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I just took these pics. Let me know if there’s a part number or any other way to identify if original. The faded black trim on rear lens might be a good indicator of age. Or the not-right-out-of-the-box look in the yolks on the front. There’s even some aged crud on one of the headlights, but I don’t know how to get it off there. I can guarantee the previous owner would have no clue or interest to change from clears to amber prior to 2020 - amber wasn’t “cool” back then. Let me know if you need additional pics or different angles.
*****THIS IS THE COMPLETE LIST AS OF 12/15 10:00AM: USE THIS LIST*******
mstakacs 09/98 coupe manual US WP0AA2998XS623749 Arena Red/Savannah Beige
Boff 04/98 Coupe Manual US WPOAA2993XS622217 black/savannah CO2 XKL XNG XNN XNU XN3 XU1 220 222 224 437 438537 938 981 983 09991 have all original parts except CR-210 and front ambers GH996 7/98 Coupe Manual US WPOAA2996XS623233 Guards Red / black
bbiela 03/98 coupe, manual Ocean Blue/Savannah, WP0AA2990XS620927 408[/QUOTE]
Springbank 3/98 coupe manual US WPOAA299XXS621274 Arctic Silver/Metropol Blue C02, 139, 220, 222, 224, 340, 437, 438, 446, 490, 537, 680, 692, 939, 982. It also has proper 408's but not coded for them.
Coopduc 3/98 coupe manual US WP0AA299XXS621498 Artic Silver/black C02, 014, 030, 220, 222, 224, 234, 375, 408, 424, 425, 490, 688, 983 pauldvazquez 7/98 coupe manual US WP0AA2995XS623420 Arena Red/ Savannah Beige. C02, 041, 413, 413, 424, 44S 490, 688 Tom2769 4/98 Coupe manual US WP0AA2992XS621642 Arctic Silver/black Y2KARRERA [unsure] Coupe Tip US WP0AA2990XS623549 black/savannah
Y2KARRERA 2/98 Coupe manual US WP0AA299XXS620688 black/black
Y2KARRERA 1/98 Coupe manual US WP0AA2990XS620232 Arctic silver/black
MBH911 998 coupe manual US WPOAA2996XS623749
MBH911 5/98 coupe manual US WPOAA2996XS622745 Arctic Silver / black C02,234,408,490,938,983,592 jobyt: 02/98 Coupé manual US WP0AA2993XS620662 Arctic Silver/Black 220/222/224 424/446/490/688 Sam-Son 2/98 Coupe manual black/black XS620530 LSD
stevensctt 07/98 Cabriolet manual, US WP0CA2992XS651636 L555 BL C02, 234, 408, 424, 437, 438, 448, 490, 537, 551, 659, 880, 888, 892, 939, 981, 982
168glhs1986: 03/98 coupe manual US Glacier White / Black: Partial Leather
wisco3/98 3/98 coupe manual ocean US blue/savannah beige WP0AA2990XS620926 408 TIEVOMMM 6/98 coupe manual US glacier white/space grey supple leather XAA bdronsick 07/98 coupe manual US WP0AA2993XS623514 vesuvio/black 408
@mstakacs VIN is 3749 and he suspects that it is an original amber car; if so that would make yours amber as well, since yours predates his
The question on the supposed "early-build" 09/98 cars then is: how to determine originality of amber lenses fitment?
In other words, both your and @mstakacs lenses can't be original; because his car was built after yours and his lenses are amber. Its a conundrum...
@islaTurbine I know your headlights are patently not original to your car, because Litronics were not available MY1999, and because your Litronics don't have headlight washers (and all 996 optioned Litronics do). So IMO until further evidence proves otherwise, we have to assume yours is the retrofitted car; and that both cars are early-build 1999
Do you agree?
Originally Posted by islaTurbine
Please share if you figure it out. My 9/98's VIN is 3653 and I don't believe it was an amber car (and neither were the headlights on the 996 GT1 ). I'll have to look at my lights to see if they have embossed build dates in order to determine whether they are original to the car.
