Nephrite

When I see pictures of other 996s, they all seem to have side impact airbags in the doors. Mine does not.

My 911 don't have speakers in the doors either, just a storage compartment. I don't have a sunroof and for some reason the seats and gear tunnel leather only - are green. So perhaps the original owner was a bit strange.

I can understand a sunroof delete, but door airbag delete sounds weird. Was airbags in doors only available in later 996.1s?

EVOMMM

What does the date plate say on the inside of your door frame

GC996

Just a guess, but it sounds like the car may have been set up at one time for the track. Not uncommon mods to remove weight.

Jonnybaz

Same for me, 996 C2 early 1998, no airbags in the doors, German spec.
I guess the really early once did not come with these airbags, or option, but that feels strange.

GC996

According to the Porsche 996 Essential Companion on page 381, "All 996s are fitted with a full-size air bag system for driver and passenger as well as side air bags."

Don't know if there is an exception to this.

brontosaurus

Post your underhood options tag & pictures of your interior please!

Jonnybaz

Looks like the cutout for airbag is there though

No airbags in the doors, but speakers

996-CAB

While there is a place in the door frame for an airbag, there is no place in the door panel!

strathconaman

The only fatality I have worked on in a 996 was a side impact where the airbags did not deploy. I suspect most of us are driving around with cars where the airbags are perished, and won't deploy when the car asks.

allcool

Are you saying the airbags have a 'best if used by date''..?

strathconaman

I don't know. But Porsche recommends they are inspected every two years!

zbomb

Mine worked OK.

Nephrite

Date of production was June 10th 1998, made for Switzerland.

Nephrite

DreamCarrera

Wow, that's interesting, you learn something new every day. I've never seen a stock 996 door without the side airbag.