Sat Nav & PCM updates due to new roads

[the_riddler]

I own a 67-plate 718 Cayman S and a 18-plate Macan S.

The major road routes near me, and around Aberdeen, are in the process of being modernised and upgraded. A new Aberdeen bypass is nearly opened and part of a main A-road north of Aberdeen (single carriageway) has had new dual carriageway built. The official road openings should be in autumn 2018, after contractor delays.

The Aberdeen OPC will be fully aware of the road developments and owners seeking Sat Nav / PCM updates.

On newer vehicles, are PCM updates carried out by garage staff at the dealership?

Is there a cost? I would grudge paying because these are local roads that I will become accustomed with. On new sections of road becoming accessible to day-to-day traffic, the PCM screen has my vehicle moving through farmer's fields! No visible road around on the PCM.

[jonttt]

Porsche will charge you for any map updates as so far as I'm aware the current v4 software still does not have auto map updates unlike the latest BMW and range rover etc nav systems which do.

The other problem with Porsche historically is that map updates are not that frequent even if your willing to pay and often the newest maps may already be out of date.

Porsche pcm is historically behind the curve with the best systems out there and pcm 4 is no different eg with BMW I get free updates for 3 years which auto update via the built in sim or I can download manually via USB to the car. My range rover even connects to my home WiFi to update maps etc....

Edited by jonttt on Friday 13th July 17:53

[the_riddler]

Thanks for that insight As a result of browsing the forum, I had started to get the impression that the Porsche PCM system lagged behind some rivals.

[Davidkn]

Pretty sure with pcm4 you can just update it for free over the cars data connection.

https://youtu.be/CAY-Qtf7qAY

[ab8]

With PCM 4 one gets 3 free region updates per year, which you can download over the air straight to the car. The UK is split into 2 regions, from memory. If you want to update more than 3 speak to your OPC.

[the_riddler]

Thanks for info on updates & the useful YouTube link.

I goggled "718 Cayman data connection" because I had doubts if relevant info would be given in the car manuals I found:

http://www.porscheownersmanuals.com/2017-718-cayma...

It gives handy info about connecting to my home wifi. Is this correct?
So, get connected to my wifi and follow instruction on the Youtube clip?

(It will be later this year, when the new roads are open, before I upgrade.)

[gwsinc]

I do the Portsmouth to Wick drive once a year and there are often a few periods of ‘off road’ driving, especially up north, according to the Sat Nav.

Waze will be available on CarPlay later this year, may be worth just waiting for that if they try to charge you anything.

[Retired01]

jonttt said:

Porsche will charge you for any map updates as so far as I'm aware the current v4 software still does not have auto map updates unlike the latest BMW and range rover etc nav systems which do.


The other problem with Porsche historically is that map updates are not that frequent even if your willing to pay and often the newest maps may already be out of date.

Porsche pcm is historically behind the curve with the best systems out there and pcm 4 is no different eg with BMW I get free updates for 3 years which auto update via the built in sim or I can download manually via USB to the car. My range rover even connects to my home WiFi to update maps etc....

Edited by jonttt on Friday 13th July 17:53

Wrong in pretty much all relevant aspects.

Can update maps over the car's data connections. Limited to 3 map sections as mentioned in other responses. Can go to dealer for complete map update. FOC for a period. 2 years?


Can connect to home wifi if you want to do that to update maps.

Why post when you clearly don't understand the current position?

[mouseymousey]

Retired01 said:

Why post when you clearly don't understand the current position?

Can tell you haven't been on PH long!

[Pinball]

OT, but I just saw in the Connect Store that the 30 day 7GB data upgrades are free until the end of September. Might take my Sim out and swap to that for the next few months.

[jonttt]

ab8 said:

With PCM 4 one gets 3 free region updates per year, which you can download over the air straight to the car. The UK is split into 2 regions, from memory. If you want to update more than 3 speak to your OPC.

I stand corrected, I was obviously mis informed by my local OPC when I was speccing a new car as PCM 4 was just coming out, they told me it could not be auto updated. Good to see Porsche have brought in the ability to connect to home WiFi with free updates as it should be the “norm” now when fridges can do it lol

[jonttt]

ab8 said:

With PCM 4 one gets 3 free region updates per year, which you can download over the air straight to the car. The UK is split into 2 regions, from memory. If you want to update more than 3 speak to your OPC.

I stand corrected, I was obviously mis informed by my local OPC when I was speccing a new car as PCM 4 was just coming out, they told me it could not be auto updated. Good to see Porsche have brought in the ability to connect to home WiFi with free updates as it should be the “norm” now when fridges can do it lol

[Davidkn]

Retired01 said:

Wrong in pretty much all relevant aspects.

Can update maps over the car's data connections. Limited to 3 map sections as mentioned in other responses. Can go to dealer for complete map update. FOC for a period. 2 years?


Can connect to home wifi if you want to do that to update maps.

Why post when you clearly don't understand the current position?

Do the Cayman or Macan not come with the included 4g data package like the 911 has since last year?

Thought you could use that to download the update rather then needing to connect to your WiFi?

[Retired01]

Davidkn said:

Do the Cayman or Macan not come with the included 4g data package like the 911 has since last year?

Thought you could use that to download the update rather then needing to connect to your WiFi?

Yes recent Cayman / Macan come with an embedded SIM which you can use to download the map updates. Suspect the limit of three map sections, at least in part, is due to the need to manage data volumes.

But if you want to (maybe embedded SIM is slow where you live and you want to do it at home rather than when driving) you can connect via an external data connection such as wireless hotspot on your phone, home wifi etc.

The embedded SIM does not support other data usage such as streaming music / video on a device via the car's wifi hotspot unless you purchase a (stupidly priced) data package. In this case makes more sense to buy a data SIM and insert that in the car. Search Amazon for 'three' preloaded data SIM deals, usually fairly good deals available.

If you insert your own SIM PCM will use this for all data requirements effectively disabling the embedded SIM.