Those are obviously Carrera lights and not Boxster, that's as far as my experience goes
Originally Posted by mstakacs
I just took these pics. Let me know if there’s a part number or any other way to identify if original. The faded black trim on rear lens might be a good indicator of age. Or the not-right-out-of-the-box look in the yolks on the front. There’s even some aged crud on one of the headlights, but I don’t know how to get it off there. I can guarantee the previous owner would have no clue or interest to change from clears to amber prior to 2020 - amber wasn’t “cool” back then. Let me know if you need additional pics or different angles.
twitchett 04/98 coupe manual US WP0AA2995XS622171 Arctic Silver/Black C02 234 408 424 888
mstakacs 09/98 coupe manual US WP0AA2998XS623749 Arena Red/Savannah Beige
Boff 04/98 Coupe Manual US WPOAA2993XS622217 black/savannah CO2 XKL XNG XNN XNU XN3 XU1 220 222 224 437 438537 938 981 983 09991 have all original parts except CR-210 and front ambers GH996 7/98 Coupe Manual US WPOAA2996XS623233 Guards Red / black
bbiela 03/98 coupe, manual Ocean Blue/Savannah, WP0AA2990XS620927 408[/QUOTE] Springbank 3/98 coupe manual US WPOAA299XXS621274 Arctic Silver/Metropol Blue C02, 139, 220, 222, 224, 340, 437, 438, 446, 490, 537, 680, 692, 939, 982. It also has proper 408's but not coded for them. Coopduc 3/98 coupe manual US WP0AA299XXS621498 Artic Silver/black C02, 014, 030, 220, 222, 224, 234, 375, 408, 424, 425, 490, 688, 983 pauldvazquez 7/98 coupe manual US WP0AA2995XS623420 Arena Red/ Savannah Beige. C02, 041, 413, 413, 424, 44S 490, 688 Tom2769 4/98 Coupe manual US WP0AA2992XS621642 Arctic Silver/black Y2KARRERA [unsure] Coupe Tip US WP0AA2990XS623549 black/savannah
Y2KARRERA 2/98 Coupe manual US WP0AA299XXS620688 black/black
Y2KARRERA 1/98 Coupe manual US WP0AA2990XS620232 Arctic silver/black
MBH911 998 coupe manual US WPOAA2996XS623749
MBH911 5/98 coupe manual US WPOAA2996XS622745 Arctic Silver / black C02,234,408,490,938,983,592 jobyt: 02/98 Coupé manual US WP0AA2993XS620662 Arctic Silver/Black 220/222/224 424/446/490/688 Sam-Son 2/98 Coupe manual black/black XS620530 LSD
stevensctt 07/98 Cabriolet manual, US WP0CA2992XS651636 L555 BL C02, 234, 408, 424, 437, 438, 448, 490, 537, 551, 659, 880, 888, 892, 939, 981, 982
168glhs1986: 03/98 coupe manual US Glacier White / Black: Partial Leather
wisco3/98 3/98 coupe manual ocean US blue/savannah beige WP0AA2990XS620926 408 TIEVOMMM 6/98 coupe manual US glacier white/space grey supple leather XAA bdronsick 07/98 coupe manual US WP0AA2993XS623514 vesuvio/black 408
Im not a VIN expert, but are they serially numbered by US and RoW, in which case you could have two 99 cars with the same serial number just different country codes?
Here is how Porsche breaks down VIN's for MY98, the last 5 digits are sequential regardless of destination country.
996 COUPE (ROW) 99WS600061>10000
996 COUPE (MEX) 99WS620061>30000
996 COUPE (USA)(CDN) 99XS620061>30000
996 COUPE (BR) 99VS629801>30000
996 COUPE (BR) 99WS629801>30000
996 CABRIO (ROW) 99WS640061>49999
996 CABRIO (USA)(CDN)(MEX) 99WS650061>59999
Porsche used the same VIN year digit (X=1999) for all 98/99 built coupes destined for CAN/USA, so the only way to tell what year the car was built is by the door sticker.
Using "W" as 1998, and "X" as 1999, I expect "V" would indicate a 1997 year assembly (for non-NA cars only), but have not seen one to confirm.
I know your headlights are patently not original to your car, because Litronics were not available MY1999, and because your Litronics don't have headlight washers (and all 996 optioned Litronics do). So IMO until further evidence proves otherwise, we have to assume yours is the retrofitted car; and that both cars are early-build 1999
Okay, interesting post here. My 10/98 build has what I believe are Litronics. When activating high beams, the lights move up as they're supposed to. I never did check if the level sensors are on the vehicle as I never thought to bother. Pic attached.
My car was modified (tastefully! ) before I got it...will be an interesting mystery to solve when my car comes out of hibernation in the spring.
I just learned that I used to own a 9/98 car, VIN 3696, that I realize I should not have sold. But I sold it to a friend who loves it, and I see it often.
The car came to me with clear taillights and Litronics but the option codes don't show Litronics. So not sure what to make of that.
Option Codes
c02 Emission Code
xaa Aerokit
xj4 Leather covered ignition lock surround
xkd carbonair vents
xkj carbon defroster trim
xkp carbon speaker covers
xnr carbon center air vent bracket
xnx carbon dashboard trim strip
xpy Carbon instrument surround
xtl Carbon door panel parts
x47 Carbon gear lever ****
x58 Carbon handbrake lever
x69 Carbon door entry guards with logo
x77 Steering wheel airbag, carbon/leather
220 LSD Limited Slip Differential
222 Traction control ASR AntriebsSchlupfRegelung
224 Traction control ABD Automatic Braking Differential
@mstakacs VIN is 3749 and he suspects that it is an original amber car; if so that would make yours amber as well, since yours predates his
The question on the supposed "early-build" 09/98 cars then is: how to determine originality of amber lenses fitment?
In other words, both your and @mstakacs lenses can't be original; because his car was built after yours and his lenses are amber. Its a conundrum...
@islaTurbine I know your headlights are patently not original to your car, because Litronics were not available MY1999, and because your Litronics don't have headlight washers (and all 996 optioned Litronics do). So IMO until further evidence proves otherwise, we have to assume yours is the retrofitted car; and that both cars are early-build 1999
Do you agree?
Correct on the Litronics as I installed them myself. The original headlights have covers that are so thoroughly and snugly attached that I fear I may ruin the lenses if attempt to remove them. The taillights haven’t been touched by me in my near-7 years of ownership and they have the clear top element. Those are what I need to remove to see if they have any sort of production date. For reference, my VIN ends is WP0AA2996XS623653.
That is likely a correctly installed Litronics upgrade kit. Typically Litronics are plug/play in MKI 996, but the levelers and additional wiring are required to activate the self-adjusting hi-beams. Big $$$ spent there
Originally Posted by davidpg
When activating high beams, the lights move up as they're supposed to
Production dates on the lenses will be irrelevant. All that matters is were ambers originally fitted. I believe another way to document this would be to determine if you have the color-thru "sparkle" interior plastics (early 99), or the color-applied "sparkle" (standard 99). Can you post an extreme close-up photo of your horseshoe or console?
It is anecdotally believed all early-builds have the color thru. The difference is stark, as the two MY1999 finishes absolutely do not match (ask me know I know )
Originally Posted by islaTurbine
Correct on the Litronics as I installed them myself. The original headlights have covers that are so thoroughly and snugly attached that I fear I may ruin the lenses if attempt to remove them. The taillights haven’t been touched by me in my near-7 years of ownership and they have the clear top element. Those are what I need to remove to see if they have any sort of production date. For reference, my VIN ends is WP0AA2996XS623653.
Production dates on the lenses will be irrelevant. All that matters is were ambers originally fitted. I believe another way to document this would be to determine if you have the color-thru "sparkle" interior plastics (early 99), or the color-applied "sparkle" (standard 99). Can you post an extreme close-up photo of your horseshoe or console?
It is anecdotally believed all early-builds have the color thru. The difference is stark, as the two MY1999 finishes absolutely do not match (ask me know I know )
Do you have pics of the color-thru vs. color-applied?
12-15-2021, 11:33 AM
). I'll have to look at my lights to see if they have embossed build dates in order to determine whether they are original to the car.
) before I got it...will be an interesting mystery to solve when my car comes out of hibernation in the spring.
)