Okay, finally a pic of X74/M030 RoW hybrid suspension all settled in.

As promised, here is the shot of a '02 Carrera Coupe with RoW M030 springs, X74 technically specific Bilstein dampers, and RoW M030 rear bumpstops. All for about a grand. Yes, the cars suspension is now warranty safe and not dangerous at limit anymore. The suspension is so perfect for me, that I will never part with the vehicle. Here's a before shot.

Nice work, similar drop to my x73, oem rules.

Yup, and no scrapping the nose with normal street driving either.

Nicely done!

How much was the drop (in inches)?

An inch in front and about 3/4 of an inch in back. The RoW M030 springs are linear so I can count on consistent compression characteristics across the whole range of spring motion. I'm running 25 3/4" ground to center fender all the way around.

Were you concerned at all about the Bilsteins being tuned for the X74's progressive springs versus a linear rate? Have you driven your car and a ROWM030 car back to back? If so, what are your impressions? Net: Why did you go w/the x74 shocks?

Can someone explain what the X73 or X74 or other packages are. I read a lot about those but I not quite sure what they entail.

The x73,74 are the most aggressive suspensions made by porsche. The x74 is for a rwd narrowbody>'02 car (shocks struts, springs, sway bars and motor mounts). RoW 030 is the sport suspension offered by porsche, awsome in it's own right, best for pre '02 cars. The x73 is for the AWD C4S or TT only(pre-assembled shocks struts and motor mounts), both drop your car at least 20mm, adds very aggressive handling and ride, a significant step up from stock or 030. I just had mine done this week, awsome is all I can say, but not for everybody. I will have a track report friday after pocono

The X74 also fits pre '02 cars. I had it installed on my '01 C4 and I'm loving it. You can still bottom out though if you're not careful. I happen to hit a narrow unpaved section of road just right and the bottom scrapped a bit. You'll be amazed by the improved handling of the car.

Any idea who supplies the components? Could this be equated to ROW030=BILSTEIN SPORTS, X74=BILSTEIN HD? I may be way offbase...

So whats left for the C4S Cab ? Heard that the X73 is for the coupe only and according to the dealer the M030 won't work either but Carnewal has a Euro M030 for Cab so please stop the madness on this final mod for me...somebody..anybody before Dennis gets here.

Did you just scrape your front lip, or the pan of the car? Tell me it was only the lip...

Very nice!!

I think the easiest way to think about it is that the x73 and x74 are essentially the "same" package, one for the widebody c4s, and the other for the narrowbody c2. They are the "ultimate" (lowest, and best handling) package you can buy for these cars from Porsche. ROWM030 is a less extreme option, with specific parts (with specific tuning) available for both early and late 996s; specifically tuned for these different cars. I'm running this option on my car and think it's an amazingly good balance of handling and everyday usability. One nit: I don't think the X74 includes motor mounts, though it sounds like the X73 does. The x74 also includes a brace for the rear bumper/taillights. Not sure if the x73 does. Somebody else asked whether the 030 came w/bilstein hds, while the x74 came with bilstein sports. I don't think it's quite this simple. What we know: - 030 shocks are made by bilstein, and tuned specifically for each package (early/late, coupe/convert, etc.). These shocks aren't "off the shelf" bilsteins. - I've heard reliable reports that the x74 shocks are the same thing as the Bilstein sports you can buy aftermarket. My guess, if this is true, is that Bilstein got permission from Porsche to use the valving they came up with for the x74 package and sell it as the Bilstein Sport (not the other way around).

Carnewal is a good source. One thing to realize is the difference between what "fits" and what Porsche recommends. For instance, the x74 is designed by Porsche for the 02+ cars. It will "fit" the early 996s, but Porsche doesn't recommend it (I believe this is due to the cars being less torsionally rigid). I think the same goes for x74 and x73 on cabrios (narrow and widebody). it'll bolt right up, but Porsche didn't tune it for the (relatively) flexy chassis, and therefore it isn't supported (nor my guess is it warranted).

Thanks for clearing quite a bit up with the great explainations from all. So the onlt suspension from porsche for a 1999 996 is the M030??? Does everyone generally stick with Porsche suspension or is there an aftermarket company that makes it as good?

