Custom GT3 console delete

Hello all. Long long long time lurker, first time poster. I wanted to provide a short contribution to the community with my experience finding the perfect GT3 console delete for my 40th anniversary 996. I really wanted to get the GT3 console delete piece to get that je ne sais quoi feel that the extra space there provides. I know that I am butchering the car a bit by taking out the mid console with the 40 Jahre commemorative display, but I will save it and reinstall it if and when I sell the car. As you all know, the 40th anniversary has the natural gray interior color, which means that the carpet color is dark gray. The only new OEM deletes you can get are with black color carpet. That's great if you have black carpet, and I would suggest you get the OEM piece if you have that color. If you are willing to compromise on exact color match, quality, and OEM build, those eBay deletes seem to be an option. But, I am more than a little obsessive-compulsive and I wanted essentially the OEM part in the exact right construction, color, and texture. I noticed a company in Sweden called Astrom Engineering selling deletes on eBay a while back. Their construction looked exactly like the OEM part in that it has 3 pieces bolted together (Porsche presumably constructed it this way to allow heavy, unstretchable carpet to be glued to it without excessive carpet cutting and therefore seams.). I asked about a gray color and he said he had an aftermarket version and could send a sample. He did so, but the carpet was cheap feeling and darker than the OEM color. I theorized that I might be able to get the OEM carpet and have him use that instead of his own. He said yes, but that the OEM carpet was likely heavier and less pliable, so he might have some fitment issues. I did a lot of research on what the most cost effective OEM carpet I could order was and I finally happened on the carpet on the back of the rear seats that fold down. Those part numbers are as follows: 996-522-173-00-D11 996-522-174-00-D11 D11 represents the dark gray carpet of my interior. Of course, you'd need to find the Porsche code for your interior carpet color. Those parts represent both right and left seats, and both are necessary for the amount of material required. I asked Petter (the owner) if those carpet panels would work and he measured the part's carpet pattern against the panels in his own car and said they would be just enough. I ordered the carpet panels from Eurospares and had them delivered directly to him. It was easier to source it in Europe to reduce shipping costs from the US. He got the panels, cut them up, and used them in the construction of the part. When I received it, it looked good and matched the carpet (of course), but I could tell that the carpet was too heavy and wasn't staying stuck to the part in all places due to the bends the carpet was making. I experimented with binder clips, but realized that I would make permanent indentations in the carpet if I left the clips in place too long. I finally found the solution in the form of SpaceSaver vacuum bags. They are effective at creating an even pressure along the entire carpet surface to push the carpet against the part and slowly mold it over time to make the necessary bends around the part. I left the vacuum sealed part in my car and baked it in the summer over the course of a month and a half to get the memory shape into the carpet, and that worked. Some words of warning about the bags - I had to use multiple bags because they create such a vacuum and the first couple got punctures from even the slightest hint of sharp surfaces on the part. I resorted to taping pieces of cardboard to any sharp-ish corners on the part to prevent puncture. Also, another big warning - there was enough suction and heat that the mounting ears that bolt down to the car bent. I had to use a heat gun to melt the plastic and reposition them. The solution is to make sure there is enough space in the bag when vacuum sealing it such that it is not pushing or pulling any protruding parts; you want the pressure to conform to all surfaces, including those sticking out. But, the final result is fantastic! Finally there is a solution to finding a high quality GT3 console delete for all of us without black carpet!

Looks amazing, nice work! I had come across Astrom as well in my search for a suitable option for the Graphite interior. It's good to know about the color variation on the carpet.

Yeah, he's got colors on his website that are called the correct Porsche name for them - Savannah Beige, Metropole Blue, etc. So, maybe those match interiors of those colors better. But, his "Space Grey" was not close enough to Porsche "Dark Gray" for me. Also, I am not sure if there would be a noticeable texture difference even with the correct color because the carpets are thinner than OEM.

Wow, mission accomplished. Looks great.

Wonderful work and great attention to detail. Well worth the big effort.