987.2 air intake grilles

[BoxsterLL11]

I have just returned from a trip down south this weekend which included a visit to the Dove House open day, a return to the scene of the crime where I bought my boxster just over a year ago.
Whilst there, the car was put up on the 2-post lift for a quick gander underneath.
No problems really but it was pointed out that I had the usual debris collecting in the front side vents at the base of the radiators, which if left can start to corroded the bases of the aluminium rads.
They quoted a Dove House fix which puts a screen behind the painted bars. Can't remember the price to be honest.
Having searched the web since getting back, I can only find the ZunSport ones which fit in front of the painted bars available in stainless or black.
My car is Agate Gray so not sure which would look better.
But has anybody fitted these and what is there opinion?
The lad from Dove House was obviously singing the praises of their version as their mesh fits behind the painted bars and so does not compromise the original look of the car. Just wondered if there was a DIY way of doing the same thing.

I have just removed the paint covers from my vents and then blown out all the crap with compressed air that had been sitting there and was quite surprised to see the amount that came out.

 

[Purple Haze]

Hi BoxsterLL11,

I Have a 2008 Boxster 2.7 and have just had to have both front rads replaced - one had already failed and as the other one was also on the way out I had that one replaced as well. My local specialist (Steve Bull at Devizes) recommended the Zun sport guards that go in the front - just as you say. Steve said it was a common problem and he's fitted no end of guards. My car is Cobalt Blue so I went for the black guards and I have to say they look great. They are obviously more unobtrusive than silver but it makes the car look as though they were original fitments and improves the front end in my view. Cost including fitting & VAT was £181 - not too bad I thought.

 

[Phillip Wright]

I have the full set of Zunsport grilles on my black 981 Cayman S and I am very pleased with them and the service/fitting done by them. With club discount, good price. I think that they look like they could be OEM.

 

[GeoffB]

I am pretty sure you can use same as on the 996. Take bumper off and fit black mesh behind. I bought some from Amazon going to fit this winter. Take off bumper make cardboard templates, cut the mesh and fix using black mastic. Can't remember if detail is in here under the 996 frequently asked section of 996 forum or on the 911uk forum. Have a search I'm sure you'll find it

 

[BoxsterLL11]

Yes, it was the ZunSport ones I had found on the 'net, and as the stainless ones are a bit "in your face" I was leaning towards black ones anyway.
Thanks for the advice & tips.
Although a capable DIY mechanic (have restored & modified the odd MG for the last 40 years) but don't really fancy taking the front bumper off so may go for the ZunSport ones.

 

[Phillip Wright]

Zunsport charged me £32 + vat, I think, for fitting but is was well worth it to have all 7 grilles fitted properly. They took great care and clearly knew how to protect the bodywork whilst fixing the grilles precisely and very professionall. I dealt directly with the MD and he was very hands-on to make sure that I was happy .... which I was.

 

[carnaby35]

I do think that with a supposedly good quality car, a Porsche, that these rotting condensers and radiators are not really good enough. I have never had problems like this with any vehicle I have owned for the past 45 years. Just sold my 996 C4 last week- condensors rotten, swapped for a 10 Reg 987.2 Boxster with 21 k miles- condensers rotten, had to be replaced before I purchased.
Together with other issues like rotten brake pipes that need the engine out to replace, these items represent major work and expenditure. Isn't it about time Porsche got their act together and stopped building in these major faults? If grilles are needed then why on earth aren't they fitted in the factory. Isn't it possible to fit better quality brake pipes or protect them so that they do not corrode or would that cost too much to do on a £50k plus vehicle? Opinions welcomed!!

 

[T24RES]

Very simple to remove the front bumpers. You need to do this to properly clean the radiators as the condensers sit over the coolant radiators. If money isn't an object Zunsports are great, or if you wish to save a few quid ans retain the OE look with the mesh behind the grilles, then fit you own.

 

[BoxsterLL11]

Quite agree.
When the Dove House mechanic told me about these rads, I thought "well that sounds like a design flaw on Porsche's part". Not what you would expect for a quality performance car manufacture.
My Mitsubishi FTO, which is now 22 years old, has all its original brake lines apart from the 3 of the four corners I have had to replace the last few inches as the pipe/hose nut had seized onto the brake pipes. The OE pipes are all coated with a thick layer of protective paint which is generally still intact.
What I don't understand is why manufacturer's are still fitting steel brake lines.
I have fitted cunifer brake lines to both my MG's.

