Kuro Neko

987 Boxster, Spyder, and Cayman side vents all appear to use different inner frames to mount to the body.
Changing from one type, to another, you will also be required to either change your inner frame, or modify your inner frame to suit the new vents.

My Cayman had silver side vents, and I wanted to change to a more subtle plain black or Spyder vent type.

You can of course source different OEM types (my preference) accordingly, and while Spyder appear to have used a unique molded vent frame, at least one supplier (Porsche Shop UK), supplies modified Boxster vent frames instead of OEM-style Spyder frames.
They appear to be OEM parts, but have had the horizontal Boxster frame elements cut off, smoothed lightly, and refinished a little rough.
This is not too much of a problem, as they are black, and you have to peer into the vent to see them, but they also do not have slots to receive the tabs on the outer vents.

As supplied, if you try to install the Spyder vents into the frames, the vents simply pop out and fall on your garage floor.

The supplier of my vent frames was unwilling to do anything other than suggest I try ordering again from Porsche, so a Dremel was needed to cut vent tab receiving slots into the previously modified Boxster frames.
Not an issue if you've got a Dremel, and know that removing the vents will be a different process than usual for Spyder vents - whose frames are usually nicely slotted.

Overall though, without the need for a Dremel it is an easy job, provided you have a heat gun and use it liberally, and at least one trim removal tool.

Self made slots, in roughly smoothed Boxster frame:



Expected Spyder frame and more elegant receiving slots for vent tabs (from somewhere on the internet):



Before and after regardless:






I also note, the right vent frames come molded with an integral rubber body seal, I assume to stop water ingression on the fan side duct, not present on the intake side with that blanking plate present (non de-snorked).
Real photographs in the wild to follow...

Marine Blue

Code

Nice work, they look great! I just popped my vents out the other day and painted them, but eventually want to do what you did, it looks so much cleaner.


987 Cayman S

987 Cayman S

daylorb

Nicely done, the older vents never bothered me, but seeing the comparison I can understand why you wanted to do this - they look great.

andy7777

I got a set of Boxster vents from a dismantler on ebay for $25 and had them painted gloss black. Looks a lot better on a red Boxster and I now have a spare set of the originals. I didn't realize all of the 987 vents were different .

The OP Cayman does look good. As does the one with the E88s .

Kuro Neko

Apologies, I was referring to the raw resin black frame that mounts on the body with those fiddly canoe plugs.
Not the outside vent, which as you say is clean.
It looks like it is vulcanized to the resin, giving an airtight seal to the frame on the body.
The left side doesn't have it...

I liked the look of the other cars here with black vents too, a lot less fussy.
Agree too, the BBS is a classic look, like the RS Watanabe on Japanese cars I guess.

Suppose we should collate the body frame and exterior vent part numbers somewhere...

Rick_H

I really like those, Ive been debating painting the ones on my Carrara White 987 as well. After seeing those Spyder vents I may have to go that route, definitely updates the car

Kuro Neko

If you do...
Unless you want to modify the inner frames supplied, make sure they have Spyder part numbers, and the pressured tabs for locking the outer vents to the frame.

Kuro Neko

AFAIK, the part numbers are:

Boxster
L Frame - 987.504.749.01
R Frame - 987.504.750.01
L Vent - 987.504.561.01
R Vent - 987.504.562.01

Spyder
L Frame - 987.504.749.03.01C
R Frame - 987.504.750.03.01C
L Vent - 987.504.561.04.9B1
R Vent - 987.504.562.04.9B1

Cayman
L Frame - 987.504.749.02
R Frame - 987.504.750.02
L Vent - 987.504.561.02
R Vent - 987.504.562.02

Please do your own checking, and as noted above the Spyder vents should fit all 987 frames, if you modify them accordingly.
The Boxster and Cayman vents are secured with tabs on the vertical and horizontal members, but the Spyder vents by their tabs only on the outer frame.

Here's a clearer look at both sets of Spyder parts, noting the frame (top pic) shows the two sets of tabs on each vertical edge; one to secure to the body (same as on Boxster and Cayman), and the other to secure the outer vents: