HiAperture

So one of the smaller reasons I liked the 997 over the 991 was that you still get a physical key and ignition, which seems more sporty than the newer push button setups with a little fob. However I find the housing on the 997.1 key to feel very hollow, light, and cheap. Perhaps this is pedantic, but I see the 997.2 came with a more robust looking key housing, and read on older threads here that the guts can be transferred from a 997.1 key at the dealer for a charge (or DIY if one is so inclined). I am sure someone here has had both keys or a similar experience, is the housing for the 997.2 more solid feeling, or just a different texture?

myw

https://www.ebay.com/itm/07-12-Porsc...EAAOSwDcZbNrv5

get a mint used oem 997.2 above on eBay and the swap the internals yourself (use search function here as there are many people including myself that have done the swap - the inner transponder chip is tricker to remove but with the proper glue remover its VERY easy as well.

i would then pick up a spare china key to replace the buttons section in case the oem lock/unlock key button breaks (which they do)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Buttons-R...AAAOSw1NdajOLy

the 997.2 key is much better looking feels better and wont cause your front trunk to open up by itself when the key is sitting in your pocket.

HiAperture

Great info! thanks

shyamvenky

I did this a few months ago and bought the key fob as well from Amazon. Much cheaper ($15-$20 range) than a used 997.2 fob. Some of the cheap ones don't have the Porsche logo - and that's $10 or so to buy and stick on. Here's the one I bought:
Overall the process to switch the key isn't very difficult, but you have to be careful not to break more than what's needed and be sure not to lose any of the tiny parts.

The button feel itself is different - just search on YouTube for the procedure to swap the keys.

vikingpilot

I did the same...very easy. Used a heat gun to gently heat up the old key fob so I could remove the transponder. My key fob did not come with the
porsche logo so ordered the little metal logos from eBay and glued on. Looks stock OEM now.