Have to say the mesh behind the bars looks far better.
Is there a post somewhere explaining how to take the front bumper off?
Many thanks.

 

[RCS]

I would suggest its comparatively straight forward to fit your own mesh behind the grills. I am about to do it on a 986 - probably shred my hands on the mesh in the process

I was a bit wary first time taking the bumper off, don't know what it is about owning a Porsche, but I am always thinking twice before doing anything at it, yet I've done loads of car fettling in my past - brake pipes, clutches, engine rebuilds (MG 1275 Midget and a 'C' amongst others). Maybe its because you need more tools than a half inch and nine sixteenths spanner [] However, it is straight forward, and if you're comfortable putting in new brake lines on your MG's etc, it'll be a doddle. Quite a few guides on the internet.

 

[RCS]

Oh you wanted a guide here's Pelicans (lots of other guides on there as well) HERE

 

[BoxsterLL11]

Thanks RCS.
I think you are right.
I have worked on many cars over the last 40 years including completely restoring my B GT.
But I bought the Boxster to drive and enjoy so had it in my head that as it was a Porsche, I would have expected not to have to do any running repairs or mods between servicing.
Still, its nice to be able to do some work on the car and get to know it better !!!
Last summer I replaced the engine air filter, the car has had 2 services prior to my ownership and I found that the original air filter dated 2011 was still fitted and quite blackened.
Actually fitting the air filter is quite easy, its just getting to the damn engine compartment is a little more difficult.

Just another point the Dove House mechanic brought to my attention.
Apparently, the exhaust manifold/cat first flanged joint to the exhaust system has a three bolted flange. The OE bolts are a very very tight push fit into the flange and the nuts, because of where they are (just behind the rear wheels) have a tendency to corrode away. He said, if all three completely waste away then Porsche will charge you for a complete new manifold & cat. What Dove House do is grind off the remnants of the nuts, heat up the bolts and push them out in situ and then replace with a high tensile stainless standard bolt, therefore solving the problem.
Anybody else had this problem?

Oh, and thanks for the guide link.
Suspect I will be removing the front bumper sooner rather than later.
Just done a search and found this plastic mesh on ebay.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm...d=737386489&crdt=0

 

[Boxbrownie]

That's the grill material I bought, still need to have it fitted though as the car is little used over the winter I thought it could wait until spring.

Also the plastic "honeycomb" shape looks a little more OEM than just some expanded wire mesh IMO.

 

[BoxsterLL11]

Looking at it again, I think the mesh is a bit too open (supposedly 25mm x 14mm) so probably need something a little more fine too prevent debris ingress.
Looks more suitable for a main grille opening.

 

[Bwye_P]

I looked everywhere on the net for a decent grille to go behind the bars. I eventually found a business out in the USA, but as I was about to order mine, they stopped trading.
There was nothing decent around after that, other than Zunsport. So I opted for them to stop the leaves etc and they are great. I would have preferred them behind the bars, but at least I know my car is protected.
They are easy to fit and I believe you still get a discount if you are a PCGB member. The black do look better, see picture....if it uploads!!

 

[kitchens]

Love the colour Arena Red ? this was a popular colour for 993 Turbo's. Grill's look nice no idea why they are not fitted as standard on all models have them on the 981 Spyder as standard but not on the 987 Spyder .

 

[T24RES]

THe flange studs are a common problem. I've replaced mine on the 981.

 

[RCS]

THe flange studs are a common problem. I've replaced mine on the 981.

Yep mine will need doing very shortly on the 986, I have 6 nice rust conical bits holding the flanges together. You would think by the time Porsche got to the 987.2 they'd have fixed that issue but..... The OPC's may charge for changing everything, but most Indies will do the same/similar as Dove House, fitting bolts is the way to go. If you google you'll find some explanations on doing it yourself, but I gather its a pain given the location etc, and access, which is why lots pay an Indie

 

[andrew0401]

Zunsport grilles on the front only of my 981S - so much easier to clear the crap from them then trying to force a hoover nozzle down to get everything clean!