Stealth.

I have some questions about the bumperettes:

- Can one easily remove them from US rear bumpers?
- How are they attached?
- Can someone confirm whether the US bumper is the same as the European + bumperettes?

Thank you.

ltc

Yes, simple, but you'll likely have a hole in the rear bumper skin and a bracket sticking out once you do.
The 996TT had a single 6mm hex bolt accessed from underneath the bumperette. I haven't crawled under a 997TT yet, but I would imagine it's same/similar.
No, the Euro bumper has a wider opening for the license plate.

996TT folks have replaced rear bumpers with Euro bumpers, supplied by Gert at www.carnewal.com (rennlist sponsor).

GreggT

Really.....that would be the 1st Porsche's done that (that I'm aware)....for 986, 996, 997TT, the bumper was the same......Euro-US.
Orders for new bumpers through PCNA produced Euro bumper with cut-out stamped on the inside (but not cut-out).

.....So, if you told your bodyshop to not cut the holes ( and to remove the aluminum bumperette backets from the 'under bumper'....you would have the Euro-look that you see in all the 1st promo pictures .

38D

There were different US/Euro bumpers on the older cars (993s/964s), but I believe you are correct that on all the water pumpers they are the same.

Ronnie

I hate the look of those bumperettes. Why do you have them?? I'd imagine its some bs legislation or something...but what do they actually do?? Can't imagine they make that much difference in a collision.

ltc

They are required in order to pass the "5mph bumper impact test".
The insurance companies lobbied long and hard to get them.
BTW, they also required a US ride height in order to put them in the correct height...
The whole thing is pretty stupid,

GreggT

Actually they are functional.....if you get 'tapped' on the back.

Because they are Polypropylene, as the rest of the bumper is , they will 'give' a half inch till impact is translated to alluminum 'bumperette bracket'......and that translates force to main alluminum bumper.

The net of that is that all that needs to be replaced is the little 'ette' (if that) rather than whole bumper.

I think it probably also relates to DOT's 5 mph test.

ltc

Agreed, assuming the offending vehicle's bumper height is a close match to the bumperette height.
Of course, if my wife's Excursion were the vehicle behind, I don't think the bumperettes would matter much at all

JFScheck

So Lewis - don't bump me with your Excursion then!!!

ltc

With that thing, I could probably drive over a 911 and think it was a speed bump.....but I do love the thing.

texas911

I think the bumperettes are there just to hide the fact that Porsche is to cheap to have two different rear bumpers with two different cut outs for the different sized plates.

TT Surgeon

Agree, having been tapped twice in traffic with zero damage to the rest of the car, I'll take 'em anyday.

GT3CAR

Me too, I was tagged by a dodge truck after owning the car for three days and I did not have any permanent damage.