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Can a Narrow body rear bumper fit a Wide body car?
So EMC2 pointed out something I have been wondering for a while.
It appears my 2009 C4S may have a narrow body bumper cover on it. See pic below. Is that possible? 😬 Wide body (C4) rear bumpers all have the insert shown in the photo inset.
My 997.2 has been in my family since 2012. Only one previous owner so I guess it could have been replaced but no record of it.
Not just the little black inserts you're pointing to but isn't the rear quarter panels what makes the difference between the NB and WB? So I can't see how a NB bumper cover would fit on a WB car.
I've seen someone fit a WB rear bumper to a NB and the rear corners looked a little.odd. I can't see how NB on a WB works well. I haven't had an OEM bumper on either of my 997s for over a decade so don't recall the defining traits of a NB bumper.
it fits as it shares same mounting tabs - i've seen WB bumpers on a NB car - and it will look a tad wider from the back. its been done a few times worldwide - search hard enough and you will find images.
I've never seen a NB bumper on a WB car, but it will physically fit - but it will look a little smaller from the rear.
Take a rear picture if you dont mind - id love to see how it looks
You may be onto something. I never noticed that difference between narrow vs wide before. Now that you mentioned, it seems that 4, 4s, GTS and Targa's rear bumper all have that black insert. Including mine.
Only thing that I have noticed is a slight misalignment here:
Loosen the vertical screw that's right there in the wheelwell, reach around the back of the bumper at the corner, and while pulling it forward with your palm, tighten the screw.
My 997.1 C4 came to me with a narrow body rear bumper installed. It was hit in the rear (lightly) at some point and the shop that repaired it did not bother to understand the difference, installed the wrong rear bumper. The main thing was the side tabs that slot in with the rear quarter panels were too thick, resulting in the bumper sides never fitting flush against the quarter panel.
You may be onto something. I never noticed that difference between narrow vs wide before. Now that you mentioned, it seems that 4, 4s, GTS and Targa's rear bumper all have that black insert. Including mine.
Not the case - I have owned 4 widebody 997's (2 C4S, 1 C4 Cabriolet and my current C4 Coupe) and non of them had/have the black piece/section under rear side of bumper.
Last edited by groovzilla; 05-16-2023 at 09:57 PM.
Not the case - I have owned 4 widebody 997's (2 C4S, 1 C4 Cabriolet and my current C4 Coupe) and non of them had/have the black piece/section under rear side of bumper.
Not the case - I have owned 4 widebody 997's (2 C4S, 1 C4 Cabriolet and my current C4 Coupe) and non of them had/have the black piece/section under rear side of bumper.
Originally Posted by jbkusa
Interesting… well that makes this more confusing.thanks Groove!
Originally Posted by jbkusa
Maybe .1 widebody cars don’t have the little insert behind the rear wheel.
Just to add to the confusion, picture attached of the rear of my -11 GTS with the black insert. So maybe it's just on .2 cars. Never noticed it or thought about it prior to this thread.