Rear Wiper Delete DIY questions...

Can someone point me to info on how to remove the rear wiper motor. THanks.

I assume you have a coupe, not a targa? If it is a coupe, simply crawl into the back of your car and there is a vinyl padded panel that spans from one side of the interior of the car to the other, just below the rear window. This piece is the width of the rear window and about 6" high. Pull the piece upwards a bit from the bottom and then snap the piece out towards you. The whole thing is held in place by about eight clips that release quite easily. Once it is removed, remove the heavy sound deadening padding on the driver's side to expose the motor assembly.

And for you 996/TT owners, there is a Wiper Delete Plug available in body colors when you're done. Wiper Delete Plug

Why do people want to delete the rear wiper? I had one on my last 996 and the new one doesn't have one. I actually miss having it.

Hey, when you take it off can I have it?? Is it possible to add it if I get the parts?

It should be possible, technically speaking but that exterior panel just below and behind the rear window needs to be shaped properly not to mention that it has to have the raised hole for the wiper. I believe that this panel is not a bolt-in piece and would have to be welded in and painted. Oh, yes, there's always all the wiring and relays to worry about as well.

The rear wiper comes in handy is South Florida. I just wish it would stay on for more than 2 wipes.

Why remove? For those who don't drive it in rain, it's a weight and appearance savings.

Weight? Are you kidding? Like, about a water-bottle's worth. Or about as many pounds as most of us should lose (at least). Or about one-fiftieth the additional weight of a cab or C4S over a C2 coupe. Appearance? Hell, you don't even notice it there. Ask someone just returning from a Porsche dealer if the silver/red/black 911's they just saw had a rear wiper, and I bet they wouldn't remember. Personally, I like the rear wiper for backing up or eliminating glare on rainy nights. And as Porsche options go, it's relatively inexpensive. -DT

Like I said, I miss my rear wiper and I do agree that two quick swipes is kind of dumb. They should build some adjustability into it.

As Eric said, it's a weight & appearance issue. And in my opinion just doesn't belong in a sports car. For sure weight isn't much (5 lbs) but when you're saving weight, every bit counts (my 993 is 260+ lbs lighter and most of the stuff removed is between ~10-30 lbs). As we all know, these cars are heavy pigs. And without it, you certainly have cleaner lines in back. Maybe someone doesn't notice it, but that's how it is. I never used mine, it didn't look "right" for a sports car, was added weight so that's why I took it off, there's DIY removal at www.p-car.com, it's for 993 but I'm sure it helps. Now if I only had ***** to remove my sunroof for good...

Actually, I always wondered why there there is a wiper and no washer. Or is there - and I haven't found it?

A Porsche IS a sports car, and a rear wiper is offered for those who aren't afraid to drive their $100K car in the rain. One can argue that a stereo, AWD, PSM, pwr windows, nav, a roof rack, boutique interior bits, etc etc don't belong on a sports car either. Neither do fancy, expensive, yet heavy wheels. But you'll find all of this stuff on a 911. And most of it weighs much more than a rear wiper. Like it or not, the 993 and 996 are definitely also luxury cars.

EDIT: I originally wrote this post that GT3 rear seat post in my mind... Do you really need it? I drive my car sometimes in a rain (it's not a $100k car though) and I never have been in a situation where I have needed it. Convinient? Maybe. Something you really need, I don't think so. Sure, I don't think most of that stuff doesn't belong on a sports car. Why not TV, DVD, cooler box etc? To me, Porsche is about performance, what does all the luxury things equal? Less performance. True, 996 especially. And yes, you guessed it, I don't like that. Peace.

No, you're right, don't really NEED a rear wiper. My point is just that the added weight and perceived performance loss from having one is negligible. I find the rear wiper very useful for backing up at night in the rain. It has to do with the severe angle of the rear window. Those who drive their 911's in the rain at night know what I'm talking about. In the same driving conditions, it is also very useful for reducing rear-view glare from following vehicles, particularly trucks/SUV's. This is also why I have the self-dimming mirror. Better visibility equals better performance. And the rain sensor helps keep your hands on the wheel where they belong (well, technically you can keep reaching for the wipe lever with both hands on the wheel, sort of). If you have a "stripper" track car, sure, this all seems frivolous. But unless your street car is a 911 in it's lightest variant, meaning C2 coupe, and you have light weight wheels (where it really matters), rigid suspension, etc like mine, you shouldn't profess that a "real" sports car doesn't have a rear wiper and should be as light as possible. And the 993 could be fluffed-up with luxury options with the best of 'em. 993's are great, though. That would be an interesting thread..."Is a 911 a luxury car?" My guess is that few would want to admit it. Cheers, -DT

Smells like another 993-996 bashing session again.... Zzzzzzzzzz....

DT, I agree, rear wiper might be useful but for me, those aren't anough to justify for the weight and fact that it doesn't look nice IMO. My car is C2 Coupe (unfortunately I have sunroof, couldn't find a car that didn't have it) and it is quite light (2715 lbs dry), has much better suspension than stock (car had M030) and yes, it's pretty stiff too. Even though I didn't have car like that, I think I still could have opinion that sports car need to be light & meant only for "real" driving, not cruising & showing off. "Is a 911 a luxury car?" IMO, yes, and has almost always been but IMO nowadays luxury is becoming more important than sport in 911 and this is why I'm not so happy about it. Cheers,

This seems to be a very common complaint about 911's (they're too soft, not enough performance options, blah blah blah). It will be interesting to see if Porsche responds to this [bashing] and chooses to offer some "exclusive" performance-enhancing options with the next gen of 911. Even with all the fluff, most of which is nice stuff, still the best all-around sports car out there, IMO, and why I bought 2 new ones in the last year. -DT

Dirk, I think they listen "us", that's why (at least partly) there's GT3 now offered in US, although we've already seen some signs that American's are more for luxury that sport (some people have disappointed/cancelled when they have found out that you can't have sunroof etc.). Also, 997 looks certainly have effect from people's complaints I think. "...Even with all the fluff, most of which is nice stuff, still the best all-around sports car out there, IMO..." I won't argue with that!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Brian, If you don't like this thread and don't have any useful input, just ignore it. -DT

so does my 2002 c4s! i like it especially when stopped at a light in the middle of a thunderstorm! the wiper is useful in a daily driver when stopped in traffic. once underway it is not needed, perhaps leading porsche to use the 2 wipe function. odd but perfect as is.