I've decided to buy a 944 Turbo

[Someguy]

Hi,

This is my first post here, I've decided that it's time to get a 944 Turbo, I've been to look at a couple of them, one is well kitted, but there is no mention of the 030 suspension option. It has a limited slip diff (220). And is a late model 1990. Was the 030 suspension standard on this, and therefore not listed, or does this car not have the suspension upgrade?

Is there an easy way to tell?

Thanks, any further advice would be great.

Peter

 

[944Turbo]

Welcome, MO30 is rare on 1990 cars, usually sachs boge non adjustable dampers with spring rates similar to MO30 damper bodies are black - no adjustable spring platform on front, Mo30 is yellow konis. If original will probably benefit from replacement wether sachs boge or Koni. Konis can be rebuilt, sachs boge relatively cheap.

1990 cars often benefit from 10 speaker stereo, leather sports seats, bridge spoiler, and the silver rose onwards larger (250BHP) turbo / gearbox cooler /LSD / hardened 1st and 2nd gears / ac etc.

Tony

 

[Someguy]

Hi Tony

Thanks for the quick reply, the car has those options, with the exception of the 10 speakers.

Does this mean it won't have the updated breaks that were part of the MO30 package?

Thanks again,

Peter

 

[944Turbo]

Sorry forgot those, yes they have the Mo30 brakes, what we usually call "reasonably big blacks" bigger than the 220 turbo ones but not as big as big blacks as fitted to 928 GTS - same as big reds but black.

 

[bertelli_1]

Don't get hung up on the m030 suspension, it is very hard & crashy. Plus it will be worn out & siezed. A modern suspension kit is a much better option (koni inserts or kw etc)

 

[edh]

They are 20 year old cars, so will need some fettling - A good one will still drive very nicely & feel tight. Find out what (if any) mods have been done to the boost control / wastegate. It's not necessarily a bad thing if it's been modified

Check for rust - sills, wings... (The sills rust from the inside)

Aircon can be expensive to fix if it's not working

Don't get too hung up on 030 suspension - height adjustable fronts are no big deal, and there's plenty of better options now. (Gaz group buy on TIPEC?)

 

[JamesBall]

Great choice

I went for an early ('87) Turbo. While I would like to renew the suspension, in reality it isn't bad at all, although it really benefited from a 4-way alignment. Mine has a couple of mods (boost enhancer etc) but is otherwise stock. As above, I wouldn't worry about M030 or not.

If you have the cash, spend more getting a well-sorted car with all the right mods e.g. suspension. It is obvious, but it will save you cash in the long term. If you buy cheap, do so knowing that you will want/need to spend money sorting it out but at least you can do it at your convenience and the health of your wallet.

 

[Suffolk944]

A very wise decision !! I have a 1990 turbo and its a great car , feels quite different from the earlier turbos though which in some ways I preferred.

Would echo everyone elses comments about the M030 suspension, when I bought mine it had refurbished M030 suspension from a 968 CS fitted and for road use it was crashy and easily unsettled on our less than billiard table smooth roads that we endure in this country.

 

[homesea]

I think the MO30 option is well worth it, if it's the full package with roll bars, torsion bars etc etc.

My MO30 car is night and day compared to my early turbo. Yes it's a little firmer but doesn't roll like a standard 944, and can carry higher speeds road corners. It doesn't bottom out as easy even though it's sat lower.

Also MO30 brakes hurt when pressed compared to early turbos that I believe aren't up to the job, especially if running a little extra power.

Most shockers on 944's will have been replaced by now, so I don't follow the point of them being worn out. Just buy the best example you can find, prices are rock bottom (I hope).

 

[sawood12]

Buy on condition - M030 has pro's and cons, but at the end of the day you need to be focussing your attention on things like sill corrosion. Earlier cars are supposed to be lighter and I personally wouldn't attach too much of a premium on the later gearboxes with coolers - the early non cooled boxes are about as robust and reliable as you need and are 15kg's lighter - and the later facelifted 944 models (otherwise known as 968's) didn't have oil coolers so Porsche must have decided they were not needed. Also the LSD's will be shot unless they've been recently refurbished, and if they haven't it is just as costly to install a brand new aftermarket (and better) LSD into a non-LSD gearbox. Medium Black brakes and the M030 hubs are the most desirable items in the M030 set up in my opinion.

