is M030 on a 968 worth 2k?

[CoupeMan]

just spotted a 968CS thats identical to my Sport in colour, year and mileage except its a CS, has M030 and costs 2k more, im not really thinking of swapping already (know i would end up losing loads) but having never driven an M030 CS was wondering what the M030 benefits on the road would be, im pretty happy with my Sport as a pure road car (electrics are nice to have, still fairly raw but a decent stereo and acceptable ride over broken roads, i also doubt its any slower in a straight line, its only 30kg heavier)

obviously adjustable suspension and M030 brakes would have been a bonus, but is the LSD a big difference that can be felt in fast road driving tho?

[diver944]

IMHO as a pure road car you might as well stay with the standard suspension. The stiffer M030 really comes into it's own when used on track. However, a CS just as a road car - are you mad? Get it out on track right now

I have a 944 Turbo with similar M030 Koni suspension and it is much much stiffer than my 944 S2 which feels so so soft in comparison. However on the road the S2 is the better car

[CoupeMan]

have to admit at times on very smooth flowing tarmac the sport does feel a touch soft (tho this could be due to tired dampers/bushes etc), the car is still very sharp on turn in and there is a minimal amount of roll but i guess this is the compromise for when the surface gets broken and choppy

having run a car with adjustable suspension before i do miss that satisfying tailor-made feeling you can get with it after tinkering/experimenting

the brakes on the Sport id rate as adequate to good, so an upgrade there would be welcome (and probably cost 2k if aftermarket alone)

the LSD is the unknown factor to me, TBH if that car had come up before id have paid the extra provided i could fit in the recaro's and live with the ride but thats always the way isnt it?

think ill console myself in investing in a decent backbox for the sport, it really needs a better voice imo, any views on induction kits/airbox mods etc?

[diver944]

You need to take a look at some of the posts in the discussion forum at www.968.net . A UK owner has helped develop a very impressive adjustable aftermarket suspension setup that not only offers ride height and stiffness but also camber and caster. It can be set softer than standard and harder than M030 IIRC. A well known southcoast independant fitted and developed the package.

Also plenty of talk re power mods on there

[Thom]

You could also fit non-M030 konis like these of the M474. I believe 968 and 944 S2 springs are the same diameter so they would fit perfectly, you can even keep your stock springs.
As far as ride stiffness is concerned I find them to be just at the limit between road and track use (mine are set at the stiffest).

I would highly recommend them. The handling has radically changed since and I would not want anything stiffer. Next step is M030 anti-roll bars

[diver944]

Hi Thom, I know you are in France but where did you get these Koni M474's from? I must admit I thought they were only for earlier 944's and am surprised to hear they fit S2 and 968. My S2 struts are 146,000 miles old and would surely benefit from replacement.

[Thom]

I got them from Martin Auto Sport north of Paris and paid around £500 for the four units.
However it took them more than one month to get them by Koni since they are no more built (As you may know, otherwise you wouldn't be asking me I suppose).
However I cannot figure out how Koni can supply products which are no more built...

The front units are genuine "for Porsche" parts since they have the Porsche part sticker and the ref numbers engraved (951.343.031.11 & 951.343.032.11 IIRC) but the rear came off a Koni box (8040-1035 Sport IIRC) and are these on offer by Koni if you check their website.

However the fronts are not "double" adjustable like the M030 units but I do not see the point in adjusting the fronts without adjusting the rears as well, which requires jacking up the rear of the car.

edited to add :
IIRC the M474 option goes back to MY87 when they introduced "wider" track cars on the NA when they launched the S and fitted ABS on the turbo 220.
Careful reading of PET5 will tell you only MY89 S2 could be ordered with the M474 option. Later S2s could be ordered with M757 which sounds like the same although the ref numbers are different.
I should have gone for M757 shocks (my car is a MY90) but I did not know of the M757 before and have a friend who fitted M474 on his MY89 S2 cab so I went the same way. I am extremely pleased with it

>> Edited by Thom on Monday 5th May 14:18

[dontlift]

I have recently fitted LEDA's on my 944 and the ride they give is fantastic - on and off track.

although more expensive it could be worth it, mine were £750 notes all in (springs and dampers.)

[ninemeister]

The full M030 kit includes struts, springs, top mounts, uprights, hubs, discs, calipers, rear dampers & springs, adjustable rear rb & large front. The cost of all this from Porsche today is over £5000. So IF you want an M030 car then £2k is well worth it, but if you only want a set of dampers then itis not, although as the other posts mention Koni no longer make struts for the 968.

[CoupeMan]

i wish i knew, ive never driven one

was thinking of going down there just to have a look and maybe blag a quick drive to compare but am very busy the next few weeks

considering i just bought my Sport less than a month ago it probably isnt a good idea financially