I have just become a 2011 Cayenne S (series2) owner. (literally today).

I love tech and would love to replace the PCM 2.45 unit or at least upgrade it. What options do i have?

If i install an aftermarket Alpine or Clarion head unit can i still access all the porsche car info and settings?

 

I can't answer your first question - but it might be possible to put a later model PCM in your dash - cost a fortune - but possibly doable. It would need to be coded by a dealer since some of the "options" are simply turning items on/off in the software.

For your second question - very unlikely. I'd almost say 100% not possible. the Alpine or Clarion "head unit" (when did a radio become a head-unit?) would need to have the software needed to perform all the functions the PCM does - and they simply don't. Things like the trip log - that's software in the PCM - not in the car. It reads inputs from the car, calculates, displays, stores data - is the aftermarket going to do that - nope. At best - it might enable the steering wheel buttons - but even that typically requires a translation module of some sort between the wheel controls and the aftermarket "head unit."

I suspect you need to look for your tech fix elsewhere.

 

Don is correct.

You have what you have and there aren't any reasonable ways to upgrade it to do more than what it already does now.

And if I'm not mistaken, the MDF in the gauge cluster is just a video display from the PCM.