A 1995 993 and 1995 993, what's the difference?

hillclimb2.7 · 03-02-2007, 12:18 PM

Hi Guys, I'm looking at buying a 993. I've narrowed it down to either 95 or a 97. Depends a bit on what is available for 30k. I got the Peter Morgan book about the 911, I also got his 993 buyer's guide and I'm reading the forums here and on Rennlist, but there is one question that is driving me nuts.

There are apparently two versions of the 95 model out there, but what is the difference? When I looked at a certain 95 model I first thought the air intake had been modified but when I when looked online I saw that other cars had the same layout. Let me show you what I'm talking about:

Here everything is as I expect it to be:

And here it looks a bit different on the left side:

In my research I did find that the 94 model was sold in the US as a 95 model with the M718 option but I can't find any info as to what is different between these two. The engine type should have been the same: M64/07. The reason I think this is the difference is that the last four digits of the VIN for the cars with engines like the first picture is usually below 1500. For cars with the other type of air intake the VIN usually ends with a number over 2000. Oh, almost forgot, the rest of the VIN is the same for all these cars.

Does anybody know more about this?

Thanks, Pim

PS. If anybody knows of a non-white manual 993 coupe on the east coast in that pricerange please let me know

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

There are 2 series of '95 993
the early ones were actually '94s labled as '95 there are differences in wiring and equipment, but they are minor.

If your first picture is indeed a 993(not a 964 w/ 993 MAF) then it is an early one retaining the 964 heater blower arrangement.

The second is the more usual arrangement for a '95 993, the heater blower and ducting are the tip offs.

A '97 would be a vram w/ totally different intake and 88pin OBD2 motronics as opposed to the 55pin OBD1 versions thru '95(see the FAQ at the top)

Unless of course you are looking at a RoW '97, in which case it is still 55 pin OBD1

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

It would be interesting to see the chassis serial # of the top one

hillclimb2.7 · 03-02-2007, 01:12 PM

Well, the VIL showed the following VIN: WP0AA993SS321035. That makes it an early model 95. But the options list included the 718 option.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

option 718 was the R or in your case S series VIN change program. So indeed it was manufactured in '93 or '94 and had it's vin changed to a '95 (in US or Cdn only)

that one is the 75^th off the regular production line

as I said it retains the 964 style heater blower and ductwork but obviously has the 993 MAF

hillclimb2.7 · 03-02-2007, 01:51 PM

Okay, thanks, that's pretty much what I figured. I just wanted to know for sure since it does not seem to be documented in any of the places I've looked. Since Porsche usually upgrades a lot of little things each model year it was kind of annoying not be able to find the differences described anywhere, but if it's only the ductwork and heater blower I'm not unduly worried.

When I saw it for the first time and compared it my buyer's guide it seemed to hold the middle between a 95 and a varioram layout. I figured it had been upgraded, but when I looked at other 95's I found both layouts.

It's good to learn

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

There other little things like the diagnostic port and transmission fixed gears but as I said none are too important

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

bill, is the 993 maf considered an 'upgrade' for a '90 964. i've already got the 964 heater/blower arrangement.

if so, what would one gain from it?
ryan

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

MAF sensor is a more efficient way to calculate the air/fuel parameters that are needed.

You can't just bolt the 993 parts onto a 964, the electronics are different.

There used to be MAF w/ an electronic adaptor that was offered aftermarket for 3.2 and 964. Don't know how well they work or even if they are still available.

hillclimb2.7 · 03-05-2007, 07:56 AM

Actually, on the same topic of recognizing differences between '95 993's, I've come across a one that was listed as a widebody. It definitely looked wider but I find it hard to trace whether this is factory or not. From what I've read a widebody is either an S or has the M491 option, but I do not know if the M491 option was available for this model since I've only seen it mentioned for pre '90 models. As for being an S, mister Morgan's buyers guide does not show differences in VIN numbers for S versions or list the appropriate option for this. In short, how do I recognize a legitimate '95 factory widebody and does it even exist?

By the way, lots of thanks for all the info so far. My education here is definitely being used in the buying process

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

thanks, bill..forgot about the obvious electronics issue. sorry for the hijack, pim..this will bump you back up on top though.

hillclimb2.7 · 03-05-2007, 08:47 AM

No problem, I'm considering a 964 as well as a 993 so any info on that kind of stuff is welcome as well

kang · 03-05-2007, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
option 718 was the R or in your case S series VIN change program. So indeed it was manufactured in '93 or '94 and had it's vin changed to a '95 (in US or Cdn only)

that one is the 75^th off the regular production line

as I said it retains the 964 style heater blower and ductwork but obviously has the 993 MAF

This is correct. The early US 1995 models were essentially the European 1994 models with option 718 that changed the VIN to the US 1995 model year.

Yes, the early 1995 models have the 964 style heater blower. That’s about the only difference that I am sure of.

I think the later 1995 models (without the 718 option) had the wiring for the third brake light in the rear window, even though they still had the basket handle. Some of these owners have removed the basket handle and put the brake light in the window, as the wiring is already there. This would be a bigger job for the early 1995 models, as they don’t have the wiring.

The motor mounts might have a 964 part number on them, while the later 1995 motor mounts have a 993 part number. Again, I’m not positive about this.

Bill, aren’t the last four digits of the VIN the serial number? Wouldn’t that make this one number 1035? Where do you get 75?

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

aren’t the last four digits of the VIN the serial number? Wouldn’t that make this one number 1035? Where do you get 75?

The non RS production car serial #s started w/ 61 for '94-96

kang · 03-05-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
The non RS production car serial #s started w/ 61 for '94-96

I still must be missing something. If the number started at 61, wouldn’t this car be number 974 (1035-61=974)?

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by kang
I still must be missing something. If the number started at 61, wouldn’t this car be number 974 (1035-61=974)?

Yes, apparantly I can't subtract anymore either

kang · 03-05-2007, 04:49 PM

BTDT

DJF1 · 03-08-2007, 07:44 AM

My "95" 993 is an early built in March of 1994 number 555 and it does have the 964 heater blower just like the first picture.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

after driving a '74 daily in winter without a heater blower, i must say the damn things are nice to have around when you're not moving..

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by bigchillcar
after driving a '74 daily in winter without a heater blower, I must say the damn things are nice to have around when you're not moving..

I drove my blue car today, temp was ~15&degF, no rear fan. The car warmed quicker than my S4