can you really tune a 996 carrera?

Has anyone had any real-world improvements made on their 996 Carrera's without forced induction? I've been researching this for a while now and getting conflicting information. All the info seems to point in a similar direction though - you're looking at spending between 3 and £5k to get anything over 20 bhp and equivalent torque? I've got a 2001 C4 3.4 and it really could do with another 20-30 in terms of bhp and lbs of torque. It was easy to get these gains on my old 993 but it seems the 996 is a different matter? What I'm after is stories from people who've already gone through this, spent the money and can comment on the difference in the car... I'm sure this sort of posting appears every month but an update would be good for me atleast - at the moment I'm thinking just get a PSE for the sound and save the rest of my money for a 997 hopefully down the line. Thanks

An ECU Chip will liberate an extra 20bhp An exhaust that removes the cats will add around 10-15bhp (also illegal for MOT's etc) So thats around 30/35bhp for about £2k (1k for chip & 1k for good exhaust) After that you are going to need serious engine work. If you think £2k for 35bhp is a good trade off go for it - personally I don't. A post 2001 996 has 20bhp more than a pre 2001 996. I had a 2002 C2 & my mate has a 1998 C2 - so I am up 20 bhp....granted my car is a little heavier, but there was no difference on the road in a straight line in our cars. So what I am saying is that 30bhp will actually make very little difference in outright performance. I am not going to go down the "go & buy a turbo" route but have you considered a Mk1 996 GT3...awesome cars & you wouldn't have to put a huge amount in to change. Ro.

Bear in mind the possible negative effect tuning could have on the resale of your car (especially to an OPC) then it makes even less sense.

Kenny. I would be interested to know what you did to your 993 for performance gains. Wrong forum I know but it sounds like you have been there, got the T shirt, etc. Ian.

Good question and I've definetly been there and got the T shirt. First off, base car 98 3.4l Carrera 2. Mods re engine - fabspeed exhaust, induction & bmc filter. Sounds great and feels quicker. A few other Porsche people (garages/gt3 owner) have commented that it appears quite quick. So, subjectively, enjoyed the car a lot, lot more. Objectively, VFM, I doubt it. Also, as I'm planning to sell it I suspect that I'm going to incur further expense to get it back to standard. And reason I'm selling.......want a GT 3. In conclusion, if you are planning to keep car and want a bit more fun go for it. But, if you re really after max VFM & ultimate performanceI agree with a comment above and save money for a GT3. As an aside I must have contacted DMS at least a dozen times to have their chip/work done but have given up chasing them...I'd be interested to hear of anybody who has had this done.

Beyond a sports exhaust, save your money (all sorts of re-sale/warranty issue's) & then upgrade to a facelift next time!!!

Kenny Try this: http://www.9mracing.co.uk/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=NinemeisterContent&file=index&req=viewarticle&articleid=39&topic=7&articlename=996%203.6%20Supercharger%20Project Perhaps you can tune a 996 after all (albeit for a few quid)! Regards Ian

I dont think Kennyboy is interested.... 'Has anyone had any real-world improvements made on their 996 Carrera's without forced induction?' Anyway 911 and Porsche World had an article a while back about supercharging the 996 for around £5,000...much cheaper.

Thanks everyone - exactly the sort of info I was after, plus confirmed my suspisions so if 9m can't do much then I'll leave it at PSE and save the money on next 911 - yes Mrs. Grant I said next 911...not family car! Ian - all my 993 had was a remap done by 9m racing. this got the extra power and you could really feel it! Ian Donkin - yeah thanks, as you can see those wizards in warrington breathed on my 993 with great effect. I've emailed them directly about this and am awaiting a reply re 996's. I've seen the claims for 996 on their site but before I spend that sort of money (much more than 993) then I'd like to see some activity on their or other forums.... I've heard some bad stories of remaps upsetting 996's in terms of flat spots, idleing etc. Though my experience with 9m on the 993 was superb.

I'm thinking of doing a few mods myself or like you going down the GT 3 route, I've contacted DMS via email and have got the information I asked for pretty quickly, but DMS seems a bit over priced. The map is the same map for all cars and £850 to flash the ECU seems a bit steep to me, it must take them an hour from start to finish. If the map was tuned to individual cars on a rolling road it would be closer to the mark in terms of value imo. I know DMS has spent R&D time on the maps too, but I still can't justify the cost. Then there's the GT3, I've never drove one and I'd like to known how hard the suspension set up is for day to day use, my 996 is used every day and I'd be worried the GT3 might be a bridge to far. My 996 is a bit too soft on the standard setup and does wallow around a bit if you push to hard, plus you can't really have any sort of power oversteer fun either I've come from a TVR Tamora and every thing feels soft after that car

Kenny One other thought sparked by TVR's post - how about contacting Wayne Schofield at Chip Wizards? He used to be at RLR and had an article written in P&911W some time ago. Not much on his website, but at least his phone number's there! http://www.chipwizards.co.uk I understand he maps each car individually on a rolling road starting from the standard map on the factory chip and optimising your ECU to your engine. Might a least be worth a call to discuss?

hmmm very interesting Ian. Wayne is actually the guy who did the work for 9m on my 993 - talented lad.... so yeah I think he's probably the best way to go as long as he's had lots of hours on a rolling road with a 996 - from experience I know he's brilliant with 993's. Personally I wouldn't replace my chip with anything off the shelf - I think real gains to be made are optimising ecu to engine as Wayne does. Plus I should have said earlier - my 993 was optimised to Shell Optimax high octane petrol, perhaps this can be done for 996's also. I'm gonna give him a ring. Thanks.

hmmmm also - replaced chips are detectable, reprogrammed ones not/less so! whoops.

What about decatting? Only cost £300 Thinking of decatting my 996, has any one gone down a similar route, or maybe headers? www.design911.co.uk/index.htm?Region=UK Click on Exhaust for 996 I've decatted before and been happy with the results in the past. With a map, headers, and decat you could looking at a gain in the region of 40BHP Anyone else?

Seems like a reliable way to gain more power - but wouldn't my car then fail it's next MOT?

Yep. Iremoved the cats from my Sti Impreza & come MOT time I just dropped a cat centre pipe back in, then took it out after the MOT. A small amount of hassle but only once a year. The pipe actually consisted of 2 cats welded onto the pipe to make absolutely sure it passed & the MOT guys often wondered why my emissions were so low !