PCM and Nav updates

Forgive me if these questions have been asked and answered before - I did search, honest! Firstly, I thought that the 2011 Cayman came with PCM 3.0 , but when I go into the menus and pull up the software version, it shows 2.20. Are the hardware and software versions not connected, or do I really have an earlier PCM ? Next , is v2.20 the latest version available for the 2011 PCM ? My local dealership tells me that the systems should all have been updated to the latest versions as part of the CPO process by the dealership I bought the car from, but it would not surprise me if that was not done. And finally, map updates. Suncoast has the latest (MY2014) PCM 3.0 /3.1 map update available for $300, but the description says "dealer installation and activation required." I've read various threads here which suggest that as long as the software is up-to-date, then updating the map data is simply a matter of ejecting the old disc and inserting the new. However, those threads all seem to predate my car, and I'm wondering if the 987.2 or PCM3.0 operates differently. For starters, I looked for the nav DVD drive in the location shown in K-Man's retrofit guide , but there is just an empty space in that location in my car, so I have no idea where to find the DVD drive even if I can install the disc myself, and I wonder if there actually is an activation procedure on the later systems. I'd really like to bring the system up-to-date, as there have been some fairly major road works around here in the last four years and the system is making some rather questionable routing choices without that knowledge.

Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

I've never looked at where the PCM 3.0 system keeps its DVD player, but it has to be somewhere! I suspect swapping map disks may be all that is needed. Sent from my Galaxy Prime Windows Mobile 8.5 Phone via TapaTalk

When I bought my 2011 Cayman , Nov of 2013, the dealer told me the PCM had been updated to the 3.0 system so it was current. He said this was part of it being a CPO. Midnight Shadow

I could be wrong, but it's hard drive based. Doesn't it suck in the disc from the front plate, download everything, write it to the hard drive, then it's done with the disc... you can eject it. This is my assumption, for the new PCM system... I am not sure.

I know the newer units have hard drives, but I thought that was only the 981 . But if that is the case for the 2011, then I would presume there must actually be some sort of activation process that requires dealership intervention, else we could all just pool our money, buy one set of discs, and pass them around between us.

From ******** for pcm2.1: For PCM Nav dvd is in the Frunk on the right BTW More reading for ya, but yes I agree the facelift should be PCM3. http://www.planet-9.com/987-cayman-boxster-electronics/85684-map-update-pcm-2-1-navigation-2.html

Answering my own question, I just got the car back from having some other warranty work done, and had them check the PCM version while it was there. They updated it to v2.25, so it appears that the dealership that CPO'd the car did not actually do the updates that should have been included in that process. Still damned if I can find it. Maybe the 2011 nav is hard-drive based after all; anyone have a recent nav DVD that I could borrow to see if it's just a matter of inserting it into the main center console drive?

For clarity, you guys are talking about 2 different things... versions of the HARDWARE, and versions of SOFTWARE, for PCM . The hardware is the unit. The 987.1 used the PCM 2.1, which looks like this: The 987.2 (2009-2012 car models) upgraded to the PCM 3.0 hardware, which looks like this: The PCM 2.1 had a DVD player in the top right of the frunk, which stored all the NAV info. The PCM 3.0 does NOT... it has a hard drive. You insert discs in the front of the unit inside the car, and it downloads the info to the internal HARD DRIVE of the PCM 3.0 unit, then you can eject the discs. I believe the latest SOFTWARE version for PCM 3.0 to run, is V2.25 software, but I could be wrong. The updated PCM 3.1, is what is used in the new 981 platform. It also has a hard drive. I do not know if discs are serialized, etc... or can only be used with a single VIN, etc. Suncoast sells these update discs, but states that dealer install and activation is required.

Thanks for clarifying. I was aware that the 987.2 has PCM3.0, but was confused that the software versions weren't also 3.x. As you mentioned, it appears that the latest s/w version for the 3.0 h/w is indeed 2.25 - that's what my dealer updated me to last week. I was also aware that the 981 's PCM has a hard drive, but was unclear whether the 987.2 did, too - I understand that the 981 can download music files from USB sticks to the HD too, and since that feature is not present on the 987.2 , I was unsure if it had a HD. If the DVD is no longer required once the files have been downloaded to the HD, then I presume there must be some sort of activation process, else one could just use a single DVD to update every car on the lot.

I have just acquired a 2011 CS CPO car from the local dealer. I was assured that during the CPO process that they would update the software to all the newest available, by my salesman. (I'm pretty sure that the extent of his technical expretise is how to get a key in the ignition, oh well like most he will be at another dealer next month. Sabb I hope, let him figure one of those out) Today I went in to have a shock checked out, one on order now I'm told, the service writer agreed to check the PCM version and it was 2.2 and not upgraded. Ata boy for them in that they agreed to update the software and install the newest nav I thought I was getting. Thank goodness for this forum, I knew more than them and read them the upgrade thread. A looong time later they inform me that they had to install 2.22 then 2.23 then 2.24 but the 2.25 would not install nor the New Nav update. The upshot of this is that when I go back for the LR shock (Yeah Porsche only replaces the failed one) They will sort the version update out and the Nav update- a query to Porsche tech has been made. I confused, Does anyone know what is contained or addressed in the various up dates to the PCM ? from 2.2 up? and can a durametric pro see the version of the PCM or the Map dates? Bill K.