I recently purchased my first Porsche in December. The sales manager told me my car had bluetooth capabilities. For the last month I have tried to get it to work with my iPhone and couldn't. I took it into the dealer (Porsche of Orlando) and they stated the head unit was broken. Just called today and they stated that my car didn't come with Bluetooth although it broadcasts and I can initiate pairing process.

They now want $1200 for the "code" to unlock this feature. Needless to say I am a little steamed that I was told it had it when it didn't. They sales guy is nice and is trying to help me but my question is this... does anyone know where I can get the code or is their a better alternative than handing them $1200 to enter a code to activate a feature they said the car had?

Any ideas?

 

if you purchased it new check the window sticker. It should be listed under options as bluetooth interface and the cost should be about $625. I have it in my car and it works really well even with the top down I am very pleased with it.

Perhaps you can get them to do it for the original cost you would have paid instead of 2x typical dealer crap. If they value your business it is not a big compromise IMHP.

good luck

 

Check the window sticker like the above poster stated. If it is listed as purchased option then it is warranty issue. If it is not listed in the sticker then I would assumed the $1200 charge is the OEM bluetooth kit($695 from Sunocast) and the installation charge. And you do need an activation code from Porsche if it is install at the dealer. It appears your car didn't come with the bluetooth option. Here is the link to the OEM bluetooth kit, http://www.e-partssales.com/miva/mer...9972electronic

John

 

If you don't have the window sticker, go to Suncoast website and use the VIN Decoder to find out if Bluetooth came with your car. Suncoast will send you a detailed list of everything you ever want to know about your car, including list of all codes & options in the car.

Link: http://www.e-partssales.com/miva/mer...ode=VINDECODER

Bluetooth will show up as "619-Preparation for mobile phone".

Can you take a picture of the Bluetooth Pairing screen on your car and post it here? It will help us help you.

 

When I first got my car this confused me as well. I didn't order the Bluetooth option because I thought it was overpriced. I'm happy with my Aliph Jawbone which is a high end Bluetooth headset. Still, when I got the car I couldn't help but push the "Phone" button on the PCM and noticed that Bluetooth seemed to be installed. I then proceeded to pair my LG Dare phone which it did quite nicely. The phone recognized and listed the PCM and the PCM recognized and listed the phone but they wouldn't actually hook up. When I called the phone only the phone rang and not the PCM. I also noticed there wasn't any option tab in the Bluetooth menu and there was no way to transfer the phone book.

I can't fault Porsche because - hey - I didn't order Bluetooth it but it's strange how they sort of "tease" you with it anyway. I imagine the software is there whether you order it or not but if you don't order it then the software is blocked. I was kind of hoping that the "crack" would appear online someday perhaps even on this forum.

I ordered the car in early June of '09 and two weeks later I decided I probably should pop for the Bluetooth option primarily for resale value since most cars seem to have it. Unfortunately, the order was already accepted by the factory and Bluetooth couldn't be added.

Now I'm not sure what to do now because if I have a dealer unlock the software I figure it's going to be wicked expensive. You said $1200 - wow - talk about getting hosed. Also, since the option will never be on my window sticker it may be difficult for a protentional buyer to believe the option is there and that it's 100% factory.

 

If when you purchased the car, your salesperson said the car was Bluetooth capable, then they just need to make-it-happen. (Just saying don't bother with the cost or codes........it is their responsibility, again if they sold you a car and said in-fact it was BT, to fix it). Not your problem. And if the salesperson made a mistake, again, not your problem

 

It might be worth your while to give Suncoast a call and see if they can email you the retrofit instructions. The kit is sold for $695 and if you're handy enough, you can DIY, save the $$$, and be done with it.

http://www.e-partssales.com/miva/mer...9972electronic

I wouldn't worry about potential buyers because you can show them that your car has it, right? I meant after it has been retrofitted.

 

That's a good point and besides Suncoast is an authorized dealer so I'll have the proper paperwork that a prospective buyer is looking for. I've taken the center stack apart in my Mazdas plenty of times I don't seen how the 911 could be that much different unless there are manufacturer specific tools involved for proprietary fasteners. It's simply a matter of knowing which trim pieces to remove in which order to get to the fasteners. Not a big problem for me. I'll give them call and see is DIY installation is possible or if a scanner tool is required for activation. Besides, I've kind of had my eye on those clear markers anyway.

 

I appreciate the response and will probably go with Suncoast to see what can be done. I spoke to the sales guy and he has apologized profusely and is a good guy. We are working to see what he can do to make it happen. The car rocks - just annoying to spend that much, be told the option was on the car, only to find it wasn't and have a $1200 fee to "activate it".

You guys have given me some good ideas and it is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

All 2009's have a form of bluetooth.. in the sense that the bluetooth radio is installed and running on all of the cars. What you can do with that depends on what options were purchased and activated on the car, as well as what additional hardware might be installed (or not).

Bluetooth is just the 2 way radio link between the PCM and another device. What those devices are and what they connect to is a totally different issue.

You have to purchase the hands free phone option to be able to pair the car with the phone. If you didn't buy that option, there may not even be any hardware (ie microphone - someone else may be able to verify this) installed, in which case retrofitting would be a major problem. A smart car company would have installed the mic and all wiring to allow easy activation of phone options later on.

The internal handset that one can buy as an option when you buy the 'car phone' (ie the car is the phone, you just supply the SIM card directly or via SAP profile via your phone over bluetooth) option also communiciates via bluetooth.

So for a variety of reasons, the basic bluetooth hardware is there.. and devices can see it.. but if you did not buy a specific option to connect to something by bluetooth, you won't be able to do anything with the bluetooth signal.

The activation codes would be unique licenses for your specific car to turn on the features. The only way to get them is to buy them.

 

I am also having issues with the bluetooth. My car has the option, the phone was paired, it shows my address book, it initially hooks up then disconnects. Real PITA...wifes X5 hooked up in 30 seconds and works flawless...what's up here Porsche??

 

Well let's be honest... Porsche makes amazing cars but their electronic goodies are rarely, if ever, cutting edge.

 

Theres a PCM firmware upgrade DVD. Should be avail at your OPC. Me, I had to buy the techquipment retrofit pack to make it work. Around $1600 here in Korea at the OPC. Works fine and i really needed it(manual transmission). I had checked out suncoast and was ready to buy but was discouraged because Porsche AG would not allow a US dealer to provide the license code to a non-US car. No regrets though!

 

Our OPC lent me a 997.1 C2S cab during the 3 days it took to install thw whole thing. The cabrio was superb but too cold to drive with top down in -10 deg celcius!!!!!

 

I find it works very well. I have had my old RAZR paired and working and now my new ERIS as well as my wife's Moto Droid.

I am sure BMW have improved their tech lately as well, but for me, the 997.2 is leagues better in nearly every way (except sound) than my e60 550i was.