CDR30 Replacement
Discussion
Hi All,
oh it's only a day to go before I pick up my Boxster... very excited... unfortunately the Elise is going home to B&C this afternoon... there'll be tears before bedtime... any way to business.
The Boxster I'm buying has a CDR30 stereo in it..complete with buttons indicating some sort of telephone is in place... If I were looking to replace / have it replaced with something what would be the best thing to replace it with and how easy / difficult would it be? Is it just a question of getting a wiring harness adapter from Halfords or will I need a specialist.
I'm looking really for Bluetooth, Sat Nav, DAB (if poss)... anyone any thoughtS?
Paul.
oh it's only a day to go before I pick up my Boxster... very excited... unfortunately the Elise is going home to B&C this afternoon... there'll be tears before bedtime... any way to business.
The Boxster I'm buying has a CDR30 stereo in it..complete with buttons indicating some sort of telephone is in place... If I were looking to replace / have it replaced with something what would be the best thing to replace it with and how easy / difficult would it be? Is it just a question of getting a wiring harness adapter from Halfords or will I need a specialist.
I'm looking really for Bluetooth, Sat Nav, DAB (if poss)... anyone any thoughtS?
Paul.
I'd be surprised if it had the phone module and not the PCM with Sat Nav. Not even sure if you could spec the phone module w/o the PCM.
And, doing my a scratched record bit, replacing CDR30 with non Porsche OEM may cause problems if you wish to put an official extended warranty on it.
And, doing my a scratched record bit, replacing CDR30 with non Porsche OEM may cause problems if you wish to put an official extended warranty on it.
The CDR-30 has buttons for a phone but not activated unless you pay £x00 to Porsche to add the software behind them. Sonically the unit is average and easily upgraded by Kenwood, Pioneer, et al.
For the interfaces - Connects2 are your best friends. The Porsche interface is very similar to the VW interface - so look at CT20VW02 or CT20VW03 depending on which FM aerial socket your head unit uses. Then they also do a Can-Bus adapter that unfortunately I did not discover until after I had my work done - so not sure of the model number but CAN-02 looks likely candidate. Finally, the CT23PO0x double din adapters do the facia work.
You may find a kit that does all of these combined if you are lucky.
For head units, I went for a Kenwood DNX4320DAB unit that gave me Bluetooth, DAB, Garmin Satnav, DVD media, and if you buy the necessary bits a reversing camera. For the last bit, def look at the Can-Bus adapter to give you a reverse signal to switch modes.
For the interfaces - Connects2 are your best friends. The Porsche interface is very similar to the VW interface - so look at CT20VW02 or CT20VW03 depending on which FM aerial socket your head unit uses. Then they also do a Can-Bus adapter that unfortunately I did not discover until after I had my work done - so not sure of the model number but CAN-02 looks likely candidate. Finally, the CT23PO0x double din adapters do the facia work.
You may find a kit that does all of these combined if you are lucky.
For head units, I went for a Kenwood DNX4320DAB unit that gave me Bluetooth, DAB, Garmin Satnav, DVD media, and if you buy the necessary bits a reversing camera. For the last bit, def look at the Can-Bus adapter to give you a reverse signal to switch modes.
OK Car picked up and actually compared to the Elise the stereo isn't bad!
I'm a bit fed up that I can stream audio via Bluetooth but there is an "aux" lead whooo (modern or what!).
My son has a Pioneer AVH3600DAB which he can sell me, but I emailed this firm Accutek who tell me that;
Hi Paul,
This install is not an easy one!! Your Porsche has fibre optic audio.
Adaptation for the fibre optic is £450
Facia kit is £45
Installation would be £150.
Does it? What is fibre optic audio when it's at home? Or are they as my son suggests trying to pull the wool over my eyes... for £190 I might have been tempted but not for £600!
anyone any thoughts?
I'm a bit fed up that I can stream audio via Bluetooth but there is an "aux" lead whooo (modern or what!).
My son has a Pioneer AVH3600DAB which he can sell me, but I emailed this firm Accutek who tell me that;
Hi Paul,
This install is not an easy one!! Your Porsche has fibre optic audio.
Adaptation for the fibre optic is £450
Facia kit is £45
Installation would be £150.
Does it? What is fibre optic audio when it's at home? Or are they as my son suggests trying to pull the wool over my eyes... for £190 I might have been tempted but not for £600!
anyone any thoughts?
h to work with. I would confirm yours has it the do some googling on changing the MOST systems.The CDR-30 is NOT MOST enabled. There is no optical interface in the system. It is Can-Bus enabled, but that is copper wire and is mostly irrelevant. The main features that CAN-bus will provide is changing channels from the multi-function stalk on the steering wheel which most 3rd party head units do not support. It also provides a speed sensitive volume control and access to the reverse selection which is mostly useless unless you have reverse camera installed.
The biggy is the switched power signal as the remainder of the loom is permanently live. The switched +ve can be fed from from a few of the fuses in the drivers footwell (eg rear wiper). However, with the canbus adapter I previously mentioned, all of these are available.
So if you have a cheap head unit available, this may be a good route. Note if your Boxster has Bose it is unlikely to have the CDR-30 but the full PCM. In which case, MOST optical connectivity is true, but you already have SatNav and iPod connectivity.
The biggy is the switched power signal as the remainder of the loom is permanently live. The switched +ve can be fed from from a few of the fuses in the drivers footwell (eg rear wiper). However, with the canbus adapter I previously mentioned, all of these are available.
So if you have a cheap head unit available, this may be a good route. Note if your Boxster has Bose it is unlikely to have the CDR-30 but the full PCM. In which case, MOST optical connectivity is true, but you already have SatNav and iPod connectivity.
