Alpine iLX-700

[WRumbled]

Hi All,

I've had it fitted to my car this afternoon, 987 Gen1, non-Bose, no other amp.

The steering wheel controls aren't working. They've tried an 'in car tech' adapter, and have now ordered a different one to try, possibly Connects2.

Has anyone previously had this head-unit fitted, and did you have any issues?

Cheers.

[jezzaaa]

Hi ... a little delayed ... but did you get it working?

I'm just about to do the same thing ... ilx-700 for my 997.1 with Bose.

I'm trying to get the latest firmware for it, but the Alpine site doesn't have a download for this head unit. Only for the 702 and other HUs.

Have they not ever released an update? Or am I looking in the wrong place?

[WRumbled]

Yeah, they got it working. Can't remember what part they used in the end, but they definitely needed to replace the original one supplied with something different. My car is non-Bose, so you'd likely need something different again.

I've never tried looking for a software update. The CarPlay updates seem to do just fine, so far. Definitely an upgrade on the old PCM2.1 that was in there.

[kingston12]

jezzaaa said:

Hi ... a little delayed ... but did you get it working?

I'm just about to do the same thing ... ilx-700 for my 997.1 with Bose.

I'm trying to get the latest firmware for it, but the Alpine site doesn't have a download for this head unit. Only for the 702 and other HUs.

Have they not ever released an update? Or am I looking in the wrong place?

You will need a different adapter if you are going to use a new HU with the Bose amp and speakers. This was the one recommended when I fitted mine a few years ago:

https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/connects2-ctspo005...

As it wasn't available, I bought the Cayenne version of the same unit, the only difference being the steering wheel control element. I don't have steering wheel controls so it didn't matter to me. I am sure others on here have the Boxster/Cayman version up and running including steering wheel controls.

It looks as though Connects2 now offer a different adapter which allows you to bypass the Bose amp altogether. It's much cheaper, but I'm not sure I'd bother with it as the other one works very well and was easy to install.

[kingston12]

WRumbled said:

I've never tried looking for a software update. The CarPlay updates seem to do just fine, so far.

If my Pioneer equivalent unit is anything to go by, all of the CarPlay updates seem to come from the IOS updates on the phone anyway.

I have never used the Pioneer OS as CarPlay is so much better.

WRumbled said:

Definitely an upgrade on the old PCM2.1 that was in there.

I've had mine in about 3.5 years now, and I couldn't imagine going back. I was reticent putting an after market HU into a car that I knew was a long term keeper (the only other non-OEM item is the battery!), but it just makes the whole car feel much more modern.

I even prefer the look of the unit, being all screen, rather than the myriad of button and knobs on the PCM 2.1. If I'm being picky, I'd prefer there to be no Pioneer logo on it, but no matter.


I have still kept the PCM 2.1, just in case I ever sell the car.

[WRumbled]

Yep, all the updates are on the phone. I've no real idea what features the head-unit actually has apart from CarPlay. It's was my only requirement.

I've kept the old unit, too. I'll probably just give it away with the car rather than swap out. No plans to part with the car any time soon, and I imagine there will be little value in either the PCM or the Alpine by the time I did potentially part with it.

[kingston12]

WRumbled said:

Yep, all the updates are on the phone. I've no real idea what features the head-unit actually has apart from CarPlay. It's was my only requirement.

I've kept the old unit, too. I'll probably just give it away with the car rather than swap out. No plans to part with the car any time soon, and I imagine there will be little value in either the PCM or the Alpine by the time I did potentially part with it.

The PCM was fetching silly money on eBay, when I swapped mine out in 2015, over £600!

I haven’t looked recently, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were still worth a bit in quite a few years time when 987/997 become rarer and new owners are trying to return good examples to stock. I think I’ll stick with what I’ve got!

[WRumbled]

kingston12 said:

The PCM was fetching silly money on eBay, when I swapped mine out in 2015, over £600!

I haven’t looked recently, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were still worth a bit in quite a few years time when 987/997 become rarer and new owners are trying to return good examples to stock. I think I’ll stick with what I’ve got!

I still have the head-unit from my old S2000 somewhere. Wonder if those are going up in price yet? Probably not so much of an issue as the HU in that was hidden by a flap anyway.