Porsche 996 / Boxster 986: two or three extra gauges in the lower DIN slot

Where can I fit extra gauges in a Porsche 911 (996) without drilling?

In the lower DIN slot of the centre console between the radio and the climate controls, where a storage tray or a navigation unit usually sits. A single-DIN panel clamps into the DIN cage with crush ribs and holds two or three 52 mm gauges in cups in front of the panel. It is designed for the 911 (996, 1997–2005); on the Boxster 986 the fit is likely but not verified.

Car: Porsche 911 (996), 1997–2005: Carrera, Carrera 4, 4S, Turbo, GT3, Targa, Cabriolet
Not verified: Boxster 986 (same console likely); 997 only according to the maker of the reference part
Location: lower single-DIN slot between radio and climate controls
Gauges: 2 or 3 × 52 mm in cups in front of the panel, gauge depth up to 45 or up to 55 mm
Front rings: at most Ø 59.5 mm per gauge – a Defi 52 (58.3 mm) just fits
Fit: slot size taken from a freely published single-DIN tray for the 996; our panel not tested in a car

Where the panel sits

The 996 has a lower single-DIN slot in the centre console between the radio and the climate controls; depending on the car it holds a storage tray, a blank or a navigation unit. Our panel (face 187 × 58 mm) plugs into the DIN cage with a sleeve with crush ribs. Nothing is drilled.

Render of the single-DIN gauge panel for the lower DIN slot of a Porsche 996 with cups for 52 mm gauges — Render: Magmacode

A 52 mm gauge is taller than the 50 mm slot, so the gauges sit in cups in front of the panel and are secured with M3 set screws.

Which variant fits

2 or 3 gauges, for example oil temperature, oil pressure and, on the Turbo, boost.
Gauge depth up to 45 or up to 55 mm, to suit your gauges.
Front rings: the gauges are 59.5 mm apart. A Defi 52 with its 58.3 mm ring just fits side by side. More in Gauge front ring sizes.

Cables and senders

The cables run through the faceplate to the back into the slot. Always use a fused power supply. Which senders you need and where they go on the engine depends on the gauge – the gauge maker’s instructions are what counts.

Safety and controls

The DIN slot sits in the middle between radio and climate controls, clear of the airbag zones. The 996 has side airbags in the doors; according to our records curtain airbags only came with the 987/997. The cups must not obstruct the climate controls or the selector lever – after fitting, operate every control and move the selector through all positions.

What is tested and what isn’t

Our panel has not yet been tested in a 996. The slot size comes from a freely published single-DIN storage tray for the 996 (Printables 1695271, CC BY-NC 4.0); only the dimensions were taken over, and the sleeve also follows ISO 7736. That it fits the 997 too is only stated by the maker of that reference; on the Boxster 986 it is not verified. If the sleeve is too tight, file the crush ribs a little. The tolerance test ring shows whether your printer hits the 52.79 mm bore.

Common mistakes

Wrong gauge depth: the cups are made for gauges up to 45 or up to 55 mm deep; measure your gauge first.
Front rings too wide: more than Ø 59.5 mm will not fit side by side.
Navigation forgotten: if your navigation unit sits in the lower slot, it needs another home.
Climate controls not checked: after fitting, operate every control once.

Printing

The panel prints with the sleeve on the bed and the faceplate bridging the inside of the sleeve; no supports are needed. In the centre console PETG is enough, ASA or ABS also work, PLA does not (PETG or ASA in a car). The three-gauge version weighs 141 g and takes just over 10 hours.

Fitting the gauge panel in the 996 lower DIN slot

Print the tolerance test ring or fit test set in the final material and test-fit a gauge.
Print the panel in PETG or ASA (sleeve on the bed, no supports).
Remove the storage tray, navigation unit or DIN blank from the lower slot; the DIN cage stays in the car.
Feed the gauge cables through the faceplate to the back, fit the gauges and secure them with M3 set screws.
Push the panel straight into the DIN cage until the faceplate sits flush; check the climate controls and selector lever.

FAQ

Does the panel fit the Boxster 986?

Likely, as the 986 is said to have a very similar centre console – but that is not verified. Check first that the lower slot has a single-DIN cage to ISO 7736, or push in the DIN sample from the fit test set.

Will I lose my navigation unit?

Only if it sits in the lower DIN slot. The panel takes exactly that spot; the radio above stays.

Why do the gauges stick out?

A 52 mm gauge is taller than the 50 mm DIN slot. The gauges therefore sit in cups in front of the panel, and the cables run through the panel into the slot.

Do Defi gauges fit side by side?

Yes, just. The gauges are 59.5 mm apart, and a Defi 52 has a 58.3 mm front ring.

Which senders do I need for oil temperature and oil pressure?

The ones the gauge maker specifies for that gauge. Where they connect to the engine is in the maker's instructions; if in doubt, have a Porsche specialist do it.

Updated: 2 November 2026