Our first Porsche and a right old audio headache..
Discussion
Hello,
So my other half bought a 986 Boxster recently, lovely car, 33k on the clock. It has a few minor niggles which I'll deal with in due course. The real problem is the stereo.
Background history;
Previous owner never drove it, car sat in the garage and surprise surprise the battery died. New one fitted but the Becker stereo needed re coding. He did warn me about this, no probs, just take it to an OPC and they will reset it.
"We can't reset it Sir. This is an upgraded unit from the original factory install, we don't have a code for it in our data base and it needs to be mated to the cars ECU. Suggest you try some after market audio specialists"
The stereo is a Porsche (Becker) unit, CDR23, just not the original from the car. It has (obviously) been coded at some point. Are my local OPC just trying to fob us off, perhaps to buy a new one from them? I find it hard to believe they can't code their own kit!
Anyway, OH has said she would prefer to have a more modern unit in, USB etc. Local Halfords chap had a valiant go at trying a few different types of audio connections to a Kenwood but the optical beat him. No go.
We then went to a recommended audio specialist who has said that recoding will be difficult, perhaps impossible. The other option is to strip it all out and start again, but this, according to him is going to be a ball ache of a job - and expensive....
So what are our options?
Having been on the OPC web site, and other Becker web sites, trying the find a more modern unit seems tough. Indeed, a PH thread from 2010 suggested Becker are no longer supporting the UK?
Can we simply not just buy a new unit if this one can't be recoded and re wiring proves ridiculously expensive?
Any help/advice/thoughts greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
So my other half bought a 986 Boxster recently, lovely car, 33k on the clock. It has a few minor niggles which I'll deal with in due course. The real problem is the stereo.
Background history;
Previous owner never drove it, car sat in the garage and surprise surprise the battery died. New one fitted but the Becker stereo needed re coding. He did warn me about this, no probs, just take it to an OPC and they will reset it.
"We can't reset it Sir. This is an upgraded unit from the original factory install, we don't have a code for it in our data base and it needs to be mated to the cars ECU. Suggest you try some after market audio specialists"
The stereo is a Porsche (Becker) unit, CDR23, just not the original from the car. It has (obviously) been coded at some point. Are my local OPC just trying to fob us off, perhaps to buy a new one from them? I find it hard to believe they can't code their own kit!
Anyway, OH has said she would prefer to have a more modern unit in, USB etc. Local Halfords chap had a valiant go at trying a few different types of audio connections to a Kenwood but the optical beat him. No go.
We then went to a recommended audio specialist who has said that recoding will be difficult, perhaps impossible. The other option is to strip it all out and start again, but this, according to him is going to be a ball ache of a job - and expensive....
So what are our options?
Having been on the OPC web site, and other Becker web sites, trying the find a more modern unit seems tough. Indeed, a PH thread from 2010 suggested Becker are no longer supporting the UK?
Can we simply not just buy a new unit if this one can't be recoded and re wiring proves ridiculously expensive?
Any help/advice/thoughts greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Don't know an awful lot about this beyond the fact that the car uses a MOST interface, so just replacing the headunit with an aftermarket one won't work (hence why Halfords came unstuck).
I'm pretty sure you can buy a harness to adapt it to an ISO connector for a regular aftermarket headunit, but which harness I couldn't tell you and it would probably be different if you've got the Bose upgrade.
Quite surprised OPC say they can't recode the Becker unit though, PIWIS should be able to do it no problem and in fact with the CDR-23 PIWIS is the only way of doing it since it will only work if the car's DME allows it to (unlike tapping in a security code yourself).
I'm pretty sure you can buy a harness to adapt it to an ISO connector for a regular aftermarket headunit, but which harness I couldn't tell you and it would probably be different if you've got the Bose upgrade.
Quite surprised OPC say they can't recode the Becker unit though, PIWIS should be able to do it no problem and in fact with the CDR-23 PIWIS is the only way of doing it since it will only work if the car's DME allows it to (unlike tapping in a security code yourself).
Ring BassJunkies in Wolverhampton. They carry the appropriate interfaces in stock and prices are good too.
Just search through all your handbook and see if the code is anywhere in there (its normally in the handbook or servicebook or may be on a little card) and if not you may find it written somewhere on the stereo casing.
Just search through all your handbook and see if the code is anywhere in there (its normally in the handbook or servicebook or may be on a little card) and if not you may find it written somewhere on the stereo casing.
Hi OP,
I've been through a similar situation last autumn with my 986, but in my case the CDR23 head unit was working fine. Like your OH I wanted a more modern head unit that would better support iPods, USB, etc. and I didn't want the basic functionality and display of the CDR23 with a Dension iPod kit.
My car has the Bose upgrade which makes life even trickier. You didn't mention whether your car has Bose? But whether it does or doesn't you'll have the same challenge as like my car your car has the MOST connection unlike Pre-2003 986s.
There are no adapters that convert the output of a standard head unit to amp via the MOST bus. Therefore if you want to replace the CDR23 with an aftermarket head unit, then you need to replace the amp as well. Doing this allows you to either connect a new head unit to the new amp via standard RCA interconnect cables, or you may be able to rerun (or extend) the speaker cables from the front boot back into the back of the dash and into your new head unit. Note, this second option almost certainly won't work if you have Bose because the speakers run at a much lower resistance than the non Bose system.
As I said, my car has Bose so I replaced both the head unit and amp. It wasn't cheap, but the results have been well worth the expense so far as I am concerned.
