they are 10" wide rears as opposed to 9" which the Boxster will take. You can get spacers however which will make them fit.

[bumcrack]

MaKSiNG said:

These wheels also suffer badly from corrosion. So if you look at a car with them on make sure you give them a good look.

Very true

[cab]

GreigM said:

They do corrode badly - I had 2 sets for my GT3, both approx 5 years old and both corroding very badly. With the first set it was because the previous owner never cleaned the insides of the wheels (which you can't do without removing them) and they corroded badly under the years of grime/salt etc. With the 2nd set someone has used an acidic wheel cleaner (like wonder wheels etc) and it got into the "split" and started corroding. Both cases were due to incorrect/lack of cleaning but its understandable as they are very difficult to clean properly.

Also because they are split rim they are notoriously difficult and expensive to refurb correctly - it cost me £100 per wheel to get mine done - a fiend who went to his neighbourhood wheel fixers and not a specialist paid the price when several of the bolts came out while moving.

So IMHO they look great but are difficult to properly clean and thus corrode easily - and are expensive to refurb - so I would avoid them at all costs.

Also the ones for the GT3 are larger than the boxster wheels.

I support the view on corrosion. When i was purchasing my car - most of those cars i saw with split rims had corrosion problems. That couped with the cost my mate incurred getting his split rims refurbed on his beamer put me right off....!