Pondering

I am thinking about adding a PSE to my car, and if so, is it worth thinking about adding the ecu remap and K&N intake filter kit, will it actually add the HP that it suggests? I suppose the other question is would I be compromising the Anniversary edition by adding these, I realise it s a subjective thing but wondered what others think?

The PSE will give you a glorious sound, but no increase in power. The genuine PSE shot up in price recently, and the parts alone now cost £3400. If you don't need a switchable system (ie you don't do track days, or you have a Porsche warranty) then there are plenty of aftermarket systems for around £600 which will give a similar sound. The 996 Carrera n/a engine is well mapped in the first place, and there aren't huge gains to be made in a remap. The best you can expect is probably 20bhp, so not much in terms of percentage, especially on your X50 engine which has a different map to the standard 996 anyway. If you do decide to go for it, choose a trusted and experienced outfit. There are plenty of cowboys around. Personally, I'm not a fan of the K&N filter. IMO 23bhp increase is a wildly optimistic claim, to say the least. Also, if the filter is over-oiled even a small amount it will fry a £300 MAF sensor in an instant. Do a search on RennList or RennTech, and you will see some pretty negative feedback. They do make a nice sound, but I would go for something like the Schnell cold air intake, which retains the original filter and gives an improved sound at a fraction of the cost. Just my 2p's worth.

Wow, that's a price hike !!! Weren't they £1,700 fitted until recently ??

Last year there were a few OPCs doing a special offer of £1500 fitted, including VAT.

You can still get them at www.porscheshop.co.uk for £2272 inc VAT. I just wondered how loud the non switchable exhausts would be on a longer journey. I am also a little surprised that the wiring loom needs replacing to fit the switchable ones, in the past I have discovered that the wiring looms fitted to other models of car have tended to come with ALL the terminations for the "extras" as it is cheaper to do this than fanny about fitting lots of different looms.

I think you'll find that most of the non-switchable systems aren't too intrusive in the cabin. I had an Oettle-type system on my C2 and it was perfect. Not much louder than the standard system until you hit 3000rpm, and not at all boomy at motorway cruising speeds. Perhaps someone else on here has other recommendations.......... All 996 wiring looms are vehicle-specific unfortunately. They don't make retrofitting stuff very easy. The reason retrofitting the PSE switch is so time consuming is that you have to run cables from the engine compartment to the relay board in the driver's footwell - through the rear bulkhead and under the carpet.

Hi Marks62. I just had a Dansk stainless sports system fitted to my 98 C2 Cab. It sounds great...mellow but with a lovely hard edge when you floor it. It is not at all obtrusive or harsh and you can cruise quietly if you wish. It cost £590 + vat with 3 hours labour charge. Not sure having a switcheable system is worth all the extra cash IMHO. Have just fitted a forge intake tube and K&N filter. Not heard about MAF-frying, but as my MAF is new, I shall make sure the thing is not over-oiled. One thing to watch out for with DIY filter changes is the oil filler tube...be very gentle with it! As I was lifting mine up to give clearance for the airbox cover, the rigid part came off in my hand. I assumed it was a push fit back into the flexible part but further inspection showed that, no, it had snapped clean off. Presumably after 12 years in a hot engine bay the plastic becomes brittle. I have jury rigged a repair for now consisting of a piece of mountain-bike inner tube sleeved over both sides and held in place with cable ties. Fitting a new tube looks like it would require significant stripping out of the induction gubbins to get to the point where the flexible hose clips to the cases.

All of a sudden, a sports exhaust on the Turbo seems good value (and that one comes with two new Cats)!!

As the PSE have gone up so much does this mean that cars fitted with these systems should be worth more second hand now then as this is such a big hike in price? Phil

So I think I have settled on a Hayward and Scott exhaust, just waiting for a mate to have his fitted so I can listen. Will post once install is complete.

Did you have the exhaust fitted? I am especially keen to hear your views, as I also am pondering with regards to the Anniversary exhaust note.

Before you change the exhaust it may be worthwhile to re-set the EMS (engine management system) & drive the car - to remove any of the adaptions that it learns over time & see whether the performance improves when its re-set back to factory defaults. The first time this was done on my Anniversary Edition - during its first service in my ownership & probably more than 18 months after the last service - the effect was very surprising, it really felt like there was at least another 20~ 30 bhp available at the top end & mid-range "pull" improved significantly. I've done it myself subsequently with still noticable gains - but not so marked maybe because I now do it more frequently & generally always use 98 octane fuel. Otherwise, you won't be sure whether the exhaust is giving any improvements or whether any associated battery disconnection during the exhaust fitment caused the EMS to re-set itself I've copied a link to the instruction provided by Richard Hamilton previously below [ http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=475442&mpage=1&key=engine%2Cmanagement&#478146 ] Good luck with the exhaust mod, Paul 2004 C2 Anniversary (Only mods : Pirelli PZero Corsas)

Paul, I have done the reset and not sure if I am noticing any improvement in power. However, I am consitently getting > 30 mpg now. Drove to Bournemouth at the weekend, covering just shy of 400 miles and got 31.4 mpg. Mixture of driving in traffic jams, motorways and overtaking etc on A roads. Tend to look to sit at ~ 3000rpm when cruising in 6th gear on motorway, just before variocam kicks in. Always use Shell V-Power. Previously Tesco 99 octane was good, but now it is definelty inferior to Shell. Gregory

Gregory, I understand - the re-set is always worth a try ! I'm amazed by your mpg figures - I dream of 30mpg on a long motorway run - but the max I've ever got is around 29.5 with the Cruise Control on for long periods when constrained by traffic ! My car gets used daily for commuting to work & typically I only get 21.7mpg ! The Corsa tyres may have an influence though as I used to get all of 22.4 mpg with standard Pirelli P Zero's. On the exhaust front, PSE's do sound good ! I was at Curborough for a Track day on Sunday & other 996s with PSE sounded superb - against the "refined" noise level from my car with the standard exhaust. Paul 2004 996 C2 Anniversary (Only mods : Pirelli PZero Corsas)

Richard - a slightly old post of yours I know... but I am considering a tinker with the very quiet C4 convertible I now have (seems bland after my sports exhaust enhanced 964 which was frankly too loud). I found your post when searching Oettle. I would value your comments and any pointer on costs and who might fit it for me please. Best wishes Des

Welcome back Des! There are a couple of alternatives. Either buy a pair of silencers which have been modified, and get them swapped over, or have your own modified. Search on eBay for 'Porsche sport sound exhaust' and you should find them. Useful to have if you think you might want to swap back in the future. (Not that I think you will). Hayward and Scott do the mod, and I believe they do it 'while you wait'. Or you could give Tony Wright a call, as he has done a few since he did mine.

Anyone seen these?. Surely its just a 12v fan. http://design911-px.rtrk.co.uk/Vortex-Electric-Supercharger-and-Cold-air-induction-system/prod12694/ Defo wouldn't want it in my Bay!.