2003 Porsche Boxster S

[geraintthomas]

Heaveho said:

I know how much aggro you've had with this, so you'll probably have tried it, but if not, a battery impact wrench might shock it off instead of just trying to turn it?

Not actually tried it yet mainly due to lack of access... but you might be right though, could well give it a go. The nut isn't seized in any way, so this could work. Just need to find someone with an impact wrench!

Can't take it to a garage either - it's uninsured and taxed, so needs to be done on the drive really. I'll ask about, see who's got an impact gun. Cheers!

[Plate spinner]

geraintthomas said:

I'll ask about, see who's got an impact gun. Cheers!

You can get the basic 110Nm ones for less than £50

[geraintthomas]

Heaveho said:

I know how much aggro you've had with this, so you'll probably have tried it, but if not, a battery impact wrench might shock it off instead of just trying to turn it?

Would love to try one but I'm not sure if there's room? If there is, I haven't got one! Need to see if I can borrow one...

[Mark-t]

geraintthomas said:

Would love to try one but I'm not sure if there's room? If there is, I haven't got one! Need to see if I can borrow one...

I have one and happy to visit with it. I live near Talbot green so can't be far from you (saw you driving through a few months ago actually).

[M4CK 1]

Have you tried driving in a ball joint separator , ( Draper 14159 19 mm Ball Joint Separator https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001K9Q2C/ref=cm_sw_r... {/URL} This will pull ball joint down retightening the nut and then try slackening the nut. This will work better with the old rattle gun. Without the separator I'm guessing it will spin.

[steveo3002]

M4CK 1 said:

Have you tried driving in a ball joint separator , ( Draper 14159 19 mm Ball Joint Separator https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001K9Q2C/ref=cm_sw_r... {/URL} This will pull ball joint down retightening the nut and then try slackening the nut. This will work better with the old rattle gun. Without the separator I'm guessing it will spin.

thats what id try

[geraintthomas]

Mark-t said:

I have one and happy to visit with it. I live near Talbot green so can't be far from you (saw you driving through a few months ago actually).

That would be fantastic! When would you want to meet up?

M4CK 1 said:

Have you tried driving in a ball joint separator , ( Draper 14159 19 mm Ball Joint Separator https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001K9Q2C/ref=cm_sw_r... {/URL} This will pull ball joint down retightening the nut and then try slackening the nut. This will work better with the old rattle gun. Without the separator I'm guessing it will spin.

I'm a little confused to where it would fit into? Looking at my photo, it seems the little walls on the hub would stop it?

[Jer_1974]

Great thread. You need to get this on the road for spring any update? I pick this up tomorrow and can't wait.

[Nobby41]

Hi Guys, new member thats really enjoyed this thread as im just about to buy an 03 plate S.

How have you all found getting through the mot with the projector headlight mod ? its something im already looking at as the car im buying is perfect other than the standard headlights. I know i will hate them after my last 3 cars have had xenons

Thanks

Glenn

[geraintthomas]

MOT garage were absolutely fine with them! The only thing is that the sidelights are covered by the lens, so either find very bright sidelight bulbs or fit DRL's like I have.

[Podie]

geraintthomas said:

MOT garage were absolutely fine with them! The only thing is that the sidelights are covered by the lens, so either find very bright sidelight bulbs or fit DRL's like I have.

Any updates / progress?

[Fat Albert]

Nobby41 said:

Hi Guys, new member thats really enjoyed this thread as im just about to buy an 03 plate S.

How have you all found getting through the mot with the projector headlight mod ? its something im already looking at as the car im buying is perfect other than the standard headlights. I know i will hate them after my last 3 cars have had xenons

Thanks

Glenn

Fantastic choice, had my '03 S for 15 months and loving it!
Mine came with the Litronic headlamps but they are set too low, I found that all my adjusters are rusted solid when I had them out to do my radiator, so that is a job I need to do over the coming weeks

[Nobby41]

i looked for one with litronics, and wanted on 04 plate, but the used market is brutal, the average price on a good S with xenons is nuts, right up into 987 money

Good to know about the sidelights. So if you fit DRLs into the bumber, do they get wired to a separate switch or can they be used off the main lighting switch ?

thanks guys

[ATM]

If you're having a problem with a ball joint have you considered removing the whole corner. I recently changed lower arms on my 981 and found the process tricky. I then had an unfortunate off while driving along the motorway and found my car on 3 wheels. I then bought a replacement corner as shown in the pics below. This was very easy to fit and therefore will be even easier to remove. I'd imagine you can drop the entire corner off the car in about 30 minutes so let's say if I am being optimistic 60 minutes. You can then take this somewhere for assistance or attack it on the bench.

[Escy]

Nobby41 said:

i looked for one with litronics, and wanted on 04 plate, but the used market is brutal, the average price on a good S with xenons is nuts, right up into 987 money

Good to know about the sidelights. So if you fit DRLs into the bumber, do they get wired to a separate switch or can they be used off the main lighting switch ?

thanks guys

I've got Litronics on mine and I don't think they are that great to be honest.

[Fat Albert]

Nobby41 said:

i looked for one with litronics, and wanted on 04 plate, but the used market is brutal, the average price on a good S with xenons is nuts, right up into 987 money

Good to know about the sidelights. So if you fit DRLs into the bumber, do they get wired to a separate switch or can they be used off the main lighting switch ?

thanks guys

Have a look at the facebook Boxster outlaws group, there is a guy on there who has done it:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1021402731...

[mikomiles]

I'm in the middle of this project myself and just wanted to add some insights I found. If your car has the MOST optical fiber system, you have a couple of choices: replace the stock amplifier and rewire your speakers to your new head unit, or use one of the many MOST adapters now available. I got an inexpensive one from MR 12V that spoofs a CD Changer and adds an AUX input with bluetooth and USB to the factory radio (in my case a CDR-23). This is patched into your MOST bus and will replace your CD changer if you have one. This allows you to maintain front to back fading and noise related dynamic volume. You'd lose this if you use an optical adapter to replace the factory radio with the XTRONS alone. So at the top I'll have the XTRONS 2DIN unit, then below that the CRD-23 and then the A/C in the bottom slot. I'll post pics when I get done.

[geraintthomas]

Hi all,

Looks like I haven't been on here for a while now. I've got plenty of updates but I'm not sure what the image limit is on the posts!

I've still got the car, and it's now better than ever. I've fixed the subframe issue (turned into a nightmare, the more parts I removed the more I found I needed to replace), but it's back on the road and after a full-on tear down and detail (as in, bumpers, wheel arches, wheels, lights, all taken off the car), it's fantastic. Even areas you can't see have been polished up. Some parts have been resprayed, too.

This is the condition it's in now:





I'll give you all a full write-up soon! What's the image limit per post?

[Smitters]

Dunno about a limit, but if my own experience is anything to go by, do it in steps in case your browser does something dumb and you lose a ton of text. I hate losing text and having to re-write it, and I love reading about this car, so I'm invested in your success.

[ATM]

I put images on a sharing site like postimage.org and then share them via a link on here.