Shortly after I bought my car a few years ago I realized that the existing suspension needed changes so I spent a fair bit of time searching for information and opinions here. I finally chose to go with the Bilstein HD shocks/ MO33 springs combination. I had concluded that the MO33 springs would provide the ROW sport ride height with the “normal” non-sport ride quality that I was after for my street driven only car. This seems to be what I have achieved. I have lived with this setup for over a year now and am very pleased with it.

Here’s where the confusion part comes in. The other day I was browsing through Adrian Streather’s “Essential Companion” and on page 261 I found a description of the MO33 option. I have scanned it and included it below. It states that MO33 is supplied with stiffer struts and shocks, the ride height is not lowered and the MO33 springs are stiffer and similar to MO30 springs. I assume this is all relative to the standard ROW suspension as MO33 is a ROW only option. Based on my experience this is just not accurate.

So the question is.... what’s the actual Porsche description of the MO33 option and how does it differ from the other suspension choices that the factory offered?

 

My understanding is that:

MO33 doesn't get stiffer as it is compressed.

Compared to stock US spings, car will sit @ 24mm (1 inch lower).

Ride is not as harssh.

Benefit on the street for comfort, but not on the track.

 

My understanding is that the M033 springs are non progressive where the M030 springs are progressive and a bit stiffer. The M030 sport option also included sway bars that are a little thicker, therefore stiffer, than the standard bars.
Not sure how Porsche officially described it in their upgrade options but I would be interested to see it as well as I have ROW M030 springs and HD's on the way from Gert.

 

Really wish we had some quantitative data opposed to all these qualitative comparisons.

 

Summary from a german brochure from 1995:

M033 = only lowering springs, option price in 1995 350 Deutschmark. Advertised by Porsche as "lowered comfort suspension".


M030 = stiffer lowering springs, thicker swaybars front 22mm/rear 20mm. Lowering 10mm front, 20 mm rear. Option price in 1995 1450 Deutschmark. Advertises by Porsche as " lowered sport suspension"

 

Summary from a german brochure from 1995:

M033 = only lowering springs, option price in 1995 350 Deutschmark. Advertised by Porsche as "lowered comfort suspension".


M030 = stiffer lowering springs, thicker swaybars front 22mm/rear 20mm. Lowering 10mm front, 20 mm rear. Option price in 1995 1450 Deutschmark. Advertises by Porsche as " lowered sport suspension"

Thanks P-track. This clears things up and is what I thought. It appears that the Streather's description is not even close.

 

As I recall there is a 10mm lower ride height when compared to a ROW C2. Additionally the front/rear sway bars are larger when compared to a ROW C2.

My MY98 USA Carrera C2S made its way from Colorado to Germany when there in 2001. The PAG factory Tech's would bring the coupe up to TUV compliance where needed. Euro bumpers, rear fog light, etc. (Had the MY96 ROW G50/21 gearbox installed for good measure) While at PAGs Werk 1 facility the M033 suspension of the ROW C2S model was installed.

 

+993. Couldn't agree more, however this is Porsche AG where decades past had extra parts, tires, wiring looms were scattered about in the production facility. Okay,,, not so much in the 993 Toyota influenced productions days, but certainly in the day's of old,,, in the proceding 964 series and others. Too funny.

As an aside, the solidly built 944/ (edit/remove 968) series was built at the Audi Neckaresulm facility. First order of business, order.

 

The 968's were actually built at Porsche in Zuffenhausen.

 

Hey Colin, So true, I stand corrected. I was just going though a batch of old factory photos and on the production line were the 928 cars, adjacent to the 968 line. Yeah I caught my error. Do ya suppose the drop in 944 and 44S2 sales drove the move? As you know Audi was producing serious 944 numbers for serveral years there; What '83 to '88 were the big production years. At the same time Porsche AG was performing their construction bit on the Mercedes E500 chassis in Zuffenhausen...

There's fond memories of our MY87 944 the uber ski coupe. Stone Grey Metallic (LY7U) and Light Grey Beige ....

 

Straeter is wrong on the M033. The quoted part from the catalogue is correct.
I think there were two reasons for the production move:
- Porsche's own factory war underutilized. Remember, they built the Mercedes 500E and the Audi RS2 in Stuttgart during this time to add production volume.
- They had a contract with Audi to build the 924 and its derivates in Neckarsulm. That contract expired.
For more reading:
Ate up with motor pt1 and
part 2

 

Hey vaujot -
Thanks for VW/Porsche link... luv these "walk down memory lane" Porsche exposes. Hindsight is 20/20.

And,,, the Audi RS2's 5 cylinder with its many Porsche touches. Our MY95.5 UrS S6 kombi was never the same.

The linked site, Ate Up With Motor, is worth perusing.

 

I've noticed some other errors as well while browsing though his book, Porsche 993 - The Essential Companion.

There are some in the Porsche 911 Performance Handbook. Nothing serious, just mirror images of pics that you'd think would have been corrected in a 3rd edition.

 

Absolutely!

 

List of springs .