BIG smoke

[QUOTE=Philster;12555329]I'm not changing my orange side markers almost out of spite now.

Thus making your car, "unique". COOL

Petza914

If the most basic 997 is so good right out of the box, how come all of yours are GT3 variants? Some of the mods mentioned here are to try and introduce some of that GT3 sweetness into the non-GT3 versions.

I'm pretty sure I'm not a BMW guys since I'm on a Porsche forum, don't have any BMWs, and have 4 Porsches.

Carmichael

Respectfully disagree.

Although yes, my family consists of dyed-in-the wool BMW fanatics (thanks, Dad).

My car has PSS10s and an FSI 3.8, and I still found the car to be a *little* soft and slow. Until I did the PSE hack, I thought the car was too quiet. Straight pipes were fun, but tiresome (I'm getting old - my youthful exuberance in the past dictated an open downpipe was "fine" if you turn the music up). I have a GT3 throttle body and a 997.2 airbox waiting to go on the car, but I need an IPD competition plenum. I'm also assembling parts to make my own custom exhaust.

Sport Chrono is a waste of money. Why do I need a stopwatch or a sport button in a sports car? On a PDK, as you pointed out, however, it is a different story.

My car was a base C2, so I think it needs more aggressive brake pads. I'm saving for a Brembo 380mm six-piston front brake kit, but I'll get to those after I buy a set of 18x9/18x11 OZ Alleggeritas and BS RE71R "Hoosierstones" for the track/autocross. I also need more adjustability in the suspension, so I'll need GT3 control arms and adjustable links as well.

I'm being paranoid about my shift linkage, too. I've read too many horror stories about shift cables breaking in traffic, and I absolutely hate the shift feel of the car. Almost ruins the whole driving experience. My '92 Talon TSI AWD has better shift feel (ball bearing linkages and metal bushings). So I suppose I'll need Numeric shift cables and maybe the Numeric shifter.

The only cosmetic mods I plan on doing are a Getty ducktail and maybe a GT3 front bumper and Sport Classic rear bumper.

Now repeat after me:

This is my daily driver ... This is my daily driver ... This is my daily driver ...

DC911S

Mine is not a DD. I live and work in the city so it's the subway to work. The 911 is a weekend fun toy so upping its tune level is ok for me. But the mods I've done would be fine for DD. I'll not lower it though as DC roads would be hard on it that way and getting into my condo garage is already tricky and I have to angle it in.

bml376

In my opinion, there is no right or wrong list of mods; necessary or unnecessary mods. Its YOUR car, do what you like and what makes you happy. Everyone will have different opinions and routes for altering the car as it came from the factory to suite a particular use case for the car. For me personally, my 997.2 is mainly a track car. So I could care less about the color of my side markers/turn indicators or how loud the exhaust is (PSE I find it just fine and too loud for my neighborhood!). Instead, I chose to make mods to increase the safety (seats, harness and cage), control (suspension, track wheels and tires) and reliability (factory 3rd radiator kit (on a 6 MT car)). Yes, none of these are "sexy" mods, but I felt they were needed to fit my use case for the car. For someone very new to driving a car like the 997 on track, the car as it is is more than enough for me to handle and quite capable on track. I'd much rather take the money saved on additional mods and use it towards track days, track insurance and maintenance. I've never driven a PDK, but sport mode on a 6MT does make a difference in throttle response, or it might just be in my head but I find it to be a bit more than the stopwatch. With that said, I do find it odd to have a "sport" mode in a sports car.

Carmichael

I lied, mine is a sort-of daily driver. I'll take her out as long as it's dry, and there's no snow on the ground in the winter. I usually put 10,000-12,000 miles a year on my car.

I have a not-very-good-as-a-tow-vehicle tow vehicle to use when there's 6' of snow outside and I have a 4 hour commute home.



That snow pile was about three feet tall, too. Gotta love free street parking.

PPadilha07997

I'm 34 and still love the look of my 997c2. I wouldnt change a thing. I like that it doesn't look modern, to me it would make look like I'm trying to hard to make it something it's not. All these guys out there with these awful cheap looking upgrades is a huge turn off to what was already a beautiful looking car. Sorry, just my thoughts.

kisik

Best "upgrade" is to hire a coach/Driving Instructor to teach you how to extract everything from a stock car. She is better then most of us by far. Start with a driver and safety, then whatever touches the ground: right alignment and better tires.

