New Member Intro: Midwesterner's 991 and Mod Journal
 

Hi All,

I had originally planned on creating a thread about my recent 991 C2S purchase, but I am now going to turn it into a journal regarding my mods and ownership experience. I have seen Money’s 2536 and SM_ATL’s threads. I hope mine can be as interesting since I blew most of my funds on the purchase of the car itself!


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The Decision to Buy the 911
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Let me come clean now- before owning a 911, I was a diehard BMW fan like many others on this forum. In fact, I still see a BMW and reminisce about the many wonderful attributes of the brand. They have a loyal enthusiasts following and I had very positive ownership experiences. I have had some reservations about the direction of BMW as a whole, but I understand that the same “reservations” could be applied to any car manufacturer in today’s environment.

First, my automobile history. My last car prior to a 991 was a 2007 BMW 335i coupe (my third BMW). Even though it was an efficient and attractive car with gobs of torque, I wanted something more aggressive for my next automobile. I knew I could tune the N54 power plant, but I wanted to keep things stock since this was my daily drive and I did not want to worry:D. My 335 had KNOI yellow shocks and H&R sport springs, 19 inch wheels on Pilot Super Sports and a few visual mods.

My wife also needed a new SUV recently and we test drove the X5, Q7, and the Cayenne. We ended up purchasing the Cayenne and the build quality and driving dynamics really opened my eyes to the magic in Stuttgart!

This summer the new M3/M4 hit states side and I was fairly certain it would be my next car. I have two children and it offered great practicality, a step up in performance from my 335i, and nice styling. A very close friend of mine, jawwadh from m3post, owned a 2008 E90 M3 and we always discussed the possibility of owning M4s. We have very similar personalities and test drove 3 different M4s in Chicago. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but something was lacking. The M4 is a very fast car and looks the part. I was set on getting a Sakhir Orange on speed cloth interior. The new car warranty and spacious interior was a huge draw. And, the M4 seemed to address all the shortcomings of the E90/E92 M3 (poor gas mileage and lack of low end torque). Several posts on this forum and E90post have addressed the sound issue and I did not find it exciting at all. Specifically, the cold start made me cringe, but once it was warmed up, I thought that it was acceptable. A fair trade off for all the positive attributes of the car.

I knew that this purchase was going to be expensive and I needed to make sure I got it right. Therefore, I decided to drive a 991 C2 and a 991 C2S. Since I wanted to stay within a certain budget, I had to focus my search on a preowned 991 and I was fortunate to find a dealer with both versions on the lot. After 45 minutes in each car, I was hooked like drug addict. The sound of the flat 6 sent tingles through my spine, the driving dynamics were unparalleled to any other car I had driven, and the built quality was on par with the Cayenne (or better). However, I wanted to stick to my budget and the thought of finding a 991 C2 S would be challenging. I was not sure whether I would go for the 3.4L. I read countless reviews of both versions and I knew I could be excited in either. If I purchased a C2 over the S, I would feel some level of regret and I wanted to got this purchase right the first time around. I decided to search the market for a 991 C2S and, if I found a perfect specimen, I would go for it.


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Finding a 991 C2 S
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I actually got very lucky when it came to finding a C2 S. I knew that it was going to be difficult. The problem with buying a used car is that they don’t make a used car factory! If you are a forum member, you are probably like me: extremely particular. Not only did I want specific options, but I also demanded a car that had not been abused or neglected. I can’t handle when an owner does not regularly wax a car or when the side bolsters look like hell (I am a bit OCD)…I really wanted to focus on a few colors: white, platinum silver, agate grey, or sapphire blue. Then, I needed PDK, sports exhaust, carrera S wheels in satin, sport design steering wheel, black interior, etc. I search dealerships all over the country and focused on places where I had friends and family. After looking for several months, I was starting to think that I may need to focus on a C2 or an M4 instead. However, I drove my local dealer and saw a beautiful 2012.5 991 C2 S with all the options I wanted except for sports exhaust. They had not listed in on line yet since it was just traded in. It seemed as though there were enough aftermarket options on the exhaust and a retrofit of the OEM version was easily possible. The car already had a clear bra and I got the previous owners contact info. I sheepishly called him and after an awkward introduction, asked 20 questions. He assured me the car was properly pampered and his wife made him sell it for something more practical. He already had two toys (a Ferrari and a BMW track car) and I felt comfortable that he was an enthusiast. I negotiated a great price and a few hours later, I was the new owner of a 991 C2 S!

I decided to trade in my trusty 335. It served me well for 72,000 worry free miles!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...1eb28c54f3.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...9e7641c7d6.jpg


Here is my final good bye with the 335 (back to stock):

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...c59ed5ea59.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...6ac53093c0.jpg



The 991 C2 S is safely parked in my garage.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...8d47cc54ef.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...f625882d0f.jpg


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...01fc4066f8.jpg


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...9c3a823547.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...a48f05b595.jpg

I've had the 911 for almost two weeks now and there is a reason why this car serves as the benchmark in the industry. There's not much to say to add onto what others have said already. It is acrobatically nimble, oozes personality, and will has an unmistakable shape that will transcend time.

I must confess this experience has reinforced that I am living a truly blessed life. My biggest worry was whether I wanted a M4 or a 911. Most people dream of owning these cars and the realities of growing debt, layoffs, and financial hardship are their most important reality. I'm sure many of you reading this are similarly blessed. Ironically, the car purchase has made me appreciate all the immaterial aspects of my life. I'm grateful every moment for what I've got, and hope to enjoy this car in health and in safety for many years to come. I wish the same for you too!

