Par4Ace

I purchased a 2007 C4S from a second owner that he claims the car has the X51 package. He didn't know too much about the car, or Porsche at all, other than the original owner was a New York Ranger and it had the powerkit. It has the factory X51 air box but when I ran the vin decoder through suncost the X51 package wasn't listed. I've driven other 997 C4S and the shifter throw feels shorter and the car seems faster but how can I tell if the car has it or not? Would it be a dealer installed upgrade if it didn't roll off the line with the X51 powerkit? If so would the dealer in New York have that info?

Any info would help! Thanks.

Par4Ace

Here's a pic of the airbox

jamesinger

The airbox looks like an X51 airbox.
Look at the headers too, they are distinct.

Oh, and I think the kit comes with PSE
on a 997.1 the tips will look like this

sandwedge

Pretty sure the 997.1 X-51 kit had different headers than stock. Your best bet may be to take the car to a Porsche dealer, get the car on a lift and they should be able to tell you what you've got. I think the aiirbox can be added without the rest of the X-51 components which are mostly internal. Doesn't look like Porsche sells the full X-51 kit anymore for any of the 997 models.

BTW.....the shorter shift throws have nothing to do with the X-51. Just one of the short shift kits available out there.

jamesinger

There is a way to tell from the intake plenum too but I do not know what it looks like. I would assume it is aluminum rather than plastic.

997gr8

Those intakes looks like the regular ones, not the x51 type.

Par4Ace

The headers definitely look like the X51 version shown in your photo. I've had the car on a lift already. So that's good news!

Par4Ace

I had read somewhere a while back that the X51 power kit did include a factory short throw shifter.

The 2nd owner added an AWE tune exhaust with different cats and tips so the tips are no longer factory.

#997gr8 from all the research I've done the air I take is factory on the 997.1. The difference I've seen is that on the 997.2 they badge them with "exclusive powerkit"

I appreciate all the info gents!

997gr8

My 2006 C4S (with factory x51) has quite a different looking intake to yours (but identical to several other 06/07 powerkit engines I have seen).

I strongly suspect that someone has added certain powerkit components to your car, the headers and airbox can be upgraded without removal of the engine. The intake necessitates engine removal.

BTW, my car does not have a short-shifter, in-fact 5th gear is somewhere near the passenger wing mirror.
What was included with the x51, was the factory sports exhaust system (complete with bypass button on the centre console).

Hope this helps.

Petza914

If a 997.1 has the sport Chrono option, it will not have the separate PSE button on the dash, just a Sport button, and that's whether it has the X51 power kit or not. With sport Chrono, the only way to open the PSE exhaust valves is with the sport button. You can then press the PASM shock button to put the suspension back in regular mode, but there's no way to move the throttle mapping back to regular.

There are a few internal engine differences with the X51 kit, but the most notable external ones are the headers and airbox. I don't know of the throttle body is a larger diameter with the X51 or not.

If the car came with the X51 kit from Porsche it would be on the build / options sheet though. If someone added it aftermarket, it wouldn't make cost sense to do the internal engine work, so likely not a complete X51 kit and shouldn't have been represented as such.

Par4Ace

X51 or Just aftermarket AWE headers?

997gr8

Here are some shots of mine:






It’s 7’ up in the air, on a parking lift for the winter - so let me know if you want any other pics!

Par4Ace

[QUOTE=997gr8;16486361]Here are some shots of mine:

all the welds appear to be exactly the same on my headers, I'm seeing no difference. Would it be possible for a young hockey pro athlete that just got signed by the NY Rangers to walk into a Porsche dealer and be upsold the X51 package? I'd like to think it would especially when $$ isn't an issue. If it were me, I'd probably just buy a Turbo and drive her home if I could afford it, but I don't have pro athlete $$. I have the original dealer info, it's not going to hurt to ask. I'll keep you posted.

Much appreciated!

BTW I had the 997 alternator/starter cable replaced and it had made a significant difference in starting the car. I have a shop near Chicago that I'd recommend..

8Lug

PM me your VIN # (or post it here) and we can quickly find out.

jamesinger

^^^ if it was added by tecquipment at the dealer, it will not be on the build sheet.

One thing I find interesting is how dealers spec cars. I noticed this when I was shopping for one. Dealers will spec floor models where they will do one with all the luxury options, then one with all the sporty/performance options, and then one where someone ticked every possible box. I noticed this first when shopping for an Audi Avant but I noticed it again when looking at Porsches. These are cars NOT specced by owners first and then built but cars specced for dealers to put out and sell off the floor but I do not know much more than what I have observed. For example, my Avant was specced so nonsensically unless you take into account a dealer just straight up checking every single possible box on the build sheet. The point is, if I was going to buy my specific car I have now new at the dealer, I think the spec would be PERFECT if the X51 kit was added. I cannot think of one thing I would change about my car if it just had an X51 kit, which I can partially cobble together but it'll never be the same thing as if it were specced from the factory.