What did you do with your 996 today?

jamesekirby · Dec 18, 2019

Not so much what I did with my 996 today, but what I'm planning today for it to do in the future... Cotswold Rally 2020 tickets are available to purchase. It was a great day this year (the weather gods were smiling too). Well worth getting a ticket if you can - they sell like the proverbial hot cakes!

SteveAndrews · Feb 7, 2020

Sun was shining and car had been washed a few days ago so thought it would be a good idea for lunch out at a local pub! Owner of the Cobra also had the same idea.

Zunsport grill now fitted to front and perfect fit. Highly recommended.

Still need the wheels refurbished but problems as originally chromed (before being painted) and recommended refurbishers won't touch them. Few possibilities to look at, may even try a DIY job with sandpaper, primer and aerosols!

Rodney Naghar · Feb 7, 2020

Have you tried Excel wheels/Lepsons?

SteveAndrews · Feb 9, 2020

Rodney Naghar said:
Have you tried Excel wheels/Lepsons?

Hi thanks. Yes I have tried both of them. I think the problem is that they want to be able to do an excellent job and keep their reputation. To do a perfect job it would be necessary to remove all the chrome and either this has to be done by a specialist in electrolysis (and lepsons said even then it might not be acceptable) or blasted which may not leave a perfect surface. I have found two places, one recommended but not local, who wants to see them first before deciding if they can do them and another more local who will blast and use a thicker primer to try and get a smooth surface again for painting. Problem is the chrome is harder than the alloy and taking it off damages the alloy! I'll probably just get the local chap to do them and accept that where the chrome is not taken right off then it'll need doing again in a few years.

Rodney Naghar · Feb 9, 2020

Blimey, didn't realise what a nightmare chrome plating removal is. Might be worth putting them up for sale (probably do quite well over the pond) and buying used alloys?

D911ARK · Apr 27, 2020

Was done the other weekend, but, as we can't really drive, I cleaned!

I also learnt how to properly insert pics, via Imgr lol

Engine Bay was done one afternoon, along with the Frunk being cleaned out, as well as behind the plastics in the area in the Frunk too and behind rear lights. Couldn't get the fronts out again for the life of me

Car was then cleaned on the Sunday, but more time spent on the outside, than inside!

I also added F1 dust caps (yes, these came from Pirelli directly and are fitted to F1 car tyres. Extra BHP lol)

[link=http://www.cleanfortheweekend.co.uk]www.cleanfortheweekend.co.uk[/link]

@cleanforthewknd Twitter

@cleanfortheweekend Instagram

Rodney Naghar · Apr 27, 2020

Wow, looks almost brand new, good effort! How long did that all take you?

D911ARK · Apr 27, 2020

Thank you, I was very pleased with it. Without taking credit away from myself, I think there's still alot of the Kenolon ceramic coating left on it, too, which helps (been on nearly 3 years). But, I do make sure I wash it properly, and I never let it get filthy. Was clear that the other areas needed attention though and obviously, the engine etc are going to get dirty

I didn't rush it tbh, and also did things inn and around the garden whilst outside too. I'd say, best part of a day and half, maybe less.

corneg1 · May 1, 2020

Did a deep clean on my leather - mostly seats. They were not too bad, but had quite a few scratches around different surfaces. Bought a cleaner and colour fresh product from Colourlock. Worked really well at removing the marks and refreshed the look of the seats. Will give the leather a good feed tomorrow. All looks much better now.

corneg1 · May 22, 2020

A nice man from Exel Wheels came to pick my wheels up today. They are back to work next week so finally I can get them re-furbished. Cant wait for them to come back now [

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wibble · May 28, 2020

corneg1 said:
A nice man from Exel Wheels came to pick my wheels up today. They are back to work next week so finally I can get them re-furbished. Cant wait for them to come back now []

Photo of the results please

corneg1 · Jun 5, 2020

Wheels are back! Very happy with the result.

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Rodney Naghar · Jun 5, 2020

Fantastic job. Excel (Lepsons) did my wheels a few years back, faultless

corneg1 · Jun 5, 2020

The company who did mine were Exelwheels. I had my previous Cayman wheels done by them too. Great service - pick up and provide donor wheels to keep you mobile. [

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davidcross · Jun 5, 2020

Gave my 996 Gt3 Manthey a little hoover earlier and noticed that the plastics around the center console are showing the signs of the race belts being thrown against them .

Just reading this thread i wondered if that section is easily replaceable or if indeed its worth doing given there are no seat belts as such just the harnesses.

maybe its a winter jobbie

C2 · Jun 5, 2020

shout out to the hood guys in Birmingham who repaired my roof on my 996 c4 today.Great service, great price great guys.

markrreid · Jun 9, 2020

[LONG CONTENT]

SteveAndrews · Jun 10, 2020

Having a bit of time on my hands I decided to try and "refurbish" my wheels. Being replacement 19" Viking Equipment 20 spoke chrome, overpainted some years ago before my purchase, the paint was literally beginning to peel off in places with the chrome underneath bubbling and even the base copper showing and coming off. Not a pretty sight.

Most of the well known refurbishers wouldn't touch them, even respected Excel wheels, who advised me that I would be better off buying a second hand set of normal alloys and having them refurbished! But I do like these wheels and it is only cosmetic. I know there are some places who would do them by blasting and applying a thick primer. That would look okay for a while but eventually the same problems would show through. So I decided to do a DIY on them as they couldn't look much worse.

Here is one of the better ones in the process of sanding down and hopefully idc I will be able to post a pic of the final results on the car and give more detail as to what paints I used and how I found them (just in case anyone else fancies a go).

wilkin52 · Jun 21, 2020

I picked my car up from being serviced yesterday after 3 weeks (the garage were very busy) and not only was I glad to see the car and drive it again, it was good to hear that the car is in good shape too. 128,000 miles so far. When I bought the car it cost under £9k, it was the first car I saw and drove and when I bought the car it had a full history but no receipts - yes i did it all wrong. When asking the good questions about IMS, I was told "yeah I think that was all done..." Anyway 5 years of ownership later and I had the clutch changed and asked the garage to check if the IMS had been replaced, and if not, please get to it. I was pleasantly surprised to find it has an LN bearing fitted, and over the moon about not having to pay for it to be done. So all in all I remain a happy owner of a very frequently used old 911 (yes the one with the dodgy engine!!!)

If anyone asks me about buying a 996, I always say go for it, but the cost of looking after it properly is where you really feel the cost of running a car like this. It is paid back multiple times over with the pure pleasure it brings.