So I noticed a discrepancy between the option codes and what my car has on it...

I purchased a pre owned 99 C2 last month. I was referencing the option codes last night and noticed that on all of the web sites, my car has the code for the 3 spoke steering wheel yet it has the 4 spoke. I know the car very well...it was my friends car from new and was still at the dealer when I bought it so I know that it was never in an accident. Im taking the car in for service tomorrow and am trying to decide whether or not to ask the dealer why this is so....Should I try to push for the 3 spoke?

If the car is still on waranty it's worth a try. I think some 99s did come thru with 4spoke wheels (which I think give a more balanced look..my 98 had 4 spoke and I liked it). Nothing to lose especially if the code is on the paperwork as well as being stuck on the trunk lid. The paperwork would be give you a lot more leverage IMHO. Good luck.

Here is the full list of the options listed in the maintenance book and under the bonnet...Two of the options listed are not in the car. Im going in a few hours so I'm definitely going to inquire. C02 Equipped with catalytic converter X54 Stainless steel exhaust pipes X70 Door sills in steel with model insignia X71 Aluminium Painted Instrument dials X97 Leather/Aluminimum Shift **** X98 Leather/Alminimum Handbrake 413 18 Inch Turbo Look Alloy Wheels 424 Automatic heating control 436 Three spoke leather steering wheel with airbag (not in car) 437 Full power seat left 438 Full power seat right 446 Wheel Caps with coloured Porsche crest 18 inch wheels only 490 Hi-Fi sound system 537 Left seat with positrol and lumbar (not in car) 692 Remote CD changer (6-disc) 696 AM/FM Radio with CD 939 Supple Leather Rear Seats 982 Supple leather Front Seats

Even if you were the first owner, after 4 years or so, the probability is very, very low. As the second owner, no way! Keep us posted.

Can I ask which options were missing?

The steering wheel and the Lumbar for the driver's seat. Im not worried about it...just kinda curious as to the where-abouts of the steering wheel...Definitely on the option codes...but it has not been in the car since the day it was purchased new.

Sounds like someone was looking at some other car on the dealer's lot, wanted a three spoke instead of the four spoker, and the dealer swapped it out to close the deal. Doesn't that kinda thing happen? I think wheels (Sport Design, etc, not steering) are routinely swapped around.

This is interesting. I was going to say to compare the hood sticker with the maintenance booklet sticker, thinking you were getting the codes from a booklet that did not belong to the car, but that is not the case. Then I thought the 3 spoke was switched for a 4 spoke (I did this on my friend's leased car when he turned it in - his 3 spoke is now on another friends's car) but you it did not have a 3 spoke at delivery. Do you have the window sticker to look at? With your VIN any dealer can find out in a few minutes what the Porsche computer says the car came with. A few 996 owners have said that there have been errors made on the stickers and that Porsche is aware of it. I saw a 2000 996 cab at a tech session 2 days ago with a 4 spoke and thought it odd as I thought the 3 spoke was standard by that year - as a 3 spoke was standard on a Boxster S which first came out in 2000. Let us know if you solve the mystery. Jeff