I just bought a 2005
Boxster S
with the
Bose stereo
with CD changer. I want to install a new double DIN head unit. I can install traditional ca stereos easily. However, this one has me baffled. I read about fiber optics,, something called MOST, etc, and it's all Chinese to me. I would like to keep the entire
Bose system
intact other than the head unit and changer. They can both go.
I've done a search and I seem to get more confused the more I read. I'm just not all that up on the new stuff. With proper equipment and direction I'm sure I can easily change this out myself. With that said, I'm hoping if I ask a few specific questions about my car and situation and what has me baffled, hopefully someone in the know can take a few moments to lead me in the right direction and address the issues I find confusing.
1- Is it possible to install a new head unit on a
plug
and play basis, just plugging in the proper adapters and boxes without slicing up the wires? I looked at
Crutchfield
, and the box they recommend is $350, and its called a Axxess AX-PO90052 Wiring Interface. It also allows use of steering wheel control, but my car doesn't have that so I do not need that feature. The price of that unit surprised me, is this what they typically cost? What is the best box to look for, and where is the best place to get it? Is it
plug
and play or do I need to start cutting into wires in the car?
2- I know I need a dash trim unit. Some have mentioned brands that more closely match the silver color of my dash, but now I can;t seem to find the post that mentions it. Can you guys tell me what a high quality dash trim kit that closely matches my silver color is please?
3- What else will I need besides the "box" and the dash trim kit? I'd just like the install to be clean and simple, and of course work well.
4- Any recommendations on a head unit? I would like to have built in nav for when I'm out in Texas hill country with no phone reception. I'd like the ability to have either a slot for a SD chip to hold a bunch of songs so that I don't have to keep hooking my phone up on short errand type trips around town to play music. If not a chip than an open USP port/cable that is hidden that I can put a thumb drive with songs into. Is there a difference between functionality with songs on a chip vs. a thumb drive? I use
iPhones
, so I'd need
Apple car play
. Any thoughts on wired vs wireless
CarPlay
? Recommendations on the head unit would be greatly appreciated.
Just like the question of going fast, with replacing a
Bose
headunit, you need to ask "Do I want it good, easy, or cheap?" You can only pick two.
Reasonably good and cheap (what i did):
https://www.planet-9.com/987-cayman...n-and-boxster-electronics/233407-ae0273b-08a-install-2006-porsche-cayman-s.html
The less you spend, the less easy it is.
Highest level of plug & Play:
https://navtv.com/products/NTV-KIT210/most-hur-997.html
Also highest cost.
Factor in your installation kit. Cheapest is about $90, with many reports of poor quality dissatisfaction.
Highest prices I have seen are about $349. I think kits are $199 at Suncoast.
From what I have seen here and on ********: Good and Easy = $1500
Cheap, OK quality, but not easy might come down to $450.
Your mileage may and will vary.
Aloha from Hawaii, I just installed a new
Kenwood
Unit into my 06
Boxster S
. My lovely wife bought the
Kenwood
, plus the
Crutchfield
adapter kit. I watched a couple of good videos on Utube on removing the existing radio. Still, it took me more than an hour to get the old radio out. The 4 clips on the side of the radio, all have to be turned with a 5 mm hex wrench. If they aren't completely turned the old radio is stuck. The Axxess AX-PO90052 Wiring Interface, was part of my kit, I follow the directions on the wire diagram for the
Kenwood
radio and had my laptop displaying the Axxess instructions. Everything works great, you get full function on the fader and a great eq built into the radio. My wife spent about $700 bucks. However, in looking on Ebay, I saw the same kits for about $250. Lastly, I bought a back up camera and quickly realized, I don't want to run the wire the length of the car, so I'm going to my local dealer for this. I'm going by this morning and see what he is going to charge me.
Also, I had a problem putting in the new deck with all the extra wiring and the two boxes included in the Axxess kit. If you don't want to use Cd's or DVD's, I suggest you look at the new
Sony
XAV-AX1000, the chassis is much smaller and sells for about $279. Good Luck.
My installer tapped into the tail lights to run the backup camera.
This is a good post on how to do an installation
I can help with the install kit. Don't get suckered into buying an expensive one. The Metra kit is $15 and matches nicely. This part number supercedes the expensive one sold by
Suncoast
(who is probably just holding onto old stock). It does not include the new chassis but it shouldn't be needed.
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/ite...9606G.html?fbclid=IwAR2fXcniGbrH2UQ23VIIwBpclxN83OSLiDIZEk1HP6VDruPIwxka1bOuyuQ
I have the NAV-TV MOST HUR adapter in my car but apparently there is much cheaper version called LONGATE that is a simpler interface. Check here:
https://www.planet-9.com/987-cayman...lpine-ilx-107-wireless-apple-carplay-install-using-longate-most-stock-bose.html
Hope that helps! You can definitely do it yourself. It's not that hard when you have the parts in front of you, especially if you have experience with stereo installs in the past. You connect the optical cables to the MOST box of your choice, and that box has all the normal stereo leads that you would connect a headunit to like a regular install.
I had a shop do mine - International Radio in North Hollywood. I ended up going with a new 5-channel amp and bypassing the
Bose amp
and fiber optics.
Les, did you also change out your speakers and speaker wiring? that's the step that made me not want to do the amp replacement. otherwise, that seems easier than messing with keeping the MOST.
I know they kept the speakers in place. I believe they reused the wiring as well.
