rotaryzz

Is there any way you can just tell from the look of a 944 (S2 model) to see if it has the rare M030 package?

TIA,
Pete

Mongo

welcome to the board, there is a way. M030 suspension cars have threaded struts allowing you to adjust the ride height of the front. Unless you have a keen eye and the car has been lowered, it might be an M030 car. There are companies out there that sell aftermarket adjustable ride height kits that allow you to slide a threaded collar over the strut.

Another way to tell is to look underneath at the struts and sway bars. The typical M030 car has a 30mm front sway bar and a 19mm or 20mm rear after the year 1986.

ibkevin

Look for the "M030" code segment on the vehicle identification tag inside the hatch, next to the drivers brake light assby.

Do you own one or considering a purchase?

rotaryzz

>Unless you have a keen eye and the car has been lowered, it might be an M030 car...........
Sounds a little tricky I think

>Look for the "M030" code segment on the vehicle identification tag inside the hatch........
You mean the 17 digit VIN number? And what's the code to look for, "M030"??
Yes, interested in looking for one as a more dedicated track toy ;-)

Thanks,
Pete

Jfrahm

No, look for 030 in with the options on the option tag under the rear hatch carpet.

vis:
http://www.944online.com/cgi-local/A...tioncodes.html

ibkevin

I stand corrected, Thank's Joel.

Jfrahm

No you are right Kevin, I thought Pete was looking for M030 within the 17 digit VIN.

-Joel.

Blue S2

Well being that tag is under the rear hatch carpet, you can't tell just from looking overall.

You can also look at the brakes. The calipers were different. They were from the 928 i believe.

Dave in Chicago

Yup, bigger front calipers (standard S2's will have calipers that appear identical in size front and rear - only internal piston size is different - not discernable with calipers installed). Front rotors are larger and thicker than standard fronts as well. You WILL notice the caliper size difference.

Serge944

No, 30mm front swaybars only came on 968s. The s2 has a 26.8mm front bar, w/ m030 or not. In the rear, it sports a 18mm.

rotaryzz

Thanks to all for the valuable info. This sure will come in handy ;-)

I realize that a 968 will outran a 944S2 considering it has a more hp engine and redesigned suspension, but how's the 944S2 stack up against the 968 as far as reliability and maintenance costs are concerned. Again, this will be a dual purpose car with about a week of track time per season.

Thanks again,
Pete

Mongo

hmmm i have the answer to their M637 code. Is Ian on Rennlist? I'll answer that one for him real quick.

Oddjob

Pete,

The suspension is the same between a 968 and an S2. Sure the 968 M030 cars had the small barrel helper springs on the rear, but 968 M030s are about as rare as 944S2 M030s - so youre not going to run into many on the street or track. Plus the M030 suspension is a sport street suspension, not a race suspension, so on the track there will be many 944 series cars that have a lot better/faster suspension than the factory M030 stuff.

I think you would be surprised how equal a 944T, a 944S2, and a 968 are running down a long straight away together (assuming that the engines are in similar mechanical condition). All these cars are in the same PCA Club Racing class together, and I have spent a lot of track time nose to tail with numerous cars. And I would not say that a 968 will significantly out run a 944S2 powerwise.

Maintenance cost will likely be pretty similar, since the engines are basically the same (Im not sure if the variocam system adds any additional maintenance costs for the 968).

Jfrahm

The 968 has more expensive needs in the cam chain / variocam department. The cam sprockets are smaller and if the chain wears too much they will round off sooner than the S2. With an S2 I would not bother replacing the cam chain until around 200K (assuming the $16 tensioner pad is changed) but on the 968 I'd think hard about doing the chain at 140K or so, along with the variocam ramps ($40ish each x2.) The chain is less than $20 but the cams have to be removed for replacement. In an S2 you can wait until you want to do valve guides and seals, so the head will be apart anyway. With a 968 you might not want to wait that long.

It's hard to say when a 968 cam chain will start to eat the sprockets, I think a lot depends on type of driving, how often the variocam is actuated, etc. Once it starts to get too loose and ride up out of the gear teeth, the teeth wear fast.

Other than that, for track duty on either car I recommend the plastic heater valve be switched for an Audi 5000 metal valve. If the stock plastic one cracks it'll dump coolant on the RF tire. $30.

-Joel.

rotaryzz

So sounds like the S2 will be both cheaper to acquire and maintain than the newer 968, without even sacrificing too much on track performance.

Btw, what's the M030 package contains in the S2 other than suspension and brake upgrades over a plain-Jane 944? Does it really worth the extra effort/$ to specifically look for one with the M030?

TIA,
Pete