Early 996 Sat Nav Updates

Hi All, I have seen a number of early 996s (1998/1999) with factory sat nav. It is feasable to get updates/European data for these early sat navs or potentially software upgrades for improved use? I am also curious as to how well they actually work compared to after-market systems such as Tomtom and Garmin? Thanks, Steve

Up to December 2000 (build date), PCM1 First Generation was fitted. Unfortunately, they only update available seems to be availablr from Porsche at £400-ish. From January 2001 to August 2002 PCM1 Second eneration was fitted, and these units can be updated using modified Vauxhall/Opel disks for around £130. PCM1 is pretty backward compared with the latest TomToms etc, but you have to remember that the system is basically 11+ years old.

Is it easy to tell whether 1st or 2nd generation PCM1 is fitted, mine was retro fitted apparently so build date irrelevant and have no idea which. DJ

The only way I can think of offhand is the part number of the nav drive unit, but it means taking it out to check: 996 642 122 01 EFR Old Navigation Drive (1st Gen) 996 642 122 03 EFR New Navigation Drive (2nd Gen) On PCM2 you can press MAIN and TRIP to show some of the system information, but I don't know if this works for PCM1.

Thanks Richard - taking it out is no problem have done it before. DJ

Its worth noting that the early PCM1's were 8 bit and changed to 16 bit. Mine is a 98/R and is an 8 bit and the Vauxhall/Opel disks will not work. My only option is over-priced from Porsche Saying that, the integrated Sat Nav doesnt compare very well against newer Tom Tom's and the like as its old technology, but wont be stolen off your dash and is integrated with may other of the functions of the car like trip, computer, aircon, phone (old technology again) etc. Given a choice, I would probably choose a Porsche again with PCM as opposed to a retro-fit as I like the integration.

My problem is there are frequent disk read errors getting worse over last 4 years (have cleaned the head with a proprietary CD/DVD head cleaner which made no difference) and I guess I might need I a new disk. Not certain of that however so can't justify £400+ for a replacement. I have a SatNav I can move between cars but I too would prefer the integration and when it's working it's good enough despite the old fashioned functionality. DJ

If you've already cleaned the disc, and there's no obvious damage, I'd guess you have dust on the reader's lens.

As I said - I cleaned the head (didn't mean disk) - didn't make any difference. DJ

It might be worth making a copy of the disk, and using the new copy. Use a program like Nero, and burn the copy at the slowest speed. PC CD and DVD drives are a lot less susceptible to disk scratches than the nav drive, so a new copy might cure the read errors.

RIchard i have the becker 4720 which uses the navtec discs, i think these are the same as the original PCM units? if so when i bought it , i ended up buying a new set of discs from the uk company who distribute on behalf of navtec (cant remember where but in worcester and it was about £160 for the original set) if these are the same, let me know and ill see what i can do. the set consisted of 4 x discs for the whole of europe including the software update, dated 2007 - works well hth JOn