Ipod your (MOST) Porsche
Discussion
Just though I'd share some thoughts and conclusions on connecting an Ipod to MOST (fibre optic) equipped Porsche. Mine is an 03 MY 996 with CDR23 and Bose.
So far as I can see there are 3 options for this:
Dension Gateway 500 - takes the place of the CD changer. Good sonic solution. Expensive. And probably not a DIY fit (not for me anyway...). I don't like the way you can only control the Ipod using playlists - seems a bit clumsy to me when you've got such a good interface on the Ipod.
NavTV - not that much info around on this, but I believe it works in a very similar way to the GW500. Same issues and benefits as above
Dension ice>Link FM (now called ice>Link ONE) - modulates the Ipod output and connects through the aerial connection of the head unit. Note this is hardwired, not broadcast. Sensible price. DIY fitting possible.
So I plumped for the last option and fitted it this morning. I bought it from Ipodcarkit direct ( www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Car_Kit/Universal_FM_Modulator/Dension_ice%3ELink_FM_Modulator ), together with a Brodit mount ( www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Mounting/Brodit_ProClip_Brackets/Porsche_Brodit_ProClip_Brackets/Porsche_996_Brodit_ProClip_Brackets/Porsche_996_Brodit_ProClip_Bracket_%28652428%29 and radio removal keys ( www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Car_Accessories/Radio_Keys/Becker_Radio_Removal_Tool )
I had a few queries with ipodcarkitdirect and got straight through to someone on the phone, and the goods were delivered next day. Good service.
So fitting....
The first trick is removing the radio. Using the keys is tricky if you've not done it before - but after a bit of fiddling it came out in the end. Connecting everything up is then fairly straight forward - if a bit fiddly. The enclosed instructions and those on the Dension website make it all quite clear. One point to note - in the process I somehow managed to blow the radio fuse in the footwell panel (15 amp, location D8), so I'd recommend removing this before you start.
To understand which wires are which look here www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?automodule=downloads&showfile=548
Feeding the cradle wire up behind the dash board is a bit of a faff. A bent coat hanger is very helpful...!
The Brodit clip is then attached to the car. Note this doesn't require any drilling, so is removable - and is tailored to the car, so looks neat.
The trickiest part was probably putting it all back together. Top tip here is un clip the surround to the air con controls, remove the 2 retaining screws and pull this module out. This allows you to reach in and position all the wires as you push the radio back in.
Finished job looks like this:
I think it looks neat and is easy to use - obviously you don't want to be fiddling with the ipod when driving too much - but the same goes for the Radio/phone/Blackberry/sat nav...
Sound wise, I'm very impressed - it's obviously not the best audio solution, but for a car with all the associated background noise when driving it's really good. It has 8 separate frequency settings - which can be cycled through by pressing a button on the bottom of the cradle.
All in all I'm very pleased. It seems to me the best solution for my car at the moment.
So far as I can see there are 3 options for this:
Dension Gateway 500 - takes the place of the CD changer. Good sonic solution. Expensive. And probably not a DIY fit (not for me anyway...). I don't like the way you can only control the Ipod using playlists - seems a bit clumsy to me when you've got such a good interface on the Ipod.
NavTV - not that much info around on this, but I believe it works in a very similar way to the GW500. Same issues and benefits as above
Dension ice>Link FM (now called ice>Link ONE) - modulates the Ipod output and connects through the aerial connection of the head unit. Note this is hardwired, not broadcast. Sensible price. DIY fitting possible.
So I plumped for the last option and fitted it this morning. I bought it from Ipodcarkit direct ( www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Car_Kit/Universal_FM_Modulator/Dension_ice%3ELink_FM_Modulator ), together with a Brodit mount ( www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Mounting/Brodit_ProClip_Brackets/Porsche_Brodit_ProClip_Brackets/Porsche_996_Brodit_ProClip_Brackets/Porsche_996_Brodit_ProClip_Bracket_%28652428%29 and radio removal keys ( www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/iPod_Car_Accessories/Radio_Keys/Becker_Radio_Removal_Tool )
I had a few queries with ipodcarkitdirect and got straight through to someone on the phone, and the goods were delivered next day. Good service.
