996 Turbo - new owner - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

Hopefully collecting my 996 Turbo in a couple of weeks, so just a few questions to all you seasoned owners: What's the best oil to use for top up's if required? Do they run better on V Power or similar and can you tell a difference? Are the standard tyre pressures OK or have some of you experimented with higher or lower to improve the ride or handling? Any other tips or advice that any of you guys may have to make the ownership experience even better than I expect it to be Will post some pics once I get it home. Cheers

Andrew Coates said: Hopefully collecting my 996 Turbo in a couple of weeks, so just a few questions to all you seasoned owners: What's the best oil to use for top up's if required? Do they run better on V Power or similar and can you tell a difference? Are the standard tyre pressures OK or have some of you experimented with higher or lower to improve the ride or handling? Oil, I'd have thought top up with what's in it, which should be Mobil 1 Yes, the manual says run on super The standard pressures work really well. Get car, enjoy

Replace the crap brakes with 6 pots. Recover your steering wheel with alcantara. Get some red seat belts. Get loads of carbon, especially the centre console. Junk the CD holder for a pocket. Get a full geo. Fit some 997 seats (preferably GT3 alcantara). Oh and get a louder exhaust! I can recommend a tubi! Most of all though, drive it.

Andrew Coates said: Hopefully collecting my 996 Turbo in a couple of weeks, so just a few questions to all you seasoned owners: What's the best oil to use for top up's if required? Do they run better on V Power or similar and can you tell a difference? Are the standard tyre pressures OK or have some of you experimented with higher or lower to improve the ride or handling? Any other tips or advice that any of you guys may have to make the ownership experience even better than I expect it to be Will post some pics once I get it home. Cheers Best to use a name brand gasoline with the right octane rating and buy from a busy station. Here in California all I can fill up with is 91 octane (RON+MON/2). The few times I've been in a region of the USA I can fill up with 93 octane the engine ran markedly better. I'd run 93 all time if I could get it. Oh, oil. Porsche states in its approved oil document the best oil to use is the same oil the engine is filled with. But in a pinch any approved oil is ok as all approved oils are miscible. The tire pressures given on the inside of the gas cap access cover are a bit too much for a lightly loaded car. 36psi (front) and 44psi (rear) IIRC. I'd dial those back -- and do -- by 2 maybe 3 psi to give the car a less harsher ride. Be sure the alignment ("geo") is good. Tire life can be horrible. My worst experience is just 8K miles on a set of rear tires -- with bad alignment. My best experience? Nearly 23K miles with a good alignment. And one tire picked up a nail and because it still had 3mm of tread left was covered by road hazard insurance and was replaced free of charge. Keep the radiator ducts clear of trash. I have the bumper cover removed and these areas thoroughly cleaned out then since then the tech blows the trash out when I have the car in for service. Oh, I change the oil/filter every 5K miles and I run Mobil 1 0w-40. (118+K miles.) Be sure you stay current on other services like brake/clutch fluid flush/bleed and plugs and engine air filter and cabin air filter. Have someone service these cars that know them well. There are things that can come up that a plain old jalopy tech might not spot but a 996 Turbo tech would. It is important to not miss things and let things go. Over here in the USA there's a 996 Turbo with over 400K miles. The owner reported tearing the engine down to take care of some leaks and rebuild it but he and his mechanic found no measureable wear on any of the wear items. Oh, the owner reports he changes the oil at 5K mile intervals. My advise then is to run a good oil and change it at reasonable intervals: 5K miles. (Works for my 02 Boxster in its original engine with over 277K miles.) And drive the car. A lot. They like that.

e8_pack said: Replace the crap brakes with 6 pots. Recover your steering wheel with alcantara. Get some red seat belts. Get loads of carbon, especially the centre console. Junk the CD holder for a pocket. Get a full geo. Fit some 997 seats (preferably GT3 alcantara). Oh and get a louder exhaust! I can recommend a tubi! Most of all though, drive it. My 03 Turbo's stock brakes are definitely not crap. And they have given me a good service life. Original brake hardware with just over 118K miles. Techs I talked to about CF tell me no. The CF (and wood trim) delaminates/separates too readily. (I was interesting in a car with the wood trim.) Edited by Rockster on Thursday 13th March 00:09

Rockster said: e8_pack said: Replace the crap brakes with 6 pots. Recover your steering wheel with alcantara. Get some red seat belts. Get loads of carbon, especially the centre console. Junk the CD holder for a pocket. Get a full geo. Fit some 997 seats (preferably GT3 alcantara). Oh and get a louder exhaust! I can recommend a tubi! Most of all though, drive it. My 03 Turbo's stock brakes are definitely not crap. And they have given me a good service life. Original brake hardware with just over 118K miles. Techs I talked to about CF tell me no. The CF (and wood trim) delaminates/separates too readily. (I was interesting in a car with the wood trim.) Edited by Rockster on Thursday 13th March 00:09 Everyone comments on the brakes but no one likes to admit it. For me I admitted it and recognised that fact very early and I'm much happier with my new setup. I can't make do or kid myself like some people. The brakes are wooden it's almost fact. You can't stop being an alcoholic until you recognise you are one. Only then can you make it better!

