1987 944 NA DME

[New2me944]

Hello all, I have a 1987 porsche 944 NA with an automatic transmission.

This is weird. I'm currently working on detailing the interior. I was inside the car and flipped down the passenger side footwell where I knew the DME lived and found a blue plastc wrapped object that turned out to be the DME just hanging out there attached to the wiring but not mounted to the bracket.

I pulled the object out and unwrapped it, intending to put it back in and mount it to the bracket. Well, it has no case. Under the wrapping was just two circuit boards attached to each other with a ribbon cable.

I certainly intend to do something about it, but the question is what. I suppose I could buy a used DME online but will any old DME from an 85.5 to 89 work or would it have to be specifically for an 87, and does the fact that it's an automatic make any difference?

If i could just find an empty case or a non functional DME to put my boards in, i suppose that might work as well.

Ideas?

Edit to add: My brother has a spare parts 1987 924s. Would that DME be a direct swap into my 944?

[Tom]

Hello all, I have a 1987 porsche 944 NA with an automatic transmission.

This is weird. I'm currently working on detailing the interior. I was inside the car and flipped down the passenger side footwell where I knew the DME lived and found a blue plastc wrapped object that turned out to be the DME just hanging out there attached to the wiring but not mounted to the bracket.

I pulled the object out and unwrapped it, intending to put it back in and mount it to the bracket. Well, it has no case. Under the wrapping was just two circuit boards attached to each other with a ribbon cable.

I certainly intend to do something about it, but the question is what. I suppose I could buy a used DME online but will any old DME from an 85.5 to 89 work or would it have to be specifically for an 87, and does the fact that it's an automatic make any difference?

If i could just find an empty case or a non functional DME to put my boards in, i suppose that might work as well.

Ideas?

Edit to add: My brother has a spare parts 1987 924s. Would that DME be a direct swap into my 944?

Wow. Now that's a creative owner. Not good creative, but creative nonetheless!

Not something I've ever focused on, but by outward appearance I think all the ML3.x DMEs share the same case (including the 924S if eBay ads can be trusted). The early 944s did have a different case, so I'd look for an 85.5+ unit.

[danmartinic]

Maybe the previous owner figured out how to keep vibrations from cracking all those solder joints

Half-serious

[New2me944]

20260228_131716.jpg (3.59 MiB) Viewed 240 times

Not sure how well that idea would work.

[danmartinic]

When he discovered how much better it runs with a resoldering, he went nuts and started doing that weekly

Hence the quick access mod

Half serious

[Latitude48]

Depending on your budget you might consider getting a new DME from https://www.ftech9.com/new-products. If you aren't interested in future Onboard Diagnostics capability or chip changes the SPEC DME at $375 would work fine, but you'll need an old case, which you should be able to find on eBay cheap for a non-working DME. Joe may also have some extra cases... doesn't hurt to ask.

[danmartinic]

SPEC is NA only; 549 for 951

Not a bad price for what you get. Always on my mind, naturally

Would have to send core & take car out of service though... wife would not like me using hers for a few weeks

[spacecad3t]

Depending on your budget you might consider getting a new DME from https://www.ftech9.com/new-products. If you aren't interested in future Onboard Diagnostics capability or chip changes the SPEC DME at $375 would work fine, but you'll need an old case, which you should be able to find on eBay cheap for a non-working DME. Joe may also have some extra cases... doesn't hurt to ask.

Just wanted to drop in a vouch for the F9Tech DME. I went with the Sport DME + MAF and it really woke my car up. I have a 87 NA but manual. I also snagged both of their solid state relays, they make some really nice products

As mentioned, they have a core charge, but were able to send me the replacement DME quickly and I sent my DME back after.