Just bought a 996

I have just bought my first 996 from a specialist dealer in Coventry (I'm sure you know the one) Searched for it for 18 months until i finally found this one Although its not a desirable colour although i really don't know why (Lagoon Green Metallic) and hasn't the desirable extras (Just sports suspension and a few other minor bit) I am very happy with the purchase. 3 years old and covered 13.5K from new with FPSH. The latest being done when the car was sold to me. So one specialist stamp. Did all of the usual 996 checks to make sure it was a straight car with no problems, service history etc etc Only thing I seem to be missing is the handbook for the radio (CDR23 ? ) and I am not sure if the radio should have a code or not ( I suspect it should having read the buyers guides). I havem't had chance to get back to the dealer yet as I would like a few days just in case i find anything else. On the radio though, can i get the code fro Porsche UK ? Any help/advice would be appreciated And I finally own my first 911 ! Steve

Congrats on your dream machine. I remember the feeling Drop me an email - having purchased from the same indy I have some advice for you that I'd rather not say in public. Enjoy.

WELCOME!! I don't think the CDR-23 has a security code. I think it is programmed to the vehicle for security. Don't worry about lack of toys - you can retrofit stuff like OBC, Cruise, Rain Sensors etc. Don't worry about the colour either - it's what YOU like that counts. And if you like it, sure as eggs someone else will too.

How do you retrofit an OBC on a 996? I am now driving a 996 cab 4 without an OBC which I rather miss.

Personally I love that colour - what's the interior? Classic 911's in Irish and Viper Green are now all the rage [ ] As others have said - just enjoy your car [ ] As has been posted - the CDR-23 takes its security from the car's own ECU - so the radio won't work in another car unless the ECU is re-coded - no radio code at all! [ ] Then drive it and enjoy it - welcome to 911 ownership - it's a way of life [ ] P

Do a Google search for "Porsche OBC Hack" (without the quotes). The cheap option is to fit a rocker switch (about £35 worth of parts) or you can go the whole hog and get a 3-lever stalk for full function (about £140 in parts), but if you are doing that you might as well get the 4-lever stalk and fit cruise as well. If you aren't a DIY'er have a look at http://www.wrightune.co.uk (cheaper than the original factory fit and exactly the same).

Steve, send me a PM and I'll email you the pdf version of the CDR23 handbook; I think you can download it from various sites but I cannot remember where I got mine from (The handbook is the US version though)...

I have OBC on it, which i haven't really started playing around with much yet Thanks for all the replies and e mails sent where required Steve Looks like I am going to enjoy this forum. Thanks again guys

And now for something completely different. How does one get a faintly milky cab plastic rear screen to become nice and clear? Which brand of cleaner is best? Is there a recommended manner of doing whatever has to be done - you might be able to guess that I am no technocrat. Thanks for your help.

Go and do a search on the Honda S2000 site. They the same porblems and I'm sure they use something to get them clear and keep them supple but I can't remember what its called www.s2ki.com then click forums

'Hindsight' has been highly recommended on this forum before

Well the car is booked in at Porsche for the warranty check and all being well i will then have the proper warranty. Peace of mind even if it does cost me a few quid ! There was no problem with the year 3 service having done by PCT either, plus I spoke to PCT and they claim they didn't find anything that would give them cause for concern at passing the test I think it was the best thing to do Wish me luck Steve

Steve Picked up my 996 on Wednesday (13th Sept) and haven't stop smiling since. What a fantatsic car. Enjoy. regards John Stratford 924S 996

Got the car back today after the OPC warranty check and it passed fine, apart from some minor bits and pieces, Wiper baldes, The down horn ! Well apparently it is a two tone horn and the high frequency horn had packed up and finally 2 ignition coils. Other than that fine. Just over £200 to do the repairs plus check plus £725 for the warranty. Much happier now Steve

Welcome abord Steve, lovely car & colour!

