Installed aluminum dash strips

I already posted this a few days ago in the Canada forum, but I thought I should also share the knowledge with my 996 brethren. Well I decided to spend a couple of hours dismantling the dash on my car to install the aluminum trim pieces. Man, Porsche uses a lot of torx screws!! You can see all the details of this install on Renntech Got the oem strips from Eric at Bumperplugs; quick and painless shipping and substantially less expensive than the local dealers. Most posts (including Eric's instructions) recommend breaking the old strips out and glueing the new ones in, but I've never felt comfortable breaking anything on a $140K (in Canada) car so I decided to pretend I was one of those magical little elves that work in Stuttgart assembling these terrific cars. Here are a few before, during and after pictures, enjoy:

That looks great - sets off the black/silver interior perfectly. I ordered the same strips from Eric last year but with screw driver in hand couldn't get up the nerve/strenght to "snap" out the old ones.

that looks great. Thanks for the info. gotta grab some!

how much time did it take you? i was thinking to dismantle instead of breaking it apart. Is it worth the time and labor? thx, john

Excellent handwork! Congrats! You have a good skill

Definitely worth it since you get to tighten everything down and prevent inducing rattles into the dash. It took me about 2 hrs going slowly (local dealer charges 3+ hours to do it). Make sure you have the right tools: torx 10, 20, 30 screwdrivers and a small ratchet torx (with #10 and #20 bits) wrench (see photo). Follow the instructions for removing the instrument cluster and glovebox in the renntech post where I posted more pics of the install.

dame phil, alllll that work for that much?

Thanks for sharing - my black interior needs these bad. I have been waiting for install tips.....

Any thoughts on how hard this is for those of us without a glove box?

BTW, Phil. I love how the new strips even make your pedals seem shiny and new! The pedals look so black and rubbery in the first pic.

Ha, ha! Good eye! The only "before" picture I had from the same angle was one I took last year before the pedal and motorola bluetooth (on batwing) install.

How well does that motorola bluetooth work. I have an earpiece but it gets uncomfortable quick...

Quite well. Get the HF1000 kit which has better voice command/dialing than the the HF850 unit I have (I'm going to upgrade soon). Install is quite easy once you get the phone radio adapter cable ($17) from Becker so you can use the radio speaker and use the phone prep connector behind the center console for power, switched power, ground and radio mute. Tuck the microphone wire up the A-Pillar (no need to remove it, but remove the driver's vent assembly) and place the mic over your left shoulder. I think it took me less than an hour to do with no drilling or cutting required.

I just finished this mod today. It looks good, and now that I'm finished I'm happy I did it. But what a major PITA it was. Just about everything on the interior of this car snaps together but for some reason there are screws everywhere on these trim pieces. I have an 03 so the easiest was the long piece over the glove box. That one I did as per the instructions above. The two smaller pieces really suck though. I could only get the screws closest to the steering column on each piece. That gave me enough give that I just broke them off. It takes a little intestinal fortitude to do that because you really have to pull HARD. The one on the left side launched 20 feet when it gave way. No harm, no foul. I put the new ones on with a little silicone on the backs.

looks good Im looking for a few more pieces to finish off my alu interior, this looks subtle and good!

I've always wanted to do this mod, but haven't had the guts to rip apart the dashboard. Looks great!

I'm right there with you! I've orders these countless times from Eric and backed out of the shopping cart. I want to do the install without tearing the old one up, but my concern is not having access through a glove box.

Believe me I understand your worries. I really wanted to unscrew the existing pieces and tried my best, but either I didn't have the right tools, dexterity, or I don't know what, but I couldn't get those last two screws to save my life. Eventually I just said F it, if I damage the dash I'll just go out and get the leather one I've always wanted. But the trim pieces will and did break before any damage is done to the dash. After I did that I wondered why I spent all those hours going after four little screws

As the OP of this thread a few hints to get the small strips off neatly: you must remove the plastic trim piece at the base of the steering column. A small ratcheting wrench with the right Torx bits is the only way to get in there. I also used a small telescoping inspection mirror to help me line up to the screw heads.

Phil, thanks for the original write up. It was really useful. I think the key is a quality ratcheting wrench. Mine had a little too much play between ratchets and that made it difficult since there's little room to move around inside the dash even with the plastic trim piece you mention removed.

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you mean real people assembled these cars... according to the aircooled guys they were built by robots...

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Hi Phil, Do you have more detailed pictures at the removal of the passenger side panel below the airbag? Mine is making rattles that makes me crazy. I have been delaying dismantling it to re-tighten everything under there because one I am not totally sure how to do it without damaging the leather panel, and 2 I am kinda lazy to work in the garage under 110 degree heat If I know exactly how to do 1) I will definitely tackle this task. Thanks in advance for your help. Cheers,

Here's all the pics from that side that I took. Hope it helps!

I don't think anyone ever figured out how to do it on cars with no glove box though. I don't know what's under the airbag in pre 02's but it must be solid and inaccessable from underneath. That's why the other method that Phil chose not to follow seems to be the way most others have done it. I'm sure the fastest method is the rip it all apart way. I'm still scratching my head about how Phil was able to do it the hard way in just two hours.

Come up to Toronto and I'll show you how it can be done in 2 hrs.

Well done Phil Real delicate work ... the end result is subtle, but makes a very nice difference IMO. You're correct on the labour costs ... I took the easy way out, Pfaff charged me 3 hours, you're a braver man than me

It's not that difficult to do on cars without glove box. You just have to remove the a/c duct to get to it from behind.

pongobaz, very nice mod and photos. i am thinking of doing the same. where did you get the aluminum center console? did you have it painted? thanks, george

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Thanks George. Center console was a factory ordered option on mine. But Eric at bumperplugs.com (site sponsor) can paint yours to factory spec.

i like the looks of it... what's about the 99 models.... NO GLOVE BOX.....have you guys seen the ones on ebay with the stickers? are they any good?

I've seen them, can't say as to the qaulity but just the term "stickers" makes me concerned. They may be fine, but being local, I have been to Eric's and can speak to the qaulity of what he does first hand. That is enough for me not to consider where to get them from, it's just working up the courage to try it.

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Stickers... nah... I'd go with Eric's , You know what you are getting. After I get my Aerokit installed I plan to tackle this project, I think the strips would really complement my console and all the other silver bits in the car.