looking for pre-facelift GT2/turbo style front bumper for a 996 C2

Hi guys, I'm looking for anyone with the pre-facelift (i.e. boxster type headlamps) front bumper which looks like the Turbo/GT2's front bumper. Prefer the turbo type but the GT2 style also looks nice. This is to go on my 996 C2 with older (boxster) style headlamps. Something like this . or like the photograph below (programmatore's post). I'll have it painted etc. Please tell how much you think your bumper might be worth. Shipping would be to California, San Diego. I'm also looking for stock C2 mufflers from 2003 to 2005 996's. But that'll be another post. People are distributing this for free .... nice !! Thanks Sid PS: I've now registered / paid the membership here ! Its worth it !! Cheers guys !

The bumper in the link is definately not a turbo bumper. I've got a TT bumper that I took off for my TechArt. PM me.

Sid - Welcome. We need some info about your car (year, options colors) and some pics. No pics... no info! Just kidding, but we DO like pics! FYI, the C2 in 2005 was a 997, so that muffler won't fit. The 2002 - 2004 996 muffler were the same. Actually a 2000 - 2001 will also fit.

The bumper in your picture looks a lt like the Caractere bumper. It was designed for the Boxster but will also fit the 996. http://www.caractere-automobile.com/PORSCHE/index.htm Caractere is a Belgian company. I think their US distributor is LL Tek. http://www.lltek.com/porschtek/PROJEKT_996.htm I actually considered this bumper but went with the RUF RGT bumper and sideskirts instead.

Okay ... its now in this post Check it out ! programmatore, yeah, you're right. That does look quite similar. I'll call them up tomorrow for pricing. Thanks !! wross996tt, its not an actual Turbo bumper. Its a bumper which makes it look like the turbo's front. See, my car has the old style headlamps, so this bumper is designed to accomodate that. PM'd you too with extra info/question ! BTW, the difference between the real turbo style and the real C4S style is only in the lower lip (they have the same bumper). The turbo's lower lip is flat while the c4s has a little gap in the middle. The c4s, IMHO looks slightly better. Finally, guys, I have an option between grills or wire mesh behind the air ducts. The grills are additional $350 (for all 3 air ducts) while the mesh is free. I'm leaning towards the mesh (black mesh). Anyone seen both in person to comment ?

I would say they more than "look quite similar" -- it looks like the eBay ad actually used pictures from Caractere and LLTek. It is unethical if you ask me. I would spend the extra dollars and buy an original part from Caractere/LLTek instead of the knock-off from the eBay seller. I would have serious reservations about buying a knock-off where they don't even show pictures of their actual product but instead uses pictures of the original.

Yup. But its hard to know who designed it first and who did the rip off ! Did some internet searches and it appears these guys fabricate the bumper themselves. Anyway, another style ... similar but without the GT2 style fins near the hood and bumper. I like this too. Plus nice price ! Link to ebay

Well, I did some more hunting and found this shop : Precision Porsche A snipper of what I'm looking at : BUT 1) with the C4S lower lip instead of the Turbo lip. The C4S lip is like the photo above with the yellow porsche (a gap in the middle). 2) And I'll be putting a black mesh instead of the turbo grills. I think it'll look good on a black car. These guys fabricate their own bumpers and call them fibreglass/reinforced plastic. Any good review about Precision Porsche ? What do you guys think ? Sid

Is that a Porsche dealership the photo is taken at? Are they are Porsche dealer or did they just photo their car (or one on the lot)???

sid, have u taken a look at the 9ff bumper? it's quite sik. if i had 2 do it all over again i might be enclined 2 go that route.

Hmm DeAd-EyE ... You mean this ?? Dunno, Its neat but I like the more graceful C4S style. This looks like a big gap. Actually if I look at it long it looks like the car is smiling at me .. Aston Martin anyone ? Its cool, but I think my personal is the C4S style ... Thanks for the heads up though ! LVDell, I don't think he is a dealer. But there is a dealer very close to his place. Based on the registration information of "precisionporsche.com" and my phone call, this is what would be the driving directions from his shop to the nearest Porsche Dealer. [Link] What do you think?

lol..the white grill on the bumper has to go.

I think you are probably asking for the opinion of the wrong guy. I prefer the tested OEM pieces.

The other reason I'm inclined towards the C4S/Turbo design (vs others like 9ff/custom designs etc) is because the C4S design has been tested by Porsche in their wind tunnels. So I'm feeling a bit comfortable that the aerodynamics aren't getting screwed up ... at least not too much (C4S = wide body). In fact maybe the C4S is better - aerodynamically. I don't have a rear wing yet, but will definitely put one if it improves stability. I'm not going for it since I prefer the smoother, classic look without the tail wing.

Check this out. Its the new GT3 style bumper for the older 996s. I don't like this too much but its interesting !!

