PCM 3 Dig Radio
Discussion
You may be thinking of Cartronics?
I have no first-hand experience of their actual work and many speak highly of them but I was a bit put off, about a year ago, when they gave me what was clearly some incorrect information about PCM retrofitting - and, from memory, they were very expensive for what I wanted at the time. Maybe upgrading existing units to fit DAB is more bread and butter for them - worth a try? Worth checking too - depending on how they do the upgrade, there may also be a need for coding work as well.
Don't forget that you will need to fit a DAB antenna; there is an Alpine model (I'd have to look it up) which is particularly effective and unobtrusive.
If this route starts to look expensive, there is another way, which would be to buy a 'replacement' PCM (eBay etc, often pulled from accident damaged cars), making sure to buy one with the DAB tuner already installed. There's one available now for £600 or less (they are open to offers). I can help you with the specs to look for if you go this route. You would need to code the car for the new PCM (which entails buying the code and then getting an OPC to activate it with PIWIS) and you would still need to add an aftermarket antenna (unless you want to replace the windscreen and a whole bunch of other electonic modules!). But the cost of buying the DAB-equipped PCM can be offset by reselling the unit you take out of the car.
Have fun!
James
I have no first-hand experience of their actual work and many speak highly of them but I was a bit put off, about a year ago, when they gave me what was clearly some incorrect information about PCM retrofitting - and, from memory, they were very expensive for what I wanted at the time. Maybe upgrading existing units to fit DAB is more bread and butter for them - worth a try? Worth checking too - depending on how they do the upgrade, there may also be a need for coding work as well.
Don't forget that you will need to fit a DAB antenna; there is an Alpine model (I'd have to look it up) which is particularly effective and unobtrusive.
If this route starts to look expensive, there is another way, which would be to buy a 'replacement' PCM (eBay etc, often pulled from accident damaged cars), making sure to buy one with the DAB tuner already installed. There's one available now for £600 or less (they are open to offers). I can help you with the specs to look for if you go this route. You would need to code the car for the new PCM (which entails buying the code and then getting an OPC to activate it with PIWIS) and you would still need to add an aftermarket antenna (unless you want to replace the windscreen and a whole bunch of other electonic modules!). But the cost of buying the DAB-equipped PCM can be offset by reselling the unit you take out of the car.
Have fun!
James
My 2015 981 Cayman S doesn't have DAB either, asked a few places about retrofitting and it seems to be about 4K, especially as I have Bose speakers as well.
Annoying as hell as my 2014 Leon Cupra had it as standard.
Closest thing you can get is "online services" which has to be enabled my OPC, you can then stream from your phone to car using AHA app, DAB stations etc.
Annoying as hell as my 2014 Leon Cupra had it as standard.
Closest thing you can get is "online services" which has to be enabled my OPC, you can then stream from your phone to car using AHA app, DAB stations etc.
AJB88 said:
My 2015 981 Cayman S doesn't have DAB either, asked a few places about retrofitting and it seems to be about 4K, especially as I have Bose speakers as well.
Having Bose (or SPP, or Burmester) doesn't make any difference; the PCM unit is hardware compatible with whatever form of audio amplification and speakers are fitted. As above, you could do this very cost effectively...James
AJB88 said:
If I was able to pick up a PCM 3.1 with DAB second hand, fit an aftermarket DAB antenna and switch it into my car myself, would OPC just need to code it with PIWIS?
You're on the right lines but the coding side of things may be a bit more involved. In short, most of the electronic functions of the PCM (including the boot or logo screen that comes up on key-on, DAB, navigation, which map, etc) needs it's own VIN-specific code and once you have those codes they need to be 'loaded' to the car and activated using PIWIS. Porsche will not supply or sell the codes unless you buy their official retrofit/upgrade kits but they are available on the web. I can recommend a supplier that I have used on several occasions and who other users have also puchased from without issues (in fact, with very fast and reliable service). Once you have the codes, either take them and the car to an OPC for the updating process or use an independent coder; I have used an OPC in the past but I know of another owner who enabled his codes through an independent.
