PCM3 Retrofit to 997.1

plavix · 22 Mar 2014

So today I was having my usual take the pi55 chat with my specialist whilst sticking my third rad in and he mentioned he was going to be looking in to the possibility of retrofitting PCM3 in to a Gen 1 car.

I've offered to lend him mine over Easter to 'experiment' with. I'll feed back the findings, costs, dependencies and possibilities when I know.

What would be the interest, if any, in this?

Maxie · 22 Mar 2014

Definitely interested in this thread Plavix. PCM 3.0 is far superior to 2.1 but how would it affect residual values? If possible, ask your specialist to add photos as he goes along so we can see what it entails.

~ Maxie

kench · 22 Mar 2014

I am definitely interested!

Disco · 23 Mar 2014

It certainly should be possible in theory as early GT2s had PCM2.1 and late ones had PCM 3. It will surely be many thousands of £££ to do though - unless to a car with an emotional attachment or something mildly exotic (perhaps an RS) then I wouldn't be surprised if it were almost cheaper to upgrade the whole car to a Gen 2 rather than retrofit. Just the console alone will be over 2.5k (more if you want bluetooth or iPod connectivity). It smells like a £4k+ job to me... :what:

I believe that it also needs the "sound package plus" or Bose option to work. So that might need to be retrofitted too if it doesn't have it.

Interesting though.

isysman · 23 Mar 2014

There is a thread on 6 speed online I was following a while back. Someone on there did it and then others tried. Very complex and you need to get licenses from Porsche that you can only get if the car came from the factory with that unit. Otherwise the various different features (satnav, iPod etc.) stop working after some time.

http://m.6speedonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299472

rob_p · 23 Mar 2014

For purists maybe - bit isn't the easier, cheaper and simpler option to replace with a really good aftermarket HU?
There are one or 2 small downsides but outweighed IMHO but a multitude of upsides.
I've done mine - no regrets.

plavix · 23 Mar 2014

:wack:

plavix · 23 Mar 2014

Just to be clear, this is an 'experiment' only. For now.

Disco said:
It smells like a £4k+ job to me...

If parts are bought new I think the cost would be even higher. The aim is to keep it as close to a grand to fifteen hundred as possible, utilising a used PCM3 of course. Which excludes reselling the existing PCM2.1, therefore the net cost to change should be relatively low. A bluetooth & audio box, such as Dension is £300 or Mobridge is £700 so the justification is there for me.

Disco said:
I believe that it also needs the "sound package plus" or Bose option to work. So that might need to be retrofitted too if it doesn't have it.

It requires replacing the Amp if you have BOSE now or installation of the Amp in any case. Which is technically the less than difficult part as they are only MOST plus power. All 997 have MOST. And power. :thumbs:

isysman said:
There is a thread on 6 speed online I was following a while back. Someone on there did it and then others tried. Very complex and you need to get licenses from Porsche that you can only get if the car came from the factory with that unit. Otherwise the various different features (satnav, iPod etc.) stop working after some time.

http://m.6speedonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299472

I saw that. There is also this one http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/997-forum/562012-2009-pcm-3-0-nav-retrofit-reversed.html, where PCNA initially released a retrofit kit part number. It no longer exists.

rob_p said:
For purists maybe - bit isn't the easier, cheaper and simpler option to replace with a really good aftermarket HU?
There are one or 2 small downsides but outweighed IMHO but a multitude of upsides.
I've done mine - no regrets.

For me I would rather have the less than optimal (read $h1t) PCM2.1 plus an overly expensive add-on for phone and audio functions. Call it aesthetics, the desire to retain as close to stock as possible or that I was dropped on my head too frequently as a child.

I've seen Pioneer and the likes HU in the 911 and IMHO they look a bit Halfords. That's not to deride those who have installed them as my uncle has in his 996. It's also not very good and cost more than a used PCM. :roll:

Disco · 23 Mar 2014

plavix said:
Just to be clear, this is an 'experiment' only. For now.

Disco said:

It smells like a £4k+ job to me...

Click to expand...

If parts are bought new I think the cost would be even higher. The aim is to keep it as close to a grand to fifteen hundred as possible, utilising a used PCM3 of course. Which excludes reselling the existing PCM2.1, therefore the net cost to change should be relatively low. A bluetooth & audio box, such as Dension is £300 or Mobridge is £700 so the justification is there for me.

I had also seen the US forum threads on the subject, so was assuming that due to the codes required, you would not be able to get a viable solution without buying new units (so the PCM/Nav unit itself, the Bluetooth phone module and the iPod/aux input module to do a full setup. Many $$ worth of kit). If there is a way around all of that to recycle old kit it would be interesting, and it is possible that a workaround may have emerged as the original attempts all started many years ago now.

Good luck with your endeavour :thumb:

isysman · 23 Mar 2014

Unless the kit was in your car when new even if you buy the equipment from Porsche they won't give the codes to activate the various parts.

Ian Donkin · 29 Jul 2014

Just found this whilst searching the forum... Did anything come of your efforts Plavix?

jonboy · 30 Jul 2014

What about the double din pioneer units I am thinking of one of those especially given the apple carplay integration I know they are not standard but added functionality make up for it and can be made to look oem

plavix · 31 Jul 2014

Ian Donkin said:
Just found this whilst searching the forum... Did anything come of your efforts Plavix?

It is a work in progress. Emphasis is not on 'progress' though.

My specialist has my car when I'm out of the country for August so I'm expecting to come back to some form of badly maintained time machine. :dont know:

slackster · 31 Jul 2014

If someone/a specialist actually works out a bill of materials required, how to obtain any coding options and a labour charge to fit the kit ( which I suspect will be the cheapest part)

then offering this a service to gen1 cayman/boxster/911 owners is a potential goldmine !

I spoke to OPC Sheffield the other day and asked them to price up the parts for me even though I knew they'd charge thousands and they came back simply saying "it can't be done", even though the 2009 997TT's had it fitted to gen1 cars!!

I really hope your time machine comes back in august with PCM3.1 next to the hyperdrive button.

Ian Donkin · 31 Jul 2014

slackster said:
I really hope your time machine comes back in august with PCM3.1 next to the hyperdrive button.

+1

I actually quite like the PCM2.1 (mine has a ViseeO fitted for Bluetooth hands free), but PCM3 would be excellent.

Enjoy your holiday Plavix

PCM3 Retrofit to 997.1

plavix

Mugello

Maxie

Yas Marina

kench

Montreal

Disco

Portimao

isysman

Daytona

rob_p

Suzuka

plavix

Mugello

plavix

Mugello

Disco

Portimao

isysman

Daytona

Ian Donkin

Monza

jonboy

Spa-Francorchamps

plavix

Mugello

slackster

Spa-Francorchamps

Ian Donkin

Monza

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