996/986 centre console differences?

Having recently removed my centre console to do the quick-shift install; my thoughts around a painted CC have been rekindled. I wanted the painted console but it wasn't going to be a deal-breaker if the right car came up. Soooo, I am thinking about buying a used centre console, having the soft touch finish removed and getting it painted - I have a very friendly painter that will do it for me. The question - is the console the same from the Boxster as the 996? I think that I had read that the 986 version was shorter - I may have dreamt that. Or, if it is, is it just the very back part? Could it be transferred from my current one? I like to keep all of the original parts so I won't have mine painted as the next owner may not share my opinions. Advice gratefully received of course. Also opinions on colour - the options seem almost limitless when being ordered from the factory. Were the always colour matched to the body? I have black leather so it may not be very obvious if done grey. My dials are red as are the seatbelts but i fear that would be too much to bear on the console. Thanks Richard

The ones I've seen have either been arctic silver or exterior body color

I deffo read the same that they are slightly shorter

I've had a 986 boxster and 996, the front portion of the centre console is exactly the same part, the 996 just has an additional piece on the rear that attaches to it.. I think I've got one or 2 sat in the garage at the moment if you are looking for one to get painted.

So thinking I’d like to try painting the centre console at some point but don’t want to spoil original. Looking on the usual eBay traders there’s plenty of scruffy Boxster consoles for not a lot of cash, they seem to have 996 part numbers as well as 986 but they appear short at the rear as the 996 console goes back further pass the seats unlike the Boxsters, any ideas guys? Thanks

Shared Front Portion: The front part of the center console, including the area around the shifter and handbrake, is essentially the same in both the 996 and 986. 996's Additional Rear Piece: The 996 model has an additional vertical piece that attaches to the rear of the console, creating a storage area. 986 Boxster has no rear piece The Boxster 986 does not have a rear piece that extends from the bottom of the console

Thanks. So if I bought a Boxster CC I could marry it up to the storage end of my original CC?

The center console of the 996 and 986 are identical in shape. The piece that is missing at the rear of the 986 can be unscrewed. Simply unscrew it from the current console and screw it onto the new one. As the sides are covered and there is a leather cover on top, you won't see anything of it. But the biggest difference is the surface. Most 996 center consoles are painted or have a soft lacquer surface. The 986 center consoles are usually bare plastic and can simply be sanded and then primed with several coats of primer until they are nice and smooth.

I did this with my painted centre console, bought a cheap boxster one to paint to keep my original GT3 one with all the other spares in the loft! They are identical however I'd note that the leather was different so I put my GT3 leather on the newly painted Boxster centre console. You don't paint the rear 911 part that screws on. Don't forget to swap over your armrest lock so your keys all wok!

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Am about to embark on renovating a center console in my 996.1 C4 cab - i noticed that my car doesn't have the little extension piece on the rear of the console - am i right in assuming that the extension is only used on the Coupe and Targa models, and the Convertibles have the standard console without the extension?

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I never noticed that before, but that makes sense. It looks like the 986 boxster and the 996 cabrio share the same shorter center console and the 996 coupe and targa have the longer version.

As above, they are different lengths with a piece screwed on the back for some 996 versions. I think the lid on the 996 is sprung, whereas on the 986 it isn't. MC