Michael Benno

I've been thinking of removing the following items:

• Intensive washer system - seems redundant
• Headlight washer system - seems un-necessary
• Motorized air flaps in front valence (still functional but if it fails it could lead to over heating).
• Other suggestions?

I am considering removing them because they seem unnecessary and it's just one more thing to fail. This car is a driver, I don't intend to show it.

If I remove these items and keep them with the car, does that impact the resale? Are they universally recognized as good items to remove?

I do like the idea of having a complete car that is fully functional, but I also like the idea of having less items to fail and more room to work with.

Does removing the intensive washer system allow for more airflow through the cowl?

Does anyone have a good cap to replace the headlight washers on the bumper?

Thanks in advance
Mike
1988 928 S4 5spd Venice Blue inside and out.

Speedtoys

IMHO, resale value.

You're worried about 'things to fail' that don't detract from owning or driving the car.

MainePorsche

Leave the appliances there (resale), just don't use them. Pull fuse for the front flaps. The intensive washer just leave alone. The headlight washers are useful when the bugs get thick.

G.P.

If you pull the fuse for the motorised air flaps, cable tie them in the open position so you don't have overheating issues.

Alan

You could use the intensive washer tank for RainX - probably cheaper than Porsche's silicon cleaner.

I see no value in doing the removals you suggest - either just don't use these things - or in the case of the flaps disable them in the open position as most do.

I predict - you will soon find plenty of bigger problems or opportunites to keep you busy...

Alan

MainePorsche

Quite the idea.

Michael Benno

Yeah. I have plenty on the to do list.

Bigfoot928

I removed:

Headlight washer system
Motorized air flaps in front valence
Rear Wiper
Wing
Side Markers front and rear
Rear AC
Rear Seats
5 mph bumpers
interior door lights
Coin holder in drivers door

If you don't every plan on selling it make it your own.

dr bob

There are a few things on your list that I don't use, plus more. The primary windshield washer system is one. By the time the glass gets dirty, the whole car needs cleaning anyway. Front flaps were defused in SoCal but may see duty at the new home area. Rare wiper, HL washers, intensive washers same.

So my solution is to make sure they work perfectly, then store them in a place that's safe, easy to remember, and where they can most easily returned to service. Restoration of full functionality is important to me, so I keep the parts installed in their original locations on the car. When I need to find them, no issues.

MainePorsche

Be careful with this one up in Bend. That place gets all sorts of weather unlike the desert Southwest (and like most places in North America) and being able to clear your windshield at a moments notice can be vital. Follow a truck/car on a rainy soiled two lane road at 10 PM and injecting some volume of liquid cleanser could be a real comfort to the drive.

dr bob

The car is a fair-weather driver for the most part. The wipers and washers do work, and have been used at least once in the last few years. Good reason to leave them bolted in the car JIC I guess. Along with everything else the car came with. That was kind of my point though. Safest place to 'store' those parts and systems you think you don't need is right where Hans & Fritz bolted them in at the factory. Keep everything where it's supposed to be, keep everything in working condition. Someday you might need it, if for nothing other than to avoid deducts when you sell it.

dr bob

Sterling-

Is that coin holder spare now? Mine has a corner missing on one of the sections, ad could benefit from replacement.

Nicole

For years, cheapskates have "fixed" their 928s by removing stuff. Some day there will be few 928s which are original and have everything working. Those will be the most valuable, while others will require expensive restoration work.

Dr Bob: When we drove back from Sharks in the Hood (Mt. Hood), we were bombarded with insects near Klamath Lake. That's when a working intensive washer system is beneficial. And it's not far from where you are now.

dr bob

Same with the herds of yellow bugs through the California central valley in the spring and early summer.

Perhaps the biggest hazard in the Bend area is sudden summer hail storms. We were motoring back into town from a July vacation in Wyoming a summer ago, to find the roads lined with hail. Folks said it was 3/4" stones when it came down. No need for intensive washers for that!

Rodrv6

I'm a big fan of keeping cars original and unmolested as much as possible, especially if you think you'll ever want to sell it. I've been going through all of the systems on my 88 S4 and slowly getting everything operational. I'm down to the central locking system (works with the outside key, not with the inside push button), intensive washer system, and the headlight washers (they are intermittent).
If a system is giving trouble that affects the reliability of the car and you decide to do an upgrade, make sure you keep any parts that were removed so they can be restored at a later date. (on my early 911, the solex carbs were very troublesome, so they were replaced with Weber carbs. I carefully saved all the Solex components, which made a big difference in what I got when I sold that car last year........)