Ah the GPS thing is something I'm not looking forward to then - was hoping it would be up to date-ish. I see that there are updates that can be bought from suncoast, etc so may do that. Mine gets picked up today for delivery, so I hope to have it in a few days! Very similar boat to you. I've also been looking at the different aftermarket options to replace PCM so I can run android auto/apple car play, etc but it appears from reviews that the sound suffers.

Any pictures of the new ride?

 

they want stupid money for the GPS update and even then it's still several years out of date! It's kind of fun to be driving "off road" when using the GPS because it's so far out of date

I really like having it all integrated and I'm reluctant to use something else - not a major problem as I'll mostly be using it to go to "old" places

 

these turbos have thermally and sound insulated interiors, so you will enjoy the quiet for sure.
I believe if you pull out the PCM, you will lose Burmester features. Not sure if it will work (having different Porsche with premium sound, it has a fiber optic ring installed), so that may be a challenge for you, if you want to go after market.
Yes, updating maps will take few hundred dollars and a trip to dealer (must be done using PIWIS2 system that only dealers will have online access to for map updates).

 

By losing the Burmester features - what do you mean exactly? Just purely out of curiosity, but wouldn't a new head unit still be able to drive the existing speaker set up?

 

Heres a couple.

 

Looks awesome!

 

There is a setup in the PCM for Bermester. I would guess the head unit has software to control the special Bermester functions.

 

the US really needs to do something about their front plate requirements. maybe we can suggest it's dangerous to pedestrians. that bracket looks miserable there and it's even on a dark car. i don't run a front plate and the previous owner didn't either, so no holes. TX requires it, but they rarely pull you over for just that.
have the same 970 turbo - great car!

 

Yeh it's state-by-state...

 

 

 

Good to know they can survive the cold! It's been a worry in the back of my mind, with all the electronics. But I figure if they were made for Germany we should be okay. I'm in Toronto so not nearly as bad as what you'll be facing!

 

Burmester is a full setup for audio if you choose this package. I have not looked at details, but i bet the speakers, PCM, amp, sub, are all interconnected via fiberoptic loop, like my CTT that has premium sound. porsche does this on all their high end audio options in recent cars for quality of sound.
So if you remove PCM (the head unit inside car), you will lose connectivity to all Burmester components. Meaning, if you put non factory head unit in, you will either have to:
- find out whether there is a copper to fiberoptic harness you can buy for Panamera (car specific - My Ctt has harness you can buy for $1500, did not find one for Panamera burmester),
- install non factory head unit and manually connect every speaker and different sub and amp, to the head unit via copper wiring (means pulling trim and carpeting and routing wires all over car).

With that in mind, most leave the factory units in the Porsche cars. Those who change know they have harness they can buy to make the transition use factory speakers, amp, sub.

 

Makes sense! If someone was going to do a full system then they'd be pulling trim etc anyway so I guess if it's just the head unit then it's not worth it, but if they're up for doing the full install anyway then they could technically still find a way to utilize the great speakers that already exist.