So fitting....
The first trick is removing the radio. Using the keys is tricky if you've not done it before - but after a bit of fiddling it came out in the end. Connecting everything up is then fairly straight forward - if a bit fiddly. The enclosed instructions and those on the Dension website make it all quite clear. One point to note - in the process I somehow managed to blow the radio fuse in the footwell panel (15 amp, location D8), so I'd recommend removing this before you start.
To understand which wires are which look here www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?automodule=downloads&showfile=548
Feeding the cradle wire up behind the dash board is a bit of a faff. A bent coat hanger is very helpful...!
The Brodit clip is then attached to the car. Note this doesn't require any drilling, so is removable - and is tailored to the car, so looks neat.
The trickiest part was probably putting it all back together. Top tip here is un clip the surround to the air con controls, remove the 2 retaining screws and pull this module out. This allows you to reach in and position all the wires as you push the radio back in.
Finished job looks like this:
I think it looks neat and is easy to use - obviously you don't want to be fiddling with the ipod when driving too much - but the same goes for the Radio/phone/Blackberry/sat nav...
Sound wise, I'm very impressed - it's obviously not the best audio solution, but for a car with all the associated background noise when driving it's really good. It has 8 separate frequency settings - which can be cycled through by pressing a button on the bottom of the cradle.
All in all I'm very pleased. It seems to me the best solution for my car at the moment.
Edited by stevo6 on Sunday 20th May 19:16
Looks good! The MOST audio seems to have been designed to stop people adding to their system but you've definitely got round it.
I'm tempted to fit a flip out screen/DVD (where your CD holder is) and run the audio through a similer hard wired FM modulator. The only concern is the audio quality. How does it sound at high volume with the engine off?
I'm tempted to fit a flip out screen/DVD (where your CD holder is) and run the audio through a similer hard wired FM modulator. The only concern is the audio quality. How does it sound at high volume with the engine off?
Cheers Stevo, that's very useful.
Good to hear your opinion of the quality with the BOSE. I think you've convinced me!
However, with a slightly more difficult unit (Cayman - CDR 24 I think), I don't fancy taking one of these apart. Do you think my OPC would do on an hourly rate?
(My experience of specialist alarm / stereo shops is not good. On my 911SC I got a 'specialist' shop to remove the non-functioning alarm and install a modern immobiliser. Later the car developed some electrical gremlins and this was traced (on a 2 hour call by a VERY nice AA man who seemed to loving the car!) to the fact the old alarm was literally torn out, leaving a bare, live wire to short (against the fuel tank too), causing the fuel pump relay to malfunction.)
Good to hear your opinion of the quality with the BOSE. I think you've convinced me!
However, with a slightly more difficult unit (Cayman - CDR 24 I think), I don't fancy taking one of these apart. Do you think my OPC would do on an hourly rate?
(My experience of specialist alarm / stereo shops is not good. On my 911SC I got a 'specialist' shop to remove the non-functioning alarm and install a modern immobiliser. Later the car developed some electrical gremlins and this was traced (on a 2 hour call by a VERY nice AA man who seemed to loving the car!) to the fact the old alarm was literally torn out, leaving a bare, live wire to short (against the fuel tank too), causing the fuel pump relay to malfunction.)
pikey said:
Cheers Stevo, that's very useful.
Good to hear your opinion of the quality with the BOSE. I think you've convinced me!
However, with a slightly more difficult unit (Cayman - CDR 24 I think), I don't fancy taking one of these apart. Do you think my OPC would do on an hourly rate?
(My experience of specialist alarm / stereo shops is not good. On my 911SC I got a 'specialist' shop to remove the non-functioning alarm and install a modern immobiliser. Later the car developed some electrical gremlins and this was traced (on a 2 hour call by a VERY nice AA man who seemed to loving the car!) to the fact the old alarm was literally torn out, leaving a bare, live wire to short (against the fuel tank too), causing the fuel pump relay to malfunction.)
