Hello from a new member to this forum and Porsches.

I have some questions to which I have not gotten satisfactory answers, either from dealers or Porsche dedicated repair shops.

My 997 has the new PCM3 with Bose audio unit, but when I press navigation or map, it says that they are unavailable. I have inquired from dealers as to what I need to do to get navigation enabled in my 997 and I get a $4,500 answer. However, no one can tell me what I am buying for that money, either in terms of hardware or software. My car, a convertible, has the antenna on top of the rear engine cover and I would surmise is wired for receiving satellite radio and GPS signals.

The part number for navigation in a 2009 Carrera 911 is 997.044.902.71 (this number seems to have been superseded by 997.044.904.71) this is what comes up when dealers do a search for the navigation part number. This is the part that no one seems to know of what it consists.

A Porsche dealer sells PCM3 "radio" units that have various options between radio, navigation, satellite, and cd player. The options include or exclude any combination of those units. However, no one at that dealership seems to know how they integrate into a car nor how they will function if I replace my present PCM3 unit. These "radio" units cost between $1,300 and $1,900; they seem to be entirely a hardware item.

1- Does any one here know what components are included in part number 997.044.902.71 ?
2- Does any one know if just replacing the PCM3 module with one that has navigation included will work in my car?
3- Do I just need to have a dealer do a software flash of some sort to enable the navigation unit that conceivably is already included in my PCM3 unit? Is this what costs $4,500?
4- Which is the better aftermarket radio, navigation unit that members here recommend?

Thank you,

cai

 

I dislike the pcm NAV unit. Sure it's built in that's a big plus, but I really think it sucks compared to garmin and google maps.

 

First thing I'd do is check your option list to make sure the car has Nav, Sat radio, etc. (hard to believe it wouldn't, but worth checking). Don't know if the PCM 3 is DVD-based Nav (my PCM 2.1 is) - if your's is, you might want to check if the Nav DVD is present. Did you buy the car from a dealer? Ask the seller why this stuff isn't working. I wouldn't spend a dime until I had answers to these questions.

 

$650 on an iphone 5 or less on some droid or less on a ipad mini + a good mount
$0 for WAZE or $ for Garmin
= latest nav, not some 4 year old POS that you will never use.

 

PCM1 which I have is a separate DVD base mapping unit in the front of the car.
I'm 99% sure the PCM3 is an all in one hard drive based head unit. No separate unit so you have to replace the whole radio or they're adding the hard drive option.
This is how pretty much all manufacturers do it now so it's not cheap.
Yes $4k is a lot but, all others, Benz, BMW, Acura etc charge the same.
If you really want nav & don't want to spend the money, use your phone or get a Garmin instead. Or you can go to a complete aftermarket system like Alpine or Kenwood.
Oem nav's regardless of brand are expensive as they are specific to the car manufacturer

 

Thank you to all for your replies.

I think that wc11 has the most probable scenario. I am getting the drift from paspar2, jhbrennan, and hakaida that this navigation unit is not really worth the $4,500 they are asking for it. PasPar2 has a point in that this is a 4 year old technology versus newer one from Garmin, TomTom, Magellan, and some other hand held devices.

cai

 

I think the issue is you don't want to spend $4500 on 4 year old technology. If you desire to invest in a PCM like solution, then go aftermarket. Or to the points above don't waste the money and use your iPhone. Of course $4500 will get you some great performance mods ;-)

 

The little map/nav button is standard on the front fascia of ALL PCM 3.0 head units, regardless of whether the option was factory installed or not. IMO that is confusing at best, and disingenuous or lazy at worst.

I used this fact to my advantage during my test drive knowing that GPS was not installed (not on the Monroney sticker). I pressed the button and the screen read the same as yours. When I said "hey where is the map screen" the clueless sales guy told me my original 2010 C2S must have Nav installed since the little button was on the dashboard, and said, "must be an activation issue we'll get it sorted out."

In fact, I got the dealer to order a whole new head unit from Germany (only way to get factory GPS) because I told the manager that the sales guy told me GPS was installed, that I really liked the color (paint to sample dark blue), and asked them to install GPS for no extra charge, and I would write a check that day. Again, the only way to get the GPS is to REPLACE the entire PCM, which is why it costs 4500.00 to install. Suncoast sells the PCM 3.0 NAV headunit for somewhere around 3500.00, but it is several hours of install and programming time.

FWIW, I prefer keeping dash and electronics completely stock.