Resembles a Mazda RX-8 front nose. IMO My 4 yr old told me last night that my 996 looked like the neighbor's Toyota Corolla. - I could have rung his neck! But, these bodies are less classic than the air cooled 911's. Jeff

Is there a different company that sells the RUF RGT body kit? I would love to get a kit but $1799 for the front bumper and $1099 for the side skirts is kind too much $$. (Prices from www.rufautocentre.com )

LLtek is in Canada. Landspeed USA is the US Distributor for Caractere. Great quality products. http://www.landspeedusa.com/

I May sound dumb saying this, so you can all rip on me here, if you want. But doesn't Porsche spend Millions designing and wind tunnel testing their spoilers and bodies. So I'm sure those other companies are mostly concerned with looks, doesn't it make a difference in the high speed performance of the car? Although Im' sure some of the companies (RUF) spend alot of time testing. DrJeremyb

Does anybody know a person that has a RUF RGT body kit on their 996? If so, can i get their screen name? i would like to ask questions about the fitment (Is it like OEM parts or like Fiber glass which you have drill holes and attach with rivets?) My Rieger body kit on my M3 had to be installed with rivets. I loved the kit but it was 2000 with all 4 parts (Front & rear bumpers and 2 side skirts). This RUF kit will cost a little over 5000 if i get all 4 pieces. I just want to make sure that it is worth the $$. Thanks guys!!

check out my avatar . i got it from departstop but should have gotten it from precision porsche instead. the top vents on PP's bumper has a "finished" look to it but mine just look like cutouts.

The RUF RGT aerokit is great. The front bumper and side skirts are made of polyurethane just like the OEM pieces. Fitment is excellent although the pieces required a little more prep work than the OEM pieces (the bodyshop had to prime and sand twice to get rid of minor pinholing -- it probably would have been alright after one prime and sand but I am very ****). The front bumper bolts on just like the OEM bumper. The side skirts attached with a couple of screws and glue/tape. No rivets. The bumper reinforcement bar needed to be trimmed about an inch on both sides but that is no big deal. The front bumper came with custom air ducts that more effectively channel air to the brakes for better cooling. It also came with mesh grills for the left, right, and center openings; although I did not install the center opening (I left the plastic cover in place) because I don't have a third radiator. The front bumper, although shorter than the factory bumper, is quite a bit lower so you need to be careful entering steep driveways to avoid scraping. Go slow and at a slight angle and you should be fine. Here are a couple of pictures. I did not get the rear spoiler since I have a cab and the RUF RGT spoiler is too tall and would have interfered with the convertible top mechanism. I could've had the posts trimmed down about an inch but then it would've looked a bit off. I like the lines of the cab without the rear spoiler anyway. If I do get a rear spoiler in the future I might go with the Misha GT2 wing which was designed to fit on a cab.

programmatore, I love your car. Looks great. Ill definitely get the RUF RGT kit, but i think that i might need some wheels first. I dont think that the carrera 5 spoke wheels would look great with the kit. I need some HREs or Forgelites. Thanks

How about some RUF wheels?

I think that RUF stuff looks pretty ugly!! I like the rims...but the bumpers and side rocker panels..not my cup of thee....how about a full front conversion for about 5K?? than you only need another 800 bucks for rocker panels and you will have a original supercar!

I have never heard of a "cup of thee" before. I think thou meant to say "cup of tea." Hey, you are certainly entitled to your own opinion but I have to disagree with you. In my opinion the RUF RGT kit looks pretty damn good. It gives the car an aggressive look but not over the top like the TechArt and Gemballa kits. It is functional too -- it increases downforce and with custom ductwork it better channels the air to the brakes to improve brake cooling. If by original you mean a car that looks like just about every other Porsche 996 on the road then I guess you are right -- the conversion is original .

Hey programmatore ... how about a picture from the left side ? 90 degrees side on ? Sid

Here you go.

sorry thee is Dutch for Tea ..wrong language.... and yes I forgot to mention that it was just my opinion...didn't want to insult anybody! I like the original Porsche kits...and you are right than they all look alike. Sorry maybe the word ugly was to strong a word...

As I said, you are entitled to your opinion and I respect that... I just don't agree with you. But if you think the RUF RGT kit is ugly then that's cool. Like they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like the Porsche aerokit too -- especially the Aerokit II -- but it seems like every other car has it and I wanted my car to look a bit different. Plus, I am a big fan of Gran Turismo on the Playstation and fell in love with the RUF RGT from the moment I saw it years ago in Gran Turismo 3 (it looks even better in Gran Turismo 4.) Anyway, maybe I'd be sporting a different aerokit if there had been a Porsche GT3 in the game.

Your right I am wrong....maybe it is just the angles...it looks pretty good in white....I have tried to photograph my P the right way, but it never really worked...P's just look better in person than on pictures I guess. Sorry!