Good to hear your opinion of the quality with the BOSE. I think you've convinced me!
However, with a slightly more difficult unit (Cayman - CDR 24 I think), I don't fancy taking one of these apart. Do you think my OPC would do on an hourly rate?
(My experience of specialist alarm / stereo shops is not good. On my 911SC I got a 'specialist' shop to remove the non-functioning alarm and install a modern immobiliser. Later the car developed some electrical gremlins and this was traced (on a 2 hour call by a VERY nice AA man who seemed to loving the car!) to the fact the old alarm was literally torn out, leaving a bare, live wire to short (against the fuel tank too), causing the fuel pump relay to malfunction.)
Try JZ Machetech, they will fit it for you - if they're near you...
I previously used a dension icelink in my non-most 996 and it was excellent.
When faced with trying to Ipod the wife's Cayenne with PCM/Sat Nav etc I went for the relatively easy option of following a friends recommendation and tried the Monster Iplay plus. This is an FM modulator that comes with a Ipod connector rather than plugging into the jack plug connections and thus uses the line out signal from the IPOD rather than the volume-controlled headphone output and it also integrates charging. I've tried a few other FM mods over the years and this thing is much better than any of the others I've tried. I'm not trying to claim it's as good as the Dension but if you don't want the hassle of stripping out your headunit etc for a hardwired option this seems to be the best simple modulator I've come across. The manufacturer has a reputation for making decent HiFi cables and this quality comes across in this product.
Oh....and they can be had for £30 off Ebay.....
When faced with trying to Ipod the wife's Cayenne with PCM/Sat Nav etc I went for the relatively easy option of following a friends recommendation and tried the Monster Iplay plus. This is an FM modulator that comes with a Ipod connector rather than plugging into the jack plug connections and thus uses the line out signal from the IPOD rather than the volume-controlled headphone output and it also integrates charging. I've tried a few other FM mods over the years and this thing is much better than any of the others I've tried. I'm not trying to claim it's as good as the Dension but if you don't want the hassle of stripping out your headunit etc for a hardwired option this seems to be the best simple modulator I've come across. The manufacturer has a reputation for making decent HiFi cables and this quality comes across in this product.
Oh....and they can be had for £30 off Ebay.....
pikey said:
Cheers Stevo, that's very useful.
Good to hear your opinion of the quality with the BOSE. I think you've convinced me!
However, with a slightly more difficult unit (Cayman - CDR 24 I think), I don't fancy taking one of these apart. Do you think my OPC would do on an hourly rate?
(My experience of specialist alarm / stereo shops is not good. On my 911SC I got a 'specialist' shop to remove the non-functioning alarm and install a modern immobiliser. Later the car developed some electrical gremlins and this was traced (on a 2 hour call by a VERY nice AA man who seemed to loving the car!) to the fact the old alarm was literally torn out, leaving a bare, live wire to short (against the fuel tank too), causing the fuel pump relay to malfunction.)
get prestige audio to sort it for you. good rep. good feedback from PH'sGood to hear your opinion of the quality with the BOSE. I think you've convinced me!
However, with a slightly more difficult unit (Cayman - CDR 24 I think), I don't fancy taking one of these apart. Do you think my OPC would do on an hourly rate?
(My experience of specialist alarm / stereo shops is not good. On my 911SC I got a 'specialist' shop to remove the non-functioning alarm and install a modern immobiliser. Later the car developed some electrical gremlins and this was traced (on a 2 hour call by a VERY nice AA man who seemed to loving the car!) to the fact the old alarm was literally torn out, leaving a bare, live wire to short (against the fuel tank too), causing the fuel pump relay to malfunction.)
worth a chat to them at least
Mjolner said:
I have a CDR23 equiped '04 car and want to find an Ipod and phone solution.
Will the Becker Grand Prix fit as a straight replacment for the existing unit?
If only...!Will the Becker Grand Prix fit as a straight replacment for the existing unit?
