996 PCM2 Replacement options

[JRR1967]

I have a 2004 996 C4S with a PCM2. No Bose, so I assume not optical.

I'm about to pick up my car from the nearest Porsche dealer after a shedload of work, service etc.

Part of this was looking for a drain on the battery which the dealer has identified as a dodgy PCM unit. The Porsche solution is a new unit at c£1,800 + fitting. I have delayed making a decision, I'll just pull the fuse for now.

I except that the care and maintenance of a wide hipped black lady of a certain age who has a drinking problem and sounds like Barry White involves many interesting bills. But c£2K to get the same decade old comms tech seems a bit much.

A very quick internet trawl seems to suggest that OEM PCM replacements for 996 PCM2 are less common than when I looked a few years ago. I suppose 997/991 is now the market.

Not too bothered about phone integration. Modern satnav and digital music fine. Digital radio a bonus.

Would anyone suggest someone I could have a look at who would do such a replacement?

I'd rather not do it myself. Happy to muck about with computers, but not cars usually.

Thanks,

JRR

[JRR1967]

Thanks Folks - started me off on a journey through what I've been missing in the last few years, and understanding what is out there.

The iOS/iPhone integration looks good. Although having a back up internal satnav would seem useful. Where I live I'm often well away from good data signals.

It also seems there are ones that do this and DAB as well. Gosh. Cake and eat it.

I think I want to point at a flashy device like one of the Pioneers and find a good audio installer in the north of England / southern Scotland (I'm in NW Cumbria) with a good reputation who will order the right bits and do a good job.

So - to paraphrase Blackadder (or possibly Lord Percy) - "Know you of such a beast?"

[JRR1967]

eastsider said:

I have a 2003 996 C4S which had PCM2 and just changed. No bose, but does have an optical loom. And Canbus, I think. So assume nothing...

Just fitted a pioneer DA-120 touchscreen carplay unit. Around £280 for the unit plus adapters and fitting. Its 1000x better than PCM and I'm happy with the result.

However, my mechanic fitted mine and he had a nightmare to the extent he probably wouldn't do one again. It seems from 2001-04 ish there were multiple factory combinations of PCM1 or 2, Bose or not, optical or not, amp, optical amp or no amp etc. Basically any fitter who hasn't seen quite a few could find it rather tricky.

Dynamic sounds in wandsworth get recommended on 911uk as having done quite a few. With hindsight I'd have taken my car there. They quoted me £150 plus adapters but who knows what the final bill would have been.

I'm in central London if you want to take a look or have questions let me know.

Thank you.

As I'm in Cumbria I'll probably see if I can find and intersection of:-

3 Audio installer in the north of England / South Scotland
2 Recommended as competent
1 Has experience of 996 / 997 PCM 2 and knows the level of hell that could be encountered

If this fails I'll relax the condition 3 and probably be talking to Dynamic Sounds and finally going to Tate Modern and The London Eye whilst I wait for that lead that they were almost sure that they wouldn't need and don't have in stock to be found...

[JRR1967]

INWB said:

I have a Pioneer unit in mine and it makes the dash look modern. Most units these days have at least bluetooth and if you run IoS then the Appleplay units are nice (although some lose sat nav if your phone has no signal.



I am in the process of changing my stereo and am writing up a definitive guide for 996 models. Likely changing for Hertz speakers and a JL amp (likely to skip the sub for the time being)

If you need anything before I get chance to post it then let me know as I likely already have it.

That's reassuring, especially as you seem to have "the cupholder of doom" - which seems to exclude most of the facia replacement options that are available.