996 Aluminium Bits...
Discussion
Just got myself 996 C4 coupe and it is simply awesome.
However, given that it is a few years old the aluminium gear knob and handbrake are looking a little worn. I've had a look at a couple of websites and found that I can replace them for £450-500 (assuming they are pretty easy to fit myself?).
I was wondering whether you guys knew where to get them cheaper or has anyone had then refurbished to an acceptable quality?
Or what about a cheaper option such as just buying a replacement gearknob and whatever else I could do with the handbrake?
Any advice would be appreciated!!
However, given that it is a few years old the aluminium gear knob and handbrake are looking a little worn. I've had a look at a couple of websites and found that I can replace them for £450-500 (assuming they are pretty easy to fit myself?).
I was wondering whether you guys knew where to get them cheaper or has anyone had then refurbished to an acceptable quality?
Or what about a cheaper option such as just buying a replacement gearknob and whatever else I could do with the handbrake?
Any advice would be appreciated!!
Have you had a look round:
www.carnewal.com
Thanks
MOD.
Congratulations on the car! From your handle I assume you had a 355 before, how does the 911 compare to it?
www.carnewal.com
Thanks
MOD.
Congratulations on the car! From your handle I assume you had a 355 before, how does the 911 compare to it?
Thanks for the advise guys.
The one in the classifieds doesn't have the alu on the handbrake like my current one and ideally wanted to keep that. Hmmm, guess it's either spend alot of cash or leave it.
MOD500 - I did have a 355 before this, a berlinetta. I would say that they are similarly fast although I have found the C4 easier to push harder given the four wheel drive. The 355 did sound better although the C4 with the sports exhaust is still very nice indeed.
The C4 is much less raw than the 355 and is happy just pottering around whilst the 355 felt as if it wanted you to drive everywhere as fast as it could. The noise is much less intrusive in the C4 which I am particularly happy about as it was even difficult at times in the 355 just to hold a conversation.
Also noticed that the C4 seems to have much more torque lower down in the rev range so is happier to rev from, say, 1500-2000rpm.
Overall I would say that the C4 meets my needs more than the 355 and I absolutely love it, but I just miss the headturning looks and the sound (the sound of the 355 at 8000+rpm was phenominal... though I don't miss the cabin noise!) of the Ferrari.
The one in the classifieds doesn't have the alu on the handbrake like my current one and ideally wanted to keep that. Hmmm, guess it's either spend alot of cash or leave it.
MOD500 - I did have a 355 before this, a berlinetta. I would say that they are similarly fast although I have found the C4 easier to push harder given the four wheel drive. The 355 did sound better although the C4 with the sports exhaust is still very nice indeed.
The C4 is much less raw than the 355 and is happy just pottering around whilst the 355 felt as if it wanted you to drive everywhere as fast as it could. The noise is much less intrusive in the C4 which I am particularly happy about as it was even difficult at times in the 355 just to hold a conversation.
Also noticed that the C4 seems to have much more torque lower down in the rev range so is happier to rev from, say, 1500-2000rpm.
Overall I would say that the C4 meets my needs more than the 355 and I absolutely love it, but I just miss the headturning looks and the sound (the sound of the 355 at 8000+rpm was phenominal... though I don't miss the cabin noise!) of the Ferrari.
If the parts you are talking about are just scratched and looking a bit tired, you could have them poished up. Any small engineering firm should be able to help you with this and it would cost you a fraction of the replacements. Obviously if the handbrake has porshe written on it like some, this would remove it.
Try www.prestigeparts.co.uk They do lots of very good quality Alu and leather bits for Porsche interiors. The website does not cover anything like their entire range but they will send a catalogue if you call them up
Hi Mark,
I have a 2001 Cab that had the same problem. I didn't want to pay all that money to replace these so since they all come apart rather easily I painted the ones that were scratched and damaged and also polished all the parts that needed polishing. If you have anything written on them you can buy the stickers to replace them. It just needed some work of taking them apart painting them, polishing bits and putting them back together. I actually had some paint made to match my car's colour and painted the speaker grills and the centre console too while I was at it. everyone comments on them as how nice they are. Saying that I am now very tempted to cover the centre console in leather! Brave I know but you should see what I have to the sound system.
I am not in anyways an expert but thought some of this might be useful to you. I'll be glad to help if I can.
Kind regards
Andy
I have a 2001 Cab that had the same problem. I didn't want to pay all that money to replace these so since they all come apart rather easily I painted the ones that were scratched and damaged and also polished all the parts that needed polishing. If you have anything written on them you can buy the stickers to replace them. It just needed some work of taking them apart painting them, polishing bits and putting them back together. I actually had some paint made to match my car's colour and painted the speaker grills and the centre console too while I was at it. everyone comments on them as how nice they are. Saying that I am now very tempted to cover the centre console in leather! Brave I know but you should see what I have to the sound system.
I am not in anyways an expert but thought some of this might be useful to you. I'll be glad to help if I can.
Kind regards
Andy
Thanks again for the advice guys.
silvertuscan - I would really like to keep the engraved 'Porsche' on the handbrake.
speedevilus - I like the idea of sorting them myself as I would be willing to put quite a bit of time in to sort them out... so the help you offer would be appreciated!!
Firstly, you say that all the bits come apart quite easily - how exactly do you take them apart as, for example, it looks as though you will have to remove quite a bit of the centre console to remove the handbrake etc. Is it really that easy? I only really need to do the alu bits on the gearknob and handbrake so how do I remove these?
