996 - Refresh Challange!

Ok so I now have a modest budget to refresh my 2004 996 C2 - 134,000km Car is mostly stock - Has a Cargraphic exhaust system - not sure if its headers as well - but the rest is after market. 18' Porsche wheels, just a repaint for those, Porsche short shifter (has some play) and Porsche brake lever and that's it! Oh and new AOS / Alternator. Car is in pretty good shape cosmetically.... I do have some drive train noise when coasting around 75kph and a squeal from take off which is driving me nuts! My mechanic thinks the squeal is part of the exhaust resonating. So where next? Needs lowering so..... PSS10 (Any other supporting parts needed - Drop links etc) Some cosmetic bits - wheel nuts / clips / fasteners / silver tech bulbs etc). Engine cover Wheel refresh / New caps Engine mounts IMS will be looked at once the clutch goes - this clutch is 20k km old. Lets assume we've got $10k to spend... Ideas Jim.

As a 996 owner who has slowly added bits and pieces to his car these are the things that I would consider and my rough estimates of prices: Suspension Coilovers (preferably adjustable so you can get the exact height you want and you can adjust if you move house and your drive way is steep etc) - Everyone has a different view I have Gemballa which are just rebadged H&R on my 996 and am happy with them $3k Tarret front and rear sway bars with drop links (lighter than the Porsche ones) $1k Engine Pretty hard to get more power out of a normally aspirated 996 and personally I wouldn't bother chasing it as bang for your buck is not worth it. Just add a EurocupGT Cold Air Intake - I am deeply suspicious that CAI do anything in terms of extra power, but they do add something in terms of induction noise $1k Enlarged and baffled sump kit (be aware though with lowered suspension and this kit your sump will be quite low so you will have be super careful going over speed bumps - I speak from personal experience) $500 Personally I would not get a lightweight flywheel, I had one on mine previously and loved it, however I have read too much information saying that because of the crank design in the standard 996 it is a potential cause of engine failure and you should stick with a dual mass flywheel.  So reluctantly I have gone back to a standard flywheel. Brakes With a budget of $10k a set of Brembo big brakes is probably going to chew up too much of your budget so just stay with standard sized brakes Add a set of 997 GT3 brake ducts (these are much bigger than standard ducts, they are cheap and easy to fit and any extra cooling on your brakes is a good thing) $100 Exterior GT3 front bumper and side skirts - makes it look more aggressive (get some mesh while its getting painted to keep muck out) $2k painted if you buy second hand Personally unless you already have one I would not add a rear wing and just enjoy the 911 native shape Interior Rennline short shifter (Much better piece of kit than the Porsche equivalents) $1k GT3 RS Alcantara gear shift $300 Carbon Fibre centre console $1k If you are tall (I am six foot four) a GT3 centre console delete kit to create a bit more room for your left leg (deletes the storage compartments at the end of the centre console that don't do much anyway) $300 Re-dye the leather of your seats if they are worn, its quite easy to do and would really help refresh the interior. (I did it on a set of sports seats and was very pleased with the result). $100 A set of Lloyds floor mats $350

