I've got an '08 997.1 S Cab with the PCM.2.1 and Bose. I was tired of trying all sorts of kludgy fixes to get Bluetooth, and had absolutely no intention of spending a minimum of $2000 on a new head unit, with all that's involved for a Bose-equipped car.

I decided, despite mixed reviews, to try the latest Dension solution, the 500S BT. My first good decision was to buy it from Eric at bumperplugs.com. Eric provides unlimited phone and email advice and support, which can be invaluable.

Reading the many threads on the Dension, I concluded that success or failure was almost exclusively a function of the expertise (or lack thereof) of the installer. Thus, my second good decision was to ask Eric whom he would recommend to do the install in the Los Angeles area. The answer: Eric would only recommend one person, Jamey Rawlings of Rawlings Audio in Monrovia, CA (just east of Pasadena).

Jamey spent about three hours on the car, carefully explaining every detail as he worked. Having done many, many Dension installations, he knew, for example, that in order to get the phone function to work properly he had to disconnect the car's phone module under the passenger seat and employ a bypass.

I mount my iPhone 5S running iOS 7.04 on the dash, in a Proclip holder, so I wanted the Aux cord to come out from the cubby in front of the gearshift lever, which is what Jamey did. Should I want to use Bluetooth instead, I can always just push the cord into the cubby -- but then the iPhone wouldn't charge.

The end result is exactly what I hoped for. I put the iPhone in the mount, and it streams anything I have running on the phone -- usually Pandora, Songza or the internal music, plus a nav program. I can see what song is playing on the PCM screen, and use the Forward and Back controls on the PCM to control the music.

When I press the Tel button on the PCM, I can see my iPhone phonebook on the PCM screen and can run through it, and dial either from there or from the phone itself. I mounted the mic just to the left of the PCM instead of up by the mirror, for two reasons: 1) My Vi radar detector is mounted up by the mirror, and 2) I often drive with the top down, and wanted to keep the mic out of the wind as much as possible.

The car had to be programmed with the PIWIS to eliminate the car's built-in phone (so it wouldn't keep looking for it) and to add a CD changer (which my car didn't have -- the Dension is controlled via the CD changer button on the PCM). This took my indy (House Automotive in Pasadena) 10 minutes, and he didn't charge me for it. He did have a question, so he called Jamey, who jumped in his car and came right over to sort it out.

I do have the latest Dension firmware update but, proceeding on the basis of "if it ain't broke don't fix it", I haven't felt the need to install it. I will say this: Kudos to those who have done the installation themselves. Having seen how tricky parts of the installation can be, and how complex the internal wiring, all I can say is you're braver than I am.

Amazing service all around, and I couldn't be happier with the Dension unit. At $529 for the unit and a couple hundred for the installation, it's a huge value in terms of what you get for the money.

 

Keep us posted. I may have to get this done on my next trip to LA.

 

Thanks for the testimonial. I am thinking of doing this as well, using the same Dension product you purchased. Unfortunately finding a good installer in South Carolina may not be easy. Please keep us posted as to the longer term viability of this solution.

 

Congrats!!!

I've just DIY'd to install the 500sBT into my '06 C2S (originally with CDC and Phone module). Everything went pretty smooth and so far working great. The only issue I have is the PCM's system error message "Phone not available" even the after the phone module is physically by-passed. But your post confirmed that it had to be de-activated via software control as well. I'll probably skip this or wait until I visit my indie next, but at least I'm relieved that the problem is not with my wiring.

Enjoy it and have a great year ahead in 2014!

 

nomad...if you are not too far from, or plan to be near Atlanta, let us know.

 

Thanks for the good wishes, and respect for doing the installation yourself! Yes, the "Phone not available" message was very persistent. it's certainly not the result of an installation error on your part.

It was very persistent until the phone module was deactivated through software. In fact, it continued to pop up randomly from time to time even afterwards -- that was why, as I mentioned in my write-up, my indy called the installer, Jamey, during the software adjustment. Between the two of them they managed to get it squared away, though.

The fact that yours came with the CD changer meant one less step for you -- mine did not, and it had to be added during the software adjustment. In addition, there is also an option to add a "CDR" in the software, and the "not found" message regarding the CD changer didn't really go away until the CDR (whatever that is) was also added.

Very much worth the effort to get it working properly, though, and learning the somewhat unintuitive method of reading and implementing the various menus.

P.S. Back in the early 1990s I lived in HKG for a couple of years, on Conduit Rd. in midlevels. Can't imagine what the traffic must be like there now. Oh, right, I can -- I just have to look at the 405 freeway here in L.A.

 

I have the unit also and love it! Eric from bumperplugs.com is great guy to deal with. Whenever you have a question... email Eric. He has helped my in the past and followed up on my questions quickly!. Enjoy your new Dension!

 

I've generally ready good things about the Dension especially the latest version (500S BT). My question is if you already had the Porsche factory handsfree module in your car prior to install?

On the Dension site it says that the PCM head unit must have a phone button, so I assume yours did. Mine does not, unfortunately, and I don't know if that means I'm out-of-luck or not. I'd like to do something similar but I'm wondering if it would still work -- maybe without that button I would just need to pretty the button on my phone instead of the head unit? Or maybe it just isn't compatible. Didn't mean to hijack this thread but I thought you might know. I put a call into a professional installer as I think that's the way to go, I wouldn't attempt this myself.

 

Good question, to which I don't know the answer, unfortunately. I'm no expert, just a happy novice user. For the most authoritative answer, I suggest you place a call or send an email to Eric at bumper plugs.com. I'm sure he'll be able to help.

 

PCM 2.1 is required for bluetooth integration. No phone buttons - not PCM 2.1, but 2.0, or earlier product.

You still can integrate ipod/usb/aux using the Gateway 500 on the PCM w/o phone buttons, but no bluetooth integration of any kind is possible on the earlier PCM units.

 

Good experience here as well. Bought the 500BT a few days after my 997.1. Installed it behind the PCM in about two hours. My 997 had neither the phone nor CDC, but I did not do any PWIS setting. It all worked out of the box almost perfectly.

During the first week, there were three incidents where the PCM complained that the CD Changer could not be found. But I pushed the Dension's reset button and it came up immediately. After the first week, I have not had this issue reappear - more than two months now.

Also I thought the Dension was not shutting down when I turn off the car. This because it would be streaming when I get back in and start the car. But on testing, it seems that the 500BT starts up and reconnects when I unlock the car, or at least as the PCM starts back up. And on connecting it restarts Pandora or whatever was the last audio source.

 

Just ordered a unit from Eric. Can't wait it get it in.

 

If you can, get Jamey to install it for you. There are other alternatives, but none better.

 

Thx OldBold. I want my setup to be just like yours. I will give Jamey a call.

 

Hi Seahull, glad to hear that you have experience too. May I know from where did you tap the power for the 500S BT? Thx