Secondly, would you suggest polishing or painting the aforementioned alu bits? They are scratched and the finish seems to be coming off in places so am not sure how well they would polish up. Also, what does the painted finish look like, I would have thought an aerosol sprayed finish would look better? Do you have any photos of your finished product?
Lastly, do you have the silver bonnet/engine cover releases on yours or the electric switches. If the former were they all scratched and, if so, what did you do sort those out?
Thanks again speedevilus!!
>> Edited by mark355 on Wednesday 12th January 23:44
silvertuscan - I would really like to keep the engraved 'Porsche' on the handbrake.
speedevilus - I like the idea of sorting them myself as I would be willing to put quite a bit of time in to sort them out... so the help you offer would be appreciated!!
Firstly, you say that all the bits come apart quite easily - how exactly do you take them apart as, for example, it looks as though you will have to remove quite a bit of the centre console to remove the handbrake etc. Is it really that easy? I only really need to do the alu bits on the gearknob and handbrake so how do I remove these?
Secondly, would you suggest polishing or painting the aforementioned alu bits? They are scratched and the finish seems to be coming off in places so am not sure how well they would polish up. Also, what does the painted finish look like, I would have thought an aerosol sprayed finish would look better? Do you have any photos of your finished product?
Lastly, do you have the silver bonnet/engine cover releases on yours or the electric switches. If the former were they all scratched and, if so, what did you do sort those out?
Thanks again speedevilus!!
>> Edited by mark355 on Wednesday 12th January 23:44
Hi Mark,
When I got the car everyone thought I was crazy to attempt this since it is a Porsche but since then no one believes I have done this myself and it looks amazing according to them. I just couldn't live with the marks and scratches.
Gearshift comes off easy. If it is just the silver bit on the gearshift that you need to repair then that comes off easy, very fine screw driver or simillar tool will take that off, it clicks onto the gearshift top, Mie is manual. The leather/alminium part of the handbreak again comes off easy just need to pull it off. If you wanted to paint the console or other bits then the whole console needs to come off which is again not that hard but more minor work.
For the aluminium bit just use putty to fill the scratches, sand it and paint it, same for the plastic bit on the gearshift. I used BMW Arctic Metalic silver from Halford which the closest colour to the original. 3 coats of paint and then laquere and it looks good as knew. Once I did that I got the bug and got carried away but you don't have to obviously. I take some pics of mine and send it to you. What year is your car and what colour?
I hope this helps, any other questions please just ask.
When I got the car everyone thought I was crazy to attempt this since it is a Porsche but since then no one believes I have done this myself and it looks amazing according to them. I just couldn't live with the marks and scratches.
Gearshift comes off easy. If it is just the silver bit on the gearshift that you need to repair then that comes off easy, very fine screw driver or simillar tool will take that off, it clicks onto the gearshift top, Mie is manual. The leather/alminium part of the handbreak again comes off easy just need to pull it off. If you wanted to paint the console or other bits then the whole console needs to come off which is again not that hard but more minor work.
For the aluminium bit just use putty to fill the scratches, sand it and paint it, same for the plastic bit on the gearshift. I used BMW Arctic Metalic silver from Halford which the closest colour to the original. 3 coats of paint and then laquere and it looks good as knew. Once I did that I got the bug and got carried away but you don't have to obviously. I take some pics of mine and send it to you. What year is your car and what colour?
I hope this helps, any other questions please just ask.
Andy - thanks again!!
I'll probably have to wait until weekend to see whether I can get the alu bits off like you have said. Mine is a manual '99 C4 coupe (with the old style silver levers by the driver's seat).
The gearknob / surround / handbrake look identical to the fist two photos in the link below, but think ~£500 is a little steep (and the handbrake doesn't look the simplest to fit):
www.prestigeparts.co.uk/996interior.htm
The interior really is in excellent condition but these bits (including the silver bonnet release levers) let it down. Does yours have the silver levers or elec switches?
Would love to see pics of yours... sounds excellent.
I'll send you an email now.
I'll probably have to wait until weekend to see whether I can get the alu bits off like you have said. Mine is a manual '99 C4 coupe (with the old style silver levers by the driver's seat).
The gearknob / surround / handbrake look identical to the fist two photos in the link below, but think ~£500 is a little steep (and the handbrake doesn't look the simplest to fit):
www.prestigeparts.co.uk/996interior.htm
The interior really is in excellent condition but these bits (including the silver bonnet release levers) let it down. Does yours have the silver levers or elec switches?
Would love to see pics of yours... sounds excellent.
I'll send you an email now.
Mark,
I'll try to take some pics today.
send me an email so I can reply to you with the pics. Mine is maleknia@hotmail.com
I dont have the silver Lever but I have seen so many that have been scratched so I am assuming that comes off easy enough. don't spend any money yet till I send you the pics then decide. My brake lever doesn't have the aluminim bit so I am nt sure if you have to remove that first before you take the leather off or they come off together. the rest I show you.
Andy
I'll try to take some pics today.
send me an email so I can reply to you with the pics. Mine is maleknia@hotmail.com
I dont have the silver Lever but I have seen so many that have been scratched so I am assuming that comes off easy enough. don't spend any money yet till I send you the pics then decide. My brake lever doesn't have the aluminim bit so I am nt sure if you have to remove that first before you take the leather off or they come off together. the rest I show you.
Andy
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