Thanks for all the advice. I'll post some pics and more details when I pick it up, hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

you will love it-- they are fantastic

Still loving mine after 2 years and nearly 9000 miles. It's a 3rd car and I drive a van all day so you can see by the mileage that I get out in it whenever I can rain or shine. I don't think I will ever get bored with it, and when you think what they cost now and what you get for your money, it is incredible. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do

mez3 said: Still loving mine after 2 years and nearly 9000 miles. It's a 3rd car and I drive a van all day so you can see by the mileage that I get out in it whenever I can rain or shine. I don't think I will ever get bored with it, and when you think what they cost now and what you get for your money, it is incredible. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do your car looks the same as mine------but your drive is so much nicer

Some interior mods, because let's face it, it's what's needed! Fitted some bezel covers too:

And some 6 pot stoppers:

e8_pack said: Everyone comments on the brakes but no one likes to admit it. For me I admitted it and recognised that fact very early and I'm much happier with my new setup. I can't make do or kid myself like some people. The brakes are wooden it's almost fact. You can't stop being an alcoholic until you recognise you are one. Only then can you make it better! Not against admitting a shortcoming but the Turbo brakes ain't a shortcoming. Like you said: "The brakes are wooden it's almost fact.", which makes this your opinion. 'course no doubt it helped justify the expense of the 6-pot calipers. Wonder how extra good those brakes are really with what appears to be the same stock rotors fitted? Oh, probably loads better, you'd say.

The stock rota's are actually 997 350mm items that match the new calipers. Yes, i should have gone for girodisc or whatever, but I weighed up the cost against my mileage and use, then opted for the "more expensive to replace but less hardwearing alternative". The rear also has the required matching 350mm setup. That aside, I dont see anyone complaining that the rear view mirror is too small or that the clutch pedal is too close to the brake, because, yes, you've guessed it, they aren't. However, there are umpteen threads regarding the brakes. I let my brother-in-law and close-friend have a drive and they both made exactly the same comment, echoing my own thoughts at the time. Many many (many) first owners all say the same thing - wooden brakes. I can't say it's an indisuptable fact because there's a hardcore "head in the sand minority" who although by and large agree to the wooden feel, don't agree that it means the brakes are a bit pants. Porsche used an improved brake booster on the 997 and fitted 6 pots going forward - it was much needed. The problem with the standard brakes is the design. The 6-pots have the exact same piston surface area but act on a larger radius and circumference thus dissipating heat far better. Even without the improved brake booster my brakes are so much better and i have more confidence, which is what i wanted from them. There's a guy who recently wrote a similar thread on 911uk, changed his brake pads and found "no discernable difference". No surprise there then. I don't buy the "racing feel" or "modulation" excuse or expect to have to "stamp on the brakes" to make them work. Wooden feeling brakes have to go. You won't regret doing the same. (my 2c)

That aside, I dont see anyone complaining that the rear view mirror is too small or that the clutch pedal is too close to the brake, because, yes, you've guessed it, they aren't. However, there are umpteen threads regarding the brakes. I let my brother-in-law and close-friend have a drive and they both made exactly the same comment, echoing my own thoughts at the time. Many many (many) first owners all say the same thing - wooden brakes. I can't say it's an indisuptable fact because there's a hardcore "head in the sand minority" who although by and large agree to the wooden feel, don't agree that it means the brakes are a bit pants. Porsche used an improved brake booster on the 997 and fitted 6 pots going forward - it was much needed. The problem with the standard brakes is the design. The 6-pots have the exact same piston surface area but act on a larger radius and circumference thus dissipating heat far better. Even without the improved brake booster my brakes are so much better and i have more confidence, which is what i wanted from them. There's a guy who recently wrote a similar thread on 911uk, changed his brake pads and found "no discernable difference". No surprise there then. I don't buy the "racing feel" or "modulation" excuse or expect to have to "stamp on the brakes" to make them work. Wooden feeling brakes have to go. You won't regret doing the same. (my 2c) [/quote] Standard brakes are marginal at best. I haven't heard of anyone fitting the 997 servo tbh maybe you can fill us in on that one, you don't have to fit the larger rears but you can if you so choose as you have. A bigger disc will produce a bigger moment at the pad that is confirmed. My biggest concern is these cars tendency to trigger its abs over uneven surfaces, for what its worth it's the cars Achilles heel. This is nothing to do with the servo effect which is lacking. I remember a guy on here pulling out his abs fuse and the front wheels locked up really easily. The suspicion is then that porsche 'backed off' the servo to disguise this effect, if the car had the servo effect of say a modern Audi the abs would be constantly triggering under heavy braking. There isn't that much weight over the nose, I don't think a car with the 911's weight distribution was ever meant to be accelerated and braked so hard as the modern turbos have become. Edited by markcoznottz on Tuesday 18th March 08:40

e8_pack said: Are you running twin fuel tanks as well? 60 miles on the trip and 333miles remaining

LeighB said: Are you running twin fuel tanks as well? 60 miles on the trip and 333miles remaining That's what I was thinking. If I fill mine the range is about 220m.

