For anyone considering doing this, I can confirm that it's well worth it and relatively straightforward to install :thumb:
I managed to pick up a genuine 997 airbox on eBay for about half the Porsche RRP, complete with nice shiny plate printed with 'Porsche 3.6'. I also bought a BMC panel filter to replace the standard paper item.
Owning a Tiptronic, I was mindful of the gearbox breather pipe, which connects to the intake pipe between the airbox and the throttle body. I struggled to find a 'cold air' intake pipe that would accommodate this feature. However, I was still keen to block off the resonator box / bypass pipe to generate a bit more noise under load. So, using the plastic cap supplied with the 997 airbox(!), I blocked the port into the resonator box (on top of the airbox) and simply clamped the bypass pipe on top of it. This meant I could retain the OE intake pipe and gearbox breather.
The 997 airbox sits nicely in the 996 engine compartment, using the same base mounting points and rear fixing. It certainly looks a lot better than the 996 item, although is functionally very similar I expect. You have to swap the 997 feed pipe (sits beneath the boot lid and enters the side of the airbox) for the 996 item, in order to get it sitting correctly next to the auxiliary air pump on the left side of the engine compartment, but this is a straight swap.
As for the noise - it's definitely louder / deeper than stock above 4k RPM and at WOT, sounds just about perfect to me! Can't say I noticed much in terms of throttle response improvement, just feels as sharp and smooth as ever.
The 997 airbox when it arrived, clearly showing the resonator box port on top of the airbox housing:
Plastic cap sitting in the bypass pipe opening of the stock intake pipe (can also see the gearbox breather connection I wanted to retain):
BMC air filter, fits perfectly in the 997 airbox housing:
The result, a great looking 997 airbox in the engine compartment of a 996. Sounds good too!
I managed to pick up a genuine 997 airbox on eBay for about half the Porsche RRP, complete with nice shiny plate printed with 'Porsche 3.6'. I also bought a BMC panel filter to replace the standard paper item.
Owning a Tiptronic, I was mindful of the gearbox breather pipe, which connects to the intake pipe between the airbox and the throttle body. I struggled to find a 'cold air' intake pipe that would accommodate this feature. However, I was still keen to block off the resonator box / bypass pipe to generate a bit more noise under load. So, using the plastic cap supplied with the 997 airbox(!), I blocked the port into the resonator box (on top of the airbox) and simply clamped the bypass pipe on top of it. This meant I could retain the OE intake pipe and gearbox breather.
The 997 airbox sits nicely in the 996 engine compartment, using the same base mounting points and rear fixing. It certainly looks a lot better than the 996 item, although is functionally very similar I expect. You have to swap the 997 feed pipe (sits beneath the boot lid and enters the side of the airbox) for the 996 item, in order to get it sitting correctly next to the auxiliary air pump on the left side of the engine compartment, but this is a straight swap.
As for the noise - it's definitely louder / deeper than stock above 4k RPM and at WOT, sounds just about perfect to me! Can't say I noticed much in terms of throttle response improvement, just feels as sharp and smooth as ever.
The 997 airbox when it arrived, clearly showing the resonator box port on top of the airbox housing:
Plastic cap sitting in the bypass pipe opening of the stock intake pipe (can also see the gearbox breather connection I wanted to retain):
BMC air filter, fits perfectly in the 997 airbox housing:
The result, a great looking 997 airbox in the engine compartment of a 996. Sounds good too!
