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My ocean blue 1999 996.1 C2
- Thread starter tob_today
- Start date
After getting significant bill from absentmindedly dipping in & out of the newly extended ULEZ zone, I decided to see if I can get my 996 exempted.
Simple process:
1. contact Porsche GB to request certificate of conformity
2. letter arrives in mail few weeks later
3. upload to TFL as vehicle exception
4. TFL immediately confirmed as exempt
Low and behold the 996 now has 100% ULEZ discount. Happy days
Simple process:
1. contact Porsche GB to request certificate of conformity
2. letter arrives in mail few weeks later
3. upload to TFL as vehicle exception
4. TFL immediately confirmed as exempt
Low and behold the 996 now has 100% ULEZ discount. Happy days
Attachments
One of the things that's never been right for me in the 996 are the seats. I find the so-called 'comforts' sit too high and push my mid-back forward too much. Plus they lack any significant lateral support.
I considered getting 996 sport seats to keep things original, however it seems these are also not much better for many people, and wouldn't be a solution for me.
I looked at all the non-Porsche options, and although 1 or 2 seemed like good options, there was no perfect solution with any of them. There was always a compromise somewhere.
So after months of research & considering various options, a huge box turned up...
I considered getting 996 sport seats to keep things original, however it seems these are also not much better for many people, and wouldn't be a solution for me.
I looked at all the non-Porsche options, and although 1 or 2 seemed like good options, there was no perfect solution with any of them. There was always a compromise somewhere.
So after months of research & considering various options, a huge box turned up...
Attachments
I talked to a lot of people and decided on 997 sports. These are a popular & relatively straightforward upgrade for several 996 owners.
Luckily I have direct comparison with my own 997 with sport seats, so I could sit the cars side-by-side before pulling the trigger. Ideally I didn't want both to have the same seats, but one set are leather, the other alcantara - so there is a slight difference!
Sourced from ebay, I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived as they were actually in much better condition than the photos. After some cleaning and minor leather repairs they look really good.
I wasn't too sure how the colours would work in my space grey interior, but I figured black would be best option. I can always get then recoloured if needed.
Luckily I have direct comparison with my own 997 with sport seats, so I could sit the cars side-by-side before pulling the trigger. Ideally I didn't want both to have the same seats, but one set are leather, the other alcantara - so there is a slight difference!
Sourced from ebay, I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived as they were actually in much better condition than the photos. After some cleaning and minor leather repairs they look really good.
I wasn't too sure how the colours would work in my space grey interior, but I figured black would be best option. I can always get then recoloured if needed.
Attachments
After cleaning & making good, I transported the seats to Precision then dropped off the 996. Talking to Andy & team we decided to temporarily fit one seat first and give that a try, before going the whole way fitting everything properly.
Then I took the 997 down, swapped the cars over leaving the 997 for Precision to look over for a week for some minor bits.
Then I took the 997 down, swapped the cars over leaving the 997 for Precision to look over for a week for some minor bits.
Attachments
Result: brilliant!
The seat is lower, fits like a glove and has lots of lateral support. Not only that but they also look great in the car. It actually breaks up the space grey nicely with the black steering wheel, mats and some other bits and pieces. I also really like the metallic grey hardback trim on the 997 seats.
All together it really works visually, and makes such a difference to the driving feel. Great solution & very happy
The seat is lower, fits like a glove and has lots of lateral support. Not only that but they also look great in the car. It actually breaks up the space grey nicely with the black steering wheel, mats and some other bits and pieces. I also really like the metallic grey hardback trim on the 997 seats.
All together it really works visually, and makes such a difference to the driving feel. Great solution & very happy
Attachments
The eagle-eyed among you will also notice the gear knob has changed. I was never a big fan of the standard 996 shifter, and on my car I never felt the gear change was as good as it could be. It was a bit too spongy & vague.
It already had the 997 GT3 shifter, so I decided while the car was at Precision to also change the OEM gear cables and fit RSS engine mounts. Objective was to make the gear change as good as it could be, and I've often heard stiffening the mounts makes a significant difference.
While at Precision for the work, another forum member offered me his 997 knob that he'd had fitted to a 996 gaiter for his 996 GT3, and it had barely been used before he sold his GT3. So I took that with me when I picked up the 996 and swapped it over for the drive home.
Normally I prefer to make changes one-at-time to feel the difference each makes, but this time I made multiple changes at same time.
Result: it's a completely different car. Transformed.
The gear change is night-and-day better. It's a joy to change gear. I would go as far to say it's as enjoyable as my MX5, and that's the best gear change I've had in any car, and the Mazda is changing gears directly below the shifter unlike the 996. Amazing difference. The 997 knob is also so much nicer in the hand. Big improvement.
Sure there's a bit more NVH from the RSS mounts, but not intrusive. They make the car feel so much more direct, and raw. It's now a proper sports car. Another huge improvement, and it was already good before.
All together it's a massive win, sum of the parts being more than the single components: 997 seats, RSS engine mounts, new gear cables & 997 gear knob.
1+1+1+1 = 5
Oh I also had the resonator bypass fitted, but honestly I can't hear any difference. Probably there is some better noise. It's just so minor compared to all the other changes.
