Is it possible to install PCM in my 996

I have the porsche upgraded music system, the flip front cassette unit with multi cd in the trunk and amp. Is it poosible to fit a newer PCM and how? ideally i would like sat nav.......... cheers :dont know:

I'm not sure about the newer PCM unit (although someone who is will be along soon) but I would question why you would want to? There are far better alternatives to this by, for example, Pioneer / Kenwood etc There have been quite a few Pioneer AVIC installs, including my own, done by 996 owners on this forum. Have a search and I'm sure that the info will pop up. One if the key queries seems to be the age of your 996 and whether or not it has the MOST system.

Thanks, My car is 2001 registered I have only owned it for two weeks so everything is double dutch to me! The sound system is really good as it is, I have two open slots at the bottom of the dash that could house an additional unit but a little concerned over the connectivity the multi changer etc. What is MOST and I can check :dont know:

Mine is also 2001 and doesn't have MOST which, although I can't remember what it stands for, is the fibre optic set-up for the car systems to talk to themselves. I can't remember when it was introduced but I think it was a couple of years after your car was manufactured. If you go for an aftermarket head unit then your Porsche multichanger will become redundant as it won't be compatible. However, you can get units with large hard drives to upload music to, or like me get the ipod connectivity and take all your music with you to the car rather than just 6 CD's. Search the forums for "AVIC" and you will get loads of info on installs and options. I changed the speakers too as the stock ones are rubbish - it makes a massive difference.

MOST is Media Oriented Systems Transport which translates into fibre optic where it used to be copper between head unit, amps etc. All to do with signal quality and integration of differing systems apparently. http://www.mostcooperation.com/home/index.html It was introduced around the facelift to MKII in 2002 with the CDR23 and PCM2 options so I don't think you have it. You actually have a lot more choices pre MOST so fill your boots with whatever you want. I personally wouldn't bother with the factory option, as mentioned above after market has much better alternatives. Go spend

MOST :?: I have a 2003 996 Cabrio and my PCM2's phone unit stuck in. After that the selector wheel came off and now won't select. The Maps are in sore need an update also. Looking at a quick cost estimate to fix and modernize I conclude it would make more sense to just get a replacement. c: So I guess what I am asking is, assuming mine has the MOST system which looking at the back it appears to have (3 fibre optic connectors), what are my after market options. I only ask because I have been trawling the web all afternoon and am still clueless as to which unit I can fit with the least amount of pain. :dont know: Any advice pointers much appreciated. :thumb: Thanks in advance. Gary

Do a search on here for CDR23, several people have upgraded to aftermarket solutions...at a price

There are several (very good) aftermarket options. Installing PCM 2/2.1 via the OPC will cost you £000's........on my old 996 I did install PCM 2 and sourced quite a few of the bits myself so it was cheaper but you could argue I would have been getting something completely different. If you want the look of the PCM unit (I think it finishes off the centre console of the 996) but not the Nav (a TomTom is way better) then you can just buy the unit (check no ebay) and this will work bar the nav function.

If you just want sat nav added to what you have at the moment which is pretty good in terms of sound then you could change the standard head unit for a Becker Traffic Pro unit which, if you get the right one, is identical to the standard head unit in design and looks but has sat nav included. I works brilliantly ( dare I say better than PCM1/2) and covers the whole of Europe.

I have been considering installing PCM in my 2003 facelift Targa primarily for looks, similar to point made above. I realise my model should take PCM2 but my question is: can I physically and electrically install a PCM2.1 unit instead? Cheers David

The 2.1 unit is the DVD based system and as you probably know came as an option on the release of the 987/997 cars. The interface of this unit is a slightly different design to the 996 with a more modern push-button design among other touches. I guess anything is possible but I'd also argue that the older 2.0 CD-ROM based system is probably cheaper to install than anything that came out afterwards. As mentioned above, Scott (uuf666) had one retro-fitted to his 996 cab and it does complete the centre console more so than a car without. The other comments posted about PCM systems not being as modern as the cheaper TomTom systems and the like are of course true. If you don't mind sticking a device to your windscreen then I'd go for one of these portable devices. If you go down the PCM route, then make sure you get the updated discs. One forum member recently bought 2008 discs for his PCM2.0 for around £30 from a US based company and he reported they worked fine. ~ Maxie

Thanks for that Maxie. I use a Garmin which I find excellent and it is purely for appearances that I am considering a retro-fit. I also accept that fitting a PCM 2 should be fairly straight forward but on E bay recently there was a very reasonably priced PCM2.1 for sale which raised this question. There were in fact 2 PCM2.1 units, but no PCM2 models. I just wonder if there is anybody who has done this or has knowledge which categorically prevents it being done (or makes it uber-expensive!). Or does anybody have a PCM2 for sale even. Regards David