Shopping Spree
All the stuff I bought for my 911 after winning the auction.
5 min read
Winning the auction was only the beginning. The Targa came with a gap in its service records from mid-2023 onward, a set of aftermarket 19” wheels which don’t fit the car, and the usual list of small things a 23 year old car picks up along the way. So on October 22, 2026, with the car still sitting in Minnesota, I went on a bit of a shopping spree.
Getting it home
The car is shipping from Minnesota to New York with Preowned Auto Logistics (PAL). Cars & Bids uses PAL as its exclusive shipping partner, and if Cars & Bids is willing to put their name behind them, that works for me. At $1,221, I paid about 30% more than the lowest quote I received, but I am happy with that. Moving a car across the country is not the place to save a few hundred dollars, and I know I will be getting good service.
The parts
Maintenance
With no records from the last few years, I wanted to give the car a proper baseline service. Most of these came from Pelican Parts.
| Item | Description | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air filter | Mahle engine air filter | Fresh filter as part of the baseline service | $35 |
| Cabin air filter | Rennline cabin filter | Cleaner air inside the cabin | $17 |
| Spark plugs | Bosch FGR-5-KQE0 | Last changed on October 23, 2018 - eight years ago | $43 |
| Oil filter | LN Engineering compatible spin-on filter | The shop will cut it open and inspect it for debris, alongside an oil analysis | $20 |
| Drain plug | LN Engineering billet stainless magnetic drain plug | Catches metal particles in the oil, giving an early warning if something is wearing | $27 |
| Brake hoses | Steel braided, DOT-approved, with clear protective jacket | Replaces 23 year old rubber lines for a firmer, more consistent pedal - installed during the brake fluid flush | $127 |
Wheels and tires
| Item | Description | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | OEM 18” two-piece Sport Design wheels (18x8 front, 18x10 rear), used | Back to a period-correct factory look, and goodbye to the aftermarket 19s | $1,500 + $160 shipping |
| Tires | Likely Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 | A great all-round tire for a car that will see real-world NYC roads | $927 |
I haven’t settled on tires yet, but I will most likely go with the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 on the OEM wheels. The alternative is the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus. The 19s might go on eBay, Rennlist, or BaT if they are in decent condition.
Here is a picture of the actual two-piece BBS Sport Design wheels I bought. They are gorgeous and in excellent condition with no curb rash.
Interior
| Item | Description | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shift knob | Black Forest Industries GS2, black Napa leather with black anodized finish | A weighted knob for a smoother, more satisfying shift feel | $205 |
| Gate pattern coin | Black Forest Industries 6-speed gate pattern coin | Shift pattern insert for the top of the GS2 knob | $13 |
| Shift boot | Black leather manual shift boot | A fresh boot to go with the new knob | $18 |
| Seat hinge covers | Left and right pair (99652131501 / 99652131601) | Replaces the plastic covers on the seat hinges, which are known to crack and break on 996s - the passenger side is missing | $60 |
| LED interior lights | ZIYO 12-bulb LED kit for the 996, including license plate bulbs | Brighter, whiter interior lighting that won’t throw bulb errors | $22 |
Exterior
| Item | Description | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front license plate bracket | OEM Porsche bracket (99670110700), used | New York requires a front plate | $25 |
| Bracket spacers | OEM spacers (996-701-801-00 and 996-701-802-00) | Mounting hardware for the front bracket | $8 |
| Expanding nuts and screws | OEM expanding nuts for the bracket and bumper cover, plus tapping screws | The rest of the mounting hardware | $27 |
| License plate frames (x2) | Matte black aluminum frames | A clean finish for both plates | $7 |
Storage
| Item | Description | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery charger | CTEK MXS 5.0 battery charger and maintainer | Keeps the battery healthy while the car is stored over the winter | $82 |
What it all cost
| Where | What | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| eBay | OEM Sport Design wheels, including $160 shipping | $1,807 |
| Pelican Parts | Filters, spark plugs, LN oil filter and drain plug, brake hoses, and license plate hardware | $297 |
| Black Forest Industries | GS2 shift knob and gate pattern coin | $218 |
| eBay | CTEK charger, seat hinge covers, front license plate bracket, and shift boot | $202 |
| Amazon | LED interior lights and license plate frames | $26 |
| PAL | Shipping the car from Minnesota to New York | $1,221 |
| Spent so far | $3,771 | |
| Tires (estimate) | Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 | ~$927 |
| Expected total | ~$4,698 |
The amounts paid include sales tax and shipping. The total does not include the first service.
The wish list
There are a few more things I want, but I’m holding off on them for now:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| OEM 997 short shifter | $359 |
| Rennline aluminum pedals | $273 |
| MadMatz houndstooth front floor mats in le mans black/grey | $200 |
| Brushed gauge rings | $40 |
| ECS Tuning 15mm hub-centric flush wheel spacer kit | $342 |
| Total | $1214 |
The first service
I am taking the car to Caste Systems Performance, a VW, Audi, and Porsche specialist in Norwood, NJ. I first spoke with them about the 2002 Carrera, before its borescope came back bad, and they were so helpful that I wanted to give them my business once I found the right car.
The car should arrive around November 2, and they have room for me to drop it off on November 2 or 3. Here is what I asked them to do:
Computer diagnostics
- A DME printout (over-rev ranges, ignition counter, and engine hours) and a fault-code scan
- Cam deviation readings on both banks, since there is no record of the chain tensioners or guides being done
- Readiness monitor status
Service
- Oil change using the LN filter and drain plug. They will cut open the filter and pull a sample for a Blackstone oil analysis.
- Spark plugs, plus a check of the coils and plug tubes
- Brake fluid flush and the new steel braided hoses
- Engine and cabin air filters
Inspection
- A borescope. Since the plugs will already be out, it wont add much more time to do the inspection.
- Brakes, suspension bushings, tie rods, wheel bearings, CV boots, and exhaust
- Coolant and the expansion tank
- A general check for fluid leaks
- Making sure the car will pass the New York State safety and emissions inspection
Wheels
- Swap the 19s for the OEM Sport Design wheels, mounted with new tires
- A four-wheel alignment afterward. They don’t do alignments in-house, but they will recommend a shop that does quality work.
Quotes only, for now
- Taking the front bumper off to clean the radiators and condensers, which is about two hours of labor.
- Repairing the Targa sunshade, where the right-side cable is broken. They will need to see the car before they can price that one.
Once the service is done, the car is heading upstate to be stored for the winter, with the CTEK keeping the battery topped up until spring.