Upgrade to heater on 981

[clrboxster]

I have the base heating system on my 2015 981, just fan and heat. Is it possible to have it replaced with the automatic system ie select the temperature and let the system deal with it?

 

[Robin M]

I believe it requires major expensive changes. OPC does not do it as far as I know.

 

[JurassicGTS]

I would imagine that would be prohibitively expensive. Maybe worth asking an Indi if it could be done with parts from a breaker?

 

[AndrewCS]

Recall this being discussed before, don`t think that there was a final conclusion ... no doubt possible but expensive [8|]

Is it primarily for when you have the roof down ?

 

[jed]

I've had both the standard and dual zone systems on several 981 and 718 Boxsters and quite honestly prefer the standard set up.

Yes it's possibly a bit more fiddly on occasion, but I find that I have much more control over the level of heat and where I want it with the non dual zone set up.

 

[Motorhead]

I've had both the standard and dual zone systems on several 981 and 718 Boxsters and quite honestly prefer the standard set up.

Yes it's possibly a bit more fiddly on occasion, but I find that I have much more control over the level of heat and where I want it with the non dual zone set up.

All I’d say to that John is that climate control can also be used in manual mode (on my 987.2 at least), so you have the best of both worlds, including the dual-zone option.[]

I think it’s bizarre that on a so-called premium make car climate isn’t a standard fitment, only offering an HVAC system that you’ll find in a base level Fiesta or similar. Shame on Porsche!

Jeff

 

[clrboxster]

Thanks very much for your messages. I thought it might be expensive but wondered if it is possible, sometimes all the kit is there except the display unit etc.

the car is well equipped and but am surprised the original, from new, buyer didn’t add such a basic thing. No real issue but just Wondered.

Thanks again

 

[Yankee9]

I can add to this as someone who has spent too much time researching (and arguing) with both several OPCs and Indies about retro-fitting certain options that were available at the time of building. This thread is about auto climate control butdetails of my investigations into Park Assist and other kit are relevant as to fitting of auto climate control. The main principle is the same. I have a 2014 Boxster S and about to transition to the 981 GTS, same year. Both cars I have looked at (rarer than Spyders) did not have either Park Assist or Auto 2-zone climate control, which I found astonishing, but no more. This is common on the GTS. The one I have reserved now neither has Park Assist, PDLA, Cruise, Telephone Module, DAB, Bluetooth or SatNav. Probably specced by some rich dude for his wife's 50th birthday as a sometimes car. I have engaged on all items with different OPCs and the big takeaway is this: if it is not on the Tequipment page on the official website for your model, you can't have it, and they can't order it if the part number is greyed out on the parts catalogue. Asking why they can't take the part number from my 981S and put that against the GTS from the same year, the answer is 'Computer says No'. A Club member swore they saw OPC fitting a 3rd party fit at my local OPC this time last year. Spoke to the OPC again and the Indie fitter. The OPC will arrange and sell you the after market fit, if the official part is not available to you, They will take a commission and hand it to the Indie. Unfortunately, this will negate your warranty should there be an issue, and this is especially true of anything that connects to the wiring loom. If they buy the car back off you once you've fitted, they will simply strip the part out and bin it. I have had one Indie tell me that this is not true and they are "approved Porsche aftermarket fitter" and it will definitely not affect your warranty. Back to the OPC and present this and they say not true, but they will continue to feed work to him and interface between customer and Indie. As for the need for the auto CC that started this thread, to me this is an important option and would negate my buying any other car other than a rag-top. However, the last year has shown me that this is not something to bother you. I agree with practically every point made in this thread but when I have the top down in inclement weather, I simply switch from Auto to dash vent heating, aim the vents at the wheel and turn the temp up to something hotter than I would set Auto CC to. Manual might be an ache if you are in e.g. inland Spain where it is too sunny for top down. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence on the subject out there and some is misleading, incorrect and mostly lacks context (like the warranty issue). I think Porsche could help us all if they did a better job of explaining the strategy via marketing comms or even just changed their position on availability of things from the catalogue. I don't get why one 981 built a few months apart from another can have an option but the other can't, when there are no physical or ethical barriers to the fitment, especially when the customer is prepared to pay for it at an OPC.

 

[TJH981]

Further to Yankee9's comments on this. I have a 2015 Cayman 981 and have made numerous enquiries with indies and my OPC on updating the ridiculously old fashioned 'one switch for the temperature, one switch for the fan speed' system that I last had on a car about 20 years ago, to the more 21st century method of climate control.

Sadly I've got absolutely nowhere with this. I've just had the usual, unhelpful, 'that'll probably be very expensive'/'why would you want to do that?' type comments. My OPC and all the indies have said they'd look into it and get back to me. None of them have. I refuse to believe it's not possible, although I do concede that it would more than likely be prohibitively expensive, so I've given up on the idea. Assuming you haven't also given up, good luck with your endeavours.

