Can I Chip My Early 944?

Yes... All Porsche early 944 can be chipped or modified to use chips

About 1/3 of all Early 944 DMEs ↓ were made with removable chips.
	This page applies to the following three Porsche 944 DMEs. Bosch part numbers. 0 261 200 006 [ 0 261 200 006 ] 0 261 200 015 [ 0 261 200 015 ] 0 261 200 016
What about the other 2/3? You can convert them to use removable chips. Keep reading....

A brief description of the differences of the two types of DMEs
This is the logic board's "ROM memory section" for the two versions of "early" Porsche 944 DMEs [1982-85]
Type 1. No Socket - Four Memory chips - Soldered in chips	Type 2. Socketed - Single removable chip - Easily replaced

Original Configuration 1982-1984 No Socket The 4 ROMs are soldered in No EPROMs Not chipable in this form	Redesigned in 1985 design modified version Socketed Removable EPROM (chip) is shown on the left. It is pressed into a 24 pin socket. It is not soldered in. This makes it easily removable and replaced with a performance chip.
The part number on the DME cover plate of both versions is the same. There are no external markings on the DME that will tell you which version you have. To determine if your DME has a removable chip..... You have to look inside ---> Procedure

OK, my DME is one of the first type.... What can I do to chip my DME?
Here are two options to make an early 944 DME "chipable".
Method 1. Install a socket adapter board.	Method 2. Trade logic boards with a BMW 027 DME. A very simple "Do-It-Yourself" project.

Some board soldering is involved. Boards have "dual chip" capability.	The same board [with socket] is removed from a BMW and added to the Porsche DME. An easy installation. Requires no special soldering skills. The work can be completed in just about an hour.

Early 944 DME Part Numbers
944 DMEs - Where Used	Porsche Part No.	Year	DME Model	Lambda & Cat	Engine	BOSCH Part No.
Euro/ROW	944.618.111.00	82	ML1.1	no	M44.01/03	0261200006
Japan	944.618.111.01	82-85	ML1.2	yes	M44.02/04	0261200015
(US)(CAN)	944.618.111.01	83-85	ML1.2	yes	M44.02/04	0261200015
(S)(AUS)(HK)(NZ)(CH)	944.618.111.02	83-85	ML1.1	no	M44.01/03	0261200016
Rest of Europe	944.618.111.03	83-85	ML1.1	no	M44.01/03	0261200006

Identify which early 944 DME logic boards is yours. With or without socket. A socket is required to change DME's programming (the chip). "I have an early Porsche 944 (1982 through 1985.0) and do I need a socket adapter board?" Both versions of the logic board are considered functionally the same. So BOSCH did not give the new version unique part number. They both version have the same external part markings.

The DME part numbers are the same from 1982 to the end of production in mid year 1985. In late 1984/1985, BOSCH made changes to the logic board. The original four ROMs (masked programmable) were replaced by a single EPROM (programmable ROM). This was done to make manufacturing easier and not because BOSCH wanted to make it chip-able. Neither BOSCH nor Porsche condone the practice of running non factory chips.