I would look on www.connects2.co.uk for local dealer and then discuss the parts necessary. The site also does a full list of their catalogue so should not be too difficult. As I mentioned the VW adapter looms work - just check which FM aerial socket you have on your head unit.
If you need a CT20VW03 (with ISO aerial), I have a sealed unit going spare for the cost of postage.
If you need a CT20VW03 (with ISO aerial), I have a sealed unit going spare for the cost of postage.
thanks for the offer and the advice! much appreciated.
I think first step is to determine exactly what I've got... I think a quick investigate to see if it's fibre optic or not might be a good first step, though I'm not 100% sure what the fibre optic is from and too... presumably there's an assumption that there's an amp somewhere....
I'll update when I have information... I've watched a couple of videos on how to remove the stereo so when I have a spare few hours I'll whip the old one out and see what's what.
thanks again.
Paul.
I think first step is to determine exactly what I've got... I think a quick investigate to see if it's fibre optic or not might be a good first step, though I'm not 100% sure what the fibre optic is from and too... presumably there's an assumption that there's an amp somewhere....
I'll update when I have information... I've watched a couple of videos on how to remove the stereo so when I have a spare few hours I'll whip the old one out and see what's what.
thanks again.
Paul.
Just had Porsche uk phone me up (following my email to them)... and they've confirmed the unit is optical based...
Not sure what to do now... The Aux lead volume is so quiet...might have to buy one of those FM transmitter things...
Are there optical head units that could replace it without needing a conversion or do you think I might have to spend the money?
Cars...there's always something! :-)
Paul.
Not sure what to do now... The Aux lead volume is so quiet...might have to buy one of those FM transmitter things...
Are there optical head units that could replace it without needing a conversion or do you think I might have to spend the money?
Cars...there's always something! :-)
Paul.
I think I should have asked a different question as it's clear I've no idea how the boxsters stereo hangs together....
Having had an elise, you had a head unit and you had some speakers.... I'm thinking now I have a head unit, connected via optical cables to an amplifier which then drives the speakers... is that right?
Can anyone tell me (in simple terms that I can understand, think 5 year old but slightly less brain power) how it hangs together? What are the components? It's all bonkers to me...
Why can't the head unit drive the speakers like in most other cars??? Maybe I'm being too simplistic! :-)
I'm beginning to think that £600 installation charge isn't such a bad price!!
Having had an elise, you had a head unit and you had some speakers.... I'm thinking now I have a head unit, connected via optical cables to an amplifier which then drives the speakers... is that right?
Can anyone tell me (in simple terms that I can understand, think 5 year old but slightly less brain power) how it hangs together? What are the components? It's all bonkers to me...
Why can't the head unit drive the speakers like in most other cars??? Maybe I'm being too simplistic! :-)
I'm beginning to think that £600 installation charge isn't such a bad price!!
The aux lead volume issue is well known and documented in the owners manual. However, if you are using an old style Apple iPhone, iPod etc with the 30 pin connector (not the new Lightning connector) then there is a line out available which is considerably louder than the headphone socket.
You can access this though either a FIIO lead or something like http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-3-5mm-Aux-Audio-Data...
It will still be a little quieter than the CD/Radio but not impossible.
You can access this though either a FIIO lead or something like http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-3-5mm-Aux-Audio-Data...
It will still be a little quieter than the CD/Radio but not impossible.
You know when you start a topic off.. :-)
So we've established that the CDR30 sounds pretty amazing actually (compared to the tin monster I had in the Elise)... but in order to change tracks I have to make sure the fuzz aren't watching while I flick on the screen of my phone and press the next track button on the app. I also have to have an Aux lead draped across the steering wheel to the phone that's in a holder on my windscreen... quite why the blutooth doesn't automatically connect I don't know, quite why I can't play the audio via Bluetooth when it can do telephone calls is another source of amazement....
So not the best offering...
Is there a head unit I can replace this one with without it requiring lots of conversion work?
I say again, can anyone explain what the optical cables plug in to (apart from the head unit?).. is it a separate amplifier that then feeds the speakers or are the speakers themselves optical????....
It really lets the whole experience down....but it's not like you can say "oh I won't buy this car because the stereo needs to be a bit better"... it's not like you'd know that before you bought it anyway now is it....
So we've established that the CDR30 sounds pretty amazing actually (compared to the tin monster I had in the Elise)... but in order to change tracks I have to make sure the fuzz aren't watching while I flick on the screen of my phone and press the next track button on the app. I also have to have an Aux lead draped across the steering wheel to the phone that's in a holder on my windscreen... quite why the blutooth doesn't automatically connect I don't know, quite why I can't play the audio via Bluetooth when it can do telephone calls is another source of amazement....
So not the best offering...
Is there a head unit I can replace this one with without it requiring lots of conversion work?
I say again, can anyone explain what the optical cables plug in to (apart from the head unit?).. is it a separate amplifier that then feeds the speakers or are the speakers themselves optical????....
It really lets the whole experience down....but it's not like you can say "oh I won't buy this car because the stereo needs to be a bit better"... it's not like you'd know that before you bought it anyway now is it....
Well it's a compromise and only that... I'll see how well this works, not expecting much though the reviews sound good.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/LAYEN-Bluetooth-Receiver-W...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/LAYEN-Bluetooth-Receiver-W...
Right...having "received" my receiver from Amazon and discovering that they'd sent a completely different item to the one I ordered... I decided after watching on Youtube how to remove the stereo to spend a little time and give it a whirl... easy or what.. The back of the unit looks like the below...
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