 

[Yankee9]

I have got further in the past few days, and it does not make for pretty reading. Based on what I discovered, I have withdrawn from the transition 981 Boxster S - 981 Boxster GTS only because of the inability to retrofit kit available as an option on the car at time of production. The background to this is in my earlier thread above. I was also asked the same question as TJH981 as to why I would wan to do this, the answer is simple and has nothing to do with switches. I want to maintain a constant temperature in the car in adverse weather conditions, particularly when the roof is up, not keep adjusting the temperature manually, I want to get on with enjoying the drive. Think Pyrenees in the summer and it's raining, up and down different elevations. After 12 months of searching, I found the 981 Boxster GTS I was looking for, 13k miles on a 2014 plate, mint condition. Unfortunately, no Park Assist, telephone, bluetooth, navigation, any form of music module that was of use, no cruise etc etc. The resolution was to agree a VERY reduced PCM replacement direct from the dealer via the Tequipment catalogue, giving you all the fundamental you may expect from a £50k Porsche, and stick a cruise on as well while you're at it. Two experienced OPC staff in attendance placed the order. 3 Days later got a call to say that although the Tequipment catalogue accepted the order to begin with, later it rejected it when they asked about supply times. So now you cannot have the catalogue part because all the other stuff is missing, even though the point of the exercise is to sell you £4,300 worth of upgrade so you can add other things to it. It did cross my mind whether this was chicanery from the OPC as their massive discount (60%) on the PCM was overruled by someone else. I will park that thought for now as I believe they are good guys. I've cancelled the sale and ordered a Spyder instead. For the life of me I cannot understand the logic of this when the purpose of a business is to transfer money from my account to theirs, to reward shareholders. We are not talking comparing different models or even model years here, both 2014. I also cannot see the point of the much vaunted Tequipment page if it speaks with forked tongue, or unless you want to pay £134 for a faux metallic, plastic petrol cap. I have spoken to 3 different Indies about the climate control and they all mooched the same consistent with TJH981's account. None had ever done it. PCM, no issue, lots of experience that but they all want to rip out the standard head unit and throw it away to be replaced with something Japanese. Seen these at first hand with friends in Porkers the past few days and they all work well. Rear camera, also no problems, Just remember, invalidate your warranty. I've also realised that the more I discover about this lark, the more I understand about the deficiencies of supposed professionals who clearly do not ask the right questions of their own brand when they are in work. Exasperated and moving on with my life. My local OPC will be glad to see the back of me.

 

[Greenman986S]

It maybe the OPCs dont want to take the risk of dismantling so much of the car to fit new looms, sensor (maybe vents) and then have to update the spec card to record the new equipment?

I know from previous experience with MB that retrofitting optional equipment is fraught with unforeseen complexities such as those above

Hope you find a car with the spec you seek

 

[AlistairF]

Hi,

I have manual ventilation in my S. I have never missed full air con (in 5 years) I leave all the vents on and adjust the temp and fan speed as appropriate.

I suspect that climate control has not real advantage when the roof is down...which for me is most of the time except rain. A week doing a very wet NC500 the car never fogged up or was uncomfortable. To me it's certainly not a deal breaker. Also my passenger is mainly in control of the temperature anyway so it's sort of automatic.

Hope you find the right car...but there were other things further up my list !

Alistair

 

[Yankee9]

Re: Greenman9865, possibly. That would mean the OPC is misleading me but I am taking them at face value at present. I have a long-standing relationship with both the sales exec and his boss and I feel their pain. They see me as a guy changing his cars every year and would want to keep me 'in the family', they know I will go elsewhere. I've given you the short version, the Tequipment/retro-fit thing is a nightmare they are not in control of. 981 Boxsters with a good spec are Hen's Teeth, only 301 ever registered in the UK, currently 278? less available than Spyders. I did not wish to hijack the thread from clrboxster, but thought the broader issue of retro-fitting is relevant. It's not until you get into the weeds of the issue that you really find out. Re: AlistairF, we're different drivers. I want the climate to remain constant if the roof is up not the heater as described. I agree, if the top is down I have no need for climate, I turn the heat up and aim the vents at the steering wheel but part from that it is a preference for auto. Certainly agree that there are other things higher up the list - Park Assist being one. I sometimes do business in the car so phone and SatNav is important for me, and I would rather use the official SatNav than phone apps. Don't like having anything in the cabin that isn't either lashed down or stowed away. Sometimes you just have to show accept things and move on. I've bought a 718 Spyder instead.

 

[turbo jonny]

Sorry to hear your frustration and good luck with the Spyder. I was curious to hear your low numbers quoted. Can you be more specific ? After 6 years with my Boxster S im glad i sought out one with all the spec i wanted !

 

[Yankee9]

My apologies, I should have been clearer. In an earlier thread I went on at length about my search for a 981 Boxster GTS. There are a couple of typos in my last message. It should have read 301 Boxster 981 GTS, in particular PDK. Think there were about another 80+ manuals but I had no interests in that. I haven't researched any other 981 numbers but I can see from browsing there are a lot more 'S' available than GTS. The 13k one I reserved and then walked away from has now found an owner who has wrapped it in plastic and is about to take it away. I went back for it 2 days ago and would have traded the Spyder for it at the right price. Found another recently but not sure about the dealer. There are two others on and off the official Porsche website so might be an issue with them. One has had £3k knocked off and just been snapped up, be interesting to see if that appears again. The other is low miles/poor spec which I also reserved but walked away form as I found the dealership to be chaotic and misleading.

My Spyder is an awesome machine and it is the best social engagement platform I have ever acquired, but we all aspire to understand what the 'right' car is for us as individuals.