-------------------------
05' C2S

jcsomerv

I agree the car is phenomenal off the lot. Mine is a 997.2 C2 with sport seats (very nice), 19 inch Lobsters, Chrono (6-speed manual so less useful), Bose and PSE. My list of mods in order of importance:

(1) lowering springs and spacers - transforms the look of the car - cannot take my eyes off her now. Hard to over state the visual impact this mod has - I would forgo all other mods for this one if I had to
(2) Shark Werks bi-pass. When paired with PSE ...Transforms the sound of the car - cannot satisfy my urge to run through the gears
(3) steering wheel upgrade (mine is cheesy thin rim)
(4) short shift kit (why are the throws so long?)
(5) semi solid motor mounts
(6) clear side markers
(7) aluminum pedals

(1), (2) and (6) are done. Rest to come. It will then be perfect.

Lahainabry

I like your thinking.

david

Now this is a GD (necessary or not) upgrade list!!!

I've been fortunate to witness the Old Gray Frog turn into a beast with which to contend, and all that I can say is, nice work Dan!!!

When we were out playing with Bobby's 7RS and while I was leading, I could hear the Frog snorting and slobbering and man, when you had to breakaway and head east on Sir Francis Drake, I slowly moved the pack north so I could listen to you ring it out...just gorgeous...

P.S. Note whose 911 the huddle occurred around...not the RS!

Wayne Smith

True ... this! I set up as sweeper for that first leg and was conversing through the window with a salesman as we left the dealer lot that morning. Dan pulled down the frontage road at the last second and snuck into the middle of the group unseen by me. We got to the coast and started opening up. I couldn't see Dan several cars ahead, but I turned to Pam and told her Dan was with us. And for David, Bobby's 7GT3RS was between him and Dan! And that exhaust is just a part of the mod list ... Dan's car makes the argument that mods are good!

golfnutintib

I am responding to the OP at face value - title of thread is NECESSARY mods pertaining to a 997.1 C4S. Thus my response.

You are citing a litany performance mods... all of which are legit in terms of making any sporty car sportier. But in the case of the OP's query pertaining to at 7.1 C4S -- NONE of these are necessary IMHO. Also I am not sure I follow your logic of why suspension mods are particularly necessary on a naturally aspirated car...??

My sidebar comment on the Sport Chrono option refers to 997.2 PDK cars only as being NECESSARY... without it the car's powertrain's responsiveness is totally emasculated by the super low rpm programmed shift points... thus I feel it would be NECESSARY. Has nothing to do with the lap timer wart. This of course does not pertain to OP's 7.1 C4S.

Psymon

I have done all 4 items on your list, for my 2006 C2S.

You mentioned "to make the car more modern" and I assume you are referring to the look of the car. So I agree that these are "nessesary" mods.

1) Dension 500S BT - forget about the super outdated and expensive (to even update the maps) PCM2. Install the Dension and just plug in / pair it with a tablet / smartphone for Music, hands free phone calls, WAZE / Google maps... etc

2&3) LED lights will immoderately make the car look more modern. Should also include the side markers as suggested by others)

4) 991 style headlights - They are available in silver or black housing, and show very different result. IMO the LED color matching to the OEM HID is an non-issue when see it in person. But I think these lights are more suitable for cars with a more agreesisve look bodykit.

golfnutintib

Seriously?? What my cars are have absolutely nothing to do with the OP's query. Leaving this aside, not all of my P-cars are GT3 variants - there would lot less confusion and derision here if people would just read more carefully.

Also, do you understand the meanings of the words NECESSARY vs. DESIRABLE?

OP asked what was NECESSARY and relating specifically to a 7.1 C4S (hardly a 'most basic' 911). Have you driven a 7.1 C4S? I have. If he asked what were necessary mods to a 1992 964 my answer would be very different.

Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with being a BMW guy... that was a JOKE... but Bimmers do need more NECESSARY mods to meet their performance image and mission that a 997 C4S... that was my point.