March 17, 2025

5 affordable modifications for Porsche 924S/944

You don't need to drain your bank account to transform the way your Porsche 924S or 944 behaves. The 5 modifications below each cost less than €200, can be fitted in a home garage with standard tools, and make a real difference behind the wheel — in responsiveness, precision or reliability. We've tested them all: here are the ones we recommend.

Short-throw throttle cam

€30 – 60 Easy

Have you ever felt a bit frustrated by the throttle response?

At small pedal inputs, it's rather soft and indirect — especially when you're pushing on. That feeling comes partly from the shape of the throttle cam, which is designed to be progressive (and therefore not very responsive at low inputs).

That's where a short-throw throttle cam comes in. It changes the relationship between pedal angle and throttle-plate angle, swapping the progressive curve for a linear one. The result: much sharper throttle response in the low-to-mid range.

Available in our shop Short-throw throttle cam for Porsche 924S 944 €45

Performance air filter

€80 – 100 Easy

The stock air filter does its job… but it does the bare minimum. Porsche prioritised longevity and noise over airflow.

Replacing the paper element with a performance oiled-cotton filter improves the flow of air into the engine. More air = better combustion = an engine that breathes more freely, especially at higher revs. The bonus: unlike the original, a performance filter can be cleaned and reused. Over time, it pays for itself.

Solid-state DME relay

€80 – 110 Easy

Does your 924S or 944 struggle to start when hot? Does the engine cut out without warning after a few minutes? The culprit is almost always the same: the DME relay.

The original DME relay uses mechanical contacts that wear out over time and with heat. After 30-plus years, those contacts become intermittent — hence the temperamental hot starts and random stalls. A solid-state DME relay replaces the mechanical contacts with electronic components that have no moving parts. No more dry joints, no more contacts sticking: current either flows or it doesn't, full stop. It's probably the single best reliability-per-euro modification you can make to these cars.

Short shifter

€80 – 150 Medium

The 924S/944 already has a pretty good shift action for its era. But if you want something shorter and more precise — especially when driving hard — the stock lever travel can feel a bit long.

A short shifter reduces lever throw by roughly 30 to 40%. In practice, shifts are quicker and more direct without losing precision. Installation takes a bit more work than the other modifications on this list (you need to get under the console to reach the mechanism), but it's nothing daunting with a jack and a decent guide. Once fitted, every gear change becomes a small pleasure.

Front strut brace

€100 – 200 Easy

In hard cornering, the 924S/944 body flexes slightly. That's normal — the front strut towers are only connected by the bonnet and the sheet metal. There's a lack of structural rigidity in that area.

A strut brace links the two front strut towers with a rigid bar. It stops them from spreading apart under load, which stiffens the chassis across the front axle. The result is immediate: the front end is more precise on turn-in, the steering becomes more communicative, and the car inspires more confidence at speed. And as a bonus: it looks rather aggressive when you pop the bonnet.

Where to start?

All 5 modifications together keep you under €500 — and your 924S or 944 will feel like a completely different car in terms of driving experience. If you had to pick just one, start with the solid-state DME relay: it's the simplest, cheapest, and the one that solves a real reliability issue.

For the short-throw throttle cam, it's available in our shop. If you have a question about part compatibility with your car, get in touch.