Boxster needing some love!

[Mutt]

Hello,

So I've decided to keep the Boxster, but I need it needs some love after 15,000 miles of trouble-free motoring despite being used properly! Some questions:

1) It needs the front bumper and bonnet spraying to get rid of one or two nasty chips. I've been quoted £1000 by Porsche Cambridge which seems a bit steep but I suppose that does include removing the front bumper, sanding, filling and a decent paint job. I'm wondering whether it'd be worth just getting Chips-Away or similar to do a reasonable job for a quarter of the cost. Thoughts?

2) I'm pretty sure I'm going to need discs and pads all round. Any idea of cost from an indie, parts and labour?

3) My car has the optional short-shift kit on it. Unfortunately it rather ruins the Boxster's rather sweet shift, transforming it from a smooth and easy throw into a recalcitrant rifle bolt. Can it be removed and the shift restored to standard?

4) The wheel nuts are rusty and the Porsche crests are past their best. Where is the best place to get OEM replacements and how much am I looking at? Porsche want £250 for wheel nuts...


Thanks!

[FlybyWyre]

Euro Car Parts for brakes, and fitting is easier than a shopping car because the engineering is not low cost.

Front bumper removal is a straight forward job too.

Paint - Body shop.

[rog007]

Wheel nuts: take them off and spray them silver. Let them dry then put them back on. Repeat every 2/3 years for sparkling nuts...

Use official centre caps from Porsche; last longer, look better and if you get them to pop them on for you they are warranted if (when?) one falls off.

[Carl_Docklands]

Mutt,

For bumper and bonnet I think £1000 is about the going rate for getting it done at a Porsche approved body shop, it will obviously cheaper via non-approved.

I got my Wheel nuts swapped by the OPC under warranty. My wheel weights also rusted which, they also swapped.

[MrC986]

I had a quote from an approved bodyshop for some work a while back...they wanted £350 for a bumper repaint & my local bodyshop charged under £200 & I wouldn't use a smart repairer if you are intending on keeping the car.

As for parts, Eurocarparts have had 25% off recently & a friend got a pair of Pagid frt discs & pads & shims for under £200 (an OPC will probably charge about £150-175 just for one disc) & paid his local garage for about 1 hrs work to fit them.

The short-shift you might be able to sell on PH or swap with someone who has a std one as long as it can be done by the same specialist for the fitting? - just an idea

[MogulBoy]

If your bonnet needs painting then perhaps the front wings do as well as they appear to pick up chips all to easily as well in my experiensce. Your body shop may have a better chance at getting it all to look right if they do the whole front end. The trouble is that as soon as you have it done, you can be sure that fate will mean that you'll pick up some fresh damage shortly thereafter!

Regarding the short shift, search for the treads on using the 997 shifter mechanism in the 986 as many people report that it is a good compromise. Shorter than the 9X6 standard throw and firmer but not as harsh as a short shift kit.

Good luck.

[Mutt]

Thank you all.

1) I'm on the case regarding the body shop and the respray. I'll let you know how I get on.

2) For a benchmark I got a quote from an indie and an OPC. OPC was £1,700 discs and pads all round, indie more like £1,350.

3) For the short shift kit removal I've been quoted £250 from the same indie as above. Sounds reasonable. oes anyone else have any experience with the factory short-shift kit? Did you like it?

4) Wheel nuts I am going to take up with Porsche. I've had them replaced once, twice in less than a year is taking the piss. According to the OPC I spoke to they'll look at a warranty claim with Porsche.