But other than that enjoy. I'm jealous.

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: Someguy

Hi,

This is my first post here, I've decided that it's time to get a 944 Turbo, I've been to look at a couple of them, one is well kitted, but there is no mention of the 030 suspension option. It has a limited slip diff (220). And is a late model 1990. Was the 030 suspension standard on this, and therefore not listed, or does this car not have the suspension upgrade?

Is there an easy way to tell?

Thanks, any further advice would be great.

Peter

Just for clarification - I believe that all '89 and '90 cars had what was effectively an 030 setup (brakes, LSD, ARB's etc..) but without adjustable dampers.

 

[sawood12]

M030 was the adjustable Koni dampers, brakes etc - I think the later cars inherited the brakes from M030 and gearbox but not the adjustable Koni's - so they didn't have M030, but most of the M030 kit. M030 is 'Sports Chassis', you can't really have a sports chassis without the suspension!

If the tops of the strut are flat they are not adjustable, if they have a nipple on them then they are adjustable M030's

 

[Suffolk944]

What Scott and Ed said *nods*

 

[homesea]

I didn't realise all the later cars had the roll bars, torsion bars and brakes from the MO30 option.
Interesting that Porsche thought the higher spring rate of the torsion bars and roll bars would work with the normal shocks.
At least with the MO30 option you get the light weight wheels!

Isnt the option 'clubsport pack' not 'sport chassis' or these different things?

 

[Someguy]

Hey,

Thanks for all the comments. Currently I have the option of either a highish mileage car (130,000 miles) with a rough interior, well a rough drivers seat, but I figure that is to be expected from a 20 year old 130,000 mile car. And a good condition interior 75, mile car, which has been sitting for a while, and has sills I could put my hand through, though the rest of the body is sound and straight.

On the 75 mile car the engine didn't fire, but I'm confident it's an electrical issue I can sort easily, it has both the lsd and 030 options and appears to be a pretty genuine car. The 130mile car has no rusting issues, and with the exception of the interior is in pretty good condition, it has a lsd but no 030, the lack of rust is a significant plus. It's been in Ireland since 1992, so hasn't been exposed to the salt, and rust that goes with it.

My plan for the car I get, is to get it in proper working order, and take it on a small road trip to Germany some time next summer. I'd appreciate your thoughts on my two current options, or should I be waiting for something else to come along? I was avoiding modded cars, as I'd rather make any necessary modifications myself, so I'd know what the car had been through.

Thanks again,

Peter

 

[homesea]

130k I dont think is a lot for a 944, the drivers seat can be changed. The cills on the 75k could cost a lot to put right!

 

[Someguy]

Is there anywhere that will re-upholster the front seats? Or is it possible to get new covers for them?

They're cream leather.

Peter

 

[DavidL]

The first car sounds the better bet from those descriptions. Check the mileage poll at the top of the page - 130 is nothing.

Seats can be retrimmed easily if not cheaply.
Sills can be done but you can be looking at 1000 per side to do it properly if you can't DIY.

Old M030 will ride as badly as old standard and you'll need to spend on a refurb or replacement so I wouldn't get hung up on that.

Oh and chances are any LSD that hasn't been rebuilt doesn't work anymore!

 

[Suffolk944]

From the basic descriptions on the face of it I would go for the 130k car a scruffy interior will be much cheaper to replace or refurbish than one with shot cills and if its been well maintained/serviced then 130k is nothing, though you may want to check if the clutch has been replaced at any point...

 

[GlennS]

ORIGINAL: Someguy

Is there anywhere that will re-upholster the front seats? Or is it possible to get new covers for them?

They're cream leather.

Peter

I recently had four panels (the bolsters) replaced on my driver's seat for a reasonable price. If you're within a sensible distance of Bracknell I can PM you the contact details for the guy who did it.