I run a syvecs and I have a lean cruse setting which puts me well into the 30s on a cruise. must have just refilled it and drove steady. I haven't fitted the 997 brake booster, just the calliper,diac and pad upgrade. I can brake hard with a lot less effort now as there is far more bite. abs triggering is quite easy to do but it's the additiona bite and feel that I wanted and got. I can brake a lot later into roundabouts with confidence where as before I was slowing down well in advance due to lack of confidence. Edited by e8_pack on Tuesday 18th March 20:48

e8_pack said: I run a syvecs and I have a lean cruse setting which puts me well into the 30s on a cruise. must have just refilled it and drove steady. ] What's that all about then?

Standalone ECU - PnP for the 911 turbo. Gives full control over the PSM and allows different map settings. i have hi/lo boost, normal/8% slip, lean cruise for economy, valet map, off. It also has a flex fuel sensor so i can detect ethanol content in the mix, will advance timing and give upto 15% more power for higher ethanol content. it wont start the car until oil pressure reaches a certain value, won't rev above a determined threshold until oil temp is above a pre-configured temp, will shut down if oil pressure is lost. Before the traction control used to just shut power and apply the brakes, now i can mash my foot down in the wet and it will keep it straight and allow a little more slip but keep feeding power. it's a pretty advanced piece of kit. PSM used to flash in 6th gear before!

e8_pack said: Standalone ECU - PnP for the 911 turbo. Gives full control over the PSM and allows different map settings. i have hi/lo boost, normal/8% slip, lean cruise for economy, valet map, off. It also has a flex fuel sensor so i can detect ethanol content in the mix, will advance timing and give upto 15% more power for higher ethanol content. it wont start the car until oil pressure reaches a certain value, won't rev above a determined threshold until oil temp is above a pre-configured temp, will shut down if oil pressure is lost. Before the traction control used to just shut power and apply the brakes, now i can mash my foot down in the wet and it will keep it straight and allow a little more slip but keep feeding power. it's a pretty advanced piece of kit. PSM used to flash in 6th gear before! That sounds like a proper gadget and like the features, especially regarding loud pedal not working until oil temp is achieved.

Nice looking car e8, Did you coat your new brake discs before fitting or did they come like that? They look like they have been sprayed. Mine look a bit rough on the hub part and want to tidy them up a little, cheers

mez3 said: Nice looking car e8, Did you coat your new brake discs before fitting or did they come like that? They look like they have been sprayed. Mine look a bit rough on the hub part and want to tidy them up a little, cheers That's how they came, with a sticker saying "do not remove coating".

I'm a month into owning my 2002 996 x50 tip, mapped 1.3bar nuvolari exhaust, midnight blue but looks almost black, extended leather pack factory aero, fastest thing I have ever ever been in let alone driven!

Well, finally picked the car up on Saturday. What a serious piece of kit! My 18 year old son is not usually one to express his emotions, but his first words when we hit a stretch of good road and I gave it the beans was "Oh my God!" I was thinking the same! I have attached a photo that my youngest son took when we got back home, but I'll put some more on in the next couple of weeks. Just looking forward to those early Sunday morning runs to get to know what it can do!

Hey E8 Pack, just noticed from your pics that your front near side disk is in fact an off side disk. The nearside and off-side should be different part numbers so that the holes comb from inner to outer across the brake pads. Your nearside combs outer to inner. I'm not sure what difference it makes to the braking performance / safety, my guess is none.

Fantomx said: I'm a month into owning my 2002 996 x50 tip, mapped 1.3bar nuvolari exhaust, midnight blue but looks almost black, extended leather pack factory aero, fastest thing I have ever ever been in let alone driven! Is it normal for an x50 remap to pull 1.3 bar?

From what I've read and depending on mods the k24 turbos will hold 1.6bar I think just a map will show 1.2 on the on board boost display, I have a 100 cell exhaust and this must allow better breathing etc, it holds 1,3 and spikes at 1.4

[Image-only or quote-only post; no author-written text.] http://thumbsnap.com/sc/Edf3dOVt.jpg

[Image-only or quote-only post; no author-written text.] http://thumbsnap.com/sc/0JhG3M50.jpg

Mines got some nice paint

markcoznottz said: Is it normal for an x50 remap to pull 1.3 bar? My Car at Viezu for the map and exhaust + cherished plate added

Closer view of the Nuvolari exhaust