Thanks for reading!








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Modification Journal
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REMOVING THE FRONT LICENSE PLATE AND FIXING THE DAMAGE

Well, one of the first things I noted on my car was that the previous owner (or dealership) put a front plate on the 911. In IL, its the law, but I always ride dirty and have never gotten a ticket. I intended to do the same on this car, but fate had other plans. My first mod was to pull off the front plate an assess the damage.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...8964c011a8.jpg


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...44bd12a5e7.jpg

This is the type of stuff that makes me cringe...:eek: To add insult to injury, there were four holes!

After some extensive searching on line, I came across BumperPlugs.com I spoke to Eric and he was extremely helpful assuring me that this was the best solution. Two days later, the plugs showed up at my house with very clear instructions.

Installation:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...ef973fc9c0.jpg


The final result:


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...3c3ac67dc7.jpg


Overall, I am happy with the result. I'll add some additional pics from a distance, but its a huge improvement and I no longer cringe when I see my car.

My fellow gearhead, jawwadh from e90post, helped with the installation and for moral support. Its tough to drill holes into your car and it helps to hold someone's hand while taking the plunge. He is a good man!!

POWDER COATING WHEELS AND MY WINTER SOLUTION

Those of you from Chicago should consider Sergey's House of Wheels. I am not affiliated with him and have never even used him. But the reviews are tempting. One of the "compromises" I had to make on my purchase was getting the silver wheels. Not much of a compromise, I know. To fix the issue, I may refinish them at Sergey's using the following color (Matte Charcoal Metallic):

https://m.facebook.com/sergeyshouseo...ce=46&refid=17

Thoughts?

While we are on the subject of wheels, I just purchased a set of 19' wheels from the tirerack. I ended up going with 19 Sport Edition Cup 4 Silver wrapped in Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie II tires. I know many folks have been happy with this set up and since I am daily driving my 911, I need a good winter wheel/tire combo. I expect to put this on the car later this week and will report my feedback.

Welcome and congrats!!!

Keep us posted.

Looks like you kept your BMW looking perfect.

OEM MATS and V1 RADAR

Clearly, I am a bit excited about the new 991. I stopped by the dealership and purchased some OEM all season rubber mats. I like the subtle silhouette of the 911 on the mat. In addition, they are a necessity in the winter. I thought about weathertech mats but the were double the price. I prefer the functionality of weathertech and the look/price point of OEM.

I don't encourage speeding but I am a fan of situational awareness. I installed the V1 in the 991. There are numerous threads about this detector vs the passport 9500. The passport is on sale at Costco this holiday season for $379. Not bad at all! I am accustomed to the V1 arrows and the false alerts are not terrible. I would recommend either but those that like the arrows will never make the switch😁



https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...7fca683cdc.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...af67fc450f.jpg


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...b148dac820.jpg

"situational awareness" I love it!

I like to be aware of any situations that may cause me to get a ticket too!

This man's car is sick and I can't think of a more deserving person! The car is very clean and I look forward to the up coming mods! He is the only person I know as anal as I am about my car!

- man with a lowly m4 on order

GARAGE FLOORING

I have seen some sick garages on this forum. It recently inspired me to spruce up my own garage with some basics. I started with dry wall and adding can/pot lights. My family was amused by the lighting! hilarious

Next, I added some epoxy coating to the floor, but after one winter it was toast. In addition, my summer pilot super sports were not good on that surface since they were soft/sticky:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...a9eb12bdbc.jpg

In search for a more practical solution, I researched MotoFloor® Modular Garage Flooring Tiles. They were on sale at Costco and had solid reviews. I figured it was worth a shot. I received 14 boxes of tiles and spent a 4 hours on a Saturday with a friend installing the tile. Here is the end result:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.6sp...aa1321da97.jpg

I'll let you know how the tile holds up this winter. If you are interested in the tile, check it out:

http://www.costco.com/.product.10000...oryTopProducts

congrats on getting a 991, welcome to the family.
I like the bumper plugs...wish it wasn't mandatory to use front plates in the UAE =(
you need: 1- Colored center caps 2- Love the color you put (facebook link) for the wheels, Think it will be a nice combo with the car

Congrats on the new ride and welcome! Great start to your thread already!

Congratulations!! The new additions looks superb! How's the wife like the Cayenne so far? I look forward to reading many more posts in the future :)

Thanks for the great responses!

The Cayenne was the gateway drug for the 991. If you require the space of an SUV, I would highly recommend it. The fit and finish is typical Porsche and the driving experience is wonderful. I have seen comparisons to sedans and sports cars, which I think is unfair and inappropriate. However, in comparing the Cayenne to other SUVs, its blows the competition. The fact that folks compare it to a sport sedan or coupe is a compliment in itself.

Congrats!

This thread is already a winner. I look forward to reading many more posts.

Welcome aboard,,,,
I've been lucky enough to be driving Porsche's for the last 14 years and there is nothing like it. You have a way with words and put it so well.

You're floor looks fantastic. I look forward to hearing how it stands up to daily abuse. Am also interested in how it cleans up from tire marks, stains, salt, etc.

I also like your foam-wrapped pole! We here understand! ;)