y2khardtop

I am getting ready to install "Invinca Shield" paint protection on my car, and notice some turbos have th Bumperettes. When were these available, and why?

Thanks!

Eric - Plug Guy

The first 996 Turbos came in with them (maybe it was the first 300 or 500 units). Supposedly the story was the US DOT did not like the ride height on the turbo bumper and mandated US units have these warts.

We tore one apart at the bumper plug body shop and saw what they were. They actually have slits in the bumper to take the tabs from the warts, and a few screws as well. Not so easy to just pop them off and plug the holes. It requires a fill job, sanding and prep, then repaint the bumper cover.

Apparently enough US customers complained, and either Porsche found a way around it or the DOT stopped their nonsense.

There are other stories too, like the turbo is now riding higher than it did initially, or that some guy named Manuell back in the factory put all these warts on there.

y2khardtop

I actually wish they would loose the rear "warts" as well.

Thanks for the insight!

Dave

1AS

The early magazine tests ascribed the bumper warts to Porsche's observation that the revised tt nose did not have headlight crash protection equal to the standard 996. Ergo, Porsche added the little suckers. The US tt rides noticeably higher that the Euro version to meet US headlight regs. One magazine reported that the US ride height actually was more practical in terms of driveway entrances etc, but I've never seen a side-by side comparison of handling with the 2 set-ups.