Drive, drive and drive a little more.... shame it's not the quickest colour! which of course is Artic Silver.... Enjoy...[ ]

Welcome Steve - great car and good choice. Dark colours are the fastest too!!! [ ][ ]

Thanks guys, Got her the weekend from a private sale, right price, mileage and colour (even if it's not the quickest colour)! Couple of questions. The air con is not cold cold, when I press the air-con button it soulds like a metalic whirring sound. Does this need a top up? She also requires oil, I have some Mobile Super S 10/40 semi synthetic oil, is this Ok. I used this on my 964? Also Halfords are doing a buy-one-get-one-free offer on cleaning products, topped up my stock at half the price!

Well Done, darker the berry the sweeter the taste lol. Mobil 1 always in mine , best stick with that .

I always use Mobil 1 fully synthetic 0-40, this has just been rebranded and think its now called 'newlife' or something similar

Welcome and enjoy! Peter Bull is right - dark blue is probably the fastest.

Welcome. Air con does sound like it needs a re-gas. Had my own done at Kwik fit for £50. Certainly made the difference to my own car, and well worth the money. I think several other forum users have also used Kwik fit for this, and I have not seen any negative feedback about Kwik fit for this particular service.

Enjoy Steve Nice car, from what i can see, and its dark blue so even quicker. Air con must have a leak or just need a re-gas, i had the same problem but was cured by a new pipe after they added blue die to the system to find the leak. Cheers Phil

I will try Kwik fit then tomorrow, going up to Alton Towers for 3 days next week so it would be good to get that sorted. She hasn't been cleaned properly for the 18 months, the previous owner lived abroard. Doing a 5 stage AutoGlym clean & polish, just a couple of panels per night, hard work but starting to look good.

Hi, welcome to the 996. Tyre pressures as stated in the drivers manual and are a good starting point, you may find that there are some differences from other peoples experience on what works for them. I have had a number of Porsches and recently got a 996 C4S. There is no Haynes manuals for these cars although you can find some iformation on the net regarding this and a lot of help can be found on the forum, its a good source of information and help , you need to find a good independant Porsche garage locally, again people on the forum can advise of those in your area. You should check all the uausal things as usual oil, water & tyre pressures etc. You do not need a couple of bags of sand in the front as these cars handle very well provided the geometry is to specification and everything is as it should be. Seems an odd mixture of tyres and you would not normally mix tyre makes either on an axle or back and front. Both tyre types are acceptable provided they are "N" rated (its marked on the tyre after the tyre size). There should not be water under the car in the position you mention perhaps theres a leaking pipe or its running down the undershield from somewhere else rads etc, check the water level in the engine bay its the blue cap job on the left in the back corner, its clearly marked as to where the level is. Did you purchase from a dealer with a warranty or not it might be worth getting it checked anyway. Hope you resolve you issues[8D] Brad

Chris! Nice clour combo - same as my C2. Not as fast as silver, of course! I think the water dripping from that area is typical air conditioning condensate. If it is clear plain water, don't worry about it. Edit: Take a look at www.cannell.co.uk/Manuals.htm . A bit out of date, but it covers the pre-facelift, and is a lot better than a Haynes manual.

cheers for the quick response guys. it was just a couple of clear drips. my dad worries about everything and it gets a bit contagious when its a new car. what is it that the n2 rating is refering to exactly? oh that website might be the one my dad sent me with a workshop manual on it, i just wish i could get it in book format. also i checked my coolant last night and its a browny colour does that matter? i wasnt sure if i should just keep my eyes on the dash incase the warning light comes on.

