... are the latest hot topic with Porsche vehicles.
Recently, I've had a bunch of PMs and e-mails asking me about the issue and I decided to try to explain it all here.
About 10 years ago we started noticing the issue.
The back end of the door panel would start to curve upwards ...
... and then the top of the panel would start to unglue itself from the frame making an unsightly curve.
This was happening on 991s. After some months, we started seeing it also on 981s, then 992s and 718s, now also on Macans and Cayennes.
As usual, when it happens it's generally just out of warranty and Porsche only offers a replacement at $1,400 - $2,600 per panel plus labor.
The issue is not Porsche's fault. Back in 2010 a new regulation went into effect in Germany that doesn't allow car makers to use solvent-based adhesives.
So, they had to switch to water-based which doesn't do as well in hot environments such as the inside of a car, especially the dark colored ones.
Some people say, OK just use the strongest cement available and that's it. Not so fast, because these cars have side-impact airbags in the doors.
The door panels are designed so that the top part folds down and allows the airbag to deploy completely, so in any repair this has to be considered.
We have been looking at the issue since it started an some years ago developed a way to mechanically fasten the panel while allowing the airbag to deploy.
Through those years we've refined the repair and we're now doing a lot of work for dealerships and individuals throughout North America who ship the panels to us for repair.
If you have a delaminating panel and have questions, feel free to contact me, or check our website: [
pedrosgarage.com].
Happy Porsche'ing,
Pedro
Pedro Bonilla1998 Boxster 986 - 311,000+ miles:
[www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer - PCA National HPDE Instructor - PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)
Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar
"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" ... Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in "LeMans"
"If you wait, all that happens is that you get older"... Mario Andretti
"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose" ... Ayrton Senna