OPC say NO to air intake covers?!?!

[bund]

I have these air intakes covers from a Belgium company but when I mentioned that I was fitting them to an OPC they said they didn’t think it was good idea as any fault that may occur that are front air intake related could/would be an out for a warranty claim. So now they are ready to go on but im not sure. The reason he gave for them being a problem was that if you compact the stretched metal then that is an area which will restrict the air flow over the air intakes. When I said that the cup cars run with them he said he thought the front bumper was perhaps different with larger air intakes? Does anyone know if this is correct on the 997?

[BLKROKT]

Just take them off anytime you go to the dealer.

[bund]

That would need the front bumper being removed each time. Say you really do have a problem and the cars gets taken away from the side of the road, no time to have them removed.

[nbetts]

Bund, tricky one this... it does clearly state in the owners manual not to put stone guards in front of the radiators... but they are so exposed it is silly not to. Perhaps after fitting them, keep an eye on the water temp gauge and see if there is a noticeable difference... if there is not then I would probably ay keep them on.

If we lived in a very hot climate and the car was driven very hard for long periods then any restriction to the radiators would complicate matters a lot further.

I am undecided... but if I do go for them - I am going to rig up a securing method using very stong velcro... so they can be easily removed...

[Pete RS]

How on earth can an OPC say no to the grills and then say no to stone damage to the rads under warranty? From what i can see, the cup car has the same bumper air inlets.

As for using velcro to hold them on, I would use sticky back plastic - always used to work on Blue Peter when I was a kid!

P

[nbetts]

Pete RS said:

How on earth can an OPC say no to the grills and then say no to stone damage to the rads under warranty? From what i can see, the cup car has the same bumper air inlets.

As for using velcro to hold them on, I would use sticky back plastic - always used to work on Blue Peter when I was a kid!

P

I agree Pete... it is a right sorry story. The rads are more or less just waiting to be hit as we are all aware... mine have a few dings in already. As for sticky back plastic - if it works mate...why not.

[bund]

The OPC said to me that they have never had a problem from stones affecting the rads so I was not to worry about the damage that I could see that some larger stones were causing. The covers I have need to be fitted inside out so they sit between the bumper and rad so even if you use Velcro/blue tack/chewing gum taking the bumper off will still be a problem.

Im starting to think about leaving them off and if a stone does cause a big problem ill be expecting them fixed under warranty. If that isn’t agreed with straight away ill bring the 2 guys over who said they had never caused a problem and said that I should leave the grills off.

[pocty]

But dont you think that if you could fit a grill guard, Porsche would of made such a think themselves and
charged you double for them.

I think they must of done some R&D of this and thats why they dont want you to fit them.

Philo

[Raven Flyer]

There is always the option of not driving too close to cars in front

[BLKROKT]

It's a known problem that the rads are suceptible to stone damage. Whoever told you that they weren't at an OPC is retarded or lying or both. Fit em, you'll be fine. The car isn't going to blow-up because of it.

[bund]

They didnt say there stone proof as they are clearly not, they just said they havent caused any rad failure that they knew of. Look, i agree with you about them not causing a problem and recently saw 2 997 Gt3's at the ring with them fitted but i dont want to be a guinea pig here.

[sportsandclassic]

Hi there

I have heard all this before about not putting the mesh in front of the rads...i have fone this to 2 GT2 and hey none of them are overheating and blowing up..1 of the cars is running 550 BHp and is tracked alot but hey its ok...and guess what we are not fitting radiators every time it goes out...


Mike


sports and classic

[DanH]

Suspect the restriction is more troublesome stuck in city traffic on a 30 deg C day, rather than on track flat out where the airflow through the mesh is still going to be significant.

[Geneve]

My OPC were prepared to fit them, but I have to supply them, either from Porsche Motorsport or Carnewal.

However, they couldn't quote a price to fit as they hadn't done one yet. They said they would remove the front bumper to do it properly.

I don't think they'll do much harm to airflow - almost all cars have grilles. Leaves and debris accumulating in the unprotected vents are a bigger worry - and of course rad damage from stones etc.

It would be nice to hear from someone who has fitted them successfully.

[bund]

Thanks Mike, i think ill have them fitted.

Geneve can you say which OPC will fit them and if there not to far ill see if there do mine also?

[Geneve]

Swindon. They looked into it for me.

Might be worth finding someone who has experience of fitting them already though

[bund]

The guy from Carnewal sent me a detailed instruction and it really doesnt sound that difficult. I can get a body shop to do it but would rather have an OPC fit them in case of any come back. Ill try East London OPC as reading and Chiswick would not do it.

[kidhaa]

my opc told me about parr motor sport who can supply and fit it
in the end didn't bother, it was working out around £500 if i remember correctly
But opc recommend that if anything goes wrong with the car - take the mesh grills off - That was what really put me!!!

I just leave adequate space between my self and the driver in front - downside is u always gets someone ruddy undertaking u - good side is no stone chips on the rad or the bumper & bonnet

[bund]

Im torn as i have already bought the grills but happy enough to leave them off and give them to the buyer when i sell it...............

Edited by bund on Monday 14th May 12:12

[DanH]

bund said:

Im torn as i have already bought the grills but happy enough to leave them off and give them to the buyer when i sell it...............

Edited by bund on Monday 14th May 12:12

Just fit them and keep an eye on water temp if you ever get stuck in traffic on a really really hot day. The only slight risk is the overheating and this isn't the hottest country so don't worry so much!

Probably an easy DIY job anyway. Don't think its hard removing the PU so long as you have some help to lift it off and a blanket to rest it on whilst you do the glueing. Its only a plastic skin!