'fraid our cars use a very clever fibre optic system (MOST) - which reduces amount and weight of wiring in the car - but removes any after market choice; they just don't connect. Stuck with what you have I'm afraid...
I had a Becker Grand Prix fitted to replace the CDR-23 (0n a 2004 MY 996) and it works a treat. IPod lives in the glovebox plus I now have a bluetooth connection for my phone. Not that I can hear it over the engine noise of an RS of course.
Huets of Worthing did the work and charged me a very reasonable sixty quid.
Apparently getting round the MOST bus is a bit fiddly but everything still works on my car, aircon, alarm etc.
Huets of Worthing did the work and charged me a very reasonable sixty quid.
Apparently getting round the MOST bus is a bit fiddly but everything still works on my car, aircon, alarm etc.
GuyS. said:
I had a Becker Grand Prix fitted to replace the CDR-23 (0n a 2004 MY 996) and it works a treat. IPod lives in the glovebox plus I now have a bluetooth connection for my phone. Not that I can hear it over the engine noise of an RS of course.
Huets of Worthing did the work and charged me a very reasonable sixty quid.
Apparently getting round the MOST bus is a bit fiddly but everything still works on my car, aircon, alarm etc.
Well I stand corrected! That goes agains all I've heard from speaking to various car radio specialists! You're the first person I've heard that's been able to do that. Hmm got me thinking now. Strange...Huets of Worthing did the work and charged me a very reasonable sixty quid.
Apparently getting round the MOST bus is a bit fiddly but everything still works on my car, aircon, alarm etc.
Steve,
I'm no auto electrician so I'm afraid I didn't really take much notice of what they did to the car, although if memory serves me correctly I believe Huets said they had to trick the car into thinking the original head unit is still in place ? Not sure how they did this, but I'm assuming it involves connecting wires into the right place rather than using 'look into my eyes' hypnotherapy.
Still its been up and running for a couple of months now and I've covered over a 1000 miles since the install and no smoke has come from behind the dash, which I take as a good thing.
I'll happily post a couple of photo's later for any non believers !
Guy
I'm no auto electrician so I'm afraid I didn't really take much notice of what they did to the car, although if memory serves me correctly I believe Huets said they had to trick the car into thinking the original head unit is still in place ? Not sure how they did this, but I'm assuming it involves connecting wires into the right place rather than using 'look into my eyes' hypnotherapy.
Still its been up and running for a couple of months now and I've covered over a 1000 miles since the install and no smoke has come from behind the dash, which I take as a good thing.
I'll happily post a couple of photo's later for any non believers !
Guy
I have spoken to an OPC as well as their Audio suppliers/installers directly (Ian Bennings in Guildford was one), and they claim the Becker Grand Prix will work, as long as there is no amplifier in the car. All I need now is to source an Ipod adapter - apparently they are on 3 months back order from Becker. Anyone have one knocking about I can buy?
I need help here. My car which I have just had delivered has the Becker Grand Prix head unit installed. From reading this thread am I right to assume ipoding is quite simple and straight forward?
If so what do I require. Also my car is fitted with naff casstte holder instead of cd holder. Is this changeable?
Thanks
S99ane
If so what do I require. Also my car is fitted with naff casstte holder instead of cd holder. Is this changeable?
Thanks
S99ane
Mjolner said:
I have spoken to an OPC as well as their Audio suppliers/installers directly (Ian Bennings in Guildford was one), and they claim the Becker Grand Prix will work, as long as there is no amplifier in the car. All I need now is to source an Ipod adapter - apparently they are on 3 months back order from Becker. Anyone have one knocking about I can buy?
I got an Ipod lead and Becker 7990 from here 10 days ago - worth giving them a callhttp://stores.ebay.co.uk/mc-incaruk_W0QQssPageName...
You could try one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ipod-RDS-in-car-connector_W0...
I just had the Becker Grand Prix installed in replacement of my CDR23. Works perfectly - full Ipod functionality through the stereo controls (as well as bluetooth phone connection). All work done by Drivetime in Chiswick. Took about 4 hours to do, and is apparently a bit fiddly - but doable!
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