'87 S4 Auto:

In the proces of cleaning the underside and back end of the car I decided to remove the aluminium bumper. Doing so, I discovered that one of the impact pipes (part nr. 928 505 018 20) was slightly damaged:





Checking into a replacement I discovered that Porsche offered an impact absorber as an option (parts nr. 928 505 016 22):



As they are more expensive than the pipes, I wonder if it is worth the money: if they were absolutely necessary or critical Porsche would have installed them on all cars straight out of the factory I guess.

Any thoughts on pipes versus absorber?

 

I would find a set of used bumper shocks instead of the pipes. It will allow your bumper to absorb 15 mph impacts without frame damage, not something I can say about the pipes.

Used shocks are very cheap here in the US and it would save you a lot of money to find a set used over in Europe or here in the US.

 

Believe the bumper shocks were to meet US 5-mph (or maybe 15mph as Blake says) crash regulations.
The same regs that gave US cars the huge chin bumpers and rubber pads etc...

Euro cars didn't have that requirement, so they didn't get them.

As long as you only intend to crash over 5mph, then you don't need them

 

Some did. It was option M058. In all 7007 ROW cars have it listed.

 

I suspect that these were cars originally intended for the USA market. Somewhere in the process, they were diverted elsewhere.

 

No, it was just option one could get. Cars intended to US market would need to have US style body. These do not have it. Their VIN is within normal ROW VIN set etc.

 

Al the later 928's imported here had the shock absorbers fitted and they most definitely are ROW models.

Indeed I was surprised to read that any models were kitted with solid mounts like the ones in the OP's car. Many MB cars supplied to the German [mainland European?] market went cheap compared to export market models but I was not aware that Porsche did something along these lines. If you have such a device in the locker why go with a piece of plumbing other than to save a few coins?

Rgds

Fred

 

These were option in Germany. My old automatic had them while manual GTS do not. It was just one more extra one could get if parking problems were worry for buyer.

 

And then there's people (me) who prefer them! Saves 3 pounds (or ?) per corner.

These were retrofitted ("Federalized") correctly on one of my RoW imports and not changed on the other. Now I've swapped them out to "pipes" on the rear of the one that was done right. Lots of work to put in the absorbers as that long body can't be worked through the frame.

 

Interesting.

 

Thanks for all the feedback! Sounds like there is something to say for both options, but I will try to find a pair of absorbers somewhere.

Have been trying to source a pair here in The Netherlands, so far no luck. Hopefully Roger has a pair within reach.....

 

Finally......






Delivered this afternoon, bought them from LA Autoparts through Ebay. They are in great shape, even though they are 'used'