The only other complication you may face would be if the 'replacement' PCM head unit was not previously used in a Bose configuration; if you fitted a non-Bose unit then, at first, you may not get audio output but this can usually be resolved through a "battery disconnect, pause for 10 seconds and reconnect cycle" or, at worst, the unit just needs to be toggled between standard (Sound Package Plus) and Bose configurations when it and the car are connected to PIWIS.
Remember to ensure that the PCM you buy is a 'World-wide' spec unit (small rectangular label on side of the PCM chassis) and if you want the juke-box functionality then it needs to be a 2013-on unit (I think the actual changeover date was in November 2012) which can be identified as PCM model/type 9633.
A word on the DAB antenna location; an ideal location is on the rear side window on the passenger side; just behind and parallel to the B-pillar. Much neater than having it the windscreen...
So in short you would need:
1. Replacement DAB-equipped PCM unit ("world wide" spec, preferably type 9633 - November 2012-on)
2. Aftermarket DAB antenna (Alpine KAE-242DA-R is my personal recommendation)
3. Codes:
- Correct boot logo/screen (to show Cayman S in your case - unless the 'new' unit has been sourced from that type of car)
- DAB functionality
4. Coding work with PIWIS:
- Upload and activate the new codes (boot screen and DAB codes)
- Possibly reload and reactivate the codes that are already on the car to 'carry-over' your existing functionality:
+ navigation functionality
+ map (presumably European)
+ Bluetooth phone
+ USB functionality
I think that's it - honestly, much easier than it may appear on first read-through!
I need to say, though, that all of the above information is given in good faith and is based on my own research and experience but, of course, I cannot accept any responsibility for the outcome if you do decide to go down the route I have outlined.
Hope that might help you and others...
James
Edited by short-shift on Sunday 21st October 07:01
AJB88 said:
Drop us a PM with the details in mate
Email sent.Fokker said:
Thanks so much for the info. Much appreciated but what a hassle lol.
Indeed - but the point is that these things can be done and whilst there is some hassle, the costs to achieve the upgrade may not be too bad...James
Edited by short-shift on Monday 22 October 13:01
Fokker said:
Thanks so much for the info. Much appreciated but what a hassle lol.
Who the heck doesn’t option DAB with a Bose stereo! Arghh
I wouldn't.Who the heck doesn’t option DAB with a Bose stereo! Arghh
Both my 981 and my wife's 2016 BMW X1 have DAB.
Both lose signal fairy regularly.
For this reason, DAB seems inferior to FM to me.
I see no advantage, although I'm aware some services only come via DAB. None that I use.
DJMC said:
I wouldn't.
Both my 981 and my wife's 2016 BMW X1 have DAB.
Both lose signal fairy regularly.
For this reason, DAB seems inferior to FM to me.
I see no advantage, although I'm aware some services only come via DAB. None that I use.
DAB in my Cupra was fine never really had an issue, I have DAB in my 1990 MK2 Golf (DAB headunit and aerial) that looses signal but its expected. Both my 981 and my wife's 2016 BMW X1 have DAB.
Both lose signal fairy regularly.
For this reason, DAB seems inferior to FM to me.
I see no advantage, although I'm aware some services only come via DAB. None that I use.
Radio X is DAB only in my area so miss that in the Porsche.
DJMC said:
Fokker said:
Thanks so much for the info. Much appreciated but what a hassle lol.
Who the heck doesn’t option DAB with a Bose stereo! Arghh
I wouldn't.Who the heck doesn’t option DAB with a Bose stereo! Arghh
Both my 981 and my wife's 2016 BMW X1 have DAB.
Both lose signal fairy regularly.
For this reason, DAB seems inferior to FM to me.
I see no advantage, although I'm aware some services only come via DAB. None that I use.
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