HTH
I've been through a similar situation last autumn with my 986, but in my case the CDR23 head unit was working fine. Like your OH I wanted a more modern head unit that would better support iPods, USB, etc. and I didn't want the basic functionality and display of the CDR23 with a Dension iPod kit.
My car has the Bose upgrade which makes life even trickier. You didn't mention whether your car has Bose? But whether it does or doesn't you'll have the same challenge as like my car your car has the MOST connection unlike Pre-2003 986s.
There are no adapters that convert the output of a standard head unit to amp via the MOST bus. Therefore if you want to replace the CDR23 with an aftermarket head unit, then you need to replace the amp as well. Doing this allows you to either connect a new head unit to the new amp via standard RCA interconnect cables, or you may be able to rerun (or extend) the speaker cables from the front boot back into the back of the dash and into your new head unit. Note, this second option almost certainly won't work if you have Bose because the speakers run at a much lower resistance than the non Bose system.
As I said, my car has Bose so I replaced both the head unit and amp. It wasn't cheap, but the results have been well worth the expense so far as I am concerned.
HTH
Thanks for the replies folks.
It's not a Bose system, however this looks like the best option. I'll be speaking to the chap I have from the audio specialists about this and also be mentioning charliedakers note about interfaces.
Thanks again.
Pope said:
CDR23 should code on no problems - the PCM2 code is generated and matched to/by the VIN number; essentially the unit needs to be told the vehicle specific code to align it on the MOST network.
What does the head unit display say? PROTECT or PORSCHE?
It comes up with PROTECT.What does the head unit display say? PROTECT or PORSCHE?
charliedaker said:
Ring BassJunkies in Wolverhampton. They carry the appropriate interfaces in stock and prices are good too.
Just search through all your handbook and see if the code is anywhere in there (its normally in the handbook or servicebook or may be on a little card) and if not you may find it written somewhere on the stereo casing.
We have been through all the manuals, no codes. Same goes for the stereo unit (it's sitting here by the pc). I'll certainly give BassJunkies a call and see what they say. Thanks.Just search through all your handbook and see if the code is anywhere in there (its normally in the handbook or servicebook or may be on a little card) and if not you may find it written somewhere on the stereo casing.
SilverPorker said:
Hi OP,
I've been through a similar situation last autumn with my 986, but in my case the CDR23 head unit was working fine. Like your OH I wanted a more modern head unit that would better support iPods, USB, etc. and I didn't want the basic functionality and display of the CDR23 with a Dension iPod kit.
My car has the Bose upgrade which makes life even trickier. You didn't mention whether your car has Bose? But whether it does or doesn't you'll have the same challenge as like my car your car has the MOST connection unlike Pre-2003 986s.
There are no adapters that convert the output of a standard head unit to amp via the MOST bus. Therefore if you want to replace the CDR23 with an aftermarket head unit, then you need to replace the amp as well. Doing this allows you to either connect a new head unit to the new amp via standard RCA interconnect cables, or you may be able to rerun (or extend) the speaker cables from the front boot back into the back of the dash and into your new head unit. Note, this second option almost certainly won't work if you have Bose because the speakers run at a much lower resistance than the non Bose system.
As I said, my car has Bose so I replaced both the head unit and amp. It wasn't cheap, but the results have been well worth the expense so far as I am concerned.
HTH
I've been through a similar situation last autumn with my 986, but in my case the CDR23 head unit was working fine. Like your OH I wanted a more modern head unit that would better support iPods, USB, etc. and I didn't want the basic functionality and display of the CDR23 with a Dension iPod kit.
My car has the Bose upgrade which makes life even trickier. You didn't mention whether your car has Bose? But whether it does or doesn't you'll have the same challenge as like my car your car has the MOST connection unlike Pre-2003 986s.
There are no adapters that convert the output of a standard head unit to amp via the MOST bus. Therefore if you want to replace the CDR23 with an aftermarket head unit, then you need to replace the amp as well. Doing this allows you to either connect a new head unit to the new amp via standard RCA interconnect cables, or you may be able to rerun (or extend) the speaker cables from the front boot back into the back of the dash and into your new head unit. Note, this second option almost certainly won't work if you have Bose because the speakers run at a much lower resistance than the non Bose system.
As I said, my car has Bose so I replaced both the head unit and amp. It wasn't cheap, but the results have been well worth the expense so far as I am concerned.
HTH
It's not a Bose system, however this looks like the best option. I'll be speaking to the chap I have from the audio specialists about this and also be mentioning charliedakers note about interfaces.
Thanks again.
Caraudiosecurity.com and Auto Audio can advise too. I ripped the entire Bose system in my 2008 Boxster and replaced with Pioneer head unit, Morel speakers and Sinfoni amps.
Your problem is Bose is running around 2 amps and the frequencies are split at the wrong level meaning you cannot pair anything else to the head unit or amp. Pos really.
Your problem is Bose is running around 2 amps and the frequencies are split at the wrong level meaning you cannot pair anything else to the head unit or amp. Pos really.
Chuck328 said:
It's not a Bose system, however this looks like the best option. I'll be speaking to the chap I have from the audio specialists about this and also be mentioning charliedakers note about interfaces.
Thanks again.
If, & I do mean IF it is just a matter of finding out the original Becker code for the radio so it can be re-coded to the car then there are several companies that can supply that information for about £30, you just need the numbers from the unit to obtain them.
Other options would be to replace the optical amp or simply hardwire from the stereo to the speakers using passive X-overs if the chosen radio has enough power.
Other options would be to replace the optical amp or simply hardwire from the stereo to the speakers using passive X-overs if the chosen radio has enough power.
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