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Nice timing on your post.  I have started a similar process on my 996 tt, but not working to budget Some additional comments  that may be of relevance / extra commentary  to the above  very detailed and considered  post.  I am going to give you a bit of my colour with respect to the rough price estimates above Suspension - I can relate well to the above post.  This week I spent over half the total budget you have mentioned working to freshening up my suspension in terms of part purchases , and next week I expect to go over your budget on additional suspension parts ( consider myself to be a web shopper, eg looking at 5 suppliers and not expecting to be pinned on duties . Then you have installation costs and wheel alignment costs etc.   I'm a big fan of having lots of adjustability in terms rear sway bars links, lower control arms, especially to address premature tyre  wear when you drop a car. Tarett Links.   I sent tarett a paypal payment yesterday and it cost me  circa  $200 for tracked shipping for 6 links ( 4 sway bar links and 2 rear toe links blew past 1k before any shipping and I think the 996 links cover all 996 models / no price differential  .  I  think the tarett sway bars are going to cost you 1k alone  (make sure they put in their made in USA documentation to minimize  being pinged on duties if you go down tarett path)).   I like to have toe adjustment in the rear tyre wear on lowered cars, (hence adjustable rear toe links and adjustable lower control arms) but that has a decent cost impost to sort out properly as  I see it. Re sway links, 100% aligned with going for tarett links if you are upgrading sway bars.   (waste  of time if you don't, standard links with bend, or bind).   Tarett front sway bar link with non oem  front sway bar  take a bit of dickin around to get setup right on a 996tt depending on the coilovers you run with.  not sure on a 996 c2. I just brought a set of Ohlins R&T coilovers as an alternative to PSS10'S, Gembella's.  Australian supplier has them on their site for just under 4.3k for and approx. 2 week delivery.   996 c2 is aud 3750 as I recall.  For me, ohlins material of construction used are better than  pss10's.  I searched high and low for coilover pricing / suppliers and rarely buy car parts in Australia and reckon the Ohlins deal from prospeed racing is great money for value  eg could not land pss10's cheaper from anywhere eg carenewal, UK , US with 20% discounts and the assumption of not being pinged on duties. That said, on a budget, H&R coilovers (only ride height adjustability) are not a bad way to go.  If going fully adjustable, I would go ohlins and reckon the 3k  may be hard to achieve on the H&R's delivered to your door / workshop Could go adjustable 996gt3 sway bars (lighter not necessary better).  I'm just going with a rear adjustable sway bar and leaving the front stock.    I have seen eibach kits   front and rear for the similar cost of only one of taretts bars based on some web browsing .  But taretts bars seem to be a nice bit of kit if buying front and rear.   But, just for reference, I am trying to get fcp euro  to price match a 996gt3 rear sway bar for circa usd 450(350 for tarret and includes bushings plus USD$50 (tarett guesing at least 120) shipping push another EUR 30  for shit bits in terms of hardware (clamps, bushings, bolts given size difference).  Not a huge difference in pricing as I see it if you think genuine is over priced. I would not install coilovers without putting in new top mounts and bearing plates on the front shockers Plenty or discussion on benefits and different types of mounts (tranny and engine) based on some recent posts.  Those mount mods plus something to change up your stock shifter mechanism would be the FIRST place to start with your list and working off your 10k I have been advised that the 997 shifter mechanism is a big difference over  996 mechanism  if direct rifle bolt shifts aren't your thing.  997 unit is about 15% shorter in throw length aparrently.  I have brought one, but won't be installing until I upgrade the clutch or change out the center console (not a carbon fibre fan and may just match the exteriortwork .  Porsche shop in UK  seem to have decent pricing on consoles. Brakes.  - Ducts are great call and I would just freshen everything up including retainers. (not game to give a price estimate996 c2, eg genuine vs oem yields you a big price differential  Using genuine parts on a 996tt, I am looking at 3k.       Not too sure if your calipers suit, but you can get a different look  on a 996tt by going with 330mm caliper spacers ($500) to facilitate  running 350mm discs  (I'm  seeing unsprung mass calls being much of an issue) If you are running stock radio and have a aux jack, I would run a tranzit blue Bluetooth modulator  (circa $250) So I reckon, suspension(coilovers - ride height only, sway bar/s, links) , brake part freshen up, coldair intake, tranny, motor mounts, shifter mechanism and a full major service and tranzit blue  has you dropping 10k

Big thanks to Carrera28 and smit2100 for your input - I will approach this incrementally but as i thought more than half this round will be going on suspension. I've been trawling on line as well and including shipping and import those Oz based Ohlins look very tempting - massive advantage having the supplier here. I'll have to research if they also fulfill the look I'm after height wise. Everything else mentioned is now added to the thought process....More late nights of procrastination & obsessing ahead! Cheers Jim.

Re: shifter, I have a brand new 996 cup shifter  (motorsports part) that I have no need for. Some say the 997.2 GT3 shifter is better because it's 15% shorter but you can't beat the feel of the cup shifter. Takes that cheap plastic feel out of the shifter.

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I second this, the Rennline short shift that I have is a completely metal and to my mind is the single best improvement you can make to a 996.

I have a standard 997 shifter in my 996 wins hands down over the 996 and can be had for reasonable money too. Also slightly shorter than the stock 996 shifter and can be upgraded with metal bushings with a Function First kit. I'd recommend a cargraphic under drive pulley frees up a little bit of power and will compliment the exhaust. I had a lightweight flywheel and recently removed it for the factory DMF. I really do miss that flywheel because it was incredible to drive. I bought into the internet hysteria about it however there arent that many reported failures... One other mod for engine longevity which is actually a really boring one is an LN full flow oil filter im putting this on next service. Oh and an LED light upgrade kit (although I went back to standard because I didnt like the look! Also you can't beat the look of a full GT3/aerokit ii (although i'm biased).

Have you also considered refreshing the leather. I use Leatherique. Messy but easy. Coat the seats in the Rejuvenator oil, let the car sit in the sun and get the inside really really hot, come back a day or two later and wipe gunk off with Prestine clean. I had really good results

Leatherique is amazing!  I have been using it for many years

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Do you use a local supplier? Cheers - Jim.

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Hey Jim Yes I get it from Vintage Vee Dub Supplies in Campsie. I'll try and find some pictures of my own work wit the stuff for you to make your own decision. I got both the rejuventor and prestine clean for under $100 if I remember correctly. Google Leatherique. Lots of people on forums give it good reviews too. This is a before and after which I did on my 10 year old BMW 3 Series a number of months ago. This was after one round, they say it can get even better with more rounds. Before After

+996 on exhaust, you'll thank us later haha