Has anyone fitted a Pioneer AVIC F900BT in their 996 (pre most)?

Bitten the bullet and bought a new unit (picking it up later this week) to replace the becker unit I had. Does anyone know if the existing porsche wiring loom will plug straight into the unit, or do the wires need to matched / cut etc? any help from anyone who has fitted one of these greatfully appreciated - any problems to look out for etc, especially with the wiring Thanks Jon

You mean a bit like mine: What sound package do you have in yours currently? Do you have the M490 package with door speakers, or the basic system with only dash and rear speakers?

HI richard yes, just the normal speaker package, dash and rear, no amp curently I have a becker 4720 with an ipod adaptor, and although it all works, its not great! how happy were you with yours? any problems on fitting it / operating it? what about the outer trim piece?

It should be a relatively straightforward installation then. The speaker plugs should go straight in to the AVIC connector. You will need to connect the speed signal wire (grey/pink) from the power plug to the speed signal input on the AVIC. Also check that the dash illumination wire (grey/blue) and the antenna feed wire (white) are connected correctly. I didn't connect the reverse or handbrake wires, as I found a small wiring modification to get around the handbrake signal. On the standard installation you cannot watch videos on the move (not that I wanted to do that) or change the navigation destination and settings (which I did want). If you drop me an email, I'll attach the instructions to a reply. I bought the trim surround from a place on eBay in the US: http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/euromotorspeed/ . It was a bit pricy, but it is a nice fit. Overall, I'm very happy with mine now. I tweaked a few settings with the aid of www.avic411.com to change the camera warnings from a stupid barking dog (yes, really), and to get my 'phone book on the unit (my phone wasn't 100% compatible). I also had problems with playing music from SD Cards, but fitting an iPod cured that! It's a much better interface anyway. The navigation is quite good, but sometimes it has trouble keeping up with me at multiple junctions! If a complicated junction is coming up, I tend to glance at the screen beforehand, so that I know which direction I am aiming for. Edit: If you look at euromotorspeed, don't get one of the full install packages, as there will be loads of stuff you don't need. Just ask them for the surround trim.

thanks looking foward to fitting it tommorow, once Ive picked everything up Ive bought the Pioneer ipod lead seperately, so can fit that at the same time, along with the aircon trim from OPC, all of which should be ready on Wed. sent you an email me with address on, thanks for the help

Just FYI I have spoken to Euromotorspeed recently and the bezel (trim piece) on its own is $69 plus $5 shipping. The alternative is here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120520148864&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching but they will not sell the bezel on it's own, only the full kit at £39.90 including postage. I have the AVIC D3bti in my 996 and I am really pleased with it. Had it for over two years and apart from getting updated map disks recently it has been perfect.

Good find Guy. I don't know why they supply the cage, as you get one with the AVIC. Same with Euromotorspeed.

Thanks both ! picked up the AVIC from brum today - after being whacked up the rear by a minicab en-route which has smashed my back bumper (but no other damage thankfully and the responsible driver all fully covered so no issue) having looked at the trim for the avic, the unit looks to be larger than yours richard, in that the bezle ring will almost fill the gap completey, so no extra trim required (i think) I will take photos and post once complete Also, picked up the new aircon trim piece from OPC today, and it looks like it mounts the aircon controls at the bottom of the centre console (not the top where I wanted them and leaving me the cubby hole not the CD rack) am I missing somthing, or have I ordered the wrong part?

You'll find that the trim piece supplied will fill in the sides and bottom gap, but will leave about 10mm at the top. That is because the opening is the same width as double-DIN, but a bit taller. They don't make a trim to put the aircon panel in the position one-from-bottom (where the CD storage tray goes). You have to get a new cubby for that position, unfortunately.

Many Thanks ! fitted today - and it took a lot longer than I thought, but all in and worked perfectly 1st time, all the trim back albeit in different places now, but worked excellently, the DVD / Hand-brake hacks worked fine as well anyway, back in the garage on charge (since i ran the battery totally flat today with the doors open! thanks richard Jon

Well done Jon. Too late for you now, but if I am working on the car with the doors open for a long time, I switch off the interior lights, and unclip the courtesy lights from the door panels and unplug them. It is easy to do, and only takes a few seconds.