Very happy
It already had the 997 GT3 shifter, so I decided while the car was at Precision to also change the OEM gear cables and fit RSS engine mounts. Objective was to make the gear change as good as it could be, and I've often heard stiffening the mounts makes a significant difference.
While at Precision for the work, another forum member offered me his 997 knob that he'd had fitted to a 996 gaiter for his 996 GT3, and it had barely been used before he sold his GT3. So I took that with me when I picked up the 996 and swapped it over for the drive home.
Normally I prefer to make changes one-at-time to feel the difference each makes, but this time I made multiple changes at same time.
Result: it's a completely different car. Transformed.
The gear change is night-and-day better. It's a joy to change gear. I would go as far to say it's as enjoyable as my MX5, and that's the best gear change I've had in any car, and the Mazda is changing gears directly below the shifter unlike the 996. Amazing difference. The 997 knob is also so much nicer in the hand. Big improvement.
Sure there's a bit more NVH from the RSS mounts, but not intrusive. They make the car feel so much more direct, and raw. It's now a proper sports car. Another huge improvement, and it was already good before.
All together it's a massive win, sum of the parts being more than the single components: 997 seats, RSS engine mounts, new gear cables & 997 gear knob.
1+1+1+1 = 5
Oh I also had the resonator bypass fitted, but honestly I can't hear any difference. Probably there is some better noise. It's just so minor compared to all the other changes.
Very happy
Attachments
Super update. I think we are on a similar path with our cars so it's great to hear first hand what upgrades are worth considering. I think you were right to ignore 996 sport seats. I have them and don't rate them. Do you know if the 997 seats bolt straight in?
Gunscrossed
Spa-Francorchamps
- Joined
- 1 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 257
Great thread, also a big fan of the 996 :thumb:
997 seats will bolt straight into a 996 as the rails are the same .. a small bit of jiggling perhaps to get them lined up but not an issue .
Powering up the seats is more of the problem .. main feed for the seat tilt is pretty easy but im not a fan of jumper leads ( not safe long term if the seat is moved ) .. ideally you want a 996 plug connector on the 997 seat .. thats means either a breakers yard to get one or cut the old plug from the 996 seat and use that ... seat tilt and its 2 wires that need joining .
Seat belt .. you might need to fit the old one or leave it unplugged to stop the warning message .. not sure there atm ... unplugged and i think that will work as that should be the default setting for a failure .. it assumes the belt is plugged in .
Heated seats .. best you don't go there as that will be expensive and the 997 has more heater pads than the 996 .. i'm unsure if it will work due to the different resistances but perhaps measure each seat resistance on this circuit and see .. i doubt they will be the same though .
If different then its a leap of faith i'm afraid as to whether it will work or not .
leaps of faith cost money to prove !
Powering up the seats is more of the problem .. main feed for the seat tilt is pretty easy but im not a fan of jumper leads ( not safe long term if the seat is moved ) .. ideally you want a 996 plug connector on the 997 seat .. thats means either a breakers yard to get one or cut the old plug from the 996 seat and use that ... seat tilt and its 2 wires that need joining .
Seat belt .. you might need to fit the old one or leave it unplugged to stop the warning message .. not sure there atm ... unplugged and i think that will work as that should be the default setting for a failure .. it assumes the belt is plugged in .
Heated seats .. best you don't go there as that will be expensive and the 997 has more heater pads than the 996 .. i'm unsure if it will work due to the different resistances but perhaps measure each seat resistance on this circuit and see .. i doubt they will be the same though .
If different then its a leap of faith i'm afraid as to whether it will work or not .
leaps of faith cost money to prove !
Thanks very much deMort. Good to know, confirms my similar discussions with Andy & Ian at Precision over last couple of months. The car is now back there and Ian is confident he can properly sort the wiring, and electrics are one of his specialist areas. So it's in good hands.
As bonus, the new seats have heating elements, however my 996 didn't come with heated seats so doesn't have any heating controls or wiring. So let's see what we do there. Would be nice plus. There's some useful guides online so it can be done, for example:
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/1203363-987-997-2-way-heated-sport-seats-conversion-guide.html
Although the 997 seats have two stage heating, whereas 996 only single stage. So the wiring will need some playing around and experimentation.
Leaps of faith are sometimes needed to learn & progress
As bonus, the new seats have heating elements, however my 996 didn't come with heated seats so doesn't have any heating controls or wiring. So let's see what we do there. Would be nice plus. There's some useful guides online so it can be done, for example:
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/1203363-987-997-2-way-heated-sport-seats-conversion-guide.html
Although the 997 seats have two stage heating, whereas 996 only single stage. So the wiring will need some playing around and experimentation.
Leaps of faith are sometimes needed to learn & progress
The car looks great with those seats and shifter. Is it 996 shifter cables that you have fitted, or 997 ones? I'm still not entirely happy with mine.
996s do have 2 stage seat heating but it works differently from the 997.
Glad you're enjoying the car now :thumb:
996s do have 2 stage seat heating but it works differently from the 997.
Glad you're enjoying the car now :thumb:
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