Thanks to forum sponsor Suncoast, I just received my OEM iPod kit for use with the PCM 3.0 system. My only regret regarding my recent 997.2 C2 purchase has been not getting the iPod input option. At the time this one item didn't seem to warrant going to the trouble of a special order car when everything else I wanted was available via a car on the lot.

having had iPod connectivity in my last 3 vehicles I began to regret this almost immediately.

My local Porsche dealer/service center had told me twice that this option could not be installed other than at the factory.

One email to Suncoast and the full kit was on the way.

Thanks Suncoast!

 

Good call and it's actually one of the options I was pretty happy with on ours... I didn't think it'd be worth it but....

 

I was actually thinking of buying the same kit from suncoast too. I purchased one of those 09 C2 launch cars on the lot. But my question is, how are you going to install it in your car? Assuming that your dealer told you that it can only be installed at factory. That means your dealer has no idea of how to install the kit in your car. Did Suncoast provide you with some sort of code?

 

Hi,
Congrats on the new car.

I have a local audio installer that will do the installation; it looks pretty straight forward. Once installed, my local Porsche service center will be able to program the car to see the aux input even if they are a bit too lazy to actually find out for me that this kit was available. That's the plan anyway. I'll be able to report back about this time next week and let you know how smoothly, or not, it went.

 

PM me your email address if you want the installation instructions for the iPod kit for either the PCM 2.1 or 3.0. I'm not sure what was wrong with the other dealership, it took just a minute to find it in the online workshop manuals.

 

how do you know what version of pcm you have. obviously 3.0 is on the 997.2 but what about an 06 c2?

 

If you have a 2006 then you have PCM 2.1.

 

Maybe I've misread this but does this mean there's an official PCM 2.1 iPod integration kit? Or are you just referring to things like the Dension?

 

There is an official PCM 2.1 iPod integration kit, but it uses FM radio transmission, not a direct cable link. Stay away! But here's a link to the part at Suncoast
http://e-partssales.com/Merchant2/me...ct_Code=OEMKIT

 

The OEM kit does use the FM band, but differently than those you'd find in most of the aftermarket units. In those you'll see that they require you to set the unit to a single radio station and it will run on that (either wired or wireless), but on the Porsche unit you actually set it up for the entire US radio spectrum (88.1-107.9?). When you scan the radio on your PCM you actually hit a "station" called "AUX" which blocks out the radio completely and only allows the signal from the iPod through, thus eliminating any interference from local stations. And it really works!

This means that theoretically the sound quality will be that of the absolute best FM you can get. Many will argue that digital will still sound way better, but what I've found is that the factory sound system is really the weakest link when it comes to sound quality and the difference between the iPod systems is negligible, if noticable at all.

That being said, the aftermarket units still have a practical benefit of being able to control the iPod from the radio, while with the OEM kit you have to control the music from the iPod itself (you only control volume from your head unit).

Again, if anyone has any questions, or would like any instructions, I'd be more than happy to help out.

 

how did it go? i just got one myself and my dealer is clueless. did they have to get new code from Porsche and how much they charged for that? thanks in advance

P.S. does this kit charge ipod?

 

all of the ipod solutions are extremely expensive for what they actually provide. Since the head unit will read mp3 cds, which will provide approximately 180 songs, the need for ipod integration is reduced. When will the price point come down to reflect that reality?

 

My IPOD2KIT experience is posted here:

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...t-porsche.html

I agree, it's a shame that all factory installed, and especially aftermarket options, are so expensive.......they cost more than a top-of-the-line iPod.

My only consolation is the ability to take every piece of music I own, which like most folks, is thousands of songs, with me everywhere I go. It's such amazing technology that I embrace it despite the cost.

Hopefully iPod integration will eventually be as standard as cassette players were 15 years ago. Until the market place demands that though the car manufacturers don't have much impetus to include them as standard when they are currently able to add a bit of profit to each car they sell.

The potential problem with your idea about putting 180 songs on an mp3 CD is that this is a bit too reminiscent of the 6-10 disc CD changes where every one loaded their CD's and then kept istening to the same 6-10 discs for months before finally changing them again!

 

When price is no object, prices remain elevated!

 

in one week i ll have a cable DIY for under $30 to replace OEM kit altogether (ipod for PCM3 MOST)