Chris, congratulations on your purchase. That space is purely for a spare engine when on a long journey [ ] If you want a perfectly balanced car then best to follow Porsche's official weight guidelines* when they state the weight of the car and performance figures; I assume the figures are based on the driver in a LHD position: * Weight is calculated in accordance with the relevant EC Directives and is valid for standard specification vehicles only. Optional equipment means greater weight. The figure given includes 68 kg for the driver and 7 kg for luggage. [8|] I have been told most Porsche owners opt for absorbing the 75Kg for themselves and going without luggage [ ] http://www.porsche.com/uk/models/911/911-carrera/featuresandspecs/

This is an extract from a Porsche tyre bulletin which explains the N rating system: Design and Testing Porsche designs and manufactures some of the highest performance vehicles in the world. Because of the essential role that tyres play in vehicle performance, Porsche has integrated tyres in the design process throughout vehicle development. Porsche original equipment tyres must successfully pass the tyre company's laboratory tests, road tests and race track evaluations to confirm that the prototype tyres meet Porsche's noise, hydroplaning, handling and high-speed durability requirements. Only upon successful completion of these tests, will tyres be released for production. Branded as N-Spec Production tyres that have passed all of the tests and received Porsche's engineering department's release can be branded with an N-specification. The N-specification brandings include: N-0 (N-zero), N-1, N-2, N-3, N-4, N-5 or N-6. These markings on a tyre's sidewall clearly and permanently identify them as approved by Porsche for their vehicles. The N-0 marking is assigned to the first approved version of a tyre design. As that design is refined externally or internally, the later significant evolutions will result in a new generation of the tyre to be branded with N-1, N-2, N-3, etc., in succession. When a completely new tyre design is approved, it receives the N-0 branding and the succession begins again. (Club Members can see the whole thing in the FAQ section) Porsche coolant is either a yellow-green or pink colour. If it is brown, I would get an independent Porsche specialist to take a look.

thanks i might pop in at the weekend and see what they say. i got the car from motor depot with a 3 month but ive heard their warranty is a bit crap.

Hi Chris- I'm also a recent 996 owner, after having a Boxster for 5 years! They take a little getting used to but are great overall and ought to be pretty trouble free. I have a C4, and the type pressures are 44R/36F, and if they drop below that the handling certainly suffers so I'd take yours as the correct figures. The water under the car is almost certainly condensate from the A/C, but I would check the 'brown' coolant. I hope yours has the uprated HiFi! The basic one is absolutely useless, though it can be improved with better speakers (I put InPhase units in my 4 speaker enclosures and they make a huge difference!); you may need it to mask the sqeaks that come from the dash and passenger door trims

[/quote] Porsche coolant is either a yellow-green or pink colour. If it is brown, I would get an independent Porsche specialist to take a look. [/quote] As Richard has pointed out, although Porsche coolants come in different colours, they are fully compatible and mixable. If it is brown and sludgy, someone has added an old silicate type coolant to the newer OAT/HOAT coolant. Some older mechanics still go by colour (blue - 'old fashioned coolant', red/pink/purple - modern coolant) and by and large that applies but not always. One red coolant may be OAT and another HOAT. Blue ones tend to be silicate based, red and pink ones OAT or HOAT, purple is usually the latest HOAT coolant used in the VW group cars. You then also have to see if it is nitrate, amine and phosphate free.

the radio ive got in is fairly modern, its got bluetooth and a usb slot so im pretty sure they didnt have these things in 1999 when it was first registered. p.s. is diy maintenance possible or do you guys take it to a garage?

Chris if you're after a book the one by Adrian Streather is very good, 'Porsche 996 - the essential companion' its readily avaialble on ebay and the like about £40 from memory but very comprehensive

Is that this one?

That's it.

+1 on Adrian S book...essential for all 996 owners. Enjoy your new wheels.

Hi all. Just following on from Chris's post, i'm a fairly new owner of a 996 Carrera 4 (2001 model). I am unsure of what the correct tyre pressures shoudl be and would be really grateful for any advice. The tyres are Pirella P Zero's all round and the sizes are: 225/40/18 and 285/30/18. Many thanks, Matt

44 rears and 36 fronts. Although after 4 years I have just dropped mine to 40 rears and 34 fronts as my spine could take no more. I can now drive over a fag paper without feeling it .

Yes- 44 rear and 36 fronts. I've tried lower but find below 42 the rear end gets less stable and feels woolly. Different tyres may make a difference though.