Must Do Mods on a Boxster

[caffeinetrip]

I just bought my Boxster today and am already shopping online for mods.

Found the $60 Short Shifter Kit on eBay and bought that.

Tomorrow I'm going to look at an Exhaust system.

I want to paint my calipers red and etch on the porsche logo...do the stickers work or do they fall off with heat?

I want to remove the sunvisors because they look out of place and block my view.

I'm definitely snorkeling tomorrow.

I'd really like some 18" Carrera Lites but can't afford them right now.

I want to buy the clear/red tail lights from an 04+ and side markets, then the silverbulbs

I want to install door speakers.

What other mods would you recommends for someone on a budget. What were you first and favorite mods?

Edited September 10, 2007 by caffeinetrip

[cl997]

I just bought my Boxster today and am already shopping online for mods.

Found the $60 Short Shifter Kit on eBay and bought that.

Tomorrow I'm going to look at an Exhaust system.

I want to paint my calipers red and etch on the porsche logo...do the stickers work or do they fall off with heat?

I want to remove the sunvisors because they look out of place and block my view.

I'm definitely snorkeling tomorrow.

I'd really like some 18" Carrera Lites but can't afford them right now.

I want to buy the clear/red tail lights from an 04+ and side markets, then the silverbulbs

I want to install door speakers.

What other mods would you recommends for someone on a budget. What were you first and favorite mods?

Yes, Did most of that.

So far:

1) Exhaust (remus) added no power, gave me drone at 4200rpm but the note was better. (I later sold it).

2) Calipers got painted Speed yellow to match the car. Got a pro paintshop to do it with decals from Suncoast. Great!

3) Snorkelling - I have a powerflow kit. Cant say I feel much power difference but the induction note is better (IMO)

4) I have the 18" Carrera 2 wheels (8" and 10") with H&R spacers. 295/30/18 rears... awesome.

5) I have front Litronics with smoked indicators. rears are still amber though.

6) removed std (paper cone) speakers, installed 3 way x-over Boston Acoustics & font amp. Much better... EASY

Other Mods:

Speedster Humps (Also cool, but the windows rub on the paint)

GT3 front bar (Excellent)

H&R coil overs (stiff, low but mean looking). Scrapes a lot though.

7" Clarion - in Dash DVD (useless)

B&M Short shift (Good. Relatively easy to install).

3 spoke sports wheel (Excellent)

modified roof relay (roof down on the move)

Integrated Passport radar

Camera mount on rear roll over bar (for track days)

on the way:

side skirts

PM me if you want more details.

[hooster]

I'm definitely snorkeling tomorrow.

Biggest fear is a cigarette going into the filter, burning a hole, etc. Think about mesh to cover the intake (and matching opposing air vent.

I'd really like some 18" Carrera Lites but can't afford them right now.

Buy clones on eBay. I have some friends who did this, can't tell the difference and a set costs <$900.

I want to buy the clear/red tail lights from an 04+ and side markets, then the silverbulbs

Again, eBay, I found mine for <$170. Suncoast Porsche I think.

What other mods would you recommends for someone on a budget. What were you first and favorite mods?

First was clear sidemarkers, then rear lights Silver bulbs in both. Have fronts on the way...don't want to pay for lits so I ordered the 2003 fronts (all clear) for $130 per. I don't think I can get anyone else that deal. Silver grilles all around. Installed rear diffusors and painted the bumperettes to match the car. So far all mine have been cosmetic.

[hooster]

Rear

[gandrade1]

Rear

Hooster,

I sent you a PM

[rick3000]

Your username does seem fitting, check my registry page for mods. I highly recommend the OBC hack, if you don't have the OBC. I wouldn't desnorkel but it is up to you. :D

[caffeinetrip]

Guys thanks for the tips!

Here's the update. I bought and installed the Stebro Racing Exhaust and LOVE it. I got so anxious to desnorkle I did it on my suit and got totally dirty but it was worth it. I ordered the 04' Tail lights from Suncoast along with a 986 Emblem, THANKS HOOSTER!!!!!!!!!

I would love to do the OBC Hack (had to look it up, turns out its On Board Computer) I think I'll wait until a tech day since I am very very bad with electronics. Thanks Rick3000

cl997, I would love to do the 3-spoke steering wheel but am worried about the airbag. I also really want the Carrera Lites 18 but I heard the 97's arn't reinforced to handle bigger rims. Plus its out of my budget right now.

Anyone live near Los Angeles? I would love to meet up with some fellow Boxster owners.

[986fan]

I would definately go with this true zenon headlamp bulb conversion.

