Dennis C

I've tried lower-priced tires on both the Cayenne and the C4S, and I'm done with it. I'm going back to Porsche recommended tires. Cheaper tires always seem to get noisy, and at the end of their life, I always seem to regret buying them.

For the C4S, the exception I would make is the Michelin Pilot SuperSport. Unfortunately, they don't make the proper sizes for my C4S. For a regular C2 or C4, I think this would be a good choice. I'll be going back to PS2s, which I prefer over Pirelli P-Zero Rossos. I'm also back to Michelins (winter) and Contintntals (summer) for the Cayenne.

Fister Sport Mufflers offer the perfect blend of improved sound without being too loud. It's a modification of your OEM muffler, and it's not expensive. I love mine.

Interesting... mine's having the opposite problem. It waits longer than I'd like before turning on the headlights. Sometimes I turn them on manually.

Does the display in your instrument cluster work with the new nav system? If so, does it work with navigation, as well as audio information? If not, then what does it show?

These look like Italian made replicas of Turbo Look II wheels. These are the solid spoke wheels, not the hollow spoke version found on the turbo. They were obviously used as winter wheels by the previous owner because of the Blizzaks. Also, it's important to note that the proper wheel size for the 996 C4S for winter rear wheels is 10x18, not 11x18 like summer wheels. As mentioned above, you won't find 295 width winter tires to properly fit an 11-inch rim.

I see that one of the wheels in the photo is marked 8x18, which is the proper size for front wheels. What size are the back wheels?

For some additional reference, I purchased a set of "as new" OEM takeoffs from my local Porsche dealer for $500 without tires. Since the wheels you have here are replicas and have some wear and tear, I'd think $300 would be a reasonable value for them if they are straight and not bent at all. I wouldn't plan on any profit from the tires. They're not N-spec and they are obviously not in great shape. I'd keep them on as "wheel protectors" during the sale process.

Good luck!

I'll be interested to hear how it works out. I have a Kenwood DNX-6960 in my 911 and it's great. I've been considering upgrading the Cayenne to a similar system.

Maybe this is something else... I'm not sure. I've read several threads about the AOS making a squealing noise when failing. This noise does sound like it's coming from the front of the vehicle though, not the rear. I can't feel anything in the suspension or steering, I just hear the noise. It's strange...

Just today, I noticed a strange noise coming from the front of my C4S. It sounded a little like a slipping belt - sort of a high pitched squealing. It only happnes under very specific circumstances, and it's intermittent. I've been able to replicate it a few times, but not consistently. The noise happens when I'm coasting down hill, in gear. I've only heard it in 3rd gear and 4th gear at this point. Giving the car gas when the noise is heard makes it stop entirely.

I'm beginning to wonder if the viscous coupling is "slipping", or if perhaps there's some other issue with the front differential. I had my differential fluid changed at the 90,000 mile service a few years ago, but it hasn't had any service or issues other than that.

Any thoughts? Does this sound like a differential or viscous coupling issue? I can already see dollar signs floating in front of my face...

I'll be taking the car to my mechanic to have it checked out, but I'd love to hear some opinions or hear about similar experiences and solutions.

Thanks,

Fister Sport Mufflers are the best bang for your buck. They sound great and they are inexpensive.

When we first bought our Cayenne, I had the same issue. I updated to the latest maps (2008, I believe) and it made a huge difference. The newer maps have much, much more data. I think it's 8 discs instead of 2.

I had the ceramchrome coating put on mine. They look awesome.

Litronic is nothing more than Porsche's brand for their first generation of HID headlights. They are low-beam only, and they use halogen lamps for the high-beams.

2002 and newer models use bi-xenon headlights, featuring a shutter than opens and closes allowing the HID lamps to function as low-beams and high-beams.

As you can see in logray's post, the difference between halogen headlamps and HID headlamps is significant. There are many so called "xenon" bulbs available for sale that are nothing more than a coated halogen bulb. Many people use the word xenon when they refer to HID headlamps. Xenon is a gas that is used in the manufacture of HID lamps, but it's also found in most halogen bulbs. The terms really aren't interchangeable.

Powdercoating can compromise the strength of the alloy if it's not done properly. Make sure you choose a shop that knows what they are doing and has worked with wheels before. I've read lots of threads about broken wheels that were powdercoated by somebody who didn't know what they were doing.

I had the same issue, and once the TSBs were done by my dealer the problem went away.

I'm not sure about your local dealer, but mine carries Porsche OEM batteries and aftermarket batteries that are much less expensive. You might call your dealer and at least see what they have...

There's a TSB on a related issue - I believe it's 9414. The bracket that holds the headlight in place becomes loose and the connection becomes inconsistent. The symptoms include a "shaking" headlight while driving. Mine gave me frequent error messages about my cornering lamps when I had the issue. The bracket needs to be tightened up with new fasteners, and the Loctite (medium strength) needs to be applied to the bolts to keep it from happening again. I had this TSB done to my Cayenne 4 years ago, and it hasn't had the issue since.

You can easily have a set of OEM Cayenne wheels painted or powdercoated black.

I bought a set of Cayenne S 18" wheels from my dealer that were removed from a new Cayenne because the owner wanted a larger wheel. I got the set in "as new" condition for $500. At the time, my dealer had several sets available. I'd check with your local dealer's parts department to see if they have any "take offs" for sale.

Like Cole, I run 18" in the winter because the sidewall is so much larger than my OEM 20" Sport Technos.

Good luck.

It sounds like the primary battery (under the seat) is going bad. If your Cayenne has the optional second battery, it may be the one that is starting the vehicle once the primary battery is unable to do the job. I'm not sure what you mean by interior lights cutting off soon... you mean after you remove the key? The blower motor issue probably isn't related. Blower motors have been known to fail on these vehicles. I haven't replaced mine, but I understand that it's a fairly easy DIY procedure.

Glad it worked out for you. I think it's a good update, because even if you stick with factory speakers, the OEM speakers in a 1999 model are essentially 12 years old now. Getting a fresh, new speaker in place is bound to improve your sound quality.

This picture is the first time I've ever seen it. From a "visibile light" perspective, this isn't a good idea. It would reduce the usable light on the road. Maybe there's another reason for this that I'm not aware of.

Porsche updated PCM 2.0 in 2008 in the US, if I'm not mistaken.

I own a Cayenne and a 996. What I can tell you about DIY maintenance is that the 996 is MUCH easier to work on than the Cayenne. There are some DIY projects you can tackle with the Cayenne, and you can change your own oil, but it's not like the 996.

My summer tires are Continental Extreme Contact DWS. They are the quietest tire I've had on my Cayenne yet. They remained quiet through their effective tread life. I'm buying another set this spring.

FWIW - I had a set of the Hankooks on before the Contis. I had the same experience as you describe. They were good at first, but very noisy as they wore. I got about 30K miles out of the Hankooks, and I got about 33K miles out of the Conti DWS. My OEM tires from the factory were Conti Sport Contact. I only got about 24K miles out of those, and they were noisy. The Extreme Contact DWS is much better.

I'd like to see the interior color and how it works with the exterior... sounds interesting!

I was wondering the same thing, or perhaps the difference in traction in a partially worn vs. a new tire.