Redlinerobert

I've been going through archives here and have found some very useful information. I recently ordered my first Porsche, an '03 silver/black C4S from MY Porsche in Monterey. I dealt with Brooks Frybarger, a true professional that has been very helpful through the process. Now if he could only get the car here sooner I'd really be happy <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

I've decided to go with By Design in LA for the mods I'm planning on my car. Sam is the guy I've been dealing with, very enthusiastic and helpful without being pushy.

I'd love to get opinions on a few things I'm planning to do. Thank's in advance guys for any help and here's the list:

HRE 542r's, 19x8.5 fronts w/245 35's and 19x11 rears with 285x30's

M030 suspension lowering car 20mm in the front and 10mm in the rear

B&M short shifter

Turbo front lower spoiler (I don't like the indention in the one that comes on the 4S)

Valentine 1 hard wired into vehicle

I think that's it to start. I may opt for the silver badges for the hood and steering wheel as well.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Loren

Welcome...

Some comments on your upgrades (all IMHO) -
Most folks that have tried the 19" wheels have been disappointed in both ride and how easily they are damaged on the street. There are some great 18" wheels that you can use the same tires on.

The C4S already comes with a (US) sport suspension as standard. You might want to try it for a little while first. If you decide you want the European spec M030 that changes only the shocks and springs.

IMHO the combination of 19" wheels and a lowered car is asking for wheel and body damage. If only streets and driveways were as consistent as Laguna Seca Raceway <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Congrats on your new car!

Carlos from Spain

Is M030 an option available for the C4S? I could have sworn the the M030 is only for the C2/C4.

The C4S has the Turbo suspensions tailored to its lower weight, and the shocks/springs of the C2/C4 M030 kit can't be adapted to the on the C4S due to its added weight, and the stabilizer bars may not match fit. Does Porsche make the M030 option for the C4S specifically now?

Rob in WA

The C4S suspension option is called X73 (v. X74) it's not available until May. Since the C4S is already lower, the X73 option lowers it 15mm (from Euro specs) v. 30mm from X74. Palting knows more.

Carlos from Spain

X73. That should be a great option, it would be the first thing I would do. Should be the equivalent to the M030 of the C2/C4.

Palting

Heh-heh-heh, here we go again, Carlos .

RedlineRobert, welcome to the board. Everyone here is right. Putting the M030 on the C4S is no good. It was designed for the C2. The C4S is characterized both as the turbo suspension adjusted for the lighter weight and less power of the C4S, as well as a lowered and stiffened version of the C2.

Here is the quote from Porsche"
"Standard equipment includes four-wheel drive, lowered sports suspension (10 mm lower than on the 911 Coupé), and Porsche Stability Management (PSM), making the 911 Carrera 4S one of the most agile, athletic, yet manageable cars ever to bear the Porsche Crest."

It IS ALREADY the M030, but a C4S version. If you want to lower your C4S, you can get the ROW C4S suspension, but that mostly lowers the front end, and the difference is negligible. Better to get the X73, which lowers the ROW C4S 15 mm all around. Or, in the case of the US C4S, it will lower it 25-30 mm. Some have reported it closer to 40 mm in real life. That will make the X73 optioned C4S equivalent to the X74 optioned C2, NOT the M030 optioned C2. The M030 optioned C2/C4 is equivalent to the STANDARD C4S (see above quote). Of course, the C4S comes with turbo brakes, tires, front end, yada, yada, yada .

DonW-Cape Cod

Congratulations and welcome to the best Porsche Forum in the world...RLRobert.

If you ever get to the point where you get a siver badge for your steering wheel w/o the entire airbag unit please let me know! Thanks and good luck with your purchase...nice ride!

Redlinerobert

Thanks guys for the information. From conversations I've had with Gert (Carnewal.com) It's my understanding that the C4S suspension offered at his site (The one that fits the "Turbo Look" only) only lowers the car 20mm in the front and 10mm in the rear. I''m not looking for a drastic reduction in ride height. Just enough to get rid of some of the gap.

I've been told by several people that perhaps the best compromise for ride/looks would be to stick with the 18 inch wheels instead of moving up to the 19 inch setup. Maybe I'll just forego the wheels and have a nice stereo system installed instead.

By the way, are there any members here from the Gilroy/Monterey area? I live in Aromas, which is just south of Gilroy and west of San Juan Bautista.

And Don, according to Sam at By Design I would have to change the airbag in order to get the silver badge on the steering wheel. Not quite sure I want to spend $700 or so in order to get that done. I'll keep you posted on any information I find!

Loren

Redlinerobert,

I live in Morgan Hill.

Palting

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Redlinerobert:
<strong>Thanks guys for the information. From conversations I've had with Gert (Carnewal.com) It's my understanding that the C4S suspension offered at his site (The one that fits the "Turbo Look" only) only lowers the car 20mm in the front and 10mm in the rear. I''m not looking for a drastic reduction in ride height. Just enough to get rid of some of the gap.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Yup, that's the Euro or ROW version of the standard C4S suspension. I've seen side to side comparisons between the Euro C4S and the US C4S. The change is VERY subtle. It's more of a change in the car's attitude from a slightly nose up to a more flat stance. Just don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.

A few points that may or may not matter to you.

The indentation in the front spoiler of the C4s is reportedly part of the design package that results in a lower/better CF for the C4S compared to the turbo.

I've hesitated on playing with the tires and wheels of the C4S due to what it may do to PSM. If you keep the rolling diameters equal or close to stock, it may not matter. I chose to just replace the Turbo-look wheels with the REAL hollow spoke turbo wheels and get R compound tires in orginal C4S sizes.

Waht other options did you get? I'm curious so we can nit-pick some more .

Congratulations on a great ride. Post pics ASAP!!!!

Carlos from Spain

Palting,

Now don't get all defensive know
I was reffering to the ROWM030 not the US M030, I believe that the stifness of the US C4S is more like the US M030 and not as much as the stiffer and lower ROW030 (and neither as stiff and low as the X73 & X74)

Whats curious is that, the X73 is lowers the US C4S more than the ROWC4S? is the stock US C4S higher, like the stock US C2?

Palting

Carlos,

For better or for worse, US regulates the ride heights to keep the bumpers more or less on equal bumping height. This results in higher ride heights for the US C4S vs Euro C4S, as well as the US M030 vs ROW M030. The stock C2 is actually the same ride height whether its is US or Euro. A Pano article compared stock US vs stock ROW vs US M030 vs ROW M030. Interesting read. The springs for stock suspensions are the same regardless of origin, but the US M030 is longer but the same stiffness as ROW M030.

I think its nuts, since no way can you keep a compact car bumper on equal footing to a giant 6-wheeler. It doesn't matter how many regulations they pass, it is just physically impossible. But, that can be a topic for another conversation.

Carlos from Spain

I see, well they should make those damn SUV lower instead so they don't crash thru coupes/sedans windows! after all, if safety is the issue the higher the CG the more risk of flipping over and poorer handling, i.e. SUV's.

I have read that article too. According to them the ROWM030 feels stiffer overall, but interesting how the stiffness is specifically different front vs rear to produce a more oversteer setup on the ROWM030.

stpauli

Robert,

I live in Monterey and am a member of the Monterey Bay, PCA. We are having our monthy meeting tonight at Stammtisch Rest. in Seaside. Johnannes Van Overbeek will be speaking at the meeting (RennWerks GT3RS Driver). Don't know if you can make it or maybe it might be too late, but you are cordially invited.

-Freddy Santos

Redlinerobert

Palting, here's the list of options I went with:

Heated front seats
Lumbar support left and right
Bose High End w/ 6 cd changer
Self dim mirrors
Xenon's
Stainless exhaust pipes
Carbon door sills
Aluminum instrument dials
Carbon/leather steering wheel
Crests in headrests
Brake/shifter in carbon/aluminum

I understand that the car will be in sometime in May, My production is scheduled for the first part of April.

The days seem so long now.....