boomboomthump

So firstly, many of you may remember that up until about a year ago the price of each door seal was ~$600 (first sticker shock I got when I took delivery of my 993 in Jan of 2020). Around this time last year, the price came down considerably to $300/ea or so (believe Andy or someone posted a thread about it).

Last week I ordered new door seals from Delaware Porsche. Items: 964-531-095-00 & 964-531-096-00 both of which were available for $216 each (discounted price). My order shipped today and it included 964-531-096-00 but 964-531-095-00 was substituted with 911-531-095-03, which was only $120 vs $216.


Here's where I'm scratching my head...

964-531-096-00 description reads "door sealing frame right; for use on 993 Coupe 1994-1998"

• why does this only apply to 94-98 if it is a 964 part?
• Why would this not apply to 964's?
• LINK

964-531-095-00 is now replaced with 911-531-095-03 (this only changed in the last week; I was able to order the 095-00 part a few days ago)

911-531-095-03 description reads "Door sealing frame; for use on both sides on Porsche 911/ 911 S and Carrera 3.0 (1974 to 1977), 911 Coupé (1978 to 1989) and Porsche 964 Coupé (1989 to 1994)"

• This seal can be used on either side yet above part is right side only?
• This has no mention of 993
• Why is this half the cost of the other 964 part number for right side door (that apparently is only for 993's)?
• Why has the above right side door seal not also been replaced with this part number which apparently can be used on either side?
• To further complicate the matter, this part number also says "NLA - no longer available"... what the heck?!
• LINK

A bit perplexing and will be interested to see if the seals look visually different from one another. If they do, I will not be able to sleep at night!

gavonder

I agree, it makes no sense. Especially using the same one for both sides. I'm interested in what you actually receive.

A few years ago I replaced mine & also was shocked. At the time Targa seals where $800 plus. They fluctuated so much in 6 months time, I was able to get them in the $300 range.

Gbos1

Many 964/993 parts are interchangeable and have seen this on other parts as well. Kinda goofy!

PRSWILL

I did mine last summer- Individual part numbers for each side and they were $ 750 -OUCH!

boomboomthump

Me too. Pictures tomorrow.

pp000830

The door seal appears to have always been a 964 part number for the coupe. An updated design around the window frame probably to reduce air noise or lower the air drag coefficient of the body even though the body opening may be the same as the earlier '80s cars,
I buy the earliest 911 part number on eBay, $30, save some money, and then cut a section out of it to repair the threshold that is the key wear area on the door seal. By doing this I retain the better sealing version that came on my 993 up around the window frame where the seal has proven to be very durable. I also end up with enough material to do two or three threshold seal refreshes.
Andy

albin99885

I have an original 993 one i purchased. But worried about install. Let me now the process and how it goes.

grazingcow

Gavonder, where did you find Targa seals for $300? I need to replace mine and haven't found any for that price.

boomboomthump

Not $300 but Delwareporscheparts.com has the Targa seals for $550/ea vs full MSRP of $750. No tax either.

gavonder

I had ordered them from this sight - https://porshop.co.uk/door-seal-targa-993-n-s.html, https://porshop.co.uk/door-seal-targa-993-o-s.html - back in '16. I don't remember exactly what I paid, but I think it was around $350 ish each.

Not sure about now, but back then these things seem to fluctuate like the stock market.

pp000830

The original 911 seal from 1974 on was the same form factor all along its length and simply had its ends welded together at 90 degrees so it could simply be turned around and used on the left or right side of the car. This is also how it was done on my 1986 Carrera. It will probably fit any 911 1974 to 1998. If one looks at the 964 XXX seals they, left & right, have a dedicated shape around the window frame that precludes it from being turned around and used on the opposite side of the car. This design update probably was to reduce wind noise or lower the drag. Anyone can probably install the early design and it will fit although it will look a little different. The omission that it could not be used on the later 993 is probably just an inconsistency in how the cross-reference was handled by its author or it could be the 993 door opening has a slightly different overall opening size, although this is doubtful. I have not ever heard of Porsche backdating a design in a supersession but this is not to say enterprising folks in the aftermarket didn't figure out it can work.
Andy

boomboomthump

Correct up to here, though the seal is smaller and looks nothing like the 964/993 seal.


Not correct. There is nothing different at all in the "welded corner" of the 964/993 seal. It can be reversed just the same and installed either way.

What *is* different (and I just confirmed with my old seals), inside the "puffy" part of the seal which compresses (not the part the goes in the channel) there are several stiff rubber inserts. The original 911 part number has one of these as well at the exact mid-point of the seal. The 964/993 seal has two additional inserts. One is at the very top of the A pillar, along with one at the bottom (mid-point of the seal) and one around the bottom of the door jamb. Comparing my old seals, the left to right have these inserts at the exact opposite positions side to side. Beyond that, there is no difference and they can be installed either way.


Now here's some pics of the conundrum. You can see the 911 seal looks substantially different being it is ribbed (queue someone to drop a Trojan joke). Additionally, the 911 seal is substantially smaller in girth (aye, we're on a roll here).

So if the left side 964 part number is really NLA, this is one hell of a crappy situation. I'm calling them tomorrow to return the 911 part number (not what I ordered). I will then be on a hunt for some place that has the left side 964 part # in stock. Alternatives will be some other aftermarket supplier that has the correct style seal (if any exist) or lastly, just run a right door 964 seal on the right side and live with the fact that those inserts are in different places.

boomboomthump

Actually, I may have the placement of those inserts incorrect. Will need to fit the seal tomorrow and validate. I may have had my old ones reversed. Will report back.

boomboomthump

As much as I hate paying more, Pelican Parts to the rescue. They had 4 in stock and I just snatched one up. $289 plus tax and free shipping, $309 out the door. If anyone is in need of door seals, might want to jump on the last 3 if these left side door seals are truly NLA. Though I really hope Porsche sorts this situation out.


Now I just need to return the 911 part number that was substituted by Porsche.

pp000830

Thanks, I stand corrected, must have confused the rubber on the door frame as I haven't played with the seals in a while.

The two times I purchased seals I purchased them on eBay. Both presented as fitting all 911. The first had the ribbed compressable form you describe and worked fine to replace the threshold section, the second one purchased years later when the threshold was showing use had the smooth rubber compressible form. They both worked just fine on my 993:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/370891755651
Fixing the seal just doesn't seem to be such a big deal?

Andy