Planet 9

Hey Guys

I'm a bit irritated by the silver surround on the instrument cluster, it reflects into my windscreen. Has anyone bought the 'S' cowling or wrapped the top?

Any tips/techniques would be much appreciated.

Thanks



Alex

SM_ATL has on his CR, you should check out his build thread on the mod section.

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12 Porsche Cayman R
08 Porsche Boxster S RS60 Spyder

It's easy to put the hood on. Basically, just follow the "hood removal" article in reverse. Took me about 40 minutes or so, and that's with being extra careful and taking plenty of time. The hardest part is just pulling off the piece of trim under the gauges (use a plastic pry tool in addition to pulling). You'll need a medium-length T-20 screwdriver.

The standard vinyl hood is about $200 cheaper than the leather-covered one. I bought it from Suncoast (the leather one is on their web site, you'll have to call for the standard one).

I agree the removal of the cowling is a big mistake.

The replacement cowling seems expensive. Any cheaper solutions ?

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2011 Cayman R (peridot, manual, AC, CDR-30, audio interface, phone prep, ParkAssist, sport shifter, cup holders) ... Fawlty Lemon
2010 Skoda Octavia VRS ... Perfectly Faultless

Agree as well - it is an issue - but one I knew about before I bought the car. It had been reported here and in reviews.

I would hate to retrofit a hood as that detracts from the special look of the car. I wonder about a matt black paint - looking at K-Man S' article about replacing the dial plates, it would seem, once you have removed the instrument cluster, the hoods separate from the dials - but there is no pic of that part alone, but my guess is it could be etched with a primer and painted.

Speed Yellow Gauge Faceplate - Articles

Maybe someone who has removed the instrument cluster can chime in on this.

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The Exocet - Cayman R - Black/Silver Contrast, Sport Bucket Seats, Full Leather/Alcantara, PCM, XM, SP+, Park Assist, Xenons, PDK, Sport Chrono+, Auto A/C, Auto Dimming Mirrors, Rain Sensor, Alcantara Sport Design Wheel, Silver hood emblem, "Copeland" Mesh, Carnewal GT Exhaust mod.

Maybe they could covered in vinyl. 3m makes a carbon fiber look vinyl. Not sure how it would look though.

Boy, you were quick to decide that! I was concerned about reflections from the silver surrounding the gauges but haven't been bothered enough by it to make a change(Yet). I think I would consider a matte black vinyl as an easy solution (inexpensive and easily reversible too) before considering re installing the cowl or painting the gauge trim.

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MY GARAGE:
CAYMAN R 2012
AUDI A4 2008

PREVIOUS RIDES:
2008 COBALT BLUE CAYMAN S
2001 AUDI S4 Santorin blue
1991 Mk II GTI 16 V Montana green

Have a look at it. Not easy to cover in vinyl as the gauge hoods join together with the centre gauge hood protruding from the other two - seamlessly wrapping vinyl around all those angles without visible cuts or creases is going to be a work of art. I had a look, hence my suggestion that painting might be a better alternative.

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The Exocet - Cayman R - Black/Silver Contrast, Sport Bucket Seats, Full Leather/Alcantara, PCM, XM, SP+, Park Assist, Xenons, PDK, Sport Chrono+, Auto A/C, Auto Dimming Mirrors, Rain Sensor, Alcantara Sport Design Wheel, Silver hood emblem, "Copeland" Mesh, Carnewal GT Exhaust mod.

IIRC somebody here attempted to paint the "tubes" and ran into trouble due to the clear plastic not separating from the painted plastic.

If anybody is willing, I'll trade my lava gray instrument pod shell for your silver. That should cut down on the glare some.

I don't have a problem with the reflections. Yes, its visible but it's in my direct eye line. Perhaps its because I'm 6"3 tall, but it's fine with me.

But Wwat I'd like to have nevertheless are the black surroundings instead of the plastic silver. I don't know how it'll look, but I think it would look better.

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Generous offer ducky!

Looking at it, I think vinyl could be applied by leaving an exposed bit of the silver just under a centimeter wide on the center gauge. I have neither the skill, the patience and frankly, the eyesight to create the template and the only other issue would be what the exposed vinyl edge might look like.

I agree - if the clear plastic cannot be separated from the gauge hoods, it's a problem to paint.

This thread probably belongs in mods...

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The Exocet - Cayman R - Black/Silver Contrast, Sport Bucket Seats, Full Leather/Alcantara, PCM, XM, SP+, Park Assist, Xenons, PDK, Sport Chrono+, Auto A/C, Auto Dimming Mirrors, Rain Sensor, Alcantara Sport Design Wheel, Silver hood emblem, "Copeland" Mesh, Carnewal GT Exhaust mod.

Am I the only Cayman R owner that has never noticed said reflection? I like the look of the exposed tops of the gauges.

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King Tut
2012 Porsche Cayman R: cayman.ridedomain.com
1987 BMW 325is SpecE30: spece30.ridedomain.com
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No you're not the only one, I have a RS60 and a CR, both without the gauge covers and I don't have a problem with reflections.

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12 Porsche Cayman R
08 Porsche Boxster S RS60 Spyder

I would be very wary of painting or taping the rims of the gauges. Either action might not be easy or inexpensive to un-do later. And, to do them properly, might end up costing as much as a hood.

I put the hood on mainly because I think the dash looks unfinished and incomplete without it. Believe-it-or-not, I actually like the hood. Besides, this is very easy to reverse if I ever want to and was done with 100% factory parts, so I knew everything would fit properly and would hold up over time.

I haven't noticed it. There are a lot of vehicles that have veiling glare issues, some that are much worse than this. however it is a design no no to place a light colored element on a dark or black IP cowl. If the entire cowling was a light color the whole thing would glare in the windshield, what is sometimes more noticeable is a small element like these silver trim rings that stand out. When I first looked at an R I wondered what the designers were thinking when they removed the gauge cover and didn't paint the trim rings a darker color.

People that ware glasses deal with this all the time and their brains learn to ignore these images. Drive your cars more and your brains will solve this problem for you!

King Tut,

I must be the fourth if you are the first,dkky996 second,Sknot is the third. The RS60 Delete is all good, it really bothers you or it does not but does not seem to be an in between. I wonder if the interior color of the dash comes into play, I have black.

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2010 Black Cayman (Deceased)
2012 Cararra White Cayman R

I noticed the reflection for the first time this evening. I usually don't drive at night but I was late leaving the lab today and around dusk I noticed the reflection. Not a big deal to me.

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2012 Peridot CR (Daily driver)
2007 BMW 328i (Wife's driver)
2000 Miata (Supercharged autox fix)
1999 Volvo XC70 (Beach car & dog hauler)
1993 Ford E250 Cargo Van (Autox tow vehicle)

+1, the no instrument cluster hood option looks really cheap, didn't like it on my 08 CSS and don't like it on the CR.

Went ahead and ordered the standard non leather Boxster version of the hood, since my CR does not have the sports chrono wart it will look better without the hump that is present on the center tach dial on the stock Cayman cluster hood.

Btw: was shocked to learn that trim piece costs $300.00+ even with the standard Suncoast discount below MSRP. PCNA should send vouchers for those of us who want to install the hood .

I also did not notice the reflection. I'm 6'4", so like somebody else mentioned, maybe it has something to do with that.

For those looking to modify it with paint or vinyl, what about something clear, so that the cuts are not as noticable (similar to the clear bra material)--would that reduce the glare?

Fifth.

ed

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2012 Cayman R PDK, PSE, SC