Only $165.99 delivered. I love mine.........(Thanks 986Jim!).

http://www.cqlight.ca/index.php?cPath=32_45

[niebyl2002]

The first mod I did after I bought my Boxster, I took it to the Porsche dealer for a whole inspection ONLY. Then took it to my mechanic to double check it. So SERVICE was my first MOD. Did the maintance with all parts that needed to be replaced. One of them was cracked cooling tank.

and then I started to upgrading my car:

* litronics

* side clear blinkers

* paint calipers red with porsche logo

* taillights

* front bumper mesh

* savannah beige shift knob

* 18" turbo wheels and tires

* coilovers

* K&N filter

Future mods:

* headers and exaust

* evo intake

** Porsche 996

MAINTANCE is way more important for me than the UPGRADES

[caffeinetrip]

The first mod I did after I bought my Boxster, I took it to the Porsche dealer for a whole inspection ONLY. Then took it to my mechanic to double check it. So SERVICE was my first MOD. Did the maintance with all parts that needed to be replaced. One of them was cracked cooling tank

MAINTANCE is way more important for me than the UPGRADES

I definitely agree. One of the only reasons why I bought the car was because this guy had just done the 90k service and replaced the waterpump, brakes, and coolant tank a year ago.

The very next day I had my mechanic check for leaks int he rear main seal, and test drive it to make sure everything was great and to my excitement it was. So yes, definitely I agree to take care of what needs to be done before we spend money adding parts on that aren't vital. But now that that is that...time for fun mods!

----

So I realized that the speakers sucked and didn't want to invest too much to make it better or add rear speakers so I brought it by a car audio shop and had them change out the door speakers. Turns out the doors are just for mid-bass stock. So I had him put in a pair of 5.25" 2-ways and now it sounds MUCH better. Although I have a little less bass, its worth the trade off. I originally wanted 6.5"s but he advised that cutting would be required and I would lose the stock speaker enclosure which would make me lose some bass anyways...so I decided on the 5.25's. Cheap easy mod that sounds great. I asked for a pair of $40 speakers, and he gave me some very decent Pioneers and charged only $35 for installation. So total of $75 and they did a very professional job. I'd highly recommend them. I asked about a DVD Navigation in-dash system and he quoted me only $1,000 for a Pioneer system. My roommate paid $2,500 for the exact same one installed somewhere else. These guys are ridiculously cheap and very honest.

Galaxy Auto Sound

8956 Reseda Blvd Northridge, CA 91324

818-700-0440

By the way, the exhaust system was installed at King Muffler, by a guy named V----something. He seemed like the soup **** from Seinfield but was very very good at putting on my Stebro muffler. He charged me $100, which was fair for the amount of time he put into the job. 1hr approx...I watched the whole thing...too bad my camera was out of battery. =(

14126 Oxnard St

Van Nuys, CA 91401

(818) 988-5103

The Mechinic I took the Porsche too and got brakes done on my Lexus is called Jaek's

(818) 786-6586

14254 Oxnard St

Van Nuys, CA 91401

Maybe I should have put these in a separate thread, but I was very fortunate to get great service and prices from all the shops I've come across so far so I wanted to share them.

The 04' Clear/Red taillights I ordered from Suncoast Porsche on ebay for $181.90 for the pair, shipped. (haven't received yet, but price was great and reviews were good for them)

The short shifter I ordered from a2rinc on ebay for $70 (haven't received yet, but price was great and reviews were good for them)

The porsche capliper stickers I ordered was from xenonmods.com for $8 shipped (for 6) I did some research thinking that the stickers would fall off the first time the brakes got hot, but it seems that some members have had them on for a while and have had no problems so I decided to order them. I'm going to buy the Duplicolor Caliper brush on paint kit from my local Pepboys or Kragen for $16.

Oh and I also debadged my boxster emblem with a starbucks gift card yesterday in my gym parking lot.

Edited May 17, 2011 by Loren

[chaudanova]

Caffeinetrip, that's awesome man... sounds like you're off to a great start, and with the quickness too. Haha, at the rate you're going, you'll be done with your future mods list, in like a week... haha

[caffeinetrip]

So I attempted to remove the sunvisors, and realized that it looks ugly with them off since you'll have plastic and metal exposed and no way of removing or covering it up. So I left it on and learned to live with it. (I had a Miata before this and it was a easy mod that gave you more visability out of the windsheild)

I'm still waiting for all of the parts to come in the mail, but the good thing is I'll be in San Francisco for the next 7 days, without my car, so when I come back I should have a nice stack of boxes to open and install. It'll be like Christmas =) Anyone in LA want to come over and help me put some of this stuff on? I'm thinking Thursday 9/20/07 during the day or evening. PM me or email johnnymail @ gmail dot com

Edited September 13, 2007 by caffeinetrip

[caffeinetrip]

I put on the 04' Clear/Red Tail Lights on to Boxster today, along with a niffty 986 Emblem. How's it look?

Edited September 20, 2007 by caffeinetrip

[efahl]

I put on the 04' Clear/Red Tail Lights on to Boxster today, along with a niffty 986 Emblem. How's it look?

Nice, now paint or get rid of those black bumperettes! :)

[caffeinetrip]

I put on the 04' Clear/Red Tail Lights on to Boxster today, along with a niffty 986 Emblem. How's it look?

Nice, now paint or get rid of those black bumperettes! :)

Crap, I never even payed any attention to the bumperettes until you just mentioned it. I thought I was done with everything!!! Now I can't help but stare at the black out of place mounds.........................

[White987S]

What about things like:

1) Ragg Topp on the convertible for protection and water beading

2) A good wax job! I highly recommend the entire Zaino product line- www.zainobros.com

3) Condition all the leather with the Soffener product from www.colorplus.com