I thought it out backwards. The X74s are Bilstein's own Sport tuning spec for the C2s. Porsche matched their X74 Springs to those shocks. I took a chance and figured that the RoWs are matched to the C2s weight to produce a certain tauntness. I think people conjur up images of specific force matching with dampers and springs, while in reality it is more like overlapping ranges. The X74s/Bilstein Sports are 40% stiffer than stock C2s. The rear springs are approx. 30% stiffer than stock. The extra 10% extra compression valving will add a little more rate to my rear springs than a normal RoW M030 car. I don't hhave any jounce in my rear end even with single rear dip rollovers. Perhaps, Porsche went progressive in the back because they didn't want the initial compression bite of the rear springs to be abrupt. The front springs are 17% stiffer than stock, so I am getting more added sring rate in the front than in back. Again, I am not being jostled on really rough roads beyond toleration. The car corners so flat (for a street car), that it is ridiculous. I have ridden on 18"s in an RoW M030 996 and a U.S. M030 on 18"s. The U.S. was a markedly harsher then the RoW. My current set up is tighter than the RoW car, but not as harsh as the U.S. M030 with all the benefits of an X74. I think the soft dampers used in the U.S. M030 is what made them so harsh. Going harder on the dampers doesn't appear to have been too much, IMHO. I have great loathing for a Lexus ride if that summarizes my tastes.

Per Bilstein, the HDs are 20% stiffer and Sports are about 40%.

This and the fact that the springs are progressive made me go RoW 030. The front drops approx. 20mm with the M030, but about 30-35mm with X74 front springs.

Yup, the evoms rear strut brace is theoretically to help make up the 8% torsional reigidity deficit in late narrow bodies vs. the stiffest wide bodies that are bonded and welded better in back to account for the wider stance.

Bilstein technical confirms the valving and rod is exactly the same in X74 and aftermarket Sports. As far as propriety rights on the X74 valving; I don't think the manufacterer needs permission to use anything it develops for a client when the intent is to sell in the aftermarket is well. Bilstein says they designed the application for Porsche; whereas, Wiessach designed the damper valving on everything else. We know PAG would be sueing the crap out of Bilstein, otherwise. If they'll take their customers to court, then the OEM suppliers are fair game.

Carnewal is a good source for X73 / X74 kits although the Euro exchange rate has hurt prices. Good website to compare various suspensions and also some good writeups on X74 (see link on X74 C2 page).

Was looking at the X73/4 kits recently on Carnewal and they were on sale. Euro has been down, relatively, in the past few weeks and I've been leaning more toward the X74s over the PSS9s esp after I saw Gert was running a sale (1600 eu vs 2000eu)

My X73 came with very solid motor mounts, no bumper brace or sways, Braman Porsche and Suncoast are both selling X73 for 1799 usd, that's 1k off. Not sure about the x74. One thing about the mounts, if you don't put them in, porsche won't warranty the parts according to the boys at braman, they are cosiderably stiffer than stock. Either way, 030 or the X's, oem is the way to go, reanimator has come up with a good idea, imo.

Where did you source your parts?

Ok, I'm thoroughly confused now... Could someone noodle me through as to the advantages the OEM set up has over Bilstein Sports or PSS9s? Thanks

Bilsteins can be had from A.W.E. Tuning or shox.com and any Porsche dealer can bring in the proper springs and the M030 rear sway bar. The springs are under $100 per axle and the bar was under $100 as well. The RoW rear bumpstops were about $40.

I know my warranty is safe at my dealer by using Porsche parts (springs); and this is from a place that will void warranty if aftermarket mufflers are used secondary to the risk of "burning a valve". PSE is warranty safe there, though.

The main advantage of oem is the significant amount of R&D that has gone into it, just for your car. They will work perfectly.

Porsche knows the idiosyncracies of these cars, and how to make them handle, better than any aftermarket tuner does -- by leaps and bounds. They've spent decades tuning the 911's handling, and we're super fortunate that they offer suspension upgrades for enthusiasts.

You guys know that the Bilsteins on X74 and X73 are yellow rather than black for a reason. Bilstein R & D rocks in racing and Porsche's most sporting upgrade. We are indeed fortunate that Porsche offers us these warranty safe options to kick these wonderful vehicles up a notch.