85 Carrera: PPI Results & Option Codes
 

In the past week, I had a PPI done on my newly purchased 85 Carrera. In additional, I contacted Porsche to get the factory options on my car, which were:

018 Sport steering wheel with elevated hub
158 Radio "Monterey" - 86 "Reno" - 87
220 Locking (Limited Slip) differential
341 Central locking system
395 Light metal wheels - forged
438 Comfort seat right
454 Automatic speed control
474 Sport shock absorbers
533 Alarm system

The PPI uncovered my right rear shock leaking and the shocks were black, which indicate Boge. However based upon one of the original options listed above, I have Sport Shocks. Here are my questions:

1) Apparently I have Boge Sport Shocks, what should I replace them with? I don't see Boge Sport Shocks listed on the Pelican site, but I do see Boge "Normal" shocks and Bilstein "Normal" and Sport. I was told that if I purchase Bilsteins, I'll have to readjust the height of the car due to the fact Bilsteins are gas and Boge's are oil. Is this true and if so, how difficult is that to do?
2)With respect to option 018 - Sport Steering Wheel w/elevated hub, what is this? My steering wheel looks no different from any other 85 - 88 steering wheel.
3)With respect to option "341 - Central locking system", should I have received some type of FOB with a lock/unlock mechanism, similar to what you find on modern cars?
4)What is option "438 - Comfort seat right"?
5)With respect to option "395 - Light metal wheels - forged", I have 7" (fronts) and 8" (backs) Fuchs. The description is a little vague regarding this option. How do I know if the Fuchs (they are real Fuchs) are original?

My main concern is question 1, but I'd like help with the others as well.
Thanks,
Scott

Sorry...you dont get any answers, till you post some photos of your car :-)
1. Might as well replace all four corners (shocks and struts) Go with Bilsteins, and dont worry about the slight height difference. Re-indexing the rear torsion bars is quite the job, and there is probably lots of "while you're in there" stuff that you'd like to do. So, save your dough, and do some trolling and searching on this forum.
2. Lots of cars came with this option...Next question, dont sweat the small stuff.
3. You have a door locking system in your car. Any alarm installer can fix you up and have your system operational.
4. Standard seats...Not sport seats with the enhanced side bolsters.
5. Take the wheels off, and check the back side. There should be a small triangle with the wheel sizes stamped into the parent material.
Hope this helps...

The "sport" option back in the 80's was a Boge shock'strut. The OE bilstiens that came on the car were neither Sport nor HD.

If you have 7's and 8's, they were not what came on the car. The upgrade was to 16x6/7 back in those days, up from 15's. IIRC most US cars had 16's though.

Your central locking means when you lock or unlock either door, both locks are activated. There is probably a small red button on the center console as well you can push to lock or unlock both doors together. As to the alarm, open the drivers door and look at the back side of the end of the door. Notice another key hole? That is where you arm/disarm the factory alarm. Crack the door open far enough to trigger the interior light, and the alarm will activate.

The LSD is a nice factory option.

The steering wheel may have a slightly thicker rim to in and the raised hub just pushed it back off the dash some, closer to the driver. In the normal position there is barely room for one's fingers between the wheel top and the dash.

Cheer

Who/what/how did you contact porsche to get the above information?

I called 1-800 Porsche and didn't select any prompts but went to the operator/customer service. I told them I wanted to find the factory options that came with my car. Since they didn't have me as the owner of record, I had to fax them my title. Once I did, they not only made me the owner of record, but told me the factory option codes, which I then deciphered on this website:

http://www.911specs.net/options911.htm

Just as an FYI, they'll try to sell you on a beautiful option list for your VIN # for $95. I opted to NOT do that.

Thanks