Fitting 9(8)97 seats in 996

Can someone who has done this suggest the best way of linking the electrics please? Looks like I need a short lead between the 996 harness and the 997 seat socket for the power, earth and seatbelt lines but what are the best connectors to use? thanks Mike

If fitting a 997 seat in a 996 then swop the seat belt stalks over .. you only need to do the drivers side .. no plug on the passengers side ... If left unplugged the car thinks the seat belt is plugged in so all that happens is you don't get a warning message saying plug the seat belt in . For me i would cut the plug off the 996 seat and wire it to the 997 seat ... cut the wires and solder them onto the wires from the 996 plug basically . With no heated seats then its 2 wires for the seat back tilt . The only reason you need a plug is for removing the seats in the future .. technically any plug or connection will do .

Thanks Iain, I thought of cutting off the sockets but I want to sell the 996 seats!

Ok .. well if your not fussed what it looks like then .. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BVTF9GE/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00BVTF9GE&pd_rd_w= This gives you an idea but i would suggest finding a kit with the crimp tool as part of it . The bullet connections would be best .. you will have to remove the 997 wiring plug though .. if you wanted to refit in in the future then leave some wiring on the plug when you cut it off so that it can be rejoined . This set of connections are for internal work and mainly used when fitting a radio .. it will do the job for your seat but obviously is not pleasant to look at .. Well .. mainly for people like me anyways who like things " correct " Either way as long as there is something that can be unplugged and the connections cant be mixed up then this is what you can use and the seat can be removed if needed in the future .

Thanks Iain, I think you've probably answered my main concern - whether I could find a way of plugging into the 997 connector to leave it undamaged, seems I'll have to cut it off. Cheers Mike

Technically you can but its not a safe solution .. you can seperate the plugs and make up a loom using the repair connections i posted .. red/brown wires is a spade terminal .. not a normal one but it's enough to get a terminal on it .. It would be a different kit as that doesn't have the other end connections you need but that sort of thing . The trouble is you have to use the non insulated ones .. these are not that secure and can end up touching and shorting the electrics .. It's a possible if you were desperate but not what i would consider a long term solution . 996 / 997 seat connections as you know are different .. hence your going to need to cut at least one of them .. never cut the car one !! If this doesn't make sense then i'll explain it on the phone .. pm me if so .. usual hours apply .. 7-9pm.

Thanks again Iain, Looks like I'll cut the cables before the seat connectors. The car has heavier pins and it should be easier to connect to them. I have also tried breakers to see whether anyone has scrap 986/996 seats and can supply seat connectors but no luck. I know quite a few others have fitted 997 seats (I've tried 2) and I'll post pics here when I do it. Cheers Mike

On a related note, can anyone confirm what it is about the 997 seats that make them sit lower? I fancy a set it mine but my interior is Savannah Beige so that wont happen but wondered if it were the base itself that is shallower or whether the 997 runners make the seat sit lower and hence whether I can transfer these over to a 996 seat?

From a cursory look, the height adjustment being manual takes up less space. I'll have a more definitive answer soon, not a key factor for me as I'm not tall.

Thanks - although the height adjustment on my stock 996 seats is also manual? My issue is the usual hands getting caught between the steering wheel & my knees but ideally want to keep the stock wheel, for now at least. The console delete is on the to-do list but if I can get the seat sitting lower as well then it will all help.

The seat designs are different .. the 997 being a newer model and porsche possibly designed it to sit a bit lower after customer feedback :dont know: To me it seems to sit lower but its not something i've ever checked .. not sure how i would anyways . parts are not interchangeable as far as i'm aware .. 997 seats or 996 seats is your choice ... 997 are a more comfortable ride imho .

Take a look at 9werkstv on youtube. He's just done what you're doing (and I'd like to do).

Mine were swapped by the previous owner, & he'd used some crimped connectors like those Ian recommended above. Lee's just released a video documenting replacing his seats today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1hWfrSYWeg

I bought these.... https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07BCDRFQN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Use the female end on the car end and male on the seat end of both (or vice versa) and then wire them so they work with either. It means they are still easy to disconnect quickly if needed and also means putting the connectors back to stock is also a 2 minute job.

seems a lot of arsing about for nothing, nowt wrong with 996 seats :roll: swapping the badge on the bonnet really :nooo: