Hi everyone,

I am picking up my new 997.2 Carrera on Monday. The car has the PCM 3.0, with Bose and XM radio options. But it does not have navigation, Bluetooth, and Ipod connection.

There are three routes I am considering:

1. Take out the PCM 3.0, and replace it with KENWOOD EXCELON DNX9140. This way, I get all the functionality (nav + bt + ipod) and some additional ones (back up camera + multi-function wheel + voice control). My local reputable installer estimated $2.2k, including labor and dealer recoding.
2. Simply buy the PCM 3.0 parts from Suncoast: PCM 3.0 Bluetooth Kit and PCM 3.0 Audio & iPod Input Kit. I estimate this route to be $1k parts and $400 labor. And get a separate navigation unit from Garmin (another $380).
   
3. Get PCM3-997-Media from Nav-tv. I estimated this route to be $1k part and $400 labor.

My strong preference is for route #1. If I can sell the new PCM 3.0 + Bose + XM radio on ebay, I might even come out ahead of route #2 and #3.

Questions:

1. Is there any pitfall for route #1? Is the Kenwood a good unit (decent review on Amazon)?
2. If I go with route #1, should I sell the new PCM 3.0 head unit? Or keep it in case when I upgrade the car in a few years (to put the car back to the factory option)?
3. If I decide to sell the PCM 3.0 head unit, where is the right market place? Any other ones beside Ebay and Craigslist?

I am sure people have thought about this already. Thanks for your advice.

--Randy

 

I would integrate the Porsche factory parts. But it depends on how much you want to spend. Aftermarket done correctly can and will be expensive.

 

+1. Ti rip away PCM from brand new 997 car would immediately hurt its value.

 

I see. So the right thing perhaps is to 1) rip it out, 2) put it back when I am ready to sell?

I tried out a Garmin 1490t unit this morning, and I am not really happy with it. So I am still leaning toward route #1.

 

you can try to put DNX9140 in but I am skeptical about $2.2K total price for that project as you will get with issues to combine it with stock amplifier, so, most likely it will have to be replaced, then, issues with wiring to speakers - will require most likely re-wiring, then you will want to upgrade speakers to get full benefit of proper amplifiers. Plus install subs.
Projects like this usually run up into $10K territory. But, who knows.

to install native Nav kit is $2.3K for kit itself plus around $500 to dealer for install. Also a lot. So, it is your choice.

 

The quote was:

• $1,400 for the Kenwood unit,
• $500 Parts to connect the unit to speak "CAM-bus".
• $50 cable
• $275 for the dash unit.

Jim got a really good price on Black Friday, so all the prices include labor.

He did give me another quote if I want to change the amplifier and speakers:

• $800 for a J/L Audio HD 6004
• $1,500 for Morel hybrid ovation ii
• $100 for parts
• $300 labor

But if I did everything, I would get an additional discount.

This is from an installer that has over 60 reviews on Yelp.com. I have met with him twice and he is really knowledgeable and patient.

Is there value if I install non-Porsche speakers & amplifier? Given the amount of complaints I heard/read in this forum on the Bose stereo, I thought this should be a net-positive upgrade?

 

it would be quite interesting for me to see how exactly this installer is going to plug in all that stuff as stock amp gets just only 2 channels in and car speakers are partially fed by PCM main module and amp simultaneously. you simply cannot use wires that leave from stock amp to connect signal to all speakers, it requires some workarounds for sure. Would be interesting to make that know-how public.

As of it`s worth to upgrade speakers/amp - I would say, if you do not track your car and is not obsessed over adding 50 or so more lb of weight - go for it. Check with installer how is he going to use center speaker in dashboard.

 

I will find out from Jim.

From my earlier conversation with him, this is where the "$500 parts" come in; he will buy the parts to speak "CAM-bus" - the Porsche optical interconnect interface.

--Randy

 

Hmm. Very interesting.

It is not going to do anything as audio signal to speakers does not use CAM bus. I am not sure why do you need CAM bus for at all if you are not using PCM . CAM bus is a control interface between PCM head unit and other things like stock NAV and CD changer. You are replacing it all. Well, may be it is that I do not know something.

 

Regarding the CAM-bus optical interface connect, there are some issues. Even if you use the convertor you're introducing another D/A conversion which can degrade the signal. I wouldn't say that it's a huge, or even tremendously noticeable difference, especially with cabin noise. However, when I went down the same Route #1 that you did I experienced severe crosstalk and digital artifacts in the rear speakers. It was beyond annoying so I just had all the bose components removed and placed with Audison and Hertz components, with the Kenwood unit you're considering (which is really excellent, btw). All told, the entire process cost around 8.5k. Granted, the speakers and amp weren't cheap and you could definitely do it for less...but I would be cautious about trying to integrate an aftermarket head unit with the included optical Bose pieces. The interesting thing regarding the addition of weight...my car actually lost weight in the conversion. The guys that did mine fabricated a super light box for the subs to replace the Bose unit and when all was said and done my car was a whopping 3.2 pounds lighter! (yes, i realize that's useless...funny nonetheless). If you have any questions on specifics don't hesitate to drop me a line, I can also provide pictures of how it may end up looking. Best of luck,

Alex

 

it defies the purpose to get into complete audio overhaul and use cheap components, on other side total price tag is pretty stiff and is questionable in result as 997 cabin will be noisy all the time. I would be OK from adding sound processor with Audyssey system alone somewhere in-between PCM and stock amplifier just to tune up properly imperfections of default sound system but that moronic design they have does not allow even this simple task to be done.

well, winter will last several more months, may be I will think of something to do with it all. worst part for me in this process is to take doors apart and extract PCM out by myself to get access to all wires involved. Major PITA job with possibility to have rattles in those doors forever afterwards.

 

Thanks for the information.

So if the Kenwood unit has an optical out (TOS interface, for example), and the converter can convert from one optical interface to another, then we would not have this A/D/A issue?

I will ask Jim to look into it.

 

I would definitely have your guy look into it. In a perfect world, when one thing is optical it should easily interface with anything else that is optical. Unfortunately in the case of audio and electronics manufacturers are integrating more and more into one unit, making it difficult for outside operations to do anything to their vehicles. That being said, if the amplifier and head unit will talk to each other in the same "language" you would not experience the issues that I had with interfacing the two pieces.

I agree with you utkinpol, I certainly was not suggestioning that if you do a full overhaul that you should skimp on the speakers, just pointing out it could be done for less than a Kia. Doing a full overhaul is a maaaaajor pain, but the stock system just wasn't something I wanted to live with. Some serious soul searching is required before jumping into this type of thing, for sure.

-Alex

 

Here's my opinion,

Take the car and drive it for a while and see how you like the experience. Just because there are some complaints doesn't mean it will affect you the same way it does to everyone else. See how it feels on you for a few weeks before you start taking out factory fitted bits.

I'm not sure if you have Sports Chrono, but it integrates with the satellite navigation on the PCM 3.0 so you get lap timing, trip computer displays on the nav as well. Navigation instructions from the PCM also shows up on the speedometer display telling you the next turn etc. There are a lot of built in integration with the Porsche units so I think if you wanted the full nav + Bt + ipod, you should go with the Porsche unit.

BTW, Congrats on your purchase! I picked up mine a